The Lyons has become the soccer family. Elle has soccer at 11:00 and Emmy has soccer at 1:00. During the hour break, we have a family picnic. We leave the house with the soccer bag, chairs, a packed lunch, rip stick, scooter, helmets and way more than one family needs for three hours at SMIC International School’s field. Emmy usually rip sticks during the 12:00 to 1:00 break with her friend, Avery, who is at the soccer field during her sister’s soccer time.

For Elle, soccer begins with drill practice for about 45 minutes. Elle’s age group only plays a game for about 15 minutes. Elle seems to prefer the drills as she shy away from the “action” of the games. The action is generally all the kids chasing around the ball. Elle must be use to the drill practice as we do play indoor soccer around our dinning room table. The main rule is that the ball MUST stay on the floor…no big goalie kicks.

Emmy is playing with mostly boys from 1:00 to 2:00, which fits her age. There are 4 girls playing at this time. The time of 12:00 to 1:00 is an all-girl league ranging in ages from 6-9. We talked to the coach about what would be best for Emmy. The coach was really nice and said it was up to her if she wanted to play with her friends at 12-1, that would be fine. He than added, she is good enough and even better than many of boys and is capable to play with the boys. He said she may not be challenged with the girls as many of them have never played. She liked that and wants to stay with the boys. All four girls on the this league are all good ball handlers. Emersyn began playing soccer in Hong Kong with the DB Dragons at the age of 4. Coach Dwayne had an amazing soccer programs for kids. Emmy learned so much from his drill practice. She took a three-year break here in Shanghai as it was hard to find a program that she enjoyed as much as DB Dragons.

For Emersyn, soccer is about 30 minutes of drill practice and 30 minutes of game time.