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You know when you sign up for soccer at the YMCA league in the States, it's all about helping your children feel good about themselves. A boost for their self-esteem, as they say. They advertise things like, "We promise no try outs, no getting cut, and no bench warmers!" or "Every child will play at least 1/2 of every game while making friends and learning new techniques!" They spout the motto that winning doesn't matter and everyone gets a trophy at the end of the season. Doesn't that sound nice?

Here in Mexico... really, really not the same. They are intense, serious and ruthless at 6 and 7 years old. And winning matters. A lot.

B was asked to play on a select futbol team for the club. He will tell you it is because he is "the third best" on his regular team. He rates himself according to how many goals he can score in comparison to the other kids, I think. He is less aggressive on the field than the other kids (ever the cautious child and also born and bred Americano), but he plays great defense, strategizes during the game, and has developed some pretty good footwork skills when dribbling downfield.

The select team had their first game yesterday and won 10-1. "We killed them!" yelled B afterward. I felt so bad for the other team. It is ridiculous how skilled these kids are at 6 and 7. These pics are from his first select team practice that Tutu took while she and Ye-ye were visiting (Bruce's padres).











Intense, no? We're gonna have to make sure B tones it down when we go back to the States, or else he'll be doing cartwheels, ripping off his shirt and yelling "GOLAAAAAASSSSSOOOOOOOO" in the other kids' faces. Nobody makes friends that way. At least not in the States. But we are definitely not in Kansas and these guys definitely do not care about cultivating friendships. Please.