Everybody Plays

The motto of AYSO is "Everybody Plays".  In our family we take that to heart. 

All four of our kids are on AYSO teams this fall season, with Pete coaching the team that

Henry and Jed are on together.  Once you register three kids with AYSO the fourth 

(and fifth, sixth etc.) are free, so we convinced Jack to play fall soccer this year, mostly on the

rational that it wouldn't cost us (another) dime after signing up the others. 

Unlike two years ago, which was the last time he played, Jack is really enjoying his team this year and 

is doing well and helping them succeed.  Harriet is once again on her same AYSO plus team

with her great coach and fun teammates. They are doing very well this season, undefeated except

for one tie last week.  Jed and Henry are on the same team, with Pete as their coach as mentioned.

They are having fun but are struggling as a team.  They've scored exactly one goal so far this 

season, at the most recent game the score was 10 - 0 ( for the other team).  BUT, in my role as AYSO

cheerleader I just keep reminding Pete how good this is for the boys and how much fun they

are having and how beneficial the physical exercise is they get and how they are spending such

great quality time with their uber busy dad. And he tries to be less frustrated.  It's all good. 

Henry and Jed looking good in their uniforms for their team

Guts 'n Glory 

Coach Pete drilling home a point 

Dribbling the ball 

Henry on the practice field 

and Henry on the playing field...

Jed's slide tackle specialty

Jed plays goalie for part of the game and loves

all the times it allows him to spend rolling on the ground 

"Please.  Please.  Just score a goal." 

On the other end of the spectrum we have Jack and Harriet.  

Jack the Smashing Pumpkin 

First game day of the season there was rain and lightening so after

only warming up the games were canceled.  Just enough time for

Jack (and everyone else on the fields, including us spectators)

to get a good soaking. 

But since their first game (lost 4 - 0) Jack and the Smashing Pumpkins have been

dominating their age group.  They have a strong team that works well together,

no one is a weak link and no one is a dominating hotshot, so everyone feels like

they have contributed during the game.   Jack is not a natural soccer player

but he knows how to get on the field and be in position and mix it up a bit. 

This is also Jack's first season of playing Goalie: 

Jack in the (goalie) box 

Jack has done well and by my count has only let one goal in during his watch.

Sharing the fields with the geese 

When he's not coaching on Saturdays, Pete is reffing. 

Harriet the Hippie Chick! 

This is Harriet's third year with the Hippie Chicks,

the Lake Forest AYSO Plus team for her age group 

They have a strong team this year.  I'll admit, watching the boys play is fun and relaxing for

me, even with my kids playing goalie.  But when Harriet's team takes the field, always against 

a neighboring city's plus team, the competitive nervousness comes right out.  Every goal is

hard fought and hard won.  Their games are more skillful and exciting than

any other, and victory is far more important in her bracket.  These girls

know how to play and it's fun to watch them perform.  Again, Harriet isn't the strongest

breakout performer on the team, but she knows and plays her position well and can 

often make a difference out there on the field.  Competition is fierce, in a game against

Rancho Santa Margarita a week or so ago there were three Yellow Cards given out, one 

against our team and two against theirs.  After pulling ahead 2 goals to 1 the other team

scored in literally the last 10 seconds of the game to bring it to a (heartbreaking) tie.  Her coach

recently told us they are in first place for their age bracket of all the OC teams from San Clemente

all the way up to Los Alamitos. 

Very, very exciting. 

While most games are in the day, we've had a couple of games under the lights this season.

Harriet and the Hippie Chicks

Pete showing that he still has some of his soccer skills 

Celebrating a recent victory with some Fro Yo.