I’ve been so excited for Parker to start soccer. He’s not in school and, well, Covid, so his social interactions with peers are limited. I did not play soccer growing up and I did not research much about it. I’ve just been helping Brian, he’s coaching Parkers team, if he asks. Then today, a couple hours before practice I started to pack the coach’s bag while Brian was out running errands. I felt so unorganized and things were scattered all over the house. As I opened the balls to put them in the duffle bag, I noticed they were halfway deflated. “Great” I thought to myself. “So where….is the air pump?” I thought. I put on YouTube to buy me some time with the boys while I searched for the pump and set aside warm practice clothes for Parker. I’m not sure why but I felt overwhelmed and unprepared so I called my friend Erika to ask for advice on what I may need. During my self-induced commotion Brian came home.
As usual, he was cool as a cucumber and proceeded to get ready for practice. While he was getting ready, I figured I’d inflate the balls. I didn’t, and still don’t understand the instructions to inflate each ball to 7-9 psi but I was able to look at the gauge on the air machine and kind of figure it out. It took me a while, along with a few panicked texts to Erika, but I got it! Initially, Lincoln didn’t like the sound of the air machine and cried the entire time it was on but by the time i started to inflate the second ball he was warming up to it. I even let him hold the tube the air flowed through. Unlike the first ball I inflated, I didn’t stop when the ball became firm. Against better judgment I continued to inflated it to the recommended psi. Next thing I knew, there was a loud pop.
I was a bit disoriented and both boys were crying. While I was trying to figure out what happened I looked up and saw Brian standing in front of me. He asked what happened. Again, I felt flustered and disoriented and was stammering as I explained what I was doing. By this point he’d picked up Lincoln and I was trying to figure out why everything was muffled. Aside from Parkers feelings being hurt because I ruined his ball the boys seemed okay. Brian took over while I cleaned up the mess so I could go get ready. As I was putting the air pump back in the box, I noticed I had welts and lacerations up and down the inside of my right arm. Just what I needed. I finished putting the pump away and went to the bathroom to pour hydrogen peroxide down my arm.
Do you ever go into something with a, not a bad feeling, but more of a feeling of you shouldn’t be doing something? That’s kind of what I was feeling like. Like maybe I shouldn’t have been going to practice today. I don’t know.
We were running behind schedule and now my arm was bleeding and in pain. We arrived to the field maybe 25 minutes before practice was scheduled to begin so that gave us some time to scope the area and set up. Earlier in the day, my mother mentioned it was windy and a bit chilly but it was downright cold when he hopped out of the car. My self-diagnosed anxiety kicked up a notch. I was then worried if the boys were dressed warmly enough and how I should have packed gloves for them. I definitely paused on my way out the door to go back for gloves but I reassured myself they’d be fine because they’d be running around a lot.. The field, it was a bit squishy due to the prior two days of rain so that ruled out any floor stretches. After setting up the miniature goal that would eventually be blown over on top of Parker, I kept tabs on Lincoln while Brian introduced himself and Parker to the parents of his team.
Let me just pause really quick. I am not the coach of this team. Brian is. I am just there to support as any parent would be. But I do feel more invested in how practice is executed because Brian is my partner and it matters to me that he is viewed as someone who is knowledgeable, organized and there to teach these youngsters about soccer and good sportsmanship.
Practice got off to a pretty good start just letting the littles kick their soccer balls around. Things didn’t get unorganized until it was time for drills. The littles struggled with understanding the directions being given but that is to be expected. Today was first for most of them. But I personally think the cold made it really difficult for the children to focus. Parker came to me twice to blow his nose and swap out his snotty mask with a clean one. In between assisting Parker, I was trying to assist Brian with drills and offering my suggestions which were largely declined. About 15 minutes into practice, one player had already left to go home. We were able to get some parent participation in the last drill which was nice. I’m not sure how or why it fell apart but it did. About 30 min into practice, I noticed parents beginning to pack up. To leave! So, I suggested to Brian we pass out uniforms. I’m glad he agreed because that pretty much concluded practice. I didn’t know what to expect from today but what happened wasn’t it. Maybe I overstepped my boundaries? Maybe I should have just followed Brian’s lead instead of offering so many suggestions. I definitely don’t feel good about how everything played out today and I’m not really sure what my role is in all of this. My feelings aside, Parker had a good time and was recapping practice at dinner and telling us about what he talked to his teammates about. That’s what’s most important right?
Parker’s soccer practice bag essentials
- Extra masks (to swap out wet from runny nose masks)
- Gloves and extra pair
- Knit hat
- Extra pair of socks
- Hoodie (if not being worn already)
- Hand warmers (just in case)
- Pocket pack of tissue
- Paper towels (falling down in mud and wiping down balls after practice)
- Hand sanitizer
- Water
- Chair to sit in
- Blanket (when it’s cold)
- Instant cold pack
- Mini first-aid kit
L. Bradley 