Abby's First Goal!

This has been over a year in the making.  All last soccer season, Abby talked about scoring a goal.  It was a huge (pardon the pun) goal of hers.  She tried hard, but to no avail.  The other kids were just bigger than she was.  She really didn't touch the ball more than a few times a game.  She was always the kid running behind the entire pack and only if it happened to come to her did she actually touch it.  She just didn't want to get bumped around and knocked down.

This year, she's in the same league (a 3's and 4's league).  So, she's one of the big kids this year.  The first game was very hopeful.  In the first 10 minutes she had the ball A LOT.  It was crazy.  She probably touched it more in those ten minutes than the vast majority of last year.  This was mostly because the other kids didn't really know what to do.  But, she did.  In that time she got a few really good shots on goal, but none of them went in.  Then the other kids started to catch on and Abby didn't touch the ball nearly as much from them on.  I was worried she missed her shot (again, really bad pun) at getting a goal.  The rest of that game she was more reserved and didn't want to really get "in there" to get the ball.

Abby's favorite past time while the ball isn't in play:

The second game started out similar.  She had a few touches, but nothing much.  And then about halfway through the game, she had a breakaway.  She started with the ball fairly close to her goal and dribbled all the way to the goal.

I thought this was it.  

And then she shot it just wide.

That must have given her some confidence because then she just did awesome.  We had practiced "bumping" before this game and I told her it was ok to bump and maybe even fall down.  You just have to get back up and keep going.  Before this, whenever she would fall down, it lead to lots and lots of tears.  So, when we were practicing, I would purposely bump her and "fight" for the ball.  Clearly that helped.  For the next ten minutes she was doing awesome.  It helped that it was near the end of the game and the other kids were getting tired and not paying attention.

Abby was also getting better about not needing me on the field with her.  Parents are allowed to go on the field if needed.  All last season, I couldn't be more than 20 feet away or Abby would cry when she realized I wasn't there.  This season I was able to mostly stand on the sidelines and even sit down!  Crazy!  She was so brave.

Abby was in the midst of the group and got knocked down.  She got right back up without a tear!  Wow!  Who is this kid?

The other team had a goal kick on the left side of the field.  I was out there with her this time for some reason.  All the other players were just kind of standing around not paying attentions.  Seeing this as her chance, I had Abby move over in front of the goalie.

The goalie kicked it right to her.  Abby took the ball and went right to the goal.  There were no other kids around (Abby almost had goals earlier, but some of her teammates stole it from her!).

Abby was almost to the goal as the goalie was still running back to the goal.  Abby kicked it with the goalies back turned.

Just as the goalie was turning around the ball was going past her.  She didn't have time to react and the ball went just inside the post.  FINALLY!  Abby has been talking about scoring a goal for over a year!

She was sooooo excited.  It just happened that I was on the field with her and Peggy just happened to be right there taking pictures.  So cool!

Excited daddy and excited girl!

Yelling "goooooooaaaalllllll!"

The next game, she decided she was "going to score three goals!"  She didn't get a goal, but she certainly tried!

It's been really cool to see her confidence grow throughout this season.  Yes, there are still some tears and fear of not wearing her hat in the sun (this is the only time she uses sunscreen instead of a hat to cover her nose).  But, overall she's really come a long way this season.