World Cup Soccer is probably one of the most exciting sports to watch. Especially when your country is in the finals! (Whoohoo!) As I sit here and watch the U.S. Womens National Team completely dominate Japan in the 2015 World Cup Finals, I can’t help but think back to the days when soccer was my life.
When I was a kid, our family moved around A LOT due to my dad’s job, and the one thing that stayed constant was sports. When they up and moved me in the middle of my freshman year of high school, I thought my world was over. I’d finally made my schools soccer team that season and I would have to leave the girls I played with since I was in 3rd grade. HOW COULD THEY DO THIS TO ME?! (Cue the high school dramatics)
Soccer was the only thing that kept me sane. I worked my ass off to get a spot on my new schools team and it was the best thing that could have ever happened. I made life long friendships, learned some pretty hard lessons and made some memories that will last a lifetime. All because I chose to be a Soccer Girl.
Watching the Women’s World Cup 2015 Finals & seeing the U.S. Women’s National Team win back the cup, it has dug up the warm & fuzzies in me and I couldn’t help but share the 5 life lessons I learned from being a ‘Soccer Girl’.
1. Work Hard, Play Harder.
We busted our asses day in and day out. Blood, sweat and tears to get a jersey and even more sweat and tears to earn one of those 11 spots. Practicing every single day, traveling teams, summer camps, tournaments, drills and countless sprints. But we could party like no others! (sorry mom and dad)
2. You mess with one of us, you mess with us all.
‘Nuff said.
3. Communication is everything.
Communication is a vital part to your teams relationship on the field. Knowing how to talk to your teammates, getting your clear message across is key and that has helped in every aspect of life.
4. How to handle disappointment.
There were many games that I didn’t even step foot on the field. There were times where we lost – bad – and needed to win to stay alive. No matter how many tears we have shed together or with our heads hidden under our jerseys, we learned that every day may not be the greatest. You knew that you had to pick yourself up and keep going because 10 other girls were depending on you.
5. That memories do last forever.
From inside jokes to the crazy bus rides home from away games, certain memories will always be near and dear to my heart. No matter where life may take us, or how long we have gone with out seeing or talking to each other, that bond is always there and can never be broken. (Cheesy & cliche, I know, but it’s the truth!)
We may have lost, we may have kicked some serious ass, but let it be known – this was more than just a sport to us soccer girls. It was our life and it helped shape us into the pretty badass chicks we have become. Now it’s our mini me’s turn to keep that torch going.
– Amanda
