Geckos are Out of This World

Last night, Elijah's U4 soccer team played the "Blue Aliens."  The best part of the game was all the families could see, feel, and hear how our lil' Geckos had been positively growing and learning about a new experience.  

You could see their skills have enhanced - they can control the ball - stopping it, kicking at a target, dribbling, NOT using hands, and more.  Those sweet children are learning how to cheer on their team mates when they are on the side lines - and really more than that...they are building their confidence, making friends, getting exercise, and having fun.   Really, what an amazing opportunity for three and four year olds....let's be honest, some adults don't do those things well, or have any interest in doing so decades later in their lives.

Alas....next week is the last game of the U4 Colorado Ice season.  Just when it seems the kids are getting the routine of what we do on Friday nights, the idea of clinic (skills practice) before the game, a game against league-mates in different color shirts, basic soccer skills, and are enjoying the high of scoring a goal, or seeing their friends....it ends next week...last game.    And, maybe, just maybe, the parents are enjoying it more than the kids, but I don't think that is true for Elijah or any of his team mates.

Last night's game was great....cold...but bearable for most of us (Gram and Fergy spent the last few minutes in the car....bbbrrrrrr) who weren't running around staying warm.  The Geckos definitely won, but I didn't keep score.  For the Green Geckos, it was goal, after goal, after goal (Elijah's buddy Ronin was definitely the MVP this game!).  But truly, the most wonderful thing about last night's game was watching how these sweet, young, energetic little people had evolved through this experience over the past five weeks.