Three Kids and a Dog: The End of an Era

Almost seven years ago, I received an email about tryouts for a traveling soccer team. I knew at that time that Austen needed more than just recreational soccer. The 1 hour practice a week and short games on Saturdays were not going to cut it for my 7 year old.

Austen's Last Wizard Game

When I first broached the subject to Austen, he was resistant to trying out; afraid he wouldn't know anyone. I eventually got him to agree and I remember pulling up to that tryout and getting out of the car with him and then him seeing one of his friends from his rec team who was also trying out and then from there he was off and running - literally.

He made that team and what followed was a very special experience for not only him but for the parents as well. Austen learned so much led by some really great coaches. The foot skills he has are a testament to those early days of doing skill after skill and their coaches encouraging them to try them in games. It wasn't about winning or losing at that time; it was about their development. To this day, I still have people ask me where Austen learned all of his foot skills and I say it's because they started so young that now he can throw a chop, or a Maradonna or some other move in a game without even thinking about it because they learned them so young (although as they've gotten older they don't have as much time in a game to use those moves but when under pressure or taking someone 1 v. 1 or in futsal, Austen showcases those skills).

Anyway, as Austen grew up, some players left, new players were acquired and the team became really strong and playing in the top levels at their age group. They went to Italy, Florida, Arizona and many other tournaments. The parents got close and the boys grew closer.

But like so many good things sometimes they need to come to an end. It was time. After 7 years, we made the hard choice to leave our beloved Wizard FC and move to a different club that had even better players and were playing at a much higher level.

This is the next chapter in Austen's soccer story and hopefully the last until the end of high school. I'm excited for what his new team can do and what he can learn from his new teammates and coaches. They've welcomed him with open arms as he's been practicing with them this summer and included him and other new teammates in their end of the season celebration (Austen was so thrilled to get a cookie with his name on it!). I think it feels like the makings of another close team for him and that we made the right decision for his next five years of play.

So here's to our new Galaxy player #48 - (they assign numbers so he didn't get his signature #18 but we're sure happy it ends in an 8!) may you become all you want to be in this sport!