I have been playing soccer since I was 4 years old. Going between clubs such as LOFS Rec League, to travel league, to club teams, indoor, and finally to high school. Comparing all of those experiences and journeys together, high school is like no other.

1. You spend months together

For high school, we start our summer conditioning in June, the week after school lets out. We go two days a week for two hours at a time. However, when July hits, it becomes 3-4 days. At the end of July, we have a “Hell Week”, which is a week of 5 hour practices, and straight up conditioning for all of it. When August hits, you start scrimmages between local school, and then finally you find out what team you’re on, and get your uniform and team pictures taken. Finally, it’s season time. We play every Tuesday and Thursday with the occasional Saturday tournaments until early October, that’s when postseason starts with Sectionals start.

2. Pasta Dinners

Before every big game, a certain class on the team hosts a “Pasta Party” where the kids and parents bring a bunch of patas, breadsticks, desserts, chocolate milk, and water to fill us up in preparation for the big game that is to come. But no class every goes before the seniors, it is considered disrespectful.

3. Team Bondings

The teams set up out of school/out of practice time to spend together. We all get along really well, and we spend a lot of time together. We develop close friendships like no other and enjoy hanging out outside our passionate sport.

4. Team Sleepover

Every year both teams combine for a giant team sleep over. We all spend all night together watching movies, eating, and doing team bonding exercises.

5. Senior Night

Our last home game of the season, all underclassmen honor our seniors with them being lead by their parents onto the field, where we give them a bag of gifts and a rose. A speech is made about them by our head coach, and everyone cheers for them. We make pamphlets with their soccer stories and background with throwback pictures to remember their past years in the sport. Finally, we all eat a giant dinner after together.

6. New Friendships

All of us are there for one reason and one reason only; to play the game we love. We spend so much time together, and well develop friendships through it all. We have inside jokes, laughs, and funny memories. I personally have made some very close friends over the years through ut, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

High school soccer has brought me a lot of memories so far, but I’m not done yet. I’m excited for what lies ahead and cannot wait for my senior year.