Last night was the Maple Dips (Zion and Jacoba’s soccer team that I coach) last regular season game.
Our two leading scorers this year are Zion and another boy named Tiago. If Zion isn’t scoring two goals in a game, then Tiago is and if one of the players are not at the game, the other usually tucks in three. Because they are both very strong players I hadn’t put them on the same shift all year.
Until yesterday.
The game was close and we were down by one goal, 4-3. For a bunch of 5 and 6 year olds having fun, for some, the score is important. After the third quarter, I announced who would be on the field and in that line up Tiago and Zion would be on the same line for the last half of the fourth quarter.
Immediately both boys looked at eachother. They smiled. They nodded. They knew what was going to happen.
Right at that moment, the look of two friendly yet competitive 6 year olds made me long for Marisa. Marisa would have been proud of that look.
The look of the boys rang true. The Maple Dips won 7-4.
MdH
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August 12, 2008 at 8:12 pm
the Elzinga's
Thanks for being such an AWESOME coach Mendelt!
You encourage, inspire and drive those little timbits – even the ones who are picking flowers and playing in the dirt.
Marisa would have been proud of you too.
Peace from the Elzinga FC
*Gavin was so pumped to score his first goal last night too!
August 12, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Astraea
Go, Maple Dips!!!
August 13, 2008 at 7:14 am
Ann @ Holy Experience
This brought tears…
I drove by a cemetery the other day, leafy, dappled light falling on grass and engraved stones.
And I thought of those three young trees of yours growing close.
Keep leaning on the Tree that will not give way…
Much love…
All’s grace,
Ann
August 14, 2008 at 6:19 am
Skip
Good work, Coach! Don’t forget your roots when the big league chocolate dips start calling.
Way to go Zion! Your mom is proud of you. We all are.
August 15, 2008 at 8:38 am
Matt
YES! That 10K I put on the Maple Dips at the beginning of the year is going to do me well! Way to go Zion and Tiago and Jacoba and all the other Maple Dips.
M
August 15, 2008 at 9:48 am
Jennifer (Geerts) Brennan
Way to go, boys! good move Coach!
August 15, 2008 at 4:03 pm
shadywilbury
Congratulations to the Maple Dips….sorry I am late in commenting, I have been away for some time.
August 23, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Margaret (Van der Veen) Van der Meulen
Congrats, Maple Dips! Good decision, Coach Mendelt!
Remember, Marisa watched that game too! 🙂
August 23, 2008 at 9:51 pm
tracey wiersma
I heard your halftime show at your final game. it made me laugh. only hoekstra’s would think of that!