More soccer from F, without touching the ball!

F has her own way of playing soccer. She just runs with the other kids, looks to the other side if the ball comes close to her and does anything to avoid the ball touching her. Yes we had another practice and game last week.

After the practice, P and the coach started playing soccer. We were gonna drive little neighbor boy home, so he was with us too. He started playing with the big boys. F joined them at last. The trainer was impressed with the difference in F at the training and F after the training. She was really playing soccer, running hard after the ball, shooting and not shy.

The next day, the coach Can thought we had a break through, F would play as she is supposed to. She went to the field to meet the other kids and I saw her head bending to one side. When I see that I know it, she is getting shy and she doesn't know what to do. How can we explain the game to her, how can we make sure that she understands that:

• she has a team,
• there is a ball,
• when your team has the ball, try to score,
• when the other team has the ball, try to get it back.

We were trying to encourage her from the sideline, telling to run to the ball, to do her best etc. We kind of got frustrated at a certain moment, Can looked desperate. Then the game was over and F came to us. She actually had the idea that she did well. At that moment, the only thing I could do is to give a big hug while thinking 'what can I do to make her understand the game?!'. Next Friday is the next training. Good luck to all of us!