Association football

It is that time for graduation. Standing in the yellow cap and gown waiting for your name to be called up to get the diploma. Seeing your parents' faces glow up when your name is called. It seems that there smiles can light up the whole room. Remembering all of the memories that happened in 8th grade. Thinking to yourself… Did I leave a good legacy behind? Was I nice to all my teachers and show them my hard work? A legacy is the way people will remember you. The way I want to be remembered is…

I play soccer. Anyone who knows me, knows this. In high school, I have often been labelled as an athlete only. Some see me as a goofy, arrogant, jock; however, I do not believe a student-athlete who achieves a 3.75 GPA can be defined so narrowly. My identity, interests, and talents are heavily influenced by soccer, but I am much more than a central midfielder. As a result of my confidence, especially on the soccer field, I am often misunderstood and seen as having it all together. Some see me as…

“Hi Malcolm, I’m Coach Spear, and I’d like you to consider playing soccer at Davidson.” I had played the “beautiful” game of soccer for as long as I could remember, starting in an organized league at the age of three to be exact. An invitation to play as a team member in a highly regarded college soccer program was the culmination of hundreds of league games, dozens of travel tournaments, and too many practices to count. The idea of attending such a prestigious college and having the opportunity…

Soccer is the best sport in the world because it is played all over the world by every different culture. For some countries, it is at the heart of their everyday life. In many parts of the world, you are either a fan of soccer or you play soccer. Soccer has also grown dramatically in the United States over the past decade. Soccer is clearly recognized all over the world as the best sport to play and watch. Soccer is the best sport in the world because it is played worldwide.…

From the time I was six years old, soccer consumed my life. I started at a recreational level, advanced to a competitive division, and eventually on to high school. I’ve put countless hours into learning the game. I never thought my soccer career would include coaching until one summer when two friends and I signed up to coach a recreational soccer team of nine year-old girls. Initially, I thought it would be a cakewalk, my previous coaches managed my teammates and I with ease. I soon realized…

Growing up my grandmother would always say I was the most stubborn child she had ever met. While this may have been an exaggeration, I definitely prefer to have my way when it comes to certain tasks. Up until this past year, I played soccer competitively. When playing soccer, like any other team sport, it is important to be open to constructive criticism. Each team member is a piece of a formula, which when done correctly can equal success. I play left midfield in soccer, being on an outer wing…

Pele was born in Três Corações, Brazil on Oct 23, 1940. His full name is Edson Arantes de Nascimento. He was the first child of João Ramos and Dona Celeste. Pele was named after Thomas Edison he moved with his family to the city of Bauru as a young boy. Joao Ramos, better known as “Dondinho” struggled to earn the living as a soccer player, and Pele grew up in poverty. Still he developed a rudimentary talent for soccer by kicking a rolled-up sock stuffed with rags around the streets of Bauru.…

The Ball at my Feet “I learned all about life with a ball at my feet.” These are the words of Ronaldinho, Brazilian soccer player, infamous for his technical ability and footwork on the field. I particularly identify with Ronaldinho’s words because I have learned many valuable lessons from soccer, which I still carry with me to this day. My experiences with soccer have made me into an excellent candidate for the Terry Fox scholarship award; as they shaped me into a person who is resilient, a…

Soccer shaped who I am today and taught me the importance of working as a team. In Grade 10, I started playing club soccer for Vancouver United FC and also joined my school’s Varsity soccer team. At our club team, we practice and compete against elite teams across BC weekly. Throughout my soccer playing career with Vancouver United FC, both my teammates and coaches described me as a persistent and diligent player. With tenacity, I proudly earned the “Top Midfielder” award in 2015 and 2016. With…

Day and night, I devoted my free time to get better at soccer. Thus, improving my kicks, accuracy, speed, stamina, and strength. I was never capable to kick a ball further than 20 feet so I created strategies to help me build strength on my legs. For example, in my back yard I would stand a few feet away from the brick, aim to a certain brick I’d like to kick the ball to, if I hit the brick I then would step a few steps back and repeat. I practiced for about 6 months straight after the season…