My first experience in organized sports was playing soccer as a 7-year-old boy. I loved it, but I was small for my age. I was easily the smallest kid on the field, and I didn’t get a lot of playing time. The coach wasn’t mean or unfair about things. I think he was just afraid I’d get hurt if the ball ever hit me. But it ripped my heart out to sit on the bench every game. I knew I could play if given the chance, and I truly believed in my heart I should be playing more.
I’ll never forget riding home after one game, and sitting dejectedly in the back seat of the car. When my dad asked me what was wrong, I burst into tears and sobbed, “I just want to play!”
