Fatherhood is the tension between guiding and, at the same time, following your own children. On the one hand, nobody wants to raise a recalcitrant Aladdin. Rules must have consequences. Certain behaviors must be learned. On the other hand, childhood is a gateway to a world of endless possibilities. You can teach your child how to march, but ultimately they determine the direction.
So I did not want to push Junito into being a left-footed player. While I will encourage the ambidextrous use of both feet, he ultimately determines his own preferences. Yes, I have spent a good portion of his younger years massaging and tickling the left-foot at the right’s expense, but I am over that. There have been plenty of great right-footed players in the game. And, more importantly, Junito is finally kicking a soccer ball!
Of course, some guidance from papy played a part. More specifically, I obtained miniature nets and balls for Junito’s use. I want him to play with a full-sized ball as soon as possible, but pre-three is a tad young. Although, of course, he won’t be babied, no sir. If he fails to properly kick the ball, then no Backyardigans or Lazy Town for a week. Although…Curious George may be allowed on a case-by-case basis.
And after a week of mini-net and mini-ball, Junito has really taken to the sport, almost entirely forgetting his talking plastic hammer. Of course, I am beyond elated. The sport is something we can share, being the top scorer in the history of Real Madrid is a nice title to have in the family, and the talking hammer seriously hampered the shut-eye. Not to mention his older sister’s safety. One of our earliest shooting session showed what I had long sense thought – my two year is a ferocious predator with a bloodlust for goal. But how can I tame this animal? Or should I? Let’s take a look…
The first goal, an outsole screamer, required me to concoct a unique incentive. I have stayed away from candy and soda pop beverages – the diet is crucial to a developing footballer. Instead, I relied on the classic “lift-your-young-child-but-do-not-shake-the-head.” The result speaks for itself…
I relied upon a clockwise motion for one simple reason – the subconscious formation of associations with the sport and the outside world. My hope is such clockwise motions will trigger in Junito fond memories and visualizations of scoring goals with his outsole. In twenty years time, Junito will be taking the subway, check his watch, and be transported back in time to the highschool state championship when he scored the winning goal. And have no clue why.
The second goal, a classic toepoke, caught me off-guard but was a very pleasant surprise. Despite extensive blackboard lessons, I had never broached the subject of toepokes with him. Sure, he had asked a few questions during one of our Serie A-40-Year-Old-Poacher-Video sessions, but I chalked it up to a passing fancy and the topic soon changed to an irritating rash requiring the immediate application of talcum.
Still, Pippo eat your heart out…
I was delighted at two things. First, Junito did not try to kill the ball – he took his time, sized up the angle, and delicately placed his shot. He also used to fall every time he kicked a ball, occasionally crying. So the accuracy/no falling & crying is a good step.
Secondly, I love seeing Junito experiment with different parts of the foot. The total footballer simply cannot rely on the insole and overtoe. The complete player cannot even depend on the mere foot. I want to see Junito use the Crespo-heel, Inzaghi-shoulder, and Maradonna-hand all in one play. But I am happy for now. I decided that such toepokes should be followed by a strong lifting-up-and-down motion. Why? I want him to like the skill, but not overuse it.
I am already hard at work designing the next few months of tactics, technique, and evaluations. I am open to suggestions, and will focus very closely on Junito’s kicking motion. Right now, I fear that he is simply not bending his knee enough and this could lead to chronic problems with his meniscus and acl. At this stage,pain-killer injections are an obvious no-no.
What can one say but “I was there when…”?
Looks like he has the beginnings of an arm-aloft celebration at the end of the second video as well.
Which is kind of Shearer-esque, now that I think of it. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not: he was prolific, of course, but might be contrary stylistically to how you want Junito to turn out.
I seriously check this website everyday to see if you’ve updated these, I enjoy them to an alarming degree.
Fredo – good call on the Shearer comparison. Right now, though, he has shown the two footed dribbling aggression of a slightly handsomer George Best. And, like Best, he cares little for passing to teammates.
And I say that as Junito’s unbiased father who loves him to pieces.
Zito – this is the tip of the iceberg my dear friend, assuming Junito does not quit soccer for tap dancing. You may want to subscribe to the RSS feed or Twitter though instead of checking everyday: Junito is not quite that Shearer-esque prolific
Pingback: Junito: Crawling to the World Cup Final