Personal Narrative: Coach Sphire

We walked together to the field, the spikes on the bottom of my cleats clicking with each step on the parking lot pavement. A huge field with onlookers filling the bleachers on the far side came into view, lit up by the soft evening light. I spotted the girls on my team and my tired looking grey-haired coach. Me and my dad split up, me going to warm up with my team and my dad going to sit with the team parents. As I was passing with my teammates I watched the opposing team carefully. I observed how neat their drills were and how accurate their shots and passes were. They all looked so athletic and that really made me doubt myself. How was I supposed to prove to everyone that I was a good player if I had to play against a team this good? What if I mess up and the other team completely destroys my team? The loud buzzer that ended the warm ups sounded and both teams went to their side of the field. My coach called today’s starters out, and luckily he didn’t choose me. Relieved, I went to go sit on one of the hard metal chairs they provided for the teams on the sidelines. The chairs were uncomfortable but that didn’t bother me. I had other things on my mind. I sat shivering watching the events of the game

It all started when i was in fourth grade. It all changed what inspired me came by whole big dream that i wanted to be successful at. I was at school just a normal day, and it was times to go to PE, and my coach got out a circular ball that i had never seen in my life. It was kinda colorful, it had some weird word written on it, but i couldn't see from where i was standing. My coach handed us each one of these balls, and coach called them volleyballs. My coach told us what to do and what not to do, so i was at this net, and just gave the ball a high five because that's what he said to do. Coach came over to me, and kinda directed me through and told me it was called a serve. That day i went home thinking about it, and i decided i want to do

I refused to cheer too much because I know it would drive my focus away and it was best to stay humble. I reminded the offensive team this because it would be our hubris if we let our victories envelope our heads. By the end of the final quarter, we had won our game by only a 2-point conversion. The cannonade from my chest was still lunging towards the outside world. Throughout the game I feared failure, yet I overcame it. Realizing that my role was more influential than I known previously, I adapted to the pressure. I reflected on my own performance and knew I could do better. There was so much I could improve on and I was determined to be the

I am the edge guy so I have to make sure he does not cut back. Therefore I go around the edge and start chasing him. I am about to get the tackle when one of his teammates trips me in an attempt to block me. I fall towards the returner head first. My helmet hits his left thigh, everything just goes silent. The next thing I know, I see my coaches standing over me waving their hands and I see their mouths moving, but all I hear is this ringing in my ear. When I finally am able to hear them they are asking if I am okay and if I can get up and walk. As I get up to start walking to the sideline, my coaches are holding on to me just in case I fall. Then all of a sudden I feel this burning sensation on the right side of my neck. I reach up to touch it and there is blood all over my hand. I had lacerated my neck by hitting my helmet on the returners thigh so hard that my it jolted to one side.

The person that had the biggest impact on turning me into who i am today was my middle school coach.

My heart pounding in my chest, my hands shaking, as goose bumps devour my body. I get the ball and I fall to the ground, landing flat on my back as I try to pass the ball to another person. I hear roars of laughter as I see my leg straight in the air and the ball on the ground next to me. I look over at the Coach as he frowns at me and looks away. I start to roll off the field. I hear the siren as I start to limp home with my hand on my back. I try to run the rest of the way, but my leg won't budge so I limped.

Our hearts had just been ripped out of our chests. We had fought as hard as we could just to come up short on the last second touchdown. We continued on with our heads held high to shake hands with the opposing team because we knew we had fought as hard as we could. I was nearing the end of the line, when the I reached an opposing coach. Not expecting anyone to say anything, I heard a voice talking to me. I heard the man say to me, “Once you get some feet under you, you might be pretty good. Until then, you will just be a piece of shit.”

TOUCHDOWN!!!!! That's all I heard as I laid there back first on the cold pointy turf. It was a warm Sunday night. Like any other Sunday I had my football game. But that day was not like any other day. This day.This game was not like any ordinary game for the Falcons football team, and Austin Hembd a 13 year old football player. We were down by 4 points one touchdown and we could win. During the 4th quarter there were only 5 seconds left on the clock. Enough time for one play. I get to the line and start to call my cadence, my face is dripping with sweat, my heart is racing. Within a second my eyes narrow and I hear nothing. I yelled hike. The play was supposed to be a deep pass, we are about 40 yards away from the end zone, but everyone is covered so all I can do is take

It was the last practice of the year and we had the biggest game of the year the next day. “ Wrap him up! Drive your feet! Catch the ball!” yelled the coaches every minute.We were having a great year so far with our record at 6-1-1. This practice I was working extra hard because I was starting on both sides of the ball. I hadn’t played most of the year because the first week of practice, I got injured and was out for a week and a half. I had been trying my hardest in games and at practice, but I still had little playing time. Then a few practices before we played Carroll County the coach said he wants me to start at fullback instead of being the backup running back. I was really surprised, but he said that he had been watching my blocking and I already knew the plays so I would be fine. I got my other big opportunity when our quarterback got injured and I got to start on defense as well.

