Goalies

Almost my whole family plays soccer. I do, two brothers don't, two brothers do, and all four sisters do.

Most of us play up in front, because all the glory in soccer goes to those who score goals. Let's face it! My older sister and I make a killer forward line complete with intricate trick plays. Other siblings play midfield, and some have dabbled in defence, I think. But Jack, my youngest brother, is dead set on goalie.

Goalie? Who on earth would want to play goalie? It's all stress! When you get scored on, the other team erupts in cheers. I can't imagine ever choosing to play goalie in any sport. But Jack loves it. He continually calls me over to the computer to watch youtube videos of goalie highlight reels. Sometimes I see him in his room acting out goalie moves, and diving to make saves (though nobody is in the room shooting on him.) He just loves goalie.

In hockey, they don't let people play exclusively goalie until they're about 10, so for now he has to be satisfied just in the team rotation schedule for different positions. In soccer though, he was asked to try out for the select team, and he made it as goalie. He loves the gloves. He loves wearing a special jersey. He loves running out, or making wild dives.

He's a big, aggressive, fast guy with really good footwork skills. Part of me really wants to encourage him to forget this goalie nonsense and play centre midfield or something. But another part of me is so proud of him, for making his own independent decisions about what he likes, even though he's only 7.

I went to a tournament this weekend to watch him play. OH MAN, it is tough to be cheering for the goalie. It's like, do you want people to shoot on him? Yeah, you kind of do. But only easy shots. But also you want the ball to be far away, in the other team's end, right? So then my poor goalie is bored the whole game. Then there was this other kid on his team who was clearly the best player on the field, and was also ADORABLE. And every time the crowd of parents (including me) cheered for something this kid did, I also knew that Jack was better than this guy. I want him to play out, and score all the goals, and be a hilarious ball hog.

He also gets really sad when he is scored on. He beats himself up, and turns it into his own mistake instead of realizing it was the defender who gave a break away, or etc. Jack-man! No! Don't be sad! I just want him to be happy! Man, the position of goalie just seems so lose-lose. But he loves it! I am so CONFLICTED.