Sport

Today my daughter played a match, ref told them they had won, let them celebrate for about ten minutes and then told them it was a draw...And all of the subs didn't get on. This has happened to my daughter too. It wasn't purposely done. The matches were all close (well they did think that they had won by point in this match) so the trainers got so into them they didn't think of the subs behind them. Another Mom had  given her a lift , her daughter did not get to play. She has had lots of experience football from her husband, son nad brothers playing. she took as being Character building. she is a very matter of fact person. Maybe she's right though. They do need to be disapointed too and if theeses are the worst disapointments they have it's a fine thing.My girl played the whole next match-think it was trying to overcompensate. I didn't take it personally but did feel disapointed for those who didn't play.She had a pain in her stomach and didn't say anything as she thought she would be off again. In fairness she had been out  with an injured knee for ages so her fitness was probably down.She got picked for Féile, others didn't , she got asked to train with Kerry under 13's (not heard anymore yet on that)  and she's in the division 5 team but gets asked to play with the division 1 team alot( you can play foe either if in the division 5 team, but not the other way round)
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So at the moment it's going well for her but it does get more serious. There's a huge drop out rate as it goes up in age groups.In fact I heard one of the Dad's saying his daughters had changed to soccer and where happier in general,even when they lost. They just had great cráic and where looking forward to the next match. In football if they win they are great no fault is found , if they lose it's over analysed and there's fault found everywhere. Often by people who have never played the game.It can be hard to listen -they are critisising 13 and 14 year olds, generally thte girls don't hear any of this.

 On the flip side they get incredible praise, which they do hear, when they do play well and win. It also has huge benefits,the friends they make, the excercise, the camraderie.the disapointment too as you don't always get your way , win or have the ref see all the fouls against you.Sometimes life is unfair and you just have to let it go. I love that she has something to talk about, people are obsessed with football in my county. This is a gift to my reserved child. She was so surprised when people spoke to her about Féile asking her was she disapointed about the final. She was disapointed at the time but they got over it on the bus home.