Personal Narrative: Coach Sphire

I am the edge guy so I have to make sure he does not cut back. Therefore I go around the edge and start chasing him. I am about to get the tackle when one of his teammates trips me in an attempt to block me. I fall towards the returner head first. My helmet hits his left thigh, everything just goes silent. The next thing I know, I see my coaches standing over me waving their hands and I see their mouths moving, but all I hear is this ringing in my ear. When I finally am able to hear them they are asking if I am okay and if I can get up and walk. As I get up to start walking to the sideline, my coaches are holding on to me just in case I fall. Then all of a sudden I feel this burning sensation on the right side of my neck. I reach up to touch it and there is blood all over my hand. I had lacerated my neck by hitting my helmet on the returners thigh so hard that my it jolted to one side.

The person that had the biggest impact on turning me into who i am today was my middle school coach.

Our hearts had just been ripped out of our chests. We had fought as hard as we could just to come up short on the last second touchdown. We continued on with our heads held high to shake hands with the opposing team because we knew we had fought as hard as we could. I was nearing the end of the line, when the I reached an opposing coach. Not expecting anyone to say anything, I heard a voice talking to me. I heard the man say to me, “Once you get some feet under you, you might be pretty good. Until then, you will just be a piece of shit.”

We were destroying Lenawee Christian, and at the end of the third quarter we were up 44-6. Coach started to put under classmen in the game. Shortly after, I heard coach calling my name. I could not believe it, that coach was actually going to put me in the game! I was excited and ready to go in. Coach put me on defence in the cornerback position. I have never practiced this position, so I was a little nervous. Little did I know, the first play I was in, I got injured. A senior from the other team ran through

My heart pounding in my chest, my hands shaking, as goose bumps devour my body. I get the ball and I fall to the ground, landing flat on my back as I try to pass the ball to another person. I hear roars of laughter as I see my leg straight in the air and the ball on the ground next to me. I look over at the Coach as he frowns at me and looks away. I start to roll off the field. I hear the siren as I start to limp home with my hand on my back. I try to run the rest of the way, but my leg won't budge so I limped.

It was a brisk fall evening, and my seventh grade youth football team and I had traveled to Aberdeen to play the undefeated Chiefs. We had worked harder and longer than we ever had that week to show that we were a threat in the league and ascend from our third place ranking. We knew it was not going to be easy; the Chiefs’ team had the fastest running back in our division, and they had scored more total points per game than any other team in the Southeast Idaho Youth Football League. The field was neater and greener than we had expected in this town. It was a great day for football, and I was with all of my best friends. I knew going in that it was going to be a learning experience whether we won or lost that night because the Chiefs were

I found a group of passionate, like-minded individuals and founded an Esports club. All of us had a strong sense of competitive spirit and a thirst to prove ourselves. We had no precedent, no knowledge or mentor. We derived a structure, incorporating roles and responsibilities similar to traditional sports.

It all started when i was in fourth grade. It all changed what inspired me came by whole big dream that i wanted to be successful at. I was at school just a normal day, and it was times to go to PE, and my coach got out a circular ball that i had never seen in my life. It was kinda colorful, it had some weird word written on it, but i couldn't see from where i was standing. My coach handed us each one of these balls, and coach called them volleyballs. My coach told us what to do and what not to do, so i was at this net, and just gave the ball a high five because that's what he said to do. Coach came over to me, and kinda directed me through and told me it was called a serve. That day i went home thinking about it, and i decided i want to do

Winning our first softball tournament was one of my favorite memories. My coach was a huge factor in our success, and I loved all of my teammates. One of my good friends smashed her first home run that weekend, which made it even more exciting. It was our last tournament of the season, and I am delighted that it ended in our first win.

