Soccer season teaches a lesson

Playing my first year of high school soccer last year as a freshman, I had little experience with the sport. The season ended with zero wins, and our best game was a 1-1 tie with Bishop O’Dowd. Though I never got much playing time, nor was I that good, the season provided the team and me with valuable skills on how to deal with losses and keep moving forward.

Starting a new season of soccer with a new coaching staff and athletic director, I knew this season would be different from last before we even played a game. The coaches had experience with the sport and took it seriously.

Our first practices were tiring and long; the conditioning tired out everyone, and the coaches were unforgiving. Our first game against Emerald High School ended with a 3-0 win, showing that the harsh practices were paying off.  

We would go on to win against Amador Valley 2-1, but then take our first loss when we played them again five days later. After our game against San Lorenzo, a 10-0 win, we would lose five games in a row, and it was obvious it was taking a toll on the team’s morale.

We would struggle to score, and when we did, we would struggle to keep our lead. This disappointment hit the starters harder than anyone, as most starters would play the whole game, and five losses in a row tired them out. 

Overall, while our season record was not the best, this season provided the team with valuable experience on dealing with losses. We learned how to go into games after a record of losses and keep playing like we meant it.

The season also gave me as a player a good experience. It was obvious that the kids on JV in other schools were much better than the kinds I played against last year on the frosh team. I was defending much better players, some of whom were stronger and faster than me. I learned how to make up for my mistakes and keep playing even if we didn’t win much.