As I edited soccer photos this morning, my mind wandered about the lessons a young adult learns from competing in sport. As I sat there and edited picture after picture of soccer players battling for possession of the ball, it hit me that there are significant life lessons that these kids are learning out there.
That ball is a symbol of what everyone wants. He who has the ball, has the glory. He has his shining moment before his peers. Maybe I'm able to catch him in an action photo with that ball and he's going to become Facebook famous for all his friends to admire. Then again, maybe he does the right things with that ball and it results in a goal that earns the team the win and gets his name in the newspaper. If you think about it, even the word goal is there. Ultimately, he's reached his goal.
As I looked over the photos this morning I realized that each one of those kids put in hours of hard work and preparation just to have a chance to earn that jersey and suit up to represent their school. Out of thousands of kids, only 11 had what it takes to rise to the top and earn a position on the field.
In soccer, like in life, for some kids the ball just falls at their foot. They're in the right position and have what it takes to deal with the situations in front of them. Still others have to work hard to get in the picture. Some kids ride the bench for years before getting a moment. And still others sit on the sidelines and wish they had the talent to compete with the elite 11 they admire from afar.
One of the most important life lessons sport teaches is the ability to communicate. In my 30 minutes shooting soccer at Meridian High School the other day, I watched the King's goalie holler at his defenders and also watched how the defenders responded to his communication. Some of them listened and responded to his suggestions, but there was the one kid who turned to him and said: "Really?" Well, I guess not everyone responds well to being hollered at. Not only do kids learn how to communicate with each other, they learn the importance of communication with referees, coaches and fans. If you want the glory, then you're gonna have to learn to communicate with authority figures. That's a lesson we all learn really quick. Respect and decorum are paramount in sport.
Everyone wants to feel like what they say and do in life is important. I know I do! They want to be significant in the lives of those around them and make positive impacts on others. That holds true on the soccer field. Sure, in "real" life it doesn't always work out that way, but it's what we all should strive toward.
Yes, these kids are definitely learning valuable life lessons. If they want to keep the ball, it takes work. It takes hustle, smart decisions and determination. Once these kids graduate, get married and buy a house, they'll know what it takes to earn the money to pay that mortgage each month. They'll know the time it takes to maintain a marriage, a friendship and a job. They learned it playing soccer. Maybe it's a bit of a stretch to say some kid's ability to kick a ball translates into all that, but it certainly doesn't hurt.
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