Taking The Training Wheels Off Taking the training wheels off, or doing something on your own for the first time, can be a daunting challenge. When I was five year old, I owned a black and yellow Tonka bicycle. I decided one day that I wanted to learn to ride my bike without training wheels. Unfortunately, I picked a day that my parents were throwing a block party and were too busy to help me, but that was not going to deter me. I decided to go and grab a handful of wrenches and take them off myself. Before I knew it, I was riding down the driveway alone. Taking off the training wheels is a big step in life. As we approach our later teen years and early adulthood we begin to face bigger challenges and it is a time when we learn a lot more
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I'm not going to lie. I never followed football and did not know the plays nor fully understood the rules. When I ran track and began getting top in the state for multiple events, I started to think "why not try football?" Well the answer was easy, I had four previous concussions, but just like that day I took the training wheels off my bicycle, I was determined to try. I was recovering from a calf injury, but I decided to talk to my coach and ask if I could join the team late. I was thrilled when he said yes, but soon realized what a difficult task I was undertaking. Joining the team late and having no knowledge or previous experience in playing football was not easy. Everyone knew the plays and drills and there I was feeling clueless. If I poorly executed a play, I would get screamed at by my coach and laughed at by the other players. I was determined to succeed, but play after play I got hit harder and harder. I remember one particular play where I got hit by my teammate during practice. He blindsided me, I flew through the air and landed on my back staring up at the clear blue sky. A moment later, I was up on my feet, a little shaky, but ready to try again. I could see the look of astonishment on his face. Every time I was knocked down, I would get back up. It took a lot to get back up and try again, but eventually I started to
I'm not going to lie. I never followed football and did not know the plays nor fully understood the rules. When I ran track and began getting top in the state for multiple events, I started to think "why not try football?" Well the answer was easy, I had four previous concussions, but just like that day I took the training wheels off my bicycle, I was determined to try. I was recovering from a calf injury, but I decided to talk to my coach and ask if I could join the team late. I was thrilled when he said yes, but soon realized what a difficult task I was undertaking. Joining the team late and having no knowledge or previous experience in playing football was not easy. Everyone knew the plays and drills and there I was feeling clueless. If I poorly executed a play, I would get screamed at by my coach and laughed at by the other players. I was determined to succeed, but play after play I got hit harder and harder. I remember one particular play where I got hit by my teammate during practice. He blindsided me, I flew through the air and landed on my back staring up at the clear blue sky. A moment later, I was up on my feet, a little shaky, but ready to try again. I could see the look of astonishment on his face. Every time I was knocked down, I would get back up. It took a lot to get back up and try again, but eventually I started to