Kicks for a Cause April 4th Metts 3v3

We gathered in the middle of the day to begin these games. 

 

Shortly before the guest of honor arrived, we stood shoulder to shoulder and team to team. 

Mutual respect became the goal, and the talent pool before me stopped in a moment to pause and remember how blessed we were to be here. 
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Somewhere in the middle of the day we crowned an Under 12 Champion and then began an Under 8 bracket with three teams and an Under 14 with 5.

Under 12 Champions

U12 Champions ASA Orange Tabler Crush and Club Ohio

Bradley arrived right as the second bracket games were about to begin. His presence raised the level of appreciation for what was before us: the magical youth unveiling a personality we had never encountered before, with the ball and the game...This is Under 8 Soccer!

Under 8 ASA White Dragons

Bradley, Ethan and Team Alexander

Bradley's sister Brooklyn's team and our Under 8 Champion

 The Under 8 Bracket allowed some new referees a chance to work their very first games.  Learning to see the game as a referee, rather than as a player takes time. 

Also the personality of the new referee needs to have certain components.  It takes courage to stop the game. It takes self-control to manage others. Here we see someone with a good start to becoming a strong referee.

New Referees Rider and Sudesh perform their pregame duties before kickoff in the Under 8 Bracket

Having fun "off the ball"--in between games.

The Referees were paid in Gift Certificates from local Athens Restaurants such as Avalanche Pizza, Casa Nueva, McDonald's, and Village Bakery.  The total raised/donated was more than double the 2014 amount.Those numbers will be available soon.

Under 14 Champions

#3's have each other's back...

Under 12 Finalists Club Ohio

Look for the next Kicks for a Cause event earlier in the calendar year.  We hope to return to this beautiful facility. We hope to see these same players. We hope to have Bradley back, and check in with him on his road to recovery.

Thanks to everyone!  See you in November...or December...2015.