The Oregon Corrigans: Fall soccer wrap

Another beautiful fall soccer season is on the books! This was such a great year, and I don't mean a perfect "by the books" soccer season. All the kids had amazing coaches, and it was such an awesome growing and learning season for all of them in their own ways.

Max had his third year of soccer, and he is completely embracing and loving soccer as a sport. His coach was such an encourager, and really helped the boys improve their passing skills. They got so good at passing, by the end of the season they would just pass the entire game, and sometimes forget to shoot the ball! Ha ha! Great group of boys, parents, awesome coach. Go Green Ninjas!

Madeline had her fourth year of soccer, with her very special team that she has been with for years. It was a rough start though, actually. The league changed the rules on earrings, and waited until the night before the first game to tell the coaches. Madeline has never taken her pierced earrings out, and the league would not allow them to be taped, etc... They all had to come out. Despite all the support and encouragement in the world, our sweet girl just could not bring herself to take them out. Earring anxiety, let's call it. It came down to a choice - after a few weeks of "trying", she was faced with quitting the team or getting those puppies out. Her amazing coach though (this is where sports matter for character, not just accomplishing an athletic skill)... He saw her struggling, he did everything he could think of to help her brainstorm ways she could overcome this fear. As we all did. In the end, when Maddie decided to step down off the team (with great frustration and sadness on her part), he said "hey! guess what... you matter to this team, you are one of us regardless if you have your earrings in or out, we need you out here, you matter to us!"... so he offered to let her practice with the team, and even help drive so she could attend the games to cheer on her friends. She jumped at the chance. So my sweet little soccer girl, she got to "play" soccer this year, but in a slightly different way than expected. Here's what I find so encouraging, that other people could see her value, aside from what she offers to "soccer", but what she can offer as a friend and teammate. I know God loves my kids, when stuff like this happens :) Go Fierce Kittens!

Marin also had her fourth year of soccer, and REALLY had a turnaround this season. With several team/coach changes in the last couple years, she was starting to lose steam for soccer. I think she really wanted to improve her skills, but was struggling to find it. Which is totally fine with us, we ask our kids to choose one sport they want to do per year, and it certainly doesn't have to be soccer. But in the spring when we were registering, she couldn't think of another option, so she reluctantly agreed to try one last year of soccer. And one more year really paid off. She was placed on another new team - and it was such a perfect, perfect fit for her. Her coach is a seasoned soccer coach, who used to coach his older son, has taken a few years off and now his daughter was interested (first time playing in 5th grade!). He is direct, funny, a clear communicator, understands the sport, know the age, has high standards - and in the end really got Marin EXCITED about soccer again. It warmed my mommy heart to see lights turn on again in her eyes, and see her really experience the JOY of the sport. She loved improving her skills, and she is already excited about next fall - what a great experience it was for her. Go Warriors! (they had Wonder Woman team socks, with little capes and everything - ha ha!)

So that's a soccer wrap - Kyle and I played in the end of year parent/kid game, and managed to avoid old person injuries once again. Go us! Soccer is the best :)