My Favorite Sports

I played competitive soccer for a very long time, and right before one outdoor season, I got the news that I was dropping a level, and it shattered my heart. I thought I wasn’t good enough for the competitive team. When I showed up to the first practice, I thought to myself, ‘This is going to be a long season’. These girls couldn’t quite play like how I was used to; quick, intense, and losing wasn’t an option. I acted like I was better than them because I had played at a higher level for most of my life. I thought that if the coach would see how much of a better player I was, they would send me back up to the more competitive team. However with each practice and game, my frustration grew and I started yelling on the field, things like what to do, what we should have done, and if we messed up, I made it quite obvious that I was frustrated. I just really wanted to get back to my old team, that was my only goal. When my coach called me off of the field for a “substitution”, I was utterly confused. I was doing the best out there so shouldn’t I stay on? When I got off the field my coach sat me down and told me to smarten up and shut up or I wouldn’t be getting on the field again. He told me that he knows I played on a better team, but my attitude needed to improve because this was my

Growing up in a house with all boys in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, I was taught to be tough and injuries were very common but easily shaken off. When it came to sports, I would put all my time and effort into one thing: soccer. Soccer was always a true passion of mine; as a matter of fact, it was more of a lifestyle than just a sport. I would spend weekends traveling around my local area playing the game I loved with people I enjoyed being with. My teammates became like my second family after countless seasons and we did almost everything together off the soccer field. The idea of putting on my jersey and lacing up my cleats was a moment I would not trade for the world and something I would never take for granted.

Soccer has always been a love of mine. Without soccer I would be a much different person; it has shaped my identity. I have had many injuries that have restricted the amount of time I was allowed to play soccer, and while I was sitting there on the

I can relate to most professional soccer players because my dad and all his brothers were all soccer players themselves. I know what it feels like when you get fouled in a soccer match and the referee does not call a foul for you so you get up heated towards the opponent and you take out your frustration on the referee by talking back to him and asking why he did not call it. Also sometimes when you are not enjoying your playing time in a certain soccer team you choose not to play as hard as others because you are not enjoying your time in that particular soccer team. Another reason is that your own teammates frustrate you because they are not listening or are just off their game that night so you choose not to pass the ball. My life has always revolved around soccer. My father and I watch professional soccer games as often as we can but when our professional soccer team plays a certain day we are for sure going to be busy watching the game whenever the match is on. In our family a brother of my father was actually really close to becoming a professional soccer player for a team in mexico

Everyone has that certain thing that makes them who they are. That certain thing for me is soccer. It’s my hobby, my biggest interest, and my passion. Soccer isn’t just a sport for me, it’s my life. It has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have played the intriguing game of soccer since I was four years old, and I have loved it ever since.

As a child, I grew up playing softball and that 's it. My mom played softball, my cousins played softball. It’s just all I knew. When I reached the seventh grade at Gardner Dickinson (my elementary and middle school), my friends all played soccer and I reluctantly joined as well. Each year I had my ups and downs with soccer, but it grew to be a part of who I am and has taught me a lot of things. For example, to try new things, to work hard, to never give up, and to step up and be a leader.

I currently play on the U13 Girls Black soccer team for Fredericksburg Football Club. Recently, our team experienced a difficult time. Our previous coach, Jens, was getting very irritated towards our behavior. It seemed as if our team did not care what he was saying, as well as what our teammates were saying to us. We were consistently receiving discipline and were getting defeated during our games due to our lack of concentration.

I now see this as a failure of my skill and versatility, but at the time, instead of becoming trying harder to improve, I became bitter toward the coach and some other players. I blamed my shortcomings on others, blaming the coach for not switching out players during games, and a senior for taking my position at first base, even though she deserved it. I ended the year with minimal game time. At the time, that was all I deserved.

