It was a brisk fall evening with the sun just about to set behind a hill. I was 10 years old, playing in my third season of football, and my first ever game under the bright lights surrounding the high school stadium. The time had finally come, the lights had been on and warming up for several minutes, I was going to play a game under the lights on the high school field. My experiences that night were not forgotten, but today I couldn’t even tell you if we won the game that night. The lessons I learned that night weren’t about winning and losing, I had done plenty of that already in my life. This night was about much more, and I wouldn’t know it until many years later.
As a child growing up I was captivated by sports stories that my dad shared …show more content…
Teammates responded with encouragement, “You’ll get him on the next play!” and a hard smack to my helmet. Much like when your mom smacks the back of your head with her hand, it’s your punishment and acknowledgment of your mistake. Similar to saying “You know what you did wrong, right? You’re not supposed to let anyone outside of you.” as my dad did following the play. Answering his own question because he knew he’d told me a million times before. He then explained what I did wrong and how to correct my mistake. At the next practice coach was sure to point out my mistake to everyone on the team while having me demonstrate what I did wrong. As my friends chuckled under their breath at my mistake and subsequent embarrassment, the moment was an instance of a learning and bonding in team sports. My teammates were all there to finish the play after my mistake, and this was a chance for teammates to remember their own positional responsibilities on the field.
Making mistakes, being told you’re wrong, or not having an answer can be embarrassing, but it can also be a confidence building experience. I was fortunate enough to find that quiet confidence and strength inside myself through sports.
The lesson I learned was not one of not making mistakes or needing to be perfect. Rather, it was a prime example of how we will continue to make mistakes. That night under the lights was neither the first or last time I would get beat around the outside, but I always stepped on the field thinking not a single player on this field would get outside of
As a child growing up I was captivated by sports stories that my dad shared …show more content…
Teammates responded with encouragement, “You’ll get him on the next play!” and a hard smack to my helmet. Much like when your mom smacks the back of your head with her hand, it’s your punishment and acknowledgment of your mistake. Similar to saying “You know what you did wrong, right? You’re not supposed to let anyone outside of you.” as my dad did following the play. Answering his own question because he knew he’d told me a million times before. He then explained what I did wrong and how to correct my mistake. At the next practice coach was sure to point out my mistake to everyone on the team while having me demonstrate what I did wrong. As my friends chuckled under their breath at my mistake and subsequent embarrassment, the moment was an instance of a learning and bonding in team sports. My teammates were all there to finish the play after my mistake, and this was a chance for teammates to remember their own positional responsibilities on the field.
Making mistakes, being told you’re wrong, or not having an answer can be embarrassing, but it can also be a confidence building experience. I was fortunate enough to find that quiet confidence and strength inside myself through sports.
The lesson I learned was not one of not making mistakes or needing to be perfect. Rather, it was a prime example of how we will continue to make mistakes. That night under the lights was neither the first or last time I would get beat around the outside, but I always stepped on the field thinking not a single player on this field would get outside of