The joys of coaching first-timers

My husband is coaching our 6-year-old's soccer team.
Although this will be Pat's sixth year coaching soccer, it has been a few years since we have had a soccer player in the family. It has been longer still since we have had a soccer player in the 5- and 6-year-old age group.
"This will be great," Pat said after the first practice. He had been a little nervous as he was getting ready to meet his team, hunting for his whistle and trying to locate the orange cones he had used with his previous teams. But his nerves were soothed as he met the parents, all very nice, and saw the enthusiasm of his little team.
Turns out, "enthusiasm" is this team's greatest quality.
Pat looked a bit concerned when he walked through the door after his second practice.
"I was trying to teach them about staying in their lanes," he said, shaking his head. "I don't think they understand."
"You have forgotten what it is like to coach 5- and 6-year-olds," I responded, laughing. "They never stay in their lanes. They run in a herd down the field from one end to the other."
Still shaking his head, he said, "One little girl came in a cheerleading outfit." He said it more as a question than a statement. He was very befuddled by it.
As soccer practices continued, Pat would often come home looking confused and concerned about the well-being of his team.
"When I put them in place to block the goal, they don't move unless the ball comes right at them," he observed a common characteristic of all his players.
Getting into position to join the herd
Some players, however, had their own little quirks. "She only practices for a little while, then she sits with her mother." Sometimes, there were tears on the field. Other times, practice had to be stopped so that shoelaces could be tied.
"They'll be fine," I reassured Pat as game day approached.
"Fine" may have been an overstatement.
They arrived at the field on a crisp, Saturday morning looking like professionals. Thirteen little black shirts all neatly tucked into red shorts. (Even the cheerleader put away her skirt for the day.) The excitement was building as shin guards and cleats were inspected by the referees.
The first clue that our team might experience some difficulties came when it took them 8 1/2 minutes to line up for the kickoff. A coach bodily placed each child in his or her position.
Once the ball was in play, our team looked like deer in headlights.
"They don't seem to understand the concept," I said to a mother sitting next to me.
Upon the urging of their coach yelling, "Kick it that way!" they joined the herd that was headed straight for our goal.
Lesson to be learned:Don't score for other side
I don't know how many saves our tough, little goalie made that day, but I believe it may have been a league record.
The entire first half was played in front of our goal, little feet kicking furiously in the herd and Pat now yelling while pointing to the other end of the field, "Kick it that way -- HARD!"
At half-time it was 3-0. (Not bad, all things considered.)
I don't know what Pat said to his team during the break, but they came out like gangbusters in the second half. The jitters were gone and they were a force to be reckoned with. Now that they had half a game under their belts, they seemed to understand their purpose -- though not all understood direction.
The herd battled back and forth on the field. One of our players would break away and the parents would cheer with all our might. One of their players would respond and we would shout encouragement.
Technically, the final score was 4-1, but we consider it to be 3-2.
After several attempts, much to the chagrin of her teammates, one little girl on our team managed to kick the ball past our goalie into our goal.
She was thrilled -- as was the other team.
It was a fine goal, kicked with enthusiasm. And it is a goal that will forever serve as a reminder to Pat of the one lesson you don't want to forget to teach to 5- and 6-year-old soccer players.
gwhite@vindy.com