Personal Narrative: Southeast Idaho Youth Football Team

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

The pressure was on. Myself as well as my middle school football team had been practicing for weeks to beat our opponent, Southport Middle School. They had beaten up the year before and it was our turn to pay them back.

It only took us twenty minutes to be up 2-0 against a team, our main rivals Clements, we had not beaten them for twenty years and who were also former state champions. It was the best feeling ever, seeing the confusion in their faces from being down to us. All the work we had put in that year was finally translated into the field, where it truly matters. Toe to toe with a team they said we had no chance against, I beg to differ. All was going well, until early in the second half they had scored a goal. I could sense the timorous feeling beginning to rise within my teammates, but I never doubted them and knew we still had a

Football isn’t just about going on the field and playing 4 quarters against another team every week. It’s not just those Friday nights going to watch your high school team play. Football is a brotherhood, it’s your second family. It’s making memories that you will have with you for the rest of your life. It’s the hours of preparation, sweat, tears, blood, bumps and bruises and going back out everyday just to give it your all. Football isn’t just a game that i’ve played it’s something that has shaped me into the person I am today.

But the pride had 110% confidence in their selves. This may have been one of the hardest/encouraging game yet, we knew we could not lose to them. In the middle of the 4th quarter our starting quarterback had gotten injured, everyone took off their helmets and got on one knee. There was no more sound of laughter, chanting, singing. It was all serious, a teammate to us is not just a teammate, he is family. The sports med crew had ran out there and helped him, we could tell he was in a lot of pain but we knew he would be just fine. Everyone prayed and hoped he would be fine. 10 minutes later the trainers carried him off the field we didn’t know what was wrong with him yet, but we still had to continue the game. There was 5 minutes left in the quarter and the score was 35-42 with the pride still in the lead. The time went fast, with the 4th quarter coming to a end. The pride had did it, they had one by a shocking touchdown. At the end of the game we all went to our injured quarter back. We all went on one knee and smiled at each other, we now knew we had a special bond, not only in football but in our

Walking out onto the opponent’s brightly lit turf field setting up for the kickoff of the second half just gave me the feeling that everybody knows, my hair starts to stand up, butterflies began to flutter in my stomach, and everything seems to slow down. Looking into the stands and seeing that our hometown fans had traveled four hours in order to outdo the home crowd gave me a sense of comfort. Looking into East Jefferson’s stands and seeing that our fans, despite having to travel all the way down south, outnumbered their fans by at least 70 people. I found myself thinking that this meant just as much to our town as it did to our school and team. This feeling would be just the motivation we needed in order to finish this game

The day College of Faith football team played, Missouri S&T was in the fall of 2015, it was cold. At the time me and my brothers on the football team came off a big lost to the Cougars of St. Francis. The St.Francis Cougars Are located in Fort Wayne, Texas. They are a very big school, the cougars were undefeated the whole year round. After the 65-0 lost to the cougars, we the College of Faith, had a game against Missouri S&T. I felt like a raging superstar on field, I had 8 tackles, 1 big blindside sack and 1 pass deflect, it was very cool and also sunny. Unfortunately, we got demolish, the whole team quit.We lost 64-0 Football taught me to value my life more and be more ongoing to learn new things.

With my eyes glued to the ball. Just waiting for the center to snap it to the quarterback I made sure my cleats were dug in and ready to go. As the center moved the ball I charged forward shoving the center out of the way and slamming my shoulder into the quarterback and taking him down before he had a chance to blink. After the play, there was time to think to myself about the past week, the events that had transpired, the important decision I had made, and about that one sunny day at practice.

In third grade I began my first official Sheridan sports team. I was now officially making my way to becoming a general; before that I didn’t have any idea of what being a “general” meant. At the time I was attending Thornville elementary and the majority of my friends at my school were just as pumped as I, for our first practice on the field beside the infamous Sheridan Middle school. The first few weeks of practice taught me nothing I wanted was going to be easily attainable, these coaches expected more out of me than I had ever been accustomed to. The bar they set for us each day pushed us to new heights we had only dreamed of.

We arrived at Smalls Field not even ten minutes later. York High’s stadium is not in the best of shape, but it still works for the game of football. Once we got there, the guys started warming up. I went to help Gianni set up the camera in order to film, and the bleachers we were on overlooked our opponent’s practice field. Gianni and I kept careful watch over their practice. It was an absolute mess. The kids were all running around yelling, cursing, and everything else without any order. There wasn't even a coach in sight. They were not setting a good example for the image of their team, or their school. We got the camera set up and went back down to the field. Max, Wil, and Gianni sat around with me and Dani since they were injured and we just talked about the season. Surprisingly enough, most of their memories were good, even if they did have a losing record. A lot of what they said was positive even if they were talking about losses and I couldn't help but smile knowing

It’s senior night for the basketball players at City Christian High School, and for both JV teams, it was the last game of the season. The emotions were running high for players and fans alike, both parties knowing this would the senior’s final chance to play on the court.

I remember when I was little thinking how awesome it would be to play football and I looked up to the people older than me like in middle school or high school when I was in elementary thinking that someday I would be in that same situation.

Being a scrawny exceedingly short fifth grader, I was surrounded by other fifth graders that seemed to tower over me like skyscrapers. It was a Scorching, sunny, beautiful Monday: but more specifically it was the first day of the football season. The nerves in my body started to take over and almost felt out of place because small skinny kids don't play football, but my love for football exceeded beyond my fear and allowed me to give it a shot.

We were supposed to be playing football for the entire time. Of course, I was excited. The season hadn’t started yet and I was itching to get on the field. The teachers decided to make it a boys vs. girls match. Now, most people would just think that this was just some normal day at gym, but it very much wasn’t. You see, a certain person was in that same class. His name was Calum Thomas Hood, also known as the best male footballer at Norwest. Everyone knew that this match was anything but ordinary.

Rain flogged the roof of my car, a punishing reminder of its ferocity and strength. The rain had become so intense for so long that it was starting to flood the city. Thankfully, my street had excellent irrigation. I turned off my car and felt my bruised shoulder. Football practice had been unmerciful today. Apparently, word of the fight got around, and Coach was sure to give Jack and I a lecture and an extra dose of drills and laps. Coach vehemently reprimanded us on the severity of the potential consequences of our actions. How one little stunt could jeopardize the big game, everything he had worked so hard for. Homecoming was next week, but to me, however, it felt as if the day would never come.