Soccer + Snow = Snoccer?
Posted by Sarah Raggio“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.“
While this quote typically pertains to mail carriers, it could also be applied to some of our 5th graders. This winter, I was continually amazed outside at recess, that this community of students was able to organize, play and officiate a soccer game, independently, each and every day. It was so refreshing to witness kids, simply being kids, with the autonomy and skills to execute this feat. So often we monitor and officiate kids, on and off the field, that it is hard for them to develop these skills, but so impressive when they do.
All winter, and I know it wasn’t much of a winter, I would watch them shed their outerwear in the “heat” of the competition and look back at the teachers and smile, as if asking if that was okay to do. The teachers could have intervened and asked them to put them back on, but we respected their choices, even though we were bundled up on the sidelines. If they were able to organize and play without our help, why should we presume we knew what their body temperatures were reading and whether or not they needed their coats? Even that lone day of snow didn’t dampen their spirit to play!
The debates over the score were spirited at times, and there were a few disagreements, but each and every time they played, they were able to move past their losses and disappointments and abandon them right out there on the field. After the bell was rung, they would all run back into the building with the same, broad smiles that I saw when they ran out to the field to play at the beginning of the period.
The competition was fierce and the velocity with which the ball traveled through the air was truly remarkable at times. I have to admit, they did strike a few random targets by accident, but nothing too serious. It was all just part of the fun! Way to go 5th!
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