Growing up an athlete…

For as long as I can remember I was on a team. Competitive sport is such a part of my being and as an adult it’s how I found my tribe every time we moved to a new city, which was quite often. If I wasn’t playing on team as a kid, then I was playing with the boys across the street. We had various sports we would play growing up but soccer is what we all came to most often. I dabbled in various sports my youth, but ultimately my love was soccer. 

My father was an incredible athlete. All City/All State basketball player in high school and went on to play basketball in college. At some point in his adult life he became obsessed with soccer. He was an incredibly intelligent man and having never played before he dove into videos and books to learn how to play the sport. His natural basketball ability meant he became a talented goal keeper. His drive and determination was unparalleled and he was my champion for women’s sport. He believed women were often better and stronger athletes than men. He believed women were capable of great things. He loved watching women succeed. So I grew up with that female empowerment from the biggest male figure in my life. 

At the age of 5 I started playing soccer and my father was my first coach. It was the perfect introduction into competitive sports. I continued to play at the local level until I was about 10 or 11 at which time I tried out for my first club team. I remained in club soccer all the way through high school. It created many challenges but also included many exciting adventures. We were given opportunities to travel the country for soccer tournaments. I entered high school as freshman  and immediately started on the varsity team. There were times it was a struggle to manage both high school and club ball, but I knew I wanted to compete with both. I absolutely loved the comraderie that came with the high school sports. The pride. The colors. We were small school playing and hanging with the big fish. I think back on it fondly. I had offers to ultimately play in college there are times I wish I had, but it didn’t stop me from being a competitive athlete as an adult.

At the age of 13 I was recruited to train with the high school swim team. The coach was tough. The training was grueling and the expectations were extremely high. There were 5 of us who all started at the same time and became known throughout the state as the Fab Five Freshman. We had been training and swimming against bigger, stronger and older athletes since the 7th grade. Eyes were on us. I had a great time during these years, I enjoyed the tough workouts, I enjoyed the team aesthetic and for a time I loved the individual accomplishment that came along with competitive swimming. Things began to change my junior year. I had a lot of expectations to be a state finalist and I wasn’t making my times. My coach was known as a tough love coach, but at the time to 17 year old girl it felt like more tough than love and the sports anxiety started creeping in. There was a time where I’d run to the bathroom and throw-up before every race and walk to the starting block shaking. I made the tough decision to quit the team my senior year, but I knew it was best for my overall health. Hence my introduction to anxiety had begun.

Those of us who grew up as athletes will always have an affinity for sport, competition and the friendships forged. I’m sure some of those teammates are your best friends to this day. Whether you can continue to play as an adult as I did or you were an athlete as a kid, it’s still within you. It might be why you have a favorite football, baseball or basketball team. It might be why watch professional or college or sports or why you geek out when the Olympics or World Cup are on. Many of us were fortunate enough to have extended careers while others had to retire early. For health reasons, I was forced to retire from soccer at the age of 40. Do I miss it everyday? Of course. Do I find joy watching my 13 year old blossom into an incredible athlete and leader? Absolutely. Do I find joy in professional and college athletes performing at the highest level? You better believe it. No matter where you are in your sports journey or where it might lead you, know that it’s shaped you as a human. It’s given you the ability to work in a group, perform well individually, be a leader and understand the benefits of fitness, amongst many other things. It’s part of who we are and it’s something to cherish and appreciate. Let’s be thankful for the what sport and being a competitive athlete has given us, because I know it will always be part of who I am as a Lipstick Tomboy. Let’s do great things.