I refused to cheer too much because I know it would drive my focus away and it was best to stay humble. I reminded the offensive team this because it would be our hubris if we let our victories envelope our heads. By the end of the final quarter, we had won our game by only a 2-point conversion. The cannonade from my chest was still lunging towards the outside world. Throughout the game I feared failure, yet I overcame it. Realizing that my role was more influential than I known previously, I adapted to the pressure. I reflected on my own performance and knew I could do better. There was so much I could improve on and I was determined to be the

It was the last practice of the year and we had the biggest game of the year the next day. “ Wrap him up! Drive your feet! Catch the ball!” yelled the coaches every minute.We were having a great year so far with our record at 6-1-1. This practice I was working extra hard because I was starting on both sides of the ball. I hadn’t played most of the year because the first week of practice, I got injured and was out for a week and a half. I had been trying my hardest in games and at practice, but I still had little playing time. Then a few practices before we played Carroll County the coach said he wants me to start at fullback instead of being the backup running back. I was really surprised, but he said that he had been watching my blocking and I already knew the plays so I would be fine. I got my other big opportunity when our quarterback got injured and I got to start on defense as well.

I am getting myself prepared for the biggest game I have in my career. The 2014 State Championship game. My team had driven from Temple,Texas to San Marcos,Texas, a three hour drive. I am only a little bit nervous because I know my team can win. We are waiting for the game before us to finish so we can play our hearts out. The referee blows the final whistle, and we step on to field and warm up. We pass the ball around playing keep away. The referees call for captains. My coach tell me which side he wants and I went over. The outcome was my team got our side and kickoff which was a win-win. My coach gives my team the lineup. I am playing defense which is no surprise. We break out and take the field. The other team plays really tight, but we have played them before so we know what they are like. We pass quickly and work the ball around the field. Soon the other team is out of position ,and we score a goal. We do some more passing. Making the other team run more which makes them more tired. We take a few more shots but we miss. Half time is called and then we go back to work. The other team gets a break away and in chasing the girl. As soon as she kicks the ball as hard as she can I stick my right foot out. The ball hits my

At the end of the first half someone had dove into the side of knee. I had fallen over and felt the worst pain I had ever felt in my life. I am laying there and say to myself, “I will not stay down and give up on myself.” Halftime comes along and Coach Doc pulls me to the side and said, “you are done for the night.” I told him to his face, “I will not be taken out as this is my last year to shine. Nothing will stand in my way.” So I finish the game and come to find out I had sprained my knee bad. Once again I will not have nothing come in front of me this year. Our biggest game of perhaps the whole year was against the Wilson Bulldogs. This was a game I was going to war for my brothers that I love deeply. Second play of this game I get blindsided and my knee buckles. I felt that pain but said no to it and got right back up and played the rest of the game. I had played a great game and we had handed them their worst loss in many years. The moral of my story is to never give up on yourself and the others around you just because things are not going your way. If you give it some time they will eventually fall into your hand and then it is up to you if you want to take them or

I am having the time of my life doing what I love, playing football. This was during a 7 on 7 touch football game. The previous play I snatched the ball out of the air from an opposing player to secure the touchdown and with all my energy on competing I was ready for the next play of defense to begin. The play starts with the opposing quarterback launching the ball. With it floating to the receiver in the end zone. I see the ball and sprinted close enough to dive ,and was just able to graze the tip of the ball to deflect it. The next play the quarterback dropped back once again and heaved the ball into the air I was able to find where the receiver was then I located the ball. The football wabbled in the air struggling to reach the receiver. I jumped for the ball staring it down and the next thing I could remember was staring at was the hospital bed that I laid in. When jumping for the ball I collided into a teammate resulting in a concussion and due to the collision I was not able to recall the actual accident happening or the hospital ride.

On the third play of defense I shot off the line and barely slipped by the offensive tackle who aimed to take out my legs. I bolted down the line pursuing the ball carrier in a mass of offenders and I was getting ready to tackle the running back. I had planted my foot to help tackle the running back and all of a sudden the bottom part of my left leg crunched. I tried to get off the ground but it was difficult. I kept trying to stand up, but my leg wouldn’t let me, it kept knocking me off of my feet. I eventually got up on my right leg and started hopping to the side line. The whole time I was screaming at the coaches to get me a substitute and I was cursing as well. I was about halfway to the sideline before I started crying, but I wasn’t crying because it hurt, I was crying because this was my year to do the best that I ever had in football, my senior year.