Behind The Veil

[Kathleen Allan]

After some trial and error, I've been accepted as a coach of an under-five youth soccer team in the Santa Monica community league. There are twelve players, all of whom I've met. I can tell that the Curse has some effect on them, but I don't see that as a negative. It should help me keep them in line and help inspire some discipline.

Drills:

-Ball handling (no hands, only feet)
-Passing
-Shooting

Goalie:

Kevin or Madysyn.

Uniform Colors: Voting on at next practise.

[Kathleen Allan]

Second practice. I don't know what I'm doing, that's perfectly clear. I know how to play soccer, but none of these children want to do anything but chase the ball around. It's great for passing drills, but none of them want to be the goalie, and none of them want to try to score. They just...run around in circles after the ball. I tried to teach them to shoot, but they wanted to scrimmage.

They picked purple and blue as team colors. I got them jerseys and I had to break up a fight over number seven. One of them cried. I think it was Meekayla? Her mother came to speak with me after practice. She was practically livid that her child was crying, but calmed down very quickly. I choose to blame the Curse, and not the advice I offered. It is good for children to learn about disappointment and losing, though. Not everyone can win everything.

[Kathleen Allan]

Fifth Practice:

Everyone seems to be coming along now. At least half of the time, they can find their way into the simple, two-line defensive-offensive lines I've set them up in. So long as I regularily switch the goaltender, they are willing to stay in the net, though Hector and Garrett have almost no tolerance for it.

We've lost our first game, but the children don't seem to care. I tried to suggest that perhaps I could get them ice cream if they won, but their parents take them anyway, win or lose. I was invited to coffee at Meekayla's mother's house-I think she believes I'm lonely. I've agreed to go. Now it's just a matter of choosing which dainties to serve. Perhaps I can speak with her about improving her daughter's skill level-Meekayla would be an excellent forward if she could only focus.

[Kathleen Allan]

Second Game:

Another loss. The children only tried for half of the game. I got frustrated, yelled...they ejected me from the field. One of the parents took over.

I'm still frustrated. My lunch at Meekayla's was fruitless. Her mother wanted to discuss celebrities and the state of schooling here on the coast. I didn't know what to say to her. I don't know anything about those things. I'd forgotten how frivolous humans can be. I've added the neighborhoods the team lives in to my patrols, just to be certain none of my players are in any danger.

Gemma gave me a hug today, after the game was over. She was sorry they made me leave.

[Kathleen Allan]

Sixth Practice:

I gave up ten minutes into practice. The children did not want to do anything but chase the ball around, and would not listen to me no matter what I tried to explain to them. They were curious about the bandages on my arm, so I sat down with them and we talked for a little while.

Their parents say interesting things about me. Rumor is a fact of life. These people are less creative than the majority of rumormongers have been. Their parents think I am too focused on training. They would like their children to just have fun. This is not professional soccer, but it isn't one of their neighborhood fun leagues, either. I am not pressing these children to perform as though they're already stars, just encouraging them to learn the basics of the game.

They played keepaway with me after we talked. They managed to steal the ball from me five times. I made them work hard to do it. They were proud of themselves.

Gemma hugged me again. She's a very affectionate child...

[Kathleen Allan]

Seventh Practice:

Meekayla has quit. Her mother did her best to poison the well on her exit. It's unfortunate. Her daughter was shaping up into a good forward. She liked chasing the ball. I hope she'll still get to play, even if it isn't with us.

For some reason, no one else wants to quit. I've asked the parents and the children alike, and they all want to stay. Some say they like my coaching, and most of the children just like each other. I'm glad they've all made friends with one another.

We had a little breakthrough today. Kevin and Gemma completed two passes before he took a shot on goal. They've stopped crowding on the ball so much and started moving around the field more. I can only hope this lasts, though I've learned not to put all my eggs in one basket.

Dylan told me he thinks it would be lucky if I wore the team colors to the next game. I feel a bit bad. I hadn't noticed that I wasn't wearing them. I promised him I would.

[Kathleen Allan]

Third Game:

The team came very close tonight. A directed offensive netted us a goal, as opposed to the lucky kicks that have scored for us in the past. I've done everything I could to reinforce the importance of our forwards and strikers, but this is the first time they've made it work. Though we lost, it was a rewarding experience. They've learned their positions. They understand the basis of the fundamentals of the game. They are beginning to pass and shoot with intent, not always at random.

I brought them homemade granola bars. Lloyd suggested those, rather than ice cream. I am disappointed with myself for not thinking of it first. The team liked them quite a lot and I noticed a considerable difference in their energy level over the course of the game. Hopefully the performance improvement is consistent. I don't mind providing such a snack if it will improve the team.

Naturally, the childrens' parents took issue with my offering. Apparently there is a push within the parenting community to be 'nut free'. I suppose that will be one more thing I won't quite understand about them. None of the children or their siblings are allergic, as per their parents own admission. I've informed them that I won't be insulted should they decide to disallow their children from having the treats, though it would be disappointing.

[Kathleen Allan]

Ninth Practice:

I feel that we've finally come together as a team. The children take practice as seriously as they can, so long as I am willing to compromise and allow them their play. We do that almost as often as we drill, making up games for passing and for being the goaltender. They enjoy it most when I join them, and I've learned to have fun at those times as well.

I believe this is the best we will get. Everyone knows their position on the field, everyone knows how to cooperate. It's simply a matter of keeping them focused now-it's impossible to do much planning ahead of time for various teams, as most run the same offense. Not a surprise, given the age level we're dealing with. We're not so different, though I believe we've placed more emphasis on teamwork and passing than the others.

Gemma wants me to meet with her parents. I've made time later in the week. I somewhat dread this, after the last meeting with Meekayla's mother. I would rather not lose Gemma. She's a valuable member of the team.

[Kathleen Allan]

Fourth Game:

The team remains intact, though once again disheartened by a loss. They played well, however, and I've attempted to lift their spirits with a heavily altered Garou tale. I'm not entirely certain the message came through, but they seemed to appreciate at least part of my point.

Gemma's parents wanted to get to know me better. This is a curious habit of this community-everyone wants to poke into everyone else's lives. I've given them my stock answers, though they seemed surprised when I spoke about Jason. I'll have to ensure he's at future games. They did thank me for coaching Gemma-evidently she has developed more self-confidence since beginning her training with me.

I believe that may apply to the whole team. They have all become stronger since we started, despite their lack of success on the field. If only training with the pack worked so well. But children are more biddable than adults, and they are just beginning-it's easy to claim success in the early stages, not so in the later. Something to consider, I suppose.