Pink and Yellow Butterflies

We signed our daughter up for soccer this spring and she's been having a fun time doing it though, for some reason, her game last Sunday made me realize something potentially discouraging.

It's pretty tame stuff, this 4/5-year old soccer. Six girls are out there (three on a team) running around kicking the ball in their bright uniforms (Caroline's are pink and yellow and their team name, they decided, is the Pink and Yellow Butterflies. If that doesn't bring the fear of God into another team, I don't know what will!). A little soccer education is thrown in which, at first, I thought was a good idea, but now I'm not so sure. It doesn't take long for the ball to be kicked out of bounds and then someone has to throw it in and coaches (who are great) have to show girls where to stand and part of me is thinking, just throw the ball out there and let them kick it around!

One of the things that struck me last Sunday, however, me was, as far as I can tell, the inability of kids these days (OK, now I'm definitely getting older by using the phrase "kids these days") to organize themselves for recreation/entertainment. Caroline's too young for this to happen, but I rarely see older boys and girls getting together on their own for a game of baseball or any other kind of game. Actually, I take that back. I see Hispanic boys and girls doing this, but not Caucasians.

Why is this? Older generations are probably partly to blame. Who can blame children and youth for not wanting to organize themselves if someone else will do it plus they get cool uniforms, trophies, and snacks? Now, I say that as one who participated in Little League and loved it (with the uniforms, trophies, and snacks), but we also would call each other up to go do something, as well. I'm not sure if that happens any more. It has to be organized.

Part of all this may also be the "Bowling Alone" syndrome, meaning it's a cultural thing--people just don't get together/join things as much any more, adults or children.

Am I overreacting? Maybe. Maybe some of this self-organizing goes on and I'm just blind to it. I hope that's the case.