1. The smell of a newly waxed gym floor is the best.
You'll be breathing in the fumes for weeks, but your shoes have impeccable grip now. That;s the smell of victory.
2. "Get on the line." is a phrase that makes your stomach sink.
This means you are going to be sprinting, and unless you like running a lot, this phrase isn't good news.
3. Watching people play that don't know what they're doing is painful.
4. Pregame rituals are sacred.
Brushing your teeth, yelling a cheer, listening to a certain song, dancing... Whatever your ritual is, it is sacred, and you'll be doing it forever.
You buy a pair of shoes in the store that look great, but when you play in them, it feels like you have rocks on your feet. Time to go back to Dick's.
6. Your shoes also smell pretty bad by the end of the season, along with your braces and bag.
Yes, your teammate peed in a bottle. Keep that to yourself.
8. You can spot your teammates in a crowd because you are wearing the same travel gear.
9. You watch the other team during warm-ups and judge them, or you judge yourselves.
10. 6 am practices are the worst.
It's early. It's cold. You're still asleep.
