first soccer game

Liam's first soccer game was Saturday, and it went really well despite the cold, damp, windy morning. Each team was split up into two smaller groups so everyone could get a chance to play, so Liam was separated from Emma, but he did get to play with his nemesis/best friend T.R. It was a very lively game. Liam may not have been the best or fastest player on the field, but he definitely made up for it in enthusiasm. And by "enthusiasm," I mean trash talk. And overly aggressive body checks. And outright pushing. It was a little surprising, but most of the other kids were doing it too, so I guess this is normal (?) for this age group. At one point during the game, the coach made Liam and a boy from the opposing team (a boy who Liam knows from school, who is almost two years older than him) shake hands and make up for their unsportsmanlike conduct. Yikes! Anyway, Liam's group ended up tied at 2, while Emma's team clobbered the opponents 7-1. Liam had a wonderful time playing, and was exhausted and grass-stained at the end. Max had a pretty good time watching, too, though he was definitely not a fan of that cold wind.