Pipsqueak Soccer

Wednesday was not only Ainsleigh's first dance class (see post below), that evening was also her first soccer practice. Her team is called the Skippers. Did you know they make little mini soccer cleats!? "Just like Daddy's!" (Austin refs soccer and also wears addidas cleats). The cleats are nearly the right size, but the socks (which claim to be her size) are ginormous. They fold over at her knee and go all the way back down to her ankle!
Things got off to a good start by the coaches (parent volunteers) bringing spray bottles, so the kids ran around squirting each other for a while.

Getting down to business. Arm circles.
Ainsleigh ran off. That dark blob on the far left is her. I think we need to work on the concept of "team."
Group goal!
Explaining the finer points of the game. "You score on THAT goal!"

Ainsleigh was so excited they had real goals. When we play in the backyard or at the park we just put some sticks in the ground or something. She was determined to take her ball and kick it into the goal....regardless of what she should have been doing. So instead of going with the group to play some little soccer games, she would get her ball and kick it in the goal, fish it out, and repeat. And, she would say "Mommy, say GOOOOOOAAAAAAAL!" because she knows that's part of the deal, too. So I'd have to say "GOOOOOOAAAAAAL!" for her, in between trying to shew (sp?) her back to the group.
Although scoring goals was her favorite thing, water breaks were a close second.
Hey! Where is my cleat!? Running with one sock foot back to her cleat. (This one is worth clicking on to enlarge).
Team cheer.
Go Skippers!















(To all her adoring fans, the first game of the season was rained out due to Hurricane Hanna, so you'll have to wait for next Saturday to see her in action. I'm told she'll be signing autographs after the game).