Soccer Dad

Soccer plays a massive part in our family’s lifestyle. Elianna, my 1-year-old daughter, and I are proud cheerleaders of Dakota, my 4-year-old daughter, and her soccer team’s coach, Phillip, my husband. Yes, it is a dad-and-daughter soccer duo!

In this present age, where gadgets take up so much of our time, I believe it is essential for my kids to live an active lifestyle outdoors. Thus, having a husband who is totally in love with soccer is a significant advantage. In fact, Phillip has been in this sport since he was just as young as Dakota. Now, they get to play this together, and hopefully soon, with Elianna.

Looking at Phillip coach Dakota and their team, Darwin Olympic Sporting Club, takes me back to the times when it was just Phillip and I. I used to cheer for this goalkeeper on the field, come home in soccer-themed bedsheets, and wake up to loud cheers from Phillip at 4am when his favourite team, Manchester United, scores! During my pregnancy with Dakota, we announced this by posting a photo of a baby Manchester United jersey with some ultrasound photos. Also, the kids and I are almost always present when Phillip trains and plays goalie for the Darwin Olympic Sporting Club's reserves team - it is safe to say that our kids were born into this sport.

As the soccer season has started in Darwin, our weeks have been full of soccer appointments for Phillip and Dakota. However hectic, I enjoy seeing how Dakota loves soccer and having Dad as her coach. She thinks it is really cool! In fact, she has been telling family and friends how proud she is to have her dad coach her team. Most of the time, she uses her charm to get away from stuff, but apparently, the coach does not give any exemptions! When it is Philip’s turn to play goalie on the field, Dakota transforms into cheerleader mode and sometimes even coach mode. Oh, how the roles have switched. It makes me very proud.

Most of all, I appreciate this moment, having witnessed how much Dakota adores the sport and her teammates. She gets to learn how a team works, what camaraderie is, and what a community full of passion is like. These are some of the values that I, as a parent, would like to let my children experience firsthand and carry the same. Not only is Dakota making childhood friends, but she is also building connections and meaningful relationships with the community, and I am glad that Phillip plays a big part in showing her this.

Chloe Pulman Committee Member