Mudbugs!

Picture this...

It's the second to last week of the U5 Mudbugs 2013 Soccer Season, and Will is watching the soccer ball come towards him in an attempt for the other team to score a goal.  Will blocks it, then immediately turns around, kicks it twice, and SCORE.  IT'S IN THE GOAL!  The crowd erupts with excitement chanting "Good Job Will!" repeatedly.

Yes, this really happened and I get goosebumps and such a sense of pride every time I think about it.  Our little man, who usually hangs behind the herd of boys fighting for the soccer ball, got in there and made his first soccer goal.  I cried a little bit and Ben (or Coach Ben as he's known on the field) said he wanted to.  In fact, right after the goal, Ben raised his hands up and said, "My coaching career is done," meaning he was so proud of his boy and if that was the last time he ever saw him kick a ball, that would be okay.

Now, I know some people may think we are putting a little too much emphasis on him scoring a goal, but it wasn't so much the goal as it was that he actually rubbed elbows with the other kids on the team and wasn't scared to get in the herd and get the ball as he had been the rest of the season.  In fact, when we were all screaming so loudly for him, the other team's parents were looking at us like we were crazy for cheering so much over one silly little goal, but I said "You don't understand...Will NEVER even touches the ball with his foot."  And then they understood.  I was also elated to hear all of the team parents on our side screaming for our boy, because they too had seen Will's timid behavior throughout the season.  And as an added bonus, Nonna, Uncle Corey, and Eli got to witness our boy's first soccer goal ever!

While I don't think he'll be going pro anytime soon, the goal seemed to be the boost he needed, as instead of saying he didn't want to play soccer the night before our final game the next Saturday, he said "I am going to score another goal!"  So, if anything this did nothing more than build his self esteem and confidence.  What more could a proud Mom and Dad ask for?

We found this is actually quite a difficult pose for a four year old.

Action shot...notice where Ben is in the background?  Yup, that's where the rest of the team is...over there trying to score a goal.  Will tended to run outside and behind the herd along with his buddy Garrett.

Team pic!  These boys love Coach Ben!