Younger and Younger

 My kids are getting jobs younger and younger. Victoria got her first job at Plato's Closet when she was 16. She now works at Red Bell once a week in the afternoon and sporadically at Jumparam on Saturdays as a coach there. Kai was 15 as a new hire at The Ninja's Edge, working as a coach. They are so easy to work with because they let the kids take off for a few months during their busy sports time and then continue on when the busyness dies down. Kai works here and there when it's not a full practice schedule during a week.

Austin earned his referee certificate and is now a sideline ref for soccer, at age 13! At this rate, Erik will be getting his first job when he turns 11 in a couple of months...!

In all seriousness, Austin worked really hard to certify over the summer. He had to do a bunch of online training and then Jason had to drive him a couple of hours away to complete an in-person training. We ordered his uniform, which he got last week, just in time to ref a game on Thursday. And guess who's game it was - Erik's!

Austin didn't think he could ref his brother's game, but the game was supposed to be Tuesday and had to be rescheduled to Thursday because of a lack of refs. I would have intervened then and signed him up to ref that one, but he had a band rehearsal for the Band Night on Friday. When I saw that Erik's game desperately needed refs for Thursday, I emailed the ref scheduler and told him that Erik's brother could, and he agreed! Austin's friend Sam was the other sideline ref and Sam's neighbor, a high schooler, was the main ref! Austin was on the line across from us so Jason and I didn't have to focus too closely on him and interfere with his job with any parental comments. 

It was a very exciting game because Erik's team (the Sharks) was playing the best team at their level. The Sharks are always one or two behind, but the Tigers always beat them pretty solidly. Well, this game was a little tighter. We were even winning by 1 at one point. I could see the other parents and coach starting to get worried. They're not used to losing. They pulled through in the end and beat us by only 1, but it was a very exciting game and Erik made 2 very good defensive saves that the goalie may or may not have been able to get, once the ball made it back another couple feet. 

Our coach was ecstatic that we had such a close game with such a good team. Jason and I enjoyed watching the younger boys play and the older boys ref. 

Austin's excited about this super fun job!

Austin, across the field doing his job.

I didn't get pictures of Erik's amazing saves, but here are some good ones.