Great commentary, Ryan.
Tonight we play a team with a great, very nice coach who is a gentleman, and kids who are really first class. Several of them had the advantage of "life" which they didn't ask for, they received, and in the case of the kids from Greenville and Coach Raimond - they have handled with class and dignity. These kids are good, but they don't rub it in your face, they don't trash talk, they aren't dirty. They are blessed, and good.
My fun is taking a group of kids with nothing and letting them build something. Doesn't matter how much time, where the clubs are, my kids live in trailers and with one parent and most of the time the best meal they get is the pregame meal that I or one of our wonderful parents provide. We do have a few parents who are in the sweet spot of life, and they step up and are really cool. We have kids with nothing, who love soccer. That's what I like.
Get rid of the rules. Quit bureacratically destroying the fun. Let them play. Wherever. Whenever. With whomever.
Think about it - what adult has the "right" to tell kids they can't PLAY?
