The next Pele?

Taking after their father, both Roby and Rony have played soccer for many years. Roby usually is keeper, but plays other positions as well. He has always been excited to share the sport with Owen, who actually has shown a lot of potential kicking the ball around and dribbling pretty well at home. So when our friends Stephanie and Michael told us about soccer sign-ups for two- and three-year-olds, we were in! Off we went to buy itty-bitty cleats, shin guards, soccer socks and shorts. It proved interesting trying to dress a wiggly toddler in all his sports garb...and he looked so cute in his first little jersey! (#5 like McNabb-different football but still cool!)

What we didn't realize is how shy he would become once he got on the field. He needed to hold Roby's hand at all times and didn't want to participate in the warm-up games or the actual match. (They don't keep score of course, but running and kicking the ball aiming for a goal is encouraged.) Nowadays when O is nervous around children he is unfamiliar with, he rolls his tongue over and over. That's what his first game consisted of, pouting and rolling his tongue. When the teams were at one side of the field playing, you could find Owen on the other side shooting goals with his own bright orange ball. At least he was interacting, just anti-socially. :) He fared a bit better at his second game and interacted well with the coach. His next game is this Saturday, so we'll see how he does.

More than anything, we just wanted him to be exposed to the sport and the idea of the game/teams at a young age, while having fun at the same time. I try not to stress about the fact that he isn't participating correctly like the other kids and realize that it is just a phase and completely normal to feel overwhelmed. So we just try to make it fun for him any way we can, including staying after everyone leaves so Roby and he can kick the ball around. Roby recently hired a cool chickee Yukiko at work and has started playing Wednesday nights with her husband Vincent. He's enjoying getting back in the game despite the challenges that come with being out of practice. (I was actually extremely impressed with his fancy footwork and can't imagine how well he will play when he isn't rusty!)

notice the tongue :)

when the ball came to him, he reacted by pouting

shooting goals/playing on his own while the team was at the other side

update! today (10/4/08) owen played with his team (with me by his side) and scored 2 goals! He's getting a little less shy with each game-only 2 more before his season is over though.