Three Kids and a Dog: IU Soccer Camp

Drop Off Day!

Oh my heart! How I have loved each and every year that Austen has gone to IU soccer camp. Now, there were two years of misses in there for COVID where they didn't conduct the camp but the four blissful summers where he (I) got to go down to IU for a few days and walk around my campus again was absolutely magical even in the blistering Bloomington heat.

This was the first year that Tom drove him (and his friend) down on Thursday (and then Tom came back the same day). The girls had camps and Tom has the electric car that was a bit more economical for said road trip. Plus, we were returning on Saturday to do our usual IU walk around, dinner and meet friends for drinks before the games on Sunday morning so I didn't need to put double the miles on my car.

This was also the first year where Austen didn't have a huge crew going to camp with him. It was just him and his soccer bestie (we were the only ones who remembered to sign up early and all others drew the waitlist card and didn't get in). But they said it was probably their most fun year yet so I'm glad they ended on that note.

The heat for once, was not brutal during camp. One of my BFFs from college contacted me that her son (who is good friends with the IU soccer coach and interning as director of operations for the team) was going to be there working the camp so he got to meet Austen again (they haven't seen each other for about 9 years now and they both look a lot different). Austen's team got to play against some of the real IU players and he said they were insane. That's about right for this amazing soccer program where they finished as NCAA finalists last year and have multiple NCAA championships under their belt.

Anyway, we met up with my friend and her husband for drinks (like I do almost every year) as they live close to Bloomington, and then her son came and met us out, and filled us in on Austen's performance against the real IU players (ha ha!). He was playing left wing (winger) and he said he was fast down the line and had some dangerous crosses into the box. Almost had one too.

Austen's report was that was the best part of the camp - getting to play against those IU players! He also said he played almost every position on the field. His evaluation was a solid one but needs to improve on being that vocal leader on the field which he is when he gets comfortable. He's not that vocal leader from the get go. He likes to feel things out to see where he fits in and then lead. However, going into his junior year, he needs to be a more commanding presence on the field in those uncomfortable and new situations as he will not have the luxury of days to prove to college coaches at camps that he is indeed vocal.

During the Sunday morning games (on IU's Memorial Stadium), his team didn't do so well but Austen said they were in pretty much last place all week heading into the camp's "World Cup" but ended up taking third when Austen tied up the game, scoring on a direct kick. He's definitely dangerous there. He can put it in from distance and likes to read the keeper and the wall. If I were the opposing team, I wouldn't be giving any free kicks anywhere outside the box (and he prefers it not to be too close as he has more room to curve the ball or do whatever he needs to do).

Lots of room to work on those shots, his leadership and his PKs when he begins his fall high school season. Actually, he's already been running, working out and going to the fields (in between his golf game).

Big year ahead of him!