Personal Narrative: Soccer And Volleyball

I have played CYC soccer and volleyball for as long as I can remember, and I have always loved how players of all skill levels and competitiveness play together and learn to lose gracefully and win humbly. My coaches taught me at a young age to be nice to the other team, respectful to the referees, and a supportive teammate. It was not until I got older that I really understood what it all meant. We started playing teams that were very competitive and were dead set on winning all the time. I realized then that it did not matter to me if we won or lost; to me as long as we were having fun as a team, we shouldn’t worry about the score. I learned that everyone makes mistakes and part of being on a team is bringing your teammates up and not letting your mistakes take away your love for the game. My teammates taught me that everyone has different gifts from God and that we shouldn’t compare ourselves.

But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” For me, this quote really describes how to be a good CYC sports player, teammate, and friend. Not judging others solely on their athletic ability is a very significant piece of being a CYC player. This quote helped me see in action what my coaches had taught me all those years as I was growing up. Outside of CYC, I noticed how poorly some parents on the sidelines treated the referees, coaches, and even their own kids. It made me appreciate how CYC puts an emphasis on good sportsmanship and being a team player. Early this year, my coach chose me to participate in the Spirit of St. Louis CYC Volleyball Tournament. I was honored because the organizers made a point that this was not a competition for the best volleyball players, but the kindest and most respectful teammates that reflected the spirit of CYC