Mémoire 2: Le Football

I remember the first game I played really well in.

I was playing in AYSO on the Purple Panthers, U6 team. All my soccer friends were there: Emma, Catherine Pugh, and other... people. And that day, I remember striking the ball perfectly. The ball seemed to find its niche in my foot-- just right there on my laces. I scored two goals in that game. :]

Fast forward a couple of years...

I was playing in U10 for the Turkey Tournament and we went into sudden death. That was the first time I ever kicked a ball so far. The coach lined me up first for the shot. I kicked the ball and it soared right over the top of the net. Yeah, I didn't exactly make the shot, but hey, it was a really nice kick. We lost that game... At least, we all had fun! :D

A couple more seasons...

In one of the last few seasons I played for AYSO, I remember I dribbled up all the way from our side to the other team's side. And I didn't even notice it until afterwards my parents told me. Haha, good times. Made a cross... Oops, it didn't get finished but it was nice to see that I could do that.

Sixth grade...

I was really doubtful about making the team. But yay! I got in anyways as a pixie, even if I was a bench-warmer.

Seventh & Eight grade...

I got made starter. :D Yayy! And in my 8th grade year, I averaged about 1.5 goals every game. That, my friend, is the peak of my soccer career.

So it just brings me back to now. I think I have to quit the soccer team this year. There's just too many commitments that are conflicting with the practice times. It's not like I want to. I really don't. But I have to-- for the sake of my sanity and commitment. Here goes all my hopes about being team captain or being a starter. Here goes my goal of being on the soccer team all four years of high school. My soccer career stops here for now. And the rest of the road, truthfully, is looking tentative. Whether it leads off a cliff or into a land of happy soccer players, I'm not so sure. Only time can tell.

It just makes me sad. Soccer is a part of me. I've been playing it since 2nd grade and now I have to give it up for new things that I may (frankly) suck at. I'm going to miss it. I really do love soccer but right now, I just don't love it enough to sacrifice the rest of my life.