It's official...

I'm a soccer mom

 (and I'm as skinny as this woman, too...but my hair isn't that short and I rarely wear high heels and never wear turtlenecks, but I do wear green, and a headband?...hmm...maybe I should think about it...it could be a good look).

And Ryan, well...he now has a new title...

Coach!

So, we signed the boys up for soccer this fall.  Ryan never planned on coaching, but the director/organizer/man in charge of Upper Cumberland asked him if he would be willing to coach Aedan's team.  (Ryan had marked on the registration form that he would be willing to be an assistant coach.)  The guy also mentioned that he needed another coach for Josiah's team as well, so Ryan agreed to coach both teams.  Some of the game scheduling may be a little tricky, but I think it will work out.  Also, with Ryan coaching both teams, he was able to schedule the weekly practice on the same night, which is very convinent for us.  (Not to mention half of our registration money was given back to us because of the coaches' discount....which I'm saving for the "good" consignment sale coming up in September.)  They start games pretty quick...we only had two practices before the first game.  And, when you have 3, 4, and 5 year olds that have never played...that is definitely not a whole lot of time.  Both teams had their first game on Saturday.  Aedan's was bright and early at 8:00 am and Josiah's was at 10:00 am.

 I was a little unsure of Aedan's team.  One of the little girls had only been at one practice, and well...you just never know what they are going to do at 3 years old.  Here's a couple of pictures of Ryan giving pep talks.

Ryan and the team.  Making sure they have on their shin guards and cleats.

The stellar team...who knew they would be unstoppable!

Aedan on the field.  Okay, Aedan has always loved sports and seriously, dribbles the soccer ball around the house during the day.  He loves it!  With that said, within the first minute of the game I think he scored two goals!  I think he scored around 8 or 9 during the game, not the mention the other little boy on his team was decent as well, scoring 4, I think.

Aedan on one of his many break away plays! 

At the this age (and also Josiah's age) the coaches are on the field with the team, and there are also no goalies.  Don't mind Mercy's hair:)

Ryan and the other coach instructing

Aedan

 

Here is a quick video of Aedan scoring a goal.  I would have had more videos, but my camara battery started to get low and it needed to make it through Josiah's game as well.

 Next, we have Josiah's team, which was a different experience!  Josiah's team was very passive and just not very aggressive.  They didn't do so well...but, they did score a few goals...so there is hope! 

Ryan giving a pep talk

an action shot!

Go Josiah!!

If only Josiah would have been a little bit more to the right...he would have (maybe) scored.

Josiah :)

Ryan giving another pep talk...he's probably telling them that it is okay to take the ball from the other team. 

One final pep talk :)

And, who can forget our little trooper, Mercy, who was very good during both games:)