Aly the Soccer Gril

Aly joined a local soccer club this fall and it was one of the best decisions we made this school year. She had taken a skills class at a local soccer gym in early spring, but wasn't into it so much.  Since her friends joined the soccer team, she decided to try it again.  It's a popular soccer club in the area and many children from our school are members.  Their uniform is blue with yellow designs and Aly picked #12 for Seahawk's 12th man. 

The coaches were two Dads from the team and they did a great job motivating and making the practice fun.  Aly looked forward to her twice a week practice and never complained about playing in the rain.  October this year was the wettest October ever recorded, so the girls were wet and cold on many practice nights. 

Almost forgot! The team's name was Tigers.  Pre-tween girls love cats and it's one thing they all agree on.  I wasn't surprised they picked the big cat as their team name.  The Tigers was a  pretty tough team. They only lost three games out of ten.  Each girl played hard and they were eager to get on the field. Aly isn't an aggressive type but she is a fierce defender.  She has a great footwork and kept up with her opponent well.  I was impressed with how much she has grown as a soccer player.  By the end of the season, she was a valuable team member who tried her best on the field.

The Tigers tied the final game against a tough team from Mercer Island.  It's always nice to be in a strong team and win frequently.  It certainly boosted the girls' confidence level and they were driven to keep their good record going.  The most valuable gift they received though was the bond they gained as they played together.  They also became quite strong physically and mentally.  Aly used to get tired quickly when she ran, but she now manages herself to push harder without complaining.  It means she became tough mentally as well.  Sports and physical fitness are important for a person's overall well-being and I am glad Aly is on the right track.   She wants to keep playing soccer in the winter, but I put her and Saya in swimming.   It's starting tomorrow so they are very excited about that as well.

She already misses being with her soccer team, but glad to claim her Monday and Wednesday back for more free time.  I miss hanging out with soccer parents and coaches though.  We are looking forward to being in the team next year!