Awful Moments in Soccer - Selection #1

Dreams and Dreamers

Soccer parents stopped by our office under the auspices of dropping off paperwork, getting paperwork – anything to do with paperwork. Usually, they just wanted to talk about their kid. I didn’t roll my eyes as I wrote that. They should want to talk about their kid. What they choose to discuss, well, that’s another subject.

The dad leaned into the room, got himself comfortable. “I’m a big Man United fan. So is Adam (his 12-year-old son). Adam will play for them one day, but his other choices are AC Milan or Juventus. Ashley, (his 14-year-old daughter) she’s going to be the youngest player ever on the Women’s National Team.”

“I love it,” I responded. “When I was a kid there wasn’t soccer on TV, so I was all about football. I was positive I was going to be a running back for the Packers or The Houston Oilers. I liked the Chargers, but you know with Air Coryell and Dan Fouts, they didn’t run the ball enough for a kid of my talents.”

The dad didn’t flinch, “Adam figures he’ll be a holding midfielder. Ashley doesn’t expect to play right away but eventually she’ll be one of their center backs.”

“You’re serious?” I instinctively responded.

“Yes, we are. We practice for it every day.”

He talked a while longer explaining their training regimen, a combination of skill work, fitness, video sessions and certifiable lunacy. I didn’t say much, his mind was made up. Somehow, he never learned, dreams can be dreams – they don’t need to come true.