The
tears in your eyes obscure the view of the crowd.
A sudden jostle from behind
jerks you forward.
Teammates shaking, patting, hugging, and jumping all around
you.
What has led you to this moment? Hours, months, years of practices,
conditioning. A handful of coaches, athletic trainers, supportive friends.
Looking out into the crowd, parents wave, grandparents mirror tears, it’s one
of the most bittersweet moments for an athlete of that age. Win or lose, a
hefty weight of sadness lays over the moment, the last game of your high school
sport career.
The
reality is, only a handful of all high schoolers ever get to play again in
college, even less in the professional world. Of course, the goal is to play as
long as you can, as much as you can. The last game always holds a special place
in in the hearts of all of us.
Senior night, the last home game, is memorable
with family, friends, and all others of lovers of the sport. But who makes it
to your last game? Who has traveled the distances? Helped with icing, heating,
and constant supply of Ibuprofen?
How many heartfelt 'thank-you's' have you actually gotten?
Remember them always, because they experienced some of the biggest moments in your life with you. They know what it was like to see you drained and hurt, elated and ecstatic. Supporters for the game become your supporters for life. Try and stay in contact with your team.
Coaches; those who loved the sport with you have an unbreakable connection that can support you from the transition to college.
Getting a tuition deduction shouldn’t be the only reason to play your sport. Universities and colleges always have an overflowing handful of intermurals’ and activities that defiantly appeal to former athletes.
Consider the community you will be living in, what athletic opportunities are all around you?
Think about what you could do too, like coaching, assisting with a rec team, or coordinating certain activities within a community group that helps kids. Be open to the new opportunities that are available, the skills you learned as an athlete can help an athlete develop in the younger generations.
Be the role model you watched spike, shoot, pass, throw, sprint, or dribble for the first time, inspire others.
Tears will well up, obscuring your view of the field. The connection is made, mouthed ‘thank you’, and focus is back to the team. What you did and how you played may be forgotten after a while, but that doesn’t mean someone else can’t learn from you.
For what you do for others, it becomes one of the greatest memories for another.
Do what you can now, it pays of in the long run.
