Becoming a Goal Keeper

I started playing soccer at five years old and haven’t stopped playing it since. I don’t mean to brag but, I’m pretty good at it. I have played every position on the field from goal keeper to Striker. The current positon I play is the Goal keeper and let me tell you—it isn’t easy. When I first started playing, I only played in teams with boys. I was the only girl on the team and it was really hard to bond with the boys as teammates because I had “cooties” or whatever. Naturally, guys are stronger and faster athletes, so it was really hard for me to keep up.

​Even though it was hard being the only girl on the team it really helped me become more of an aggressive and stronger player; because with the boys, I got pushed around a lot. When I finally got into an all-girls team, my aggressiveness made the other girl teams scared. My family and even other parents said that I was “a natural” at playing soccer and being “extra aggressive” would only make me better. I could play any position with ease, except the positon of a goal keeper.

Before a game, my coach got a call from our goal keeper’s parents, saying that she would not make it to the game due to a family emergency. Everyone on my team, including me, was freaking out because nobody on the team knew how to be a goalie except her.

“Alright, who is going to fill her spot?” 

My coach said in worried voice. I looked around waiting for someone to step up to be the goalie but no one did.

“I’ll do it.” 

I said in a unhappy monotone voice. When the game started I was sweating bullets because I did not know the first rule of being a goalie. But to everyone’s surprise, and even to my own, I blocked every shot taken on me.

From then on out I have always been the “backup” keeper until I got into high school. It was the same story all over again; JV didn’t have a keeper so I stepped up and took the spot. From freshman year to today, I have been the goal keeper for the team. I am now the Varsity goalie so I am planning to make this my permanent position. During my freshman year I remember telling my parents that I was playing this position and they were very unhappy. 

My parents tried to convince me to play a different position because they felt I’d do better and be more of help up front. I argued that I would do fine and be more of help playing in the back as a key defender. Even though my parents were unhappy of my choice to be a goalie, I have proved to myself, teammates, and my parents, that I am talented in playing this positon. For me, being a goalie takes a lot of strength—physically and mentally. You have to be strong enough to handle the pressure of having to stop game losing goals. 

You also have to be strong enough to take the hits and falls you receive while playing. That is why I am determined to become better that what I already am. Playing soccer is a passion and I strive to strengthen my weaknesses. I know I am talented so I refuse to let my talent go to waste.