The most crucial hour of my day was coming to an end, but before we could go home our coaches made us all come into a huddle. The smell of sweaty boys, the roar of the crowd, and the sweet taste of victory—which tasted suspiciously like super-chocolatey brownies—was all I could bring in. Normally after our games, our coach would talk for 10 or 15 minutes about what we could have done better, but this time he said only one thing to us in that huddle: “Well boys, this is definitely a day to

I am getting myself prepared for the biggest game I have in my career. The 2014 State Championship game. My team had driven from Temple,Texas to San Marcos,Texas, a three hour drive. I am only a little bit nervous because I know my team can win. We are waiting for the game before us to finish so we can play our hearts out. The referee blows the final whistle, and we step on to field and warm up. We pass the ball around playing keep away. The referees call for captains. My coach tell me which side he wants and I went over. The outcome was my team got our side and kickoff which was a win-win. My coach gives my team the lineup. I am playing defense which is no surprise. We break out and take the field. The other team plays really tight, but we have played them before so we know what they are like. We pass quickly and work the ball around the field. Soon the other team is out of position ,and we score a goal. We do some more passing. Making the other team run more which makes them more tired. We take a few more shots but we miss. Half time is called and then we go back to work. The other team gets a break away and in chasing the girl. As soon as she kicks the ball as hard as she can I stick my right foot out. The ball hits my

Winning our first softball tournament was one of my favorite memories. My coach was a huge factor in our success, and I loved all of my teammates. One of my good friends smashed her first home run that weekend, which made it even more exciting. It was our last tournament of the season, and I am delighted that it ended in our first win.

I found a group of passionate, like-minded individuals and founded an Esports club. All of us had a strong sense of competitive spirit and a thirst to prove ourselves. We had no precedent, no knowledge or mentor. We derived a structure, incorporating roles and responsibilities similar to traditional sports.

At the end of the first half someone had dove into the side of knee. I had fallen over and felt the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. I am laying there and say to myself, “I will not stay down and give up on myself.” Halftime comes along and Coach Doc pulls me to the side and said, “you are done for the night.” I told him to his face, “I will not be taken out as this is my last year to shine. Nothing will stand in my way.” So I finish the game and come to find out I had sprained my knee bad. Once again I will not have nothing come in front of me this year. Our biggest game of perhaps the whole year was against the Wilson Bulldogs. This was a game I was going to war for my brothers that I love deeply. Second play of this game I get blindsided and my knee buckles. I felt that pain but said no to it and got right back up and played the rest of the game. I had played a great game and we had handed them their worst loss in many years. The moral of my story is to never give up on yourself and the others around you just because things are not going your way. If you give it some time they will eventually fall into your hand and then it is up to you if you want to take them or

The coaches observed as the players warmed up with high flying dunks and and deep three-point shots. With only a couple minutes left to warm up I quickly laced my sneakers and got shots up. Five minutes into shooting, a loud and deep voice filled the gym, it was the coach screaming for all the players to huddle up at center court. Everyone already dripping with sweat, gathered around the main coach and listened as he explained what he expected from us. Finally, it was time to play ball. The first four games flew by, I had made a couple shots and got a fair amount of playing time, among the deep rotation of players waiting for their chance on the sideline. By the time the fifth scrimmage came around all the players were drenched in sweat and fatigued, including me. However, everyone knew that the last scrimmage is what mattered most. That was where character showed, the question was who still had something to give when everyone else was tired. I was selected in the starting lineup and knew I had to give it my all before I was subbed out. All the coaches were lined up on the sidelines ready to see who had the most heart. The game whistle blew and I ended up with the ball after the jump ball. The first possession we had I crossed my defender and sank a midrange jump shot over him, as all the coaches gazed. After we got back on defense my teammate stripped the