I’m standing in the back line looking around at all my teammates who are wearing matching maroon jerseys. I hear the crowd cheering our name, but it’s muffled my perpetual heartbeat. I glance over to my left to look at all the overly supportive parents. I then glance to my right to see my amazing coach and the players on the bench. I smell the fresh cut grass below my feet. I look down and see my used to be yellow Neymar cleats. Time to stretch. I raise my right knee in the air and press it against my body. Then my left. I bend my right leg to stretch the other straightened one. Switch. Ok, i'm ready. I look ahead and stare at my competition on the other half of the field. Someone in our forward line yells, “On your toes Vision!” Now all of our 11 players are jogging in place. I'm waiting for the yellow shirt to blow the whistle. It feels like hours of waiting. Then finally, “Tweet.” The adrenaline pumped through my veins, as my soccer game had begun.

Soccer, recognized as football in many counties, is the most popular sport in the world. It dates back to The Tsin and Han Dynasty where they played a game called Tsu Chu for military practice. Similar to current soccer, they couldn’t use their hands and had to kick a leather ball filled with fur into a small hole. As the years went on, more versions of the game were created in different parts of the world. In the mid 1800’s, England established  a set of rules for the game we know today. But many rules were added on from that point. For example, The penalty kick was created in 1891, the red and yellow cards were made in 1970 during the World Cup, Goalkeepers weren't allowed to pick up intentional back passes in 1992, and tackles from behind would be a red card penalty in 1998. Soccer was brought to the US in 1962 when the first 2 American leagues were created.

I started playing soccer when I was 7 on recreational teams. Being on these teams never inspired me to keep playing. I enjoyed it, but wasn’t really interested in actually playing. Because my friends were doing it, I did it. Later on, when I was 11, I joined a competitive team. An appreciation grew on me for this sport my coach calls, “A simple game that’s hard to play.” Because of him, I learned to love soccer. My parents would say after each game, “I love watching you play because you have improved so much from when you started.” I just needed someone to kindle my appreciation for soccer and that person was my coach.

When I started to play soccer more frequently, watching professional teams play was really interesting. I specifically liked the US women's team.  I even once saw them play in person at Avaya Stadium, San Jose against Canada in the fall of 2017. They inspired me and many other girls that they could do exactly what men can. The US women’s team played their first match on August 18th 1985 and since then, they have won 3 world cups, 4 Olympic gold medals, and 10 algarve cups. Currently on the team, they have 2 goalkeepers, 6 defenders, 6 midfielders and 4 forwards, a total of 18 players. Their touches are near perfect, and there passes are directed exactly where they want it. They are inspirations.

The first ever goal that I scored in a game was on my rec team when I was about 8. Sitting in the midfield position, the ball rolled toward my feet. Pow! Through the air into the back of the net. In my little 8 year old eyes, it flew a mile. Looking back on it, It traveled, at most, 30 yards. Regardless, no words could portray how thrilled I was. At the time, it felt like a dream come true.

Since then, my strong kick has been an asset to my team in free kicks. Many game determining goals have come out of it that my team has praised me for. In the MVLA Spring Cup, I scored my most memorable goal. The first game of the tournament was tied 0-0. Someone was fouled just outside of the box. I stepped up to bat….. just kidding, wrong sport. I stepped up to the ball. Backed up at just the right angle, ran up at just the right speed, and whacked the ball on just the right part of my foot. The next thing I knew, It’s over the keepers head and in the goal. I heard cheering from the sidelines and from the field. Parents and teammates showered with compliments, “Great shot,” and, “That was awesome,” are mostly what I heard. It felt like I had just won a gold medal at the Olympics. It was amazing. Because of my shot, we won the game and I earned points for our team.

I’m so glad my parents decided to sign me up for rec when I was 7 because if not, I wouldn't be playing the sport that has taught me so much. Thanks to my coach, I now have a deep appreciation for this “simple game that’s hard to play.”