Replace the soccer balls with water balloons!
We always remember the first and the last major event of a phase during our lifetimes. Grasshopper soccer is absolutely no different. Nearly two years ago, six children were brought together to play soccer and now the children consisting of two girls and four boys are seeing the end of the program as they exit the co-ed phase of the community soccer program. In a world of leaving preschools and entering elementary schools, grasshopper soccer has been a consistent program. With this in mind, the coach as well as the parents decided that in lieu of a regular practice, a party would be thrown instead.
I decided to keep the surprise and listen to my five year express her disappointment of driving past several fast food restaurants without stopping. Although I reassured the girl that she would have dinner, nothing fully prepared her when we pulled into the parking lot to see a gigantic blue soccer ball bouncing from player to player. Before she got out of the booster seat, she clearly realized that this would not be an ordinary, but one for the ages. My daughter joined her peers on the field and played with the soccer ball nearly as big as her until two big coolers were placed in the middle of the field.
The soccer ball was then replaced with water balloons. Many beyond the imagination of a five year old. The children and coaches were no match for the red, blue, green and yellow water balloons soaring through air only to meet their doom when they crashed into their targets. Players were soaked, but when the balloons were no more and their pieces were picked up from the field, a new level of water was unlocked. There were water guns and they sprayed for what appeared to be an eternity. Nothing would be dry and there were no disappointed faces.
When all the children thought that the practice was over, two tables appeared with a feast made for grasshopper soccer players. There were several cheese and pepperoni pizzas with all the juice boxes eight kids would ever need. Sugar cookies lined one side of the table and more than enough push up popsicles. All the children got sugared up and had a party for the ages. Luckily for my little girl, I came prepared with a beach towel and some napkins, for she had an incredible last soccer practice with her fellow teammates of the last two years.
