Greenville's Elite Cobras soccer

Yesterday was City of Greenville’s Youth Soccer Night, which made for an exciting Tuesday night, especially factoring in the thunderstorms that moved through later on in the evening. It was the final soccer game for Lauris and Mikus, and after receiving awards for their participation this season we headed downtown to the Kroc Center.

The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Community Center is minutes from downtown, just west of the city on S. Academy Street. The fields beyond are home to the Carolina Elite Cobras, a privately owned women’s professional amateur soccer franchise under the leadership of head coach Andrew Hyslop. The Cobras compete in the Southeastern Conference of the USL W-League, and last night had a game against the Charlotte Lady Eagles.

The City of Greenville youth soccer players had the honor of escorting the Cobras onfield for the National Anthem before the start of the game. The little kids looked tiny against the giant green field, but little miniature versions of the players with their shin guards and jerseys. Once the game started they scattered, some to watch the game, some to play in the kids area.

If you’re coming to watch the game, there are bleachers available for seating but many spectators had brought folding chairs for a more comfortable sit. Slices of pizza and hot dogs were for sale in addition to water and a few other options, and the restroom facilities inside the Kroc Center are available for use.

It was nearing the end of the first half with the Cobras trailing by two points when the first peals of thunder sounded off in the distance. Not too long after the ref called a 30-minute halt to the game, but we couldn’t stick around to see if the game would resume – bedtime was rapidly approaching for the little soccer fans.

The Elite Cobras head to Dayton for a game against the Dutch Lions Saturday, but will be back in Greenville in a few weeks for a game against the Braddock Road team out of Virginia. Their final home game of the season will be on July 11^th against Charlotte. For more information on the Greenville Elite Cobras, please visit their website. 

It’s not easy being a soccer mom!

We jumped at the opportunity to enroll Lauris in a soccer program here in Greenville. Soccer is the sport he has shown most interest in playing, and as he’ll turn five next year we thought an organized sport would be a great opportunity for him to practice his English, interact with other kids and learn player/coach dynamics. Having dismissed Saturday leagues as they would eat up our family time, and some other options as simply being too far for us to drive once a week, the City of Greenville Parks & Rec youth soccer program seemed perfect.

With the coed U4 (for 3 year olds), U6 (ages 4-5), U8 (ages 6-7) and U10 (ages 8-9) divisions, the program covered a wide range of experience and age. U6 met Tuesday evenings in nearby Holmes Park for eight weeks: the first four covering the basics, the last four being non-competitive games. We ended up out on the field yesterday (despite it being week 10) as two evenings were rained out and rescheduled. Vilis was still very young the first weeks, so Lauris was accompanied by Mikus and dad or vecmamma Inga, who declared that never in her life had she been a soccer mom – “the things we do for our grandchildren!” Vilis and I made it to all four games, and so it came about that I learned how it really is to be that “soccer mom.”

The program is really focused on having fun and learning the fundamentals of soccer. There was no score kept during the games (although believe you me, the boys knew exactly how many goals had been scored and by which teams), and more attention was paid to skill development and encouraging the love of soccer in these young kids than to strategy and winning. I love how excited Lauris got about soccer, and the nights it rained he was heartbroken that practice was cancelled but already babbling about how great the next week would be.

But he is also 4 years old, and this is the reason why it’s hard being a soccer mom. It was clear from the beginning that no negativity would be tolerated from the parents, and a notice was sent out that the general philosophy was to build on qualities, techniques and skills of enrichment such as sportsmanship, teamwork, character, development, encouragement and fun. I think this is important for kids as young as Lauris, because it is easy to discourage kids from wanting to participate, but HOLY COW was it hard not to say anything!!!  As a completely normal four year old, we had lying down on the field, inattentiveness to the ball and the game being played, a certain amount of chopping, wiggling and other goofing off, and the sort of stuff that drives a competitive spirit nuts!

So although there is the voice in the back of my head saying “we need to work on that” and “come on already, chase the ball not your shadow,” I’m proud of my little cleated Lion in green. Not only did he kick in the very first goal in the very first game, but he earned his first trophy and team shirt. We learned about kicking, dribbling and passing, and tried (mostly successfully) to give Coach our attention. Lauris played on a team for the first time, and he told anyone who would listen about the team, practice, the last game, the next game and the fun he is having for three months straight. Not only has he decided (already) that he wants to be a soccer player when he grows up, we’ve already registered him for basketball per his request. And now that we know we have such a wonderful program almost in our backyard, we’ll be registering Mikus next year for the U4 program – maybe by then I’ll have learned the proper soccer mom game-time cheers!

For information on the City of Greenville Parks and Rec department and the programs they sponsor please visit their website and facebook page. 

Oh Canada!

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Building a Canada day bonfire

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Trees were hanging off of power lines into late afternoon

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