My coach always told me, “Do your job.” Ever since high school, I have loved playing sports no matter how much time I got on the court. I learned to appreciate the small jobs I was given and gained confidence whenever I did them successfully. Whether you're in high school or college, you will always know at least one person who is seen as a "star athlete." Sometimes, that might be you, and other times, you might be the complete opposite -- but that's completely okay. Even if you are or were involved in sports, it didn't mean that you were the player that was always put in the game right away. Here are 11 signs that meant you weren't always the first player on the field or court.

1. You would sing today’s hits to keep you entertained on the bench.

Singing songs with other teammates who were on the bench made your sport 10 times more fun than just watching the game.

2. You became the biggest cheerleader for your teammates on the sidelines.

Thinking of new ways to say “Let’s Go!” was always a fun way to keep the energy up on the bench.

3. You were used to not hearing your name on the starting roster.

This wasn’t the biggest deal to you, but on the inside, you wanted the announcer to shout your name so bad.

4. But…you have never felt so powerful when you did hear it.

“Hey that’s my number… Yea... That’s me! Wait what?”

5. You learned a lot just by watching your teammates play besides being at practice.

Oh.. So that’s how that drill works.

6. You always felt pressured to do well.

Remember, because you don’t always get the chance on the field or court, it takes a few tries to officially get yourself in the game. Just breathe and be patient.

7. ... And felt awful every time you gave the other team a point.

“But, Coach, I really did try, I didn’t mean to mess up.”

8. Getting put in for one play and being taken out right after.

Don’t take it personally, some plays require you to be subbed in just to get subbed out. I still don’t know how it works but I always just went with it.

9. You couldn’t believe you were in the game longer than 10 minutes.

Even after 5-minutes, you would glance over at your coach and give him the thumbs up that meant “You still want me in right?”

10. You weren’t exactly aggressive.

Sometimes, muscles weren’t exactly your best friend, and it showed when you had to stop the ball with a certain position and you had your eyes closed the entire time.

11. You were mostly put in the game when your team played a “not so great” team.

The starting line up would have dominated over the opponent, but with your inexperience, you actually had to try hard to win.

However, I have learned to never give up, no matter how much you want to or how much you feel like you are wasting your time on the bench. If you were never the star athlete, do not get discouraged. You may not see it, but you are just as important as any other team member. Whether it is getting all the points, being the cheerleader on the bench, or even getting a water for your teammate, all can lead to the success of your team. Your sport is what you put into it, so whatever you do, “do your job.”