Before every soccer game, my teammates and I huddle to talk about beating the other team. Then we show our dedication working our hardest on the field. Most games we win but when we don’t, we come together and analyze the game. Off the field, we are a family. We joke around always finding ways to hang out. They are my closest friends and the ones I can completely be myself around. I never really understood the value of friendships until I started playing sports.
My parents first signed me up for basketball when I was nine. They wanted me to break free from my shyness and brought me to my first basketball practice. I was so upset when I realized I was the only girl on my team and the shortest one. Practice was hard because I had no idea what I was doing. I didn’t talk to anyone during breaks and anxiously waited for practice to end. When practice did end, I headed straight for the car until I heard someone call my name. A boy on my team, Zane, was having a birthday party and wanted to invite me.
At that birthday party, all my teammates were there and I started talking to them. I became friends with them that day. Practice changed as I unexpectedly started to enjoy the company of others.
That season quickly ended. I missed playing on a team, so my parents signed me up for softball. Softball was just as fun as basketball and I became a little friendlier. When softball season ended, I begged my parents to sign me up for soccer.
I felt different playing this sport. I was eager to learn how to become a better player. After weeks of practice, my coach told us about the first game of the season. We were going to play the hardest team.
Before the game, my coach was telling the team who would play and in what position. Butterflies filled my stomach when my name was called as left defender. The game started and I tried my best to defend every ball that came my way. My best wasn’t enough, though, when a player on the other team dribbled the ball past me and scored in the last minute of the game.
My heart sank as the girl who scored ran back to her team with the biggest smile on her face. I just stood by the goal holding back my tears replaying that moment in my head over and over again. I was about to break down when the referee blew his whistle a moment later. All my teammates one by one walked over to me and gave me the biggest hugs. I was constantly reminded how great I played and that it was just a game. My tears were gone as soon as my coach came over with the happiest expression on his face. He told us how proud he was and how we played greater than he ever expected.
As a team, we went out for ice cream. My teammates and I ordered our favorite flavors and sat at a table. We talked about the most random things and the laughter did not stop. That day, I learned so much about friendship and being myself. I realized why I was so shy before. I never wanted to be the person people didn’t like so I was the person no one really knew.
I continue to play soccer today. If my parents had not signed me up for basketball years ago, I would not have started playing soccer or learned so much about friendship.
-Courtney Thornton
No comments:
Post a Comment