Soccer, so much more than just a sport

I have been playing soccer for almost as long as I have been walking.  I honestly cannot remember a time in my life when it was not there.  I really would not have imagined all those years ago in my youth, that I would still be playing, but alas, this too is true.  It has taken on a whole new level for me as an adult.  When I was younger, I had the most amazing experiences through this sport.  This amazing sport that is the most beloved past time of the entire WORLD!  I traveled to Europe to play in International tournaments.  I stayed with an amazing family on a pig farm for an extended period of time in Denmark while playing there.  

My parents in turn, hosted Danish soccer players when I was in high school (much to my brother and his friends delight).  Later, when I was in college, my parents also hosted players from El Salvador who had come to play in a cultural exchange and good will tournament with a team I was playing on.  These experiences were amazing.  I have had pen pals in many countries in the world due to my soccer experiences.

I am now experiencing soccer with my children. This has given soccer a whole new level of meaning for me as I experience it through their eyes.  I have been coaching my kids here in Foster City for the past 5 years. 3 years ago, I was asked by a friend if I would be wiling to host an English soccer player/coach.  For those of you involved in A.Y.S.O., you are very familiar with the groups of English guys, and occasional girls, who start arriving in the summer to host camps, and then assist with coaching come fall.  Remembering the incredible experiences I had with the players my parent’s hosted, and a “hard” sell to my husband, we were in.  7 players later, and here we are!

We have hosted for 3 falls, and are on our 2nd summer.  Most have come back to visit, and all still regularly e-mail, referring to us as their “American” family.  Our kids call them the “English boys” (though we have also had a lovely Irishman) and look forward to their visits immensely.  We now even have our first Peruvian!  We have had players from all over England, and my husband, who is a HUGE history buff, has had many a late night discussion with these lads.  We have taken them everywhere from the SF Zoo, to the wine country, to the pumpkin patch in Half Moon Bay at Halloween, to the free Friday night concerts right here in our fair city.  Exposing our kids to different cultures has been an incredible experience for them, and we hope, will make them more well rounded and curious and interested in other cultures and travel.

So, if you have a friend come calling asking you to host an English or perhaps Irish, or even Peruvian soccer coach, keep this in mind………When you are exhausted after a long day, but still have to cook dinner, or wash the never ending laundry, wouldn’t it be great to have someone who willing, will take them outside to kick a ball endlessly around?  Last night, my husband and I joined in, and by the end of the evening, our new English and Peruvian friends were actually throwing a football!  That’s an American football people, to you die hards who call soccer football (like the rest of the world)!

As my Brit friends would say, hope to see you all out on the pitch this Fall!