Oliver had his very first soccer game on Monday! Had I mentioned that we signed him up for soccer this year?
Soccer can start pretty young these days (age 3, I think), but we waited until he was just shy of 6 to get him on a team. I think it’s a good time – not so young that he just doesn’t get it/care and we just have activity for the sake of activity, but not too old that he doesn’t get a good, solid start.
After all, soccer runs strong in the Myers’ veins. (Ryan played goalie – in both soccer and hockey – from 3rd grade through college.)
Yes, the goalie blood runs especially strong. (In Oliver’s age group, they play 3-0n-3 without goalies. No goalies until age 9, actually.) But, this kid just kept turning around to defend the net!
Also, evidently the child knows how to celebrate. Note the impromptu crossbar chin up after scoring a goal? I don’t think it was a victory dance in a obnoxious-end-zone-celebration sense; more like a 5-year-old full of joy and wanting to jump on something. Love.
And finally, I would be remiss not to include a couple of photos of my love bird and her beloved pony. Can we talk about her hair? It makes me all kinds of happy!
Do y’all have kiddos in organized sports? When did you start them?
Also, do your cities wait until age nine to start in on teaching goalie skills? Just curious.
Have a great Wednesday, friends!
We just started my son in soccer as well, he is 4 1/2. His league is 3 vs 3 until I think the age of 6 or 7. Which in my opinion is great… gives all the kids a chance to have their time with the ball. There are no goalies til around ages of 7 or 8. They want the kids to have more chances of getting goals, so it is fun for them and they continue to want to play. In our league it’s not as competitive til the kids get older, because they want kids to be encouraged and love the game. Oliver looks super cute in his uniform! And he looks like he is a pro already!!
Adorable! Is Hazel’s shirt for a specific organization? If so, I’d love to learn the name!
Katherine – I bought Hazel’s shirt at an adoption fundraiser last year, but I just googled it and it looks like the organization is actually called “147 Million Orphans”
http://www.147millionorphans.com/
Hazel’s stance in the left picture is killing me. So excited for Oliver and his new adventure!
I started mine in soccer at age 3. We have been lucky enough to have the same coach and my son just turned 6. He could have stayed down but his team moved up to move up with them we did. Hopefully it was a wise decision.
His division 8 and under, they play 4 on 4 with one being the goalie.
oh, that’s nice! I bet it’s so fun to get to grow up with a team. I hope Oliver can do that, too!
So fun! Do they all chase the ball around like smurfs like the really little kids? My husband and I just coached soccer through our church in Ohio this summer and our 3-4 year-old league played 5 v 5 without goalies. I think we start goalies in the 7-8 league here, which seems about right to me. 9 sounds old to start! Looks like Oliver is having fun though and that’s really what matters at this age!
Our local YMCA starts sports early, and when my daughter was in preschool she brought home a form for t-ball and we thought it would be fun. WRONG! The child just played in the dirt the whole time and didn’t pay one bit of attention. So we didn’t make the same mistake twice when my son was that age. We waited until kindergarten and it was much better for him. He did try soccer the same year he started t-ball and it was a disaster. Here, they play FULL COURT with goalies from 4 years and up! Those poor kids were so exhausted half way through the game that most of them just gave up and stood still! Now, when soccer forms come home, he’s quick to say that he does NOT want to play soccer!
Our family loves soccer – he looks like he is having a great time. Please don’t take this as a wet blanket, but at the next game take a quick moment to make sure the soccer goal is anchored. I never knew this was a danger until a local child in Chicago was killed by a falling goal — apparently falling goals injure more children than you would think. The picure of Oliver hanging made my stomach flip a little.
Thank you and I hope Oliver has a great season.
Hey Sara – we actually had that happen around here recently, too! So scary! I think they anchor all the goals now, but it wouldn’t hurt to double check. Thanks for the reminder!
You bet :). Enjoy the season!
Thanks for the reminder to be cautious, Sara. I think the goals that are responsible for deaths are the full-size steel 8ft x 24ft goals. The ones these little guys are playing on are hollow aluminum and pretty light. Might give you a goose egg though!
Good point . . . I have been known to be overly safety-conscious at times. Thank you for taking my words with such grace and hope he has a wonderful season!
Sara, thanks for mentioning this. I felt the same way when I saw the picture and was going to say the same thing. He does look like he had a great time.
apparently soccer in tn is way better than soccer in ca. our kids play full-field, with a goalie and a whole LOT of kids on the field! it basically turns into a big clump of kids, kicking wildly and ends with a whole lot of exhaustion…and frustration for those kids that aren’t quite as competitive and aren’t willing to get in there and fight for the ball. each of my daughters played one season and then never wanted to again. :(
and hazel’s shirt is the best!!
I can’t wait to get my toddler into something! She’s super shy though so we’ve been waiting until she’s feeling a little more brave. Might be smart to wait until they are older like you did though! There’s just something so adorable about a bunch of kids chasing after a soccer ball :)