And We Have A Winner

Outdoor soccer is officially over. JAD played his last game today and it was FULL of excitement. The boys went into this game knowing that they had to win or, at the very least, tie this team to maintain their second place standing (they played the third place team today). They were pumped up to begin with and JAD did his best to get them pumped up and stay that way throughout the game. The boys played hard and put their hearts (and some blood) into this game. One boy on the team was actually red carded and kicked out of the game. He came to 'sit' with the parents, but we had a very hard time keeping him off the field and from yelling at the refs. Everything went downhill from there. Two boys on our team went down at the same time in the last five minutes of the game - one took an elbow to the face (instant bloody nose) and the other was tripped and banged up his foot pretty well. NOT A SINGLE REF MADE A CALL OR STOPPED THE GAME. Talk about bad calls. Two players laying on the field with one holding his head and the refs - all THREE - let play continue. We finally had parents running onto the field to come to the aid of the boy and there were many mad parents (and players) talking calmly to the ref. Okay. Not calmly. Would screaming sound more appropriate? Because that's what was happening - and not with the best language, either. We did win the game - but there were a lot of hot parents and coaches and players. Our 'assistant' coach (father of the red-carded player) was almost tossed and our coach was being warned as well. At the end of the game, we had parents from the other team calling our parents and PLAYERS poor sports. Because that's good sportsmanship? These were the same parents who cheered and applauded when our player was red-carded. Because that's good sportsmanship, too. Uh huh. So, we ended the fall season with a very 'spirited' game and a record of 7-2-1. Now we move on to indoor soccer.

Just look at this backdrop. I still can't believe I get to see the mountains every time I look up.

Here, JADs arms are thrown up in protest - his teammate is getting red-carded and tossed from the game.

Coach promised the boys if they won the game today, they could paint his hair red. He's a man of his word!