…nor will we ever pass for British football parents. 

Yeah. no. Though our kid looks super cute second to right there doesn't he? 

The boys tried out British football (soccer) leagues this school year.  Two have opted out for the next term.  One found it a good fit and wants to continue.

Random things we have observed thus far: 

There are two main responses to various plays.  "Well done!" or "Unlucky!"  One of those two phrases are uttered at regular intervals. These are the only two catchwords you need to know to engage from the sidelines. 

The local parents do not sit when watching games.  You can spot the two American families by their folding chairs.  It isn't like everyone else is pacing and cheering.  They stand rooted to the ground as a rule.  I sit.  True confessions?  When it's under 50 degrees and raining and my kid is sitting out for a bit, I sit….in the car.  Don't judge.  They play this game all year round come wind, come rain, come snow.  They are as devoted as the postal service. No weather deters them. This mom is not quite as hardy.  

It helps a lot that they serve hot tea at the games.  Did you know they have portable tea kettles you plug into the car? We noticed when workers around the farm stopped to take tea in the afternoon.  Hot tea.  In the car.  This is way cool to me.  They do not however use to go cups.  They carefully carry small styrofoam cups with steam rising in clouds around their faces. Another way to spot the Americans.  Giant to-go cups. 

For the first few games I was sure my sons would lose a limb, or at least teeth. Some of the other boys would writhe on the ground screeeeeaming and clutching their legs or bellies.  The adults around us seemed unmoved by their pain. It was disturbing.  Until I realized the same boys would be up and running as vigorously the next play.  My kids explained this is 'diving' where they exaggerate a fall to cause a penalty.  Nice.  

Water seems to be the remedy of choice for any ill that befalls a player.  Land on your leg wrong?  Throw some water on it.  Take a ball to the face?  Pour some water on the kid.  Outdoor temperature seems not to factor in here either.  

Best soccer/football story to date happened at an under 9s game.  One boy had said something disrespectful to a referee.  His mother took an arm and proceeded to drag him across the pitch to the car.  He laid on the ground, being pulled along, biting her ankle.  I must add this was pretty shocking to the British parents as well. 

We are getting on to it all.  Kieran is loving every bit. He has learned more and developed more drive and discipline this term than in many years of playing team sports.  It's just super different from anything we have done so far and something he will always remember about living here. No matter how many sights you see, nothing compares to actually jumping in to your local community.