When I was just three years old, my parents signed me up to play recreational soccer, since I was always going onto the soccer field when my brother or sister were playing. My parents' friend, who, at the time, was the person who started the soccer complex, told both my mom and dad to sign me up to play the sport despite still being in diapers. My parents' friend knew I loved the game just by watching me want to kick the ball into the goal, even though I was not supposed to be on the field when my siblings were playing.
When I got signed up to play soccer at age of three, both my mom and dad knew it was going to become a big part of my life because ever since I was given a soccer ball and a goal, I never wanted to stop playing soccer. My parents both knew that they were going to be in for it. Every year up to age 10, I was playing recreational soccer. By age 10, I was playing recreational soccer until my recreational soccer coach asked me to play for his competitive soccer team, as he was looking for players for his team. Now, at the time, my dad had gotten diagnosed with cancer. He did not know how this cancer would affect him in the long run, so he made a decision that changed my life for the better. He wanted me to experience new things and he did not know how this cancer would affect him or change him, so he allowed me to play competitive soccer.
Who knew I would be playing indoor soccer at different indoor soccer complexes and experience the thrill of a competitive sport? Despite all of this, I had to stay on top of school work and go to competitive soccer practices...That was the only rule (besides having fun playing a competitive sport). I knew competitive soccer was more hardcore. From those soccer practices to coming home sweaty and just wanting to take a shower and hit the hay, I knew I had to do homework despite being tired from practice and running fitness practice. Taking a nap was not an option, and I knew I had made a deal that school work came first. I would do my homework and projects despite my tiredness. I kept my grades up every year, until age sixteen when I stopped playing competitive soccer.
Now let's not talk about why I stopped, as I still have more to say. I have played for one soccer complex for a year indoor, but that was not it for me. My dad knew I was not the best soccer player, but he knew I still wanted to play more competitive soccer, so I transferred to a different soccer complex where I had six amazing years of playing competitive soccer both indoor and outdoor. I had to try out, but I always made a team. In these years, I met new teammates, made new friends, met new coaches, and made a lot of fun and unforgettable memories. I traveled to so many towns across the state to play against different soccer complexes. I also traveled to different states for soccer tournaments. In addition at those tournaments, we would receive patches, and switch patches with different teams, which was nice. Therefore, making a soccer goal that meant something in the game made it a thrill. Making goals for my team in order to help win the game was the best thrill ever, as well as assisting a team mate to get a goal was great to. Running up and down the field was exhausting but that never bothered me because I was doing something that I love. Moreover, having a soccer uniform with my number and my soccer complex on it was nice and that thrill of carrying a soccer bag and wearing nice brandy new cleats were truly great. Having those pads and nice new socks was great, too. In addition, playing at different soccer complexes and indoor soccer complexes I experienced the turf burns from the turf field, the tile floor field, and gym-based floor field. It was amazing to experience that. Not only that, but being a captain for the game was such a great experience to see whether we had the choose of what side field we want or if we wanted to have the ball first.
Winning games in tournaments or championships was an amazing rush of excitement. One year, my team won first place in a tournament in which we were basically the underdogs. Also with the coaches and assistant coaches yelling at us to get in formation or do our warm up and drills they only did that to keep us focus on the game and to prepare us for the games. Even if my team loss a game, I would not let that take the best of me I knew I had fun playing and my team did to. All the bruises, cuts, bumps, and sweat were worth it. Even when I came home sore from a game or practice, I knew I was living my dream as a competitive soccer player. A couple of my competitive soccer years, my dad was either the coach or an assistant coach for my team and that was very great to experience. My dad did everything in his power to give me six great years of competitive soccer life and he truly stuck to his promise.
All in all, my dad gave me something that any athlete would be thankful for...my dad gave me the gift of playing competitive soccer. It was always my dream to be an athlete and play the sport competitively. I will always be thankful for that and I appreciate everything he did so I could have amazing competitive soccer experience.
