This afternoon your played your first Winter soccer game, on a team with other Dover kids, playing in an indoor stadium in Hampton.

Last Fall you played soccer (as you have for many years), but your coach used you as a defenseman in every single game.  You did a great job, but she never gave you a chance to try offense, despite the fact that you’re one of the quickest and strongest kids on the team. You love soccer – it’s your favorite sport – and I love to watch you do your thing no matter what position you play.  But I have trouble understanding why an eight year old would be restricted to one position.

Play the field! Try every position! See what you can do!

So anyway, tonight – on your new team – your new coach put you on offense after playing you the first half on defense.  He’s a new coach, and he doesn’t know you yet, and he’s more open minded.

The other team was tough – you played them in Fall soccer.  They are relentless and ran the score up.  Finally Dover got off a solid kick, the shot hitting the right upper side of the goal and then taking a left turn inward.  You assisted on the shot.  Score!

Late in the game, down by five goals at least, you put your foot into the ball with assertiveness and it soared in a floating arc over the goalie’s head. You had scored your first goal!

playing your first indoor soccer game the day you scored your first goal you lined up with the goal straight on and let your leg fly into the ball. It lifted up high - like a field goal kicker's kick - and sailed well above their relentless goalie's head and arced in seeming slow motion into the goal.

Everyone congratulated you at the end of the game; we were so happy for you.  You were a little surprised, and very low key, I could tell, but you were glowing from the moment.  It was like you couldn’t believe it had happened.

Way to go Ben, way to go.  I’m proud of you!