Personal Narrative: Age 4X State Champion Soccer
“BACK SIDE!” I roared. The opposing team made one last run in their attacking third before the clock hit zero. Girls on both teams running diagonally and straight. Some demanding for the ball on the left side of the field, others guarding their mark like there is no tomorrow. All I see is a pool of girls in white and red with pony tails. Out of the corner of my eye a beast-like, brunette gal came storming down the field with an intention to tie the game up. An exquisite ball got played into the air, heading right towards her and myself. “Oh goodness, here we go,” I thought as I threw myself in front of the ball. I live for the long car rides to tournaments with my team, blaring the speakers to songs we probably should not be listening to.
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At age 4 I was so much bigger than everyone they told me to play up 2 years. At age 8 I competed in my first high caliber game. At age 10-13 I played on a reigning 4x state champion soccer team who went anywhere just to get challenging competition. At age 14 I despised soccer. I would absolutely dread going to practice. The new coach killed every single sort of passion I had for the game. So I took a break. At age 15 I got back into it. That summer, I verbally committed to play soccer at the University of Idaho to play D1 soccer. “It is a beautiful game” is how most people praise it. There are no set plays, no timeouts, no play/shot clock, no set score. Just 22 people on a 120 x 90 meter field. The simplicity is what got me hooked. Just knocking a ball around for 90 minutes, pretty straightforward right? I learned that there is so much more than that. Terms like: 4-3-3, switching the field, a 45 ball, side on, containing your defender, 50/50 balls, and swinging the ball made the game more complex. I live for the salty sweat of hard work that drips down my head during practice or a game. I live for the well-struck ball that leads my teammate to the ideal spot on the field. I live for the post game pictures and hugs I receive after my games. To me, soccer is like an addiction. It keeps me going. I crave it if I do not have it for a while. I can not picture my life without
At age 4 I was so much bigger than everyone they told me to play up 2 years. At age 8 I competed in my first high caliber game. At age 10-13 I played on a reigning 4x state champion soccer team who went anywhere just to get challenging competition. At age 14 I despised soccer. I would absolutely dread going to practice. The new coach killed every single sort of passion I had for the game. So I took a break. At age 15 I got back into it. That summer, I verbally committed to play soccer at the University of Idaho to play D1 soccer. “It is a beautiful game” is how most people praise it. There are no set plays, no timeouts, no play/shot clock, no set score. Just 22 people on a 120 x 90 meter field. The simplicity is what got me hooked. Just knocking a ball around for 90 minutes, pretty straightforward right? I learned that there is so much more than that. Terms like: 4-3-3, switching the field, a 45 ball, side on, containing your defender, 50/50 balls, and swinging the ball made the game more complex. I live for the salty sweat of hard work that drips down my head during practice or a game. I live for the well-struck ball that leads my teammate to the ideal spot on the field. I live for the post game pictures and hugs I receive after my games. To me, soccer is like an addiction. It keeps me going. I crave it if I do not have it for a while. I can not picture my life without