Check out this post entitled “The Poverty of Running” by a young soccer Dad and coach named Chris Hall. He is part of the new breed of American soccer coaches . . . parents who have actually PLAYED the beautiful game!





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His blog is fun to read and his insights are sometimes contrary to the norm, which can actually make you stop and think.

I’m glad to have stumbled across his website and I hope you will enjoy it, too!

Put down the novels and newspapers and letter-writing-catching up! Stop practicing phonics with your little kids while older sibling practices.

Step out of those minivans!

The New York Times has revealed that moms who play soccer remain healthier and stronger,  longer.  Bone density issues can actually be delayed or reversed, according to a study in the NYT this Friday.

A Mom named Mir Kamin has created a list of ten conversation starters to help (re)connect with your kids in just 10 minutes at a time. Sounds ideal for the drive to soccer practice. These are slightly twisted enough (like the dog question) to elicit audible responses from your kids. And if you have carpool buddies in the car with you, the conversation might even get hilarious.

Do you have a guaranteed conversation starter? Help out all your carpool-driving sisters and please, spill!

I would love to see the trends spelled out as to where soccer players go to play college soccer. If you kick out the obvious, like community colleges tend to draw in-state students,  and regional factors (how many Alabamans survive more than one season in Massachusetts?), I wonder if certain coaches have bias for and/or against local kids.

If I could bottle this knowledge I’d make a fortune selling it to parents of 11-graders. (”No, Junior, I will NOT drive you to look at the University of Nine-States-Away.  You KNOW that coach never recruits from our region.”)

I could market my knowledge thusly: “Save on Hotels and Gas! Learn which college trips are a waste of your time!”

The women’s soccer coach at Colorado University made headlines because his incoming class is composed of — gasp!— all Colorado players!

C’mon, Doyle, get Mom that calculator before the X-Box self-destructs!

Maybe it’s a good thing that I only drove Holmes in our plain ole car (rather than the shiny red Odyssey I covet) on our recent college visits.

* Do not underestimate the soccer played at junior colleges in the United States. The rosters are filled with international players/recent immigrants and they are GOOD.

Cynical College Coaches?

Here is part I of a two-parter written by a couple of longtime Junior College Coaches–very successful coaches, I might add.  I laughed out loud at some of these, nodded knowingly at others, and was VERY glad that my webcam was turned off so as not to capture my red face for a few.

Yep, the all-knowing Watsons goofed a few times while shopping our boys.  Minor ones, I think. Like point #14:

The player looks like he is 12 years old in the photo. Sure, no problem going one on one against a 26-year-old international player.

I hope you enjoy the mildly cynical comments that accompany this list. Forewarned is forearmed!

When baby #3 got here, we needed a minivan. We got an outrageous deal on a used Dodge Caravan (Grand Caravan, I might add).

When that died (3 steps ahead of the EPA citing us for noxious fumes), we bought a brand-new one–same color even. (Yes, the Watsons are boring.)

Fast forward to a few more licensed drivers in the home, and there was little justification for getting another van. EXCEPT that Mom wanted one.

So we have been driving cars for a few years now. Plain ole cars. And there is nowhere for me to place my handbag or computer bag or books when Doyle and friends need rides.

I really miss that space between the seats in the minivan. Can’t I have one more before Doyle gets his license in a few years?
I want this one. In red.

And I promise to keep it clean for resale.

Taylor Swift as a Minnesota Soccer Mom

No offense Minnesota Moms, I think the accents are sketchy.

In one of the largest, longest and most drawn-out campaigns of all time, the U.S. Bid Committee for a bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2018 or 2022 has named 18 host cities.

Charlotte is not included. Neither are Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Jacksonville, Oakland, Orlando, St. Louis and San Francisco. But since our youngest will be out of college by time the games get here, I guess Mr. Watson and I can travel to Nashville or Atlanta to catch some of the action!

The next level of competition is to determine which of the 18 cities will host the finals, etc. Catch the action at The Game Is In Us (get it? Us=U.S.) and sign the petition to bring the games back to the U.S.

If you care to donate to this cause, by the way, the bumper stickers are quite cool. (I grabbed a few free ones at a tournament in November).

Comment below: where will YOU be in 2018 or 2022? And did your city make the cut?

Reactions in the Watson household:
17-year-old: That was an accident.
13-year-old: Why didn’t the keeper get it?

What say YOUR kids?