I know there are two sides to every story.
But, I also happen to know that my side is the right one.
Backtrack with me … to two years ago … when La Petite Belle was on a winning soccer team. This team was filled with girls that had been playing soccer together since they were six years old. They were all great friends and loved their coach.
(Soccer … the early years.)
It was a happy time …
Until the day that one uber-competitive, arrogant dad decided he wanted to take his daughter and a few other of the better players off the team to start his own super team. Yes, this was seven and eight-year-old girls at the time. Seven and eight-year-olds. Seriously?
This dad was the same dad that screamed at his daughter every game. And, I’m not talking about good screaming like, “Good job,” or “Nice try.” The other kind.
His daughter cried or stomped her feet every time the game was not going our way.
Well, long story short, La Petite Belle’s original coach moved away …
(A truly, loving great coach.) 
… and she went into the draft this fall. She got selected by another team that was also quite a good team.
I was concerned that she might not get to play as much because the team was pretty solid.
Wrong. She has excelled beyond my wildest dreams. This coach has pushed her and really taught her how to handle the ball even better than she did before and with lots of positive reinforcement.
La Petite Belle’s team played this nasty coach’s team a few weeks ago. This coach screamed like you would not believe and even told his daughter to knock my daughter down. To which I screamed to La Petite Belle to not let that girl knock her down. They were losing. His daughter cried the whole game and had a horrible attitude. It was ridiculous. These are nine-year-old girls. Nine-year-olds.
Well, La Petite Belle played her last game of the season yesterday against that same team.
La Petite Belle’s team was undefeated going into this game, so there was a little pressure.
La Petite Belle mentioned she had butterflies in her stomach.
I am happy to say that, despite being knocked down to the ground and being behind at half-time, La Petite Belle scored a goal, which helped her team to tie with the other team.
Because La Petite Belle’s team beat the other team once before, their team still remains number one in the league in her age bracket.
They finish out the season undefeated and will be heading to a big tournament the first weekend of December.
La Petite Belle said that this was the best game she ever played and she was right. I had actual heart palpitations nearly every time she had the ball.
Only dilemma we’ll be running into is that this new coach will also not be returning and La Petite Belle may have to go into the draft again next fall.
Lord, please do not let her get put on the nasty, mean coach’s team.
Oh, and because I’ve been doing this all weekend (soccer, church, church, church, church, soccer), I wasn’t able to cook anything for Linda’s “Fall into Flavor.” We’ve eaten nothing but fast food and junk. Boo. But, go on over to get some great recipes.
And, on Friday’s post, I’ve got some thoughts I’ll share later once I get through the massive paragraphs … um, I mean comments.
I don't know why you wouldn't want LaPetite Belle on the nasty mean coache's team…..don't you want her to learn to punch girls out and pull them down by their pony tail braids? haha….just kidding 🙂
I'd like to say that coaches that scream and children that shove others are a rarity but they aren't. It is disappointing to say the least. There is a positive way to coach children and I wish my boys would have had some of those coaches. We just dealt with this same pathetic situation on a Christian team. Disappointed? Heartbroken? Yes, especially for my children. The Bible says that is better for someone to put a millstone around their neck and through themselves into the depths of the sea than to hurt a child. I hate to be harsh but adults need to see the privilege it is to speak into a young person's life. May we all learn from situations like this and help our children to overcome bullying adults. Thanks for the post. I feel less alone after reading this.
Much love!
Congrats to your daughter's team!!
La Petite: You make all moms proud.
I wish Skibbie would quit playing soccer for all the reasons you just described, but she loves it.