Anton's Last Game for Spring 2009

Anton's team did well, they ranked second for the season. The team ranked first was exceptional with no losses. The Jaguars were actually annihilated the first match with the Lions but came back and tied the second time around. The last game was held at 9 in the morning, however, it was already very hot and humid!

He played mid-field for a small portion of the game,

but then returned to his favored defender position.

Once when the goalie left the box,

Anton was the "man" because the goalie lost control of the ball.

Anton ran into the box and prevented a goal attempt.

As soon as he left the field, he was trying to hydrate as quickly as possible.

It was a good season but now Anton moves up. In many ways I am feeling very positive about this. Anton joined a team in which over half of the boys had been playing soccer with this coach for several years. The coach knew these boys strengths and weaknesses.

Anton being a more resevered boy, did not try to draw a lot of attention to himself,

at least not in the ways of the other boys.

The coach did not know until the last month how agile Anton can be with his dribbling and shielding. Anton's confidence is in his defending, the position he has played for three years, he does not trust himself in the game to move to other positions. This coach really had his hands full with the behavior of some of the boys which made skill learning difficult. With moving up into the higher age bracket, Anton will see a new coach who has no preconceived expectations.

The new coach should be less accommodating to behavior issues

as older boys would be expected to be there to practice or leave.