Earlier this spring in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Some players already were going to stop playing club soccer as they enter middle school and the academic and athletic requirements become more rigorous. That may well be the case with Joe, as he enters 7th grade at MBA this fall. A few others are in the same boat as Joe.
On top of that, Armada's Director, Gabe, foolishly allowed a rift to develop with Mario, the coach of Joe's team, as result of which Mario is leaving for a job as Technical Director at a newly formed soccer club. Unless I miss my guess, many of Joe's teammates will leave Armada and follow Mario to the new soccer club. The best player is likely to join Nashville Soccer Club's Youth Academy, which is a huge loss.
It's unfortunate to see Joe's team break up because it's such a good group of boys and families. The team has grown up together, in a way, in the three years that the boys have been together. Moreover, the team has improved tremendously the last two years under Mario's tutelage. These things happen, of course, in club or travel sports but it's the first time the boys have experienced it.
Yesterday, Joe's Armada team played their first game of a weekend tournament in Franklin. Late in the afternoon, it appeared highly unlikely the game would be played because it pouring rain. I drove to Honest Coffee Roasters about 4 p.m. to get some work done, still dressed for work, waiting for the call that the game was off. Sure enough, the rain stopped and just like that, the game was on. I changed clothes and drove over to the soccer complex on Downs Boulevard.
I missed most of the first half, which was fine because Joe and Liam split halves in goal. Joe usually plays goalie the second half, as was the case yesterday. It turned out to be a beautiful early May evening to watch soccer, although it was a little nippy. When I arrived, Armada was winning 2 - 1. Liam warmed up Joe in goal at halftime as I talked to Liam's dad, Adam, who has become one of my all time favorite soccer friends.
Unlike the first half, Armada's opponent dominated possession most of the beginning of the second half, and Joe had quite a bit of action in goal. He played well. Aggressive, communicative, vocal, and in control. It was probably the most confident I have seen him in goal this season. Thanks to Luke's artistry, Armada scored a couple of goals midway through the second half to lead 4 - 1. Armada added a fifth goal on a nifty pass, almost an alley-oop, from Luke to Hamed that led to goal.
Joe got caught out of position late, having moved up almost to midfield, only to have the other team send the ball upfield quickly to a player who got behind him. The result was an easy goal but in the end, Armada own 5 - 2 in a bit of a laugher.
The best part of the game, for me, was what happened immediately after the referee blew his whistle three times to signal the end of the game. Joe, in his light blue goalie's jersey, sprinted from the goal to our left to midfield, arriving before any of his teammates left the field. Why? So he could give every teammate a handshake as he arrived at Armada's sideline.
That, in essence, is Joe in any sport, on any team, in any athletic contest. A leader. The heart and soul of any team he plays on. A connector. Always supportive of his teammates. I'll say it again. A leader.
The Captain.
I still remember the telephone call I got from Caleb, his Armada soccer team's first coach. Before a weekend tournament in Murfreesboro, he wanted me to know he had named Joe the captain and that he was going to announce it to the team on Saturday morning at the first game. When I asked why, he told me that Joe ran the drills for half of the group at practice, was the most vocal player and the best communicator, and that his teammates respected him.
I was one damn proud father during that telephone call. I was one damn proud father last night, too, watching Joe set his defense on direct or corner kickers, shout encouragement to his teammates during the game, and handle the soccer ball with poise and confidence after making stops in goal. And, of course, watching him congratulate every teammate as they walked off the field after a solid win.
Since Mario arrived and certainly, this season, I'm not sure Joe has officially been designated the captain, although Mario always has been complementary of his leadership skills on our conversations. He doesn't wear the captain's sleeve like he did when he played for Caleb. Actually, no one wears the captain's sleeve so, to me, Joe is still the captain.
I don't know where Joe will go in soccer from here or, for that matter, if he will continue playing. That really hit me for the first time a week or so ago, as Jude and I made plans for the fall and discussed Joe's course load at MBA and the time constraints he will be operating under. If this spring is it, for Joe and this 2012 Armada team, it's been a memorable run and won I am glad I had a front row seat to watch.
The Captain.
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