It's the official 2nd week of practice before the first game for the JL Long 6th grade Buccaneers at Randal Park in East Dallas. This co-ed YMCA team made up mostly of 6th graders, a few 7th graders and two 5th graders awkwardly circle up for the name game!  During the name game each player announces their name, grade, school and something random (favorite color, food or school subject) and then passes the ball to the next player.  At first everyone is a bit shy and quiet and no one seems to know what this has to do with soccer!  As the game progresses, the players begin to realize that this is not just a game, but an exercise to get to know each other. 

As a YMCA team, the Buccaneers can accept players from other schools other than just JL Long.  This season, we have players representing 4 different schools and the students come from every elementary feeder school to JL Long. As the silliness and awkwardness wears off and the game ends, players begin to gravitate to other players with similar interests and the point of the game has been accomplished.  To know your other teammates names is better communication both on and off the field. 

Please wish the JL Long Bucs the best of luck for their first game on March 4th!