Soccer Time

It is that time of the year again - soccer season! Briana is on a U6 team - Team Argentina!

There are a couple of girls from her old team on this team and a number of new girls have joined as well. Bri's coach (Coach Kari) has played soccer before and one of her daughter's is on the team. Briana really likes her, and I like her so much better than the two young girls we had a coaching last spring.

The format is a bit different this season. It is 3 again 3 instead of the whole team playing against another whole team with goalies. There are no goalies this time. We play for the Y - and they feel the girls get more ball time and can get more goals and can learn more with this format. Briana is going to have to get used to this type of play.

 She was all smiles the Tuesday before last before practice...

Briana getting to know her teammates...

Briana absolutely loved practice. I, on the other hand, was very sick that evening. But I wanted to see her first practice so I sucked it up and went. I am glad I was able to make it.

Miss B's jersey number is #6!

Then game day rolled around on Saturday at noon. The sun was in and out the whole morning. There was a big threat of rain and it was SO muggy. Briana couldn't stop gulping her water.

They did a few drills before the games and Bri was quite happy...

They played two games - each a half an hour. The first game Briana played - she did pretty well. She didn't seem like herself though. My girl that dominated the ball last season seemed to be letting the other girls just have the ball. She did get two goals, but I know she was capable of more. 

She did make a few great passes. The coach is teaching the girls to concentrate on teamwork and work on passing the ball to each other rather than all the girls just going after the ball on their own and trying to make a goal. Doug actually thinks Briana would be a great mid-fielder. Bri and her teammates won the first game against the girls in the black jerseys...

 Then the second game started. Briana was getting even more tired and less enthusiastic about playing. She did pass the ball a few times and got a goal, but the orange team dominated. When all of our girls were looking tired, the orange team kept pounding. They were beasts!

I wonder if weather (hopefully it will get cooler and cooler) played a part in Bri's mood - as well as a little intimidation. There are several really good girls on the teams this season (her team and other teams). But Bri is really good too. I felt like she was stepping back a bit and letting these good players take over a bit. I don't want her to be intimidated. I want her to fight for the ball - fight like she did in the spring.

Practice occurred again on Tuesday, and Briana's enthusiasm was back. It was a cool and breezy evening and she smiled through the whole practice...

Go Team Argentina!!!!

We have another game tomorrow, and I hope the weather is nice and not too warm. Unfortunately, we have to be at the field an hour early to have individual and team pictures taken. So, the girls have to wait around for pictures for an hour before the games start. I am a bit worried Bri's enthusiasm might wain again due to all the waiting around. Only time will tell.

So, I should hopefully have some cute soccer pictures to post soon. Wish Briana luck at her game tomorrow!