The Importance Of Sacrifice For The 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

It was morning of the first game in my high school varsity career. The coach had told me the day before that I was not just going to play varsity, but I was going to start for my team. I was exhilarated when I found out, but now as I put on my jersey, I felt the anxiety build up inside of me like a balloon about to burst any second. I put on the rest of my soccer equipment, placing the left sock on my foot before putting on the right one, a ritual I always

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

On February 28, 2005, I experienced one of the most exciting events that anyone could ever experience – winning a State Championship. The day my soccer team made history is a day I’ll never forget. However it is not just that day we won the title, but the whole experience of the preceding season that got us there. From start to finish, my team’s 2004-2005 season taught me that the platitude is true. You can do anything you set your mind to.

Sunday April 24, 2016. This was the date of this tournament. The team that I’m on is called the Berlin Bulldogs. Berlin is the town that we support, and Bulldogs to support that we’re a tough and strong team. We played eight games and lost 3, won 3, and tied 2 of the games. Most of the parents that we had to support us, were supplying the food and drinks so that we wouldn’t starve or run out of drinks. We had a chant, a great team, and the best coaches that guided us through the success that we needed. The worst part of this tournament was that we’re a 2nd league team and we were playing against the best of the best teams. The strange thing was that we won against one of those teams by 10 points (they must have played against really easy teams to become the best of the best teams!). The fields that we played on had the greenest of grass, but the fields were horrible because there were many areas that had holes and many people on the teams came off the field in pain because of falling into those holes.

I watched the ball roll into the back of the net; it was 12-12 in overtime against Cardinal Gibbons. This was my last game with my brothers, best friends, and a family I will cherish for the rest of my life. I not only let my teammates down, I let my family down. We lost against Cardinal Gibbons in the 2015 3A State Championship game 13-12 in overtime. When they scored their final goal I immediately dropped to my knees and began to sob, I was not upset that I lost, I was upset that I let my family down and that was the last time I would ever step on the field with

The game of soccer is like a roller coaster. From laughter, during Thursday night pasta nights to tears, as we fought a hard loss, we will never know what to expect. That is the beauty of the sport and life because we have to be ready for anything that comes our way. We see how soccer is not black or white or win or lose. A loss where the team played their hearts out is more acceptable then a win won luckily without sportsmanship. As soccer is a team sport, we have to play until the buzzer rings. Life is full of surprises, like the buzzer winning goal I scored in a golden goal overtime to win the championship. I never will forget the feeling when the entire team rushed the field and the crowd went wild as tears swarmed our eyes and our screams of joy filled the air. The challenges I faced on Fox Run will help me endure through obstacles I face in our lifetime and to be determined until the end of my

It was a brisk fall evening, and my seventh grade youth football team and I had traveled to Aberdeen to play the undefeated Chiefs. We had worked harder and longer than we ever had that week to show that we were a threat in the league and ascend from our third place ranking. We knew it was not going to be easy; the Chiefs’ team had the fastest running back in our division, and they had scored more total points per game than any other team in the Southeast Idaho Youth Football League. The field was neater and greener than we had expected in this town. It was a great day for football, and I was with all of my best friends. I knew going in that it was going to be a learning experience whether we won or lost that night because the Chiefs were

Approximately four years ago, twelve of us accepted a position on team that none of us, not only knew anything about, but also did not expect much from. We were twelve individuals that were seeking a college soccer experience at the division I level and if you ask any of those girls back then, none of them could have predicted the reality of the four years that we would ultimately spend here. This team had experienced heartbreak in freshman year on many levels, battled through the pain of losing in the semi-finals of sophomore year, and again losing in the finals last year. To be a part of this program is unlike any experience I’ve had before. There is always a supportive and positive environment; there is always progress being made every

Two years ago I played my first high school soccer season and it was one of the best experiences I had related with this sport, but what made it special was the last game we faced. Just like Forrest Gump quoted, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” This is how the surprise started; some friends and I were moved up from freshman team to the JV team and we were excited to compete for some game time. Even though we had very low chances, we gave our 100% in the few training sessions we had to earn a spot. Friday night arrived; I was frightened and shocked to face the best team in our district.

On one fall morning, my mom and I arrived at the Hulmeville Soccer Tournament. There were so many teams that had great potential to win. My teammates and I Were excited to play theses teams and push our skills to the limit. Our soccer team won all five games that we played. Therefore we made it to the championship angist Hulmeville, one of the best teams in the tournament. The game started and there were no goals scored. Since it was the finals, we went

The mens’ soccer game vs. South Alamacen was the athletic event which I attended. The game was at home at the soccer field and it started at 6:00 PM, August 23. The game was comprised of two 45-minute halves with no overtime, so it was possible for the game to end in a tie. Early in the first half of the game, South Alamacen scored two goals, making the score 2-0 with South Alamacen in the lead. With 26 minutes remaining in the first half, NCSSM scored which made the score 2-1. Three minutes later, South Alamacen scored which made the score 3-1, but two minutes after that Joe Benson scored for NCSSM making the game 3-2 with 20 minutes left in the first half. Many students were in attendance, with more students showing up as halftime drew to a close. By halftime, there was a student section full of kids while parents filled up the other two bleachers.

Over the years, playing soccer has taught me what it takes to succeed. From months of tough practices, I have gained a hard work ethic. From my coaches and fellow teammates, I have learned to work well with others in a group, as it is necessary to cooperate with teammates on the playing field. But most important, I have also gained self-confidence. If I fail, it doesn't' t matter if they mock or ridicule me; I will simply try again and do it better. I realize that it is necessary to risk failure in order to gain success. The

We were all set up on the field ready for the game, I remember closing my eyes forabout a minute before the game started, that minute felt like 10 years, I froze and thought aboutmyself when I was 3 years old and how I first fell in love with the game and how my ultimatedream was to become pro, I remember the hours of pain and suffering I put myself through tobecome the player I was today, I remembered waking up at 4 a.m. on school mornings to go forruns so that I could run longer in games,I remember skipping parties and hanging with friendsso that I could train, I remembered everything, but one thing truly hit me was how much soccerwas there for me growing up my parents argued a lot and when I was feeling sad and lonely Iwould go train at the fields and it would hell my sorrow. Growing up in a household when yourparents are constantly fighting is difficult, but soccer was my out lit it was my therapist. Duringthe time of their divorce I felt like I had no one but soccer so I decided I need to give back to thegame. Soccer did so much for me, so I wanted to prove to it that it wasn't a waste of time andthat I would make something out of the game. I opened my eyes and didn't feel human anymore Ididn't feel in control of my own body the sport had taken over me for the better. I remembermoments when I was running and it didn't even feel like my feet were touching the floor

On March 24th 2013, Vardar Canada flew to Dallas to participate in the Dr. Pepper Dallas Cup. This was a huge moment for me as it was my first international soccer tournament. To be one of three teams representing Canada, meant a lot to all of us. My team was competing in the U-17 category and got placed in the hardest group which consisted of: Real Madrid (Spain), Manchester United (England) and Florida Sunrise, the team who won the competition the year before. While we were good, we weren’t always serious and liked to joke around whenever the team travelled. However, this time, not one player from our team acted out. Despite being in Dallas for seven days in a hotel room with all of your best-friends, we all followed our coach’s instructions