The rest of the team has seen me on my really bad days and days where I feel amazing. We all go through ups and downs. All of us 18 girls on the team had to get through preseason, and although it was only two weeks as opposed to the usual three, it was one of the most physically demanding times of my life. Despite this, it is rewarding to accomplish something after months of summer workout packets and preparation, and we all got to do it as a team. Even serious preparation and practice does not allow us to win certain games. Losing 4-0 to Dock took a toll on us, and for a couple of days it was easier to point fingers to others as to why we did not win. In spite of this upset, I used it to drive me during the next game. Not everything that happens during the season is going to lay out the way we would like it to, but I would not trade this sense of kinship for

Our first game was at 9, but the players were supposed to be there at 8, so I thought that I should be there. Because it was a round robin, when I got to the gym East Grand and Steamboat were playing. I was beginning to get nervous because I did not want to let down the players that I was coaching. When the game that was going on reached the fourth quarter, I took my players to the locker room and went over our game plan. The game before ours ended, and my players began to warm up. I was getting more nervous now; this was the first time I had ever coached, and I did not feel like I was qualified enough to be coaching. Sure, I have been playing basketball since third grade, but I did not think that I should be coaching. The game started, and I soon realized that my patience level was not as high as I thought. I never was mean or yelled negatively; I tried to constructively help the players. During the whole game we were doing really well, and I was super happy. The players were running their offense and doing well on defense. During the end of the game I was feeling really well because I knew we were gonna

The next day I made all my shots and layups i even dunked. The coach was impressed and he said to me you”ve made my team. I was very excited But, the people that made the team didn’t seem and even made negative remark towards me said i am not a “basketball player”, “you cannot play”,I didn't listen to them and continued to play the game.My coach, fans, and students realize the conflict between me and the other teammates during games and practices. Within The week of me being on the team the coach held a personal meeting me with me and the other teammates. The coach lectured the other teammates saying it’s not right how you don’t accept me as a basketball player how would you feel if you was in his shoes.After the lecture from my coach The players started realizing i am worth something and welcomed me in open arms but i didn't received there welcoming.I didn't have chemistry with my teammates during the whole season but i was cordial with them i was there if they really needed me . The only person that i had chemistry with was my coach he never doubted me and he seen potential in me from tryouts to the end of the season which all that counts in my

We ended up losing the game 19-0, while we got dominated most of the game. But then after the game when everybody shook the coaches hands, they told all older kids and running backs how great they were, but when I went up, he didn’t even say anything. Not even a little “Good job this year.” I walked off that field hoping I never had to deal with that coach again. And my wish was granted, as this year we got one of the High School coaches who played everybody fairly and linemen were not at all overlooked. He helped us and even put the game on us sometimes. It had more pressure, but I loved it. I was visible

I fell in love with the competition, the strength, the reliance on others, the character building, the relationships, being humble in victory, and graceful in defeat. Playing a team sport, and being raised in a family that has been all soccer all the time means that one of my main, and favorite, teachers have been the beautiful game. While I knew I had let my whole team down, after the countless losses I had been a part of, I was able to quickly put the defeat aside and remember that winning games never make anyone better. It is the losses and failures that mold me not only into a better athlete but into a better

It was our first game in Disney coach gave us his usual pep talk," I have five soccer rules run hard.play hard,shoot hard,obey the refs,and have fun," but this time it was different it didn't seem as if coach actually meant it ,he was staring at the other team the whole warm up time. I think he was nervous that we were going to lose this game which made me doughtfull of the whole team. I was pepping my team up while I heard coach check out of the hotel room on his phone because if we lost we would go home. I took the field all the parents were going wild on the sidelines except for one my dad he said," I don't need to cheer you on, champions know how to cheer there selves on." I took my position and then the whistle blew every time that whistle

The team was on fourth down and five yards away from the touchdown. Down, set, hike. The quarterback rolled right. He threw a bullet across the field to number 7, the receiver, who was wide open and ready for the ball. Number 9 leaped from midfield and knocked the ball down. The crowd went wild. He had just saved the team from losing. All his teammates ran onto the field and chanted his name. It was at this moment that I knew I loved football and wanted to feel like the guy that was number 9.