The Pressure To Stop Playing Soccer

Ever since I could remember, soccer had been in my life. If there was a soccer team that needed a coach, my father was always the first to volunteer. There were almost too many strenuous weekends spent hours away from home for soccer tournaments to count. My entire family, consisting of my parents, my siblings, my dog, and myself, packed in a mini-van heading to a city that I had never heard of for soccer games. But when I entered high school, all that would soon go away. I kept playing the same sport that I always had, although now I had to wake up at five in the morning for six hours of high school soccer practice in the smoldering summer heat in order to make the high school team. High School sports were more competitive than anything I had done before. I put in as much effort as I could to make the Varsity High School team, staying out past dinner to practice even longer. I was utterly divulged in soccer and trying to be the best I could be. Soon, I would regret placing a game over spending time with my family.

I was excited for a new beginning in my career, maybe to prepare me for high school in the upcoming years. The idea of beating boys in soccer got me excited, my blood pumping harder through my veins and put an extra spring in my step. It was the first practice of our middle school season, where my life would be turned upside down. I ran down the field as normal, going for another shot on goal, but out of nowhere one of boys came from behind and completely took out my knee, causing me to collapse in pain. Lying down on the field, my sanctuary, the place I saw as home was probably the most grueling time of my life. Injuries were common in my life, but this injury was unlike any other. I could not get up off the field and felt as if there was nothing left in my knee, and every time I tried to get up, I fell right back down. I never sat out a practice until that night and figured one day would be enough. One night was clearly not enough, I was never able to catch back up to my full speed, or be able to cut around the field, which resulted in moving positions from forward, to defense to cut back on the running. I thought this would a temporary position, but I played every game in

I had apprehensively tried out for high school soccer, knowing that kids from surrounding towns, who had all played travel on flashy, winning, teams, would be my competition. All I had wanted was to make that freshman team, to be part of a soccer program that in recent years had been a championship winning team. Fortunately my hard work payed off and I made that team. It was during my time in the school soccer program that I had not only grew as a player but met some of the people that I now call my best friends. The team required dedication,

I have played soccer continuously from age 3 to 18. Four years ago, I tore my right ACL. I endured surgery and 6 months of physical therapy, then almost 2 years later to the day, I was told the same fate again. I had torn the ACL in my left knee this time. Why did this awful injury have to strike me twice? Once again, I endured the months of rehabilitation and soon returned to the field. Having to go through this twice as a teen taught me that perseverance and determination will help you achieve what you want in life. Even though I spent almost 2 years away from the field, I still made every effort to be there for my teammates. Some days I didn’t want to get out of bed because of the pain, I didn’t want to go to therapy, and I wanted to quit.

At the age of ten I was the most energetic, go-lucky, confident girl. I excelled at my beloved sport, soccer. I had been playing since I was just a mere five years old, far longer than the other girls. Playing so long had helped me be at a higher level of skill than most of the other players on my team.

To start it off, I moved math classes to Mr. Dicker’s, which was one of the most stressful events of my life. Personally, I thought moving up would be much easier than it actually was. I found myself in a constant struggle and had to push myself to my limits. I constantly had to go in for extra help because I got down on myself. All of the hard work, long nights, and stress I put in to math eventually paid of. I ended up getting all As on my report card throughout seventh grade, which I could barely get my mind around. During seventh grade, I participated in volleyball, basketball, and soccer. I played soccer for six years when I was little, but I hadn’t touched a ball since. I knew from the beginning that soccer would be hard for me since I am not foot-eye coordinated in any way. Normally, sports come pretty naturally to me, but soccer was different. I compared myself to other people, but I decided that that was enough. I began to practice soccer almost everyday, and soon enough, I began getting compliments about how much I had improved. Getting good grades and trying a new sport were both amazing experiences, but my personal favorite time from seventh grade was the Colorado trip. The Colorado was not only a break from all the stressful academics, but it was a time where I could bond with new and old friends. Before the trip, there was a group of people who I had never really come in contact with, but during the trip, I made some incredible bonds with these people. Like I said, seventh grade was a time of change, but it was a change that set me up for success in eighth

Every student athlete dreams of playing the sport they love in their future, whether it is in college or even to go play as a professional. I have played other sports in my life, but soccer has always been my favorite sport. I decided to drop every other sport I was in to play soccer. It was a pretty hard decision because I really did like playing other sports, but I really wanted

Growing up I had focused on competitive soccer. Soccer challenged me both physically and mentally and I learned to love these demands on the field. These challenges helped me foster a self-confidence in myself when it came to athletics. When I fractured my tibia playing against my rival high school, sending my knee cap into my thigh, I was faced with a new test. The sport that I loved was taken away from me for an extended period of time and it took away part of my identity. Who was I without soccer?

This was the case for me, after ten years of playing soccer I decided to quit to try middle school track. Soccer was becoming unenjoyable and more of a stress from my family than a release. I had suffered an injury and never recovered, but my parents would still push me in hope to keep colleges interested in me. I enjoyed track, but missed playing so I decided to play soccer freshmen year. It was just how I remembered, but better. High school soccer was soothing and easier than club soccer, allowing me to still have space to breath. Freshmen year I made JV at a new school where I knew no one. I met many amazing people who pushed me to my best and a coach that understood my style of playing. My JV coach, Trahan, would push me to my limits, challenge me, and make me a better player while not trying to change my style of

From one week to another I started feeling so much pain in my back I honestly did not know what it was I tended not to pay attention to it that whole week. Until at the end of the week it got to a point where I couldn't move nor stretch that was when I realized my high school soccer career would end. I played soccer as a freshman and as a sophomore I always tried my best I was ready for soccer this time and I had just gotten back from a Europe trip which made me learn new things about soccer. My goal for high school was to be able to play all four years since I had already made the team freshman year.

Last year, I had been one of three sophomores to make the varsity soccer team. I was proud to be part of the elite group and motivated by the opportunity to play with the upperclassman. The season kicked off with a promising start. Coach gave me encouraging feedback and significant playing time as he tried to determine my position on the field. Game after game, I kept earning more opportunities

Entering that room, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. As I sat there my heart dropped when I heard the words, "you made the team", "you are not going to play much", and "if you tryout next year you will not make the team". I was in such a daze as I reemerged from the room. It was as if the wind had been knocked out of me and I was having trouble understanding what had just happened. I had never felt disappointment like I did in that moment in my entire life. Soccer had been the only sport I knew for 8 years. Change had always been a struggle for me since I was little so I was aware that trying a new sport was going to be difficult. Field hockey captains practices were held during the summer, so I decided to go to one and

Sophomore and Junior year were a tough year for me. In November of my sophomore year, my mom and I were part of a small car accident. A guy crashed into us from behind while we were waiting for a lady to pass by on her bike. I kinda hurt my back and I got some really terrible whiplash. My mom was panicking about if I was okay while I was struggling to get the air back into my lungs, but I was okay. After a few doctors appointments, I was sent to physical therapy for my back and neck. I went once a week or twice a week sometimes for a few months until I was almost completely healed. Unfortunately, I had to give up soccer because of this accident. This is something I really love to do, but I had to give it up because my

When all that happened I couldn't play soccer for a long time.Also I had to go easy and don’t do dumb things that I can get hurt and my parents made me to do a lot of studying and all that.

I didn’t tell anyone at first, I didn’t even go to the club meetings, but then soccer sign-ups started. It was my senior year and I have never missed a year of soccer since I was five years old. People asked why I wasn’t playing, I had a scholarship lined up I had to plan this year. People asked why I would leave school because I was sick almost every day. I decided