Well Behaved Women Rarely Make History

In this Very Special Episode of the Houserspawn(tm) blog, our coverage expands to include our extended family in Maryland, where my cousin Richard reports that his daughter Natalie and her 2nd-seeded Maryland Terps basketball team went 8-2 in their league tournament last week, beating out seven other teams and winning the 8-year-old girls league championship.

Natalie won the team's "most feared player" award, made the league All-Star team, and perhaps most impressively, was the only player in the league to foul out of a game.

Big congrats to Natalie from your cousins up North!

Basketball Season Opener

Zach played his first official basketball game of his season last weekend.

He didn't touch the ball much, but he worked hard and played pretty solid defense. This season could a be tough one for Zach, as he's still developing his basic basketball skills, and he's playing against kids who are almost all older and bigger than him (as evidenced by the photo showing Zach, #8, playing defense against the black team.)

In light of this situation, Team Houserspawn added a supplementary provision to Zach's contract, allowing him the opportunity to earn a milkshake at Nifty Fifty's following each game where he scores a basket.

He's going to need to keep working at putting himself in a position where he has a chance to score. But hey, when milkshakes are involved, anything's possible.

(Epilogue: Zach's Maroon Team won their first game vs. the Black Team, 16-15.)

Sunday Soccer Highlights

(My apologies for yet another soccer post. I'm increasingly aware that I'm becoming an insufferable Soccer Dad).

Zach and Phoebe's Red Team played the Black Team to a 1-1 draw in their game today.

Phoebe's game continues to improve -- she got more playing time than usual today, and she kept after the ball the entire time she was on the field. She even tried to muscle in front of a much bigger kid while jockeying for position on a throw-in. That's my girl.

Zach's scoring streak extended to three games, as he scored the only Red Team goal. He actually created several scoring chances for himself by working hard, being steadfast in pursuing the play, and playing with a measure of reckless abandon. It is so satisfying to see him have some success this year. I'm proud of my boy.

On the other hand, I'm on the hook for another milkshake, thanks to Zach's goal.

Further evidence that I am becoming an insufferable Soccer Dad:

First, "Soccer" now the most 4th most frequently used label on the Houserspawn(tm) blog, after "Phoebe", "Ben", and "Zach".

Second, I turned down Linda's offer to let me catch the kickoff of the Eagles game this afternoon in order to watch Zach and Phoebe's soccer team play. Frankly, I'm enjoying Red Team soccer more than Eagles football these days.

He Shoots, He Scores

Zach scored his first career soccer goal yesterday in his team's game against the Green Team.

Before the game, Coach Vince told Zach that he had a good feeling about him today, and asked him if he thought he could put the ball in the net for him. Zach told him he could, and Coach started him at center.

The game was tied 1-1 when, in the 2nd quarter, the Green goalie misplayed a ball in front of the net, and Zach was there to put it in.

The call (provided by me, while pacing the sidelines and screaming like some kind of unhinged lunatic) went something like this:

"GO, ZACH, THAT'S YOUR BALL! GO GET IT! GO GET IT! SHOOT! SHOOT! SHOOT!"

"Did it go in? Did it go in the net? YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAHHHHH!"

His goal put the Red Team up 2-1, and they never looked back. Final score: Red Team 4, Green Team 1.

After the game, the kids and I enjoyed a celebratory meal of burgers, chicken nuggets, and milkshakes at Nifty Fifty's.

Three more weeks in the season - here's hoping for more trips to Nifty's before the season's done.

Soccer Star

Last year, Zach (at 6 years old) was one of the youngest kids on his soccer team. (The age range is from 6-8 years old.) He did ok, but most of the other kids were older, stronger, and faster, and so Zach didn't play very aggresively, and wasn't a big part of the action.

This year, it's a different story. Zach is much more confident, and has a much better grasp of what's happening on the field. Even more than that, he isn't nearly as passive as he was last year. He's not afraid to get after the ball and challenge the players on the opposing team.

In his game last Sunday, he even had a nice scoring opportunity (where his shot hit the post). Last year, shots on goal just didn't happen for him, as he was always a step or two behind the play.

Zach's team lost 3-2, but I was pretty proud of our soccer star.

Houserspawn(tm) United

This is Team Houserspawn(tm) after their first soccer practice of the season.

My primary goal for next practice is to get shin pads and cleats on all three kids in under 30 minutes.

Most Determined

Zach was recognized at his Swim Team Banquet (if hot dogs and burgers on the lawn by the pool counts as a banquet) last weekend. He got the award for Most Determined.

Given that we have been emphasizing the importance of hard work with Zach since reading this (highly recommended) article several months ago, his Most Determined award is most welcome.