Yesterday, I watched with pride as my son Matthew finally got to experience a day he has anticipated for the better part of three years. In the second half of his first soccer game of the season, my son pulled on a keeper's jersey, put on his gloves, and played his first game as a goalkeeper.
As I said earlier, he has wanted this for years. He fell in love with the defensive aspects of soccer as soon as he was old enough to appreciate the game. However, the recreational soccer organization in our city does not use GK's until the boys reach the U9 stage. For awhile now, my son has played sweeper, and has been the last line of defense for his team despite the fact that he could not use his hands. In the last couple of years, the team has played on a much larger field, with a 6'x12' goal... and no keeper. We have seen **a lot*** of goals scored from the midline or worse.
And so, I've watched him as he tried to defend this huge goal without being able to use his hands.
That changed yesterday, and it was a joy to see one of my sons get to fulfill a dream. Granted, he's young, and it's not quite the equivalent of starting in goal for ManU, but it's still his dream.. and he had waited almost half his lifetime to see it realized.
In order to make his debut the best we could for him, we sent him to a top-notch goalkeeping camp this summer, and have arranged for him to get keeper training from specialized coaches throughout the season. He threw himself into the training with gusto, and it showed as he stepped into his goal. He walked like a keeper, stalked like a keeper, and played like a keeper. He had just a touch of that attitude-- "this is MY goal, and you stay out".
And he played very well in his debut. He allowed three goals, but saved many more, proving to be quite fearless the whole time. After only one game, his teammates dubbed him "Brick Wall". Even the opposing coach, whose team is one of the best in the whole association, took time in the congratulatory handshake line to compliment him on his play.
Needless to say, I was brimming with pride. But even more than pride... I was filled with satisfaction. Pride comes hand-in-hand with the dangerous train of thought that I am watching, in my son, the future keeper for the US national team, or maybe Chelsea or Real Madrid, etc, etc.
But the satisfaction was for him, and the joy I could tell that he was feeling. My son realized a dream yesterday, and it was everything he had ever hoped it would be, and he had fun doing it... and it showed.
It doesn't get much better than that for a Dad!
As I said earlier, he has wanted this for years. He fell in love with the defensive aspects of soccer as soon as he was old enough to appreciate the game. However, the recreational soccer organization in our city does not use GK's until the boys reach the U9 stage. For awhile now, my son has played sweeper, and has been the last line of defense for his team despite the fact that he could not use his hands. In the last couple of years, the team has played on a much larger field, with a 6'x12' goal... and no keeper. We have seen **a lot*** of goals scored from the midline or worse.
And so, I've watched him as he tried to defend this huge goal without being able to use his hands.
That changed yesterday, and it was a joy to see one of my sons get to fulfill a dream. Granted, he's young, and it's not quite the equivalent of starting in goal for ManU, but it's still his dream.. and he had waited almost half his lifetime to see it realized.
In order to make his debut the best we could for him, we sent him to a top-notch goalkeeping camp this summer, and have arranged for him to get keeper training from specialized coaches throughout the season. He threw himself into the training with gusto, and it showed as he stepped into his goal. He walked like a keeper, stalked like a keeper, and played like a keeper. He had just a touch of that attitude-- "this is MY goal, and you stay out".
And he played very well in his debut. He allowed three goals, but saved many more, proving to be quite fearless the whole time. After only one game, his teammates dubbed him "Brick Wall". Even the opposing coach, whose team is one of the best in the whole association, took time in the congratulatory handshake line to compliment him on his play.
Needless to say, I was brimming with pride. But even more than pride... I was filled with satisfaction. Pride comes hand-in-hand with the dangerous train of thought that I am watching, in my son, the future keeper for the US national team, or maybe Chelsea or Real Madrid, etc, etc.
But the satisfaction was for him, and the joy I could tell that he was feeling. My son realized a dream yesterday, and it was everything he had ever hoped it would be, and he had fun doing it... and it showed.
It doesn't get much better than that for a Dad!
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