British Football

As most know regarding us, we are a soccer family. Bored with baseball, not quite tall enough for basketball and not ready yet for football (the American kind)- we love soccer. So, our boys play and have for years. And today was a great day.

It rained all day, but they don't cancel games here for rain. Of course, if they did, there never would be any games. Konner played first at 11am, then Tanner at 2pm, so we were out in the sop all day long. Konner's team played a typical 0-0 draw. Tanner's game was much different. It mercifully ended after two extra-periods at 7-6. Unfortunately, Tanner's team lost, but that was not the story of his game.

The story was, well, Tanner. His team is relatively new and they have had a rough start of the season. To be honest, the team is not very good. And as the 'American' kid, Tanner hasn't gotten any breaks. But today he decided that he would go out and play as hard as possible, no matter what the outcome. I had told him before the game to just be himself, lead by example, and play determined. In the rain, that is what he did.

He was everywhere on that field. While his team jogged, he sprinted. He didn't score, but was responsible directly for three goals that he set other teammates up on. He covered the best player on the other team. He dribbled and passed through walls and ran and worked as hard as I've ever seen him. In short, what he did was earn the respect of his teammates, the other team, his coach, and most every parent on the sideline. Even though the result was not a win, Tanner had won respect as a kid who can play. In fact, several parents told Melia and I that the wished every player played like Tanner - they'd do a lot better. T came off the field smiling, because he knew what he had done.

The day needs a bit of context. When Tanner first arrived here in the UK, he tried out for a different team and was cut after 3 weeks because he "wasn't good enough." Truth is, he hadn't been given a fair shot. This obviously shook his confidence and added to his frustration of being the 'new' kid, but he still wanted to play. So we found another club for him to try out for and they reluctantly took him in. It was a rough introduction to the insanity that is British football, but I think he's earned his spot now.

What Tanner did today was more about life than soccer. He learned that respect is something you earn, and that there is generally no substitute for hustle and hard work. He also learned something about leadership. Tanner has at times been the class-clown (or team-clown) in the past, but now he is on a team of players who need a leader. After today, they are talking of making T captain, and in British football, that is a big deal.

I know I'm a proud dad, but I'm proud of being a proud dad.

It's 7:30 at night, and he is already asleep. It was that kind of day.

-Andrew