Jonah's game

As previously mentioned, Jonah is playing soccer. Here are some of the questions you may be asking:

1. How does he like it?
2. How did the first practice go?
3. How did the first game go?
4. Why are you telling me this stuff?

To which I would respond:

1. He likes it fine.*
2. It went well, no outbursts at all.*
3. They won.*
4. Because you're reading my blog. If this isn't your thing, heave off.

*Now, the first three answers above all come with some major caveats. If Stephen's issue with soccer was that he didn't like it, at least there was an active component to it; his attention was focused on it, either to like the game and rejoice in his triumphs, or to wallow in misery at a perceived failure. (Grandparent note: this was all internal; I had and continue to have nothing but praise for the boys in all endeavors).

So if Stephen was perhaps too emotionally involved, Jonah isn't involved at all. No blowups at practice? Well, not on Jonah's part. The coach's incredible patience was tasked, because the boy needed constant reminders on what they were doing.

Jonah was all over the map, "Kick the ball; look at that flower; hey, that cloud looks like a dragon; run over here; nice shoes; stand in line; watch me dance; I can growl like a lion; the grass is worn away here and I can see the dirt; kick the ball; I'm wearing a Batman shirt, it used to be my brother's; etc." This was practice.

Come gameday, the other team failed to show up. It was the first game of the season, so most likely that team had dissolved and had its parts absorbed into other teams. Who knows; it's a rec league.

So our team played a 2-on-2 scrimmage, with Jonah and the coach on one team and Jonah's two other teammates on the opposing team. Again, the soccer game was just one of the many events in Jonahland. There was a toddler with a red ball on the sidelines who caught Jonah's eye several times. At one point he walked over and waved at the child, saying, "Hey little baby. Do you play soccer too?" There were also several other soccer games going on nearby, and cheers from any of those would make Jonah pop his head up and look around. And he enjoyed watching his own game, usually while standing at the other end of the field.

Jonah's teammates won, 5-2.

What next? Well, Jonah and I are going to work on fundamentals. And by fundamentals, I mean running and kicking. I'm going to run races with him until he can run without getting winded or stopping to look at a stick on the ground, and we're going to kick a ball back and forth. I'll probably award points to him for each race completed and each ball kicked within 5 yards of me, and when he gets enough points we'll go LEGO shopping. Then we'll repeat, with reducing points, until he can play a quarter of soccer.

There's probably an issue of maturity at work here as well. Jonah is 4 months younger than Stephen was at this same time last year. I bet he'll do a lot better next season. But this one is going to be quite fun.