The Jedis

Game #1: Ethan needed to be carried  coaxed out of the car. He was assigned a defender position on the field, but ran off crying when the start whistle blew. Ethan was subbed out the entire game.

Game #2: Ethan gets out of the car willingly, but requests to not play in the soccer game. In fact, he asks why I signed him up for soccer in the first place.

Game #3: The coach asks Ethan if he will try playing one quarter and "help out the team". Ethan agrees, and is posted as a midfielder. The coach shows Ethan where this general area is on the field and when the start whistle blows, he will not move from this area. He remains like a reed that won't break against the tide of boys that whoosh back and forth past him.

Game #4: Ethan decides that soccer isn't so bad after all, and asks to be in the game. As a midfielder, he actually runs around the entire field with the swell of kids. Ethan avoids touching the ball, and actually moves aside when it whizzes past him. I begin to ask myself why I signed him up for soccer in the first place.

Game #5: Position assigned. Attitude good. Whistle blows. Ethan runs! Ethan kicks the ball! Ethan is proud and looks at me, giving a thumbs up. Off he goes running again. * We are moving in the right direction with a little perseverance, and a very tolerant coach.

*I have since offered Ethan $1.00 for every goal he can score