How you can tell I am still a rookie: I am fumbling through preschool soccer lessons! I signed up Milo for his first organized classes (since Music Together years ago) to celebrate his love for ball-sports (and his favorite red shorts). Soccer drills and skills are taught along with songs and games (which he also loves). The first few lessons, he showed rapt attention and an aptitude for soccer that surprised and impressed me. Go kid go. The last few lessons, he demonstrated typical toddler lack-of-attention and amused defiance. Stop kid stop.
But my dilemma is this: what was I supposed to do about it?
Milo during a cooperative moment
Whenever Milo asked me, “Mommy, join the circle,” I sat or stood by him attentively. Other times, I tried to blend in with the spectating parents in the margins. But what’s my role when he’s carrying his ball off in the opposite direction of the class? Do I intervene or leave it to the coach? Does she want parental support or to take care of it herself? And, since it is soccer for two- and three-year olds, isn’t she expecting a certain amount of terrible behavior?
Gratuitous video of my kid kicking ass ball.
I used to “coach” YMCA soccer, basketball, and softball to kids that age. I never had parents intervene. I was just a high school teen then, so I don’t know I really had expectations. I figured I could handle it myself and I did. Now if you have some over the top antics being pulled that is really dragging down practice for all the other kids, then I’d think by all means you should step in.
With that said, why not just ask the coach what she prefers
?
P.S. You’ve got a cute little boy on your hands!
He is adorable! I say, without hesitation, you leave that
to the coach.
I’d say leave it to the coach. It’s good practice for your kids to have to listen to someone else.
Good luck!
I think general disobedience can be handled by the coach, but if he’s totally abandoning the space in which the class is held, I think mama has to bring him back. How can the coach ditch the class to go get him — unless she’s got an assistant. Ask her what she thinks and report back!
WOW. I can SO relate. We signed R up for 2-3 yr old soccer last spring. He would tolerate the running drills somewhat, totally loved the ball kicking, but the second they launched into song, or started blowing bubbles, playing other games, he’d take off and try to join the older kids playing soccer. Whistles would blow, “can someone get this kid off the field??” etc etc.
I’m with Whit – I think you’ve gotta do the kid retrieval. But at this age….we were pretty much on the field with him the whole time. Actually….now that I think about it…..we only went a few times, then dropped out.
So yeah – ignore everything I just said. We’re clearly NOT the parents to be giving advice on this topic, LOL.