Playing on the Pitch

Did you know a soccer field is called a pitch?  I didn't either until this weekend.  Derek proudly informed me of this little nugget of information.  Payton is in week three of her soccer career, and I have mixed emotions about it.  Don't get me wrong.  She loves it!!!  She is a little competitive spit fire.  She is also pretty good at it.  For example, last Saturday her team won 5-2.  Payton scored all five goals and the only time she was out was when the two goals were scored on her team.  Am I proud of my kid?  Yes.  However, I am starting to worry.  She is so dominating that I know at some point she is going to brought back down to earth.  I always talked to her before and after the games about the most important things are that she participates and has fun.  Then she always throws in the fact about winning and scoring goals.  That is where my gut check comes into play.  I feel like there is a fine line.  I don't want to discourage her, and I want her to know how proud I am of her when she does score.  BUT.....................what's going to happen when (if) she doesn't score a goal or her team doesn't win?  She is so happy when her team wins and she scores goals.  Also, she is even happier when she makes a save.  She is so determined to score and not let the other team score that it is both awesome and scary to watch.  Also, she is a good team player.  Although, last week she dominated she also is not a ball hog.  She is the right mix of aggressive, competitive, and fast.  I think one of Derek's proudest moments as a parent came last weekend.  Derek was walking the sideline of the pitch and the other team had the ball.  Out of nowhere Payton came and got the ball away and turned it around down the field to score.  Derek overheard one of the other parents on the other team say, "Wow, that number 9 has some jets on her."

I guess what I am struggling with is her being so good at it right now.  Yes, I realize she is only four.  Yes, I want my child to excel in whatever she does.  Yes, I want my child to realize the importance of team play and competition. Yes, I want my child to play sports and make her body strong and athletic.  However, all that being said, I don't think I am ready for the heartbreak that may come when she isn't the goal scoring machine. Since Payton is an only child, she naturally gets all our attention and will always be our superstar.  I just wish (I know this may sound bad) that she learns the lesson early in life that it is not always about her.  We are trying to make that clear at home, but it is hard when at soccer she gets all the positive attention from other parents as well.  She is associating winning and scoring goals with positive feedback from her coaches, other parents, and us.  I have no idea if this makes any sense.  Like I said, I want my child to excel and to the best she can.  However, I don't want her to think fun equals winning.  I feel like I am rambling.

Derek just says to enjoy it now.  If she has a game where her team loses then we will judge her reaction and go from there.  I know that is the right course of action, but I still struggle with it.

Two more interesting snippets from last Saturdays game:

1)  Each team has about nine kids on the team with two to three girls on each team.  It is always one of the boys that has the massive melt downs during the games.  Crying, not wanting to play etc....  The girls are always better at listening and so chilled.

2)  Warning...... Derek is great.  He is an assistant coach.  He goes to all the games.  However, Derek is competitive as well.  Last Saturday, the only two goals were scored by another girl on their team when Payton was out.  This girl was adorable, but also had about two feet over all the other kids.  She was TALL.  When Payton was out and the two goals went down, Derek called Payton over to him.  I am not sure what exactly was said, but I do know the tall girl didn't score anymore goals and Payton proudly announced (in the car ride home) that she scored three goals on her and not "just two."  Hmmmm...........