Personal Narrative: Defensive Position On The Soccer Team

It was my senior year of high school and my first time taking up a defensive position on the soccer team. Despite the fact that all of my soccer experience consisted of offensive and midfield positions, I was assigned to be a center back, a key player in the defensive line. I often made basic but detrimental errors during play. I felt that though it was my last year with my team, I couldn’t contribute anything but failure. I asked my coach why I was chosen for a role I couldn’t fulfill. He told me I was wrong, because I was the only one that could take up this position. I had to believe that anything and everything was possible.

As the season went on, I surprised myself as I began to improve dramatically. I learned how to be a proper defender, holding down the line and maintaining solid positioning. I used my offensive tactics to formulate defensive strategies, countering my opponents’ movements. I used my skills as a midfielder and forward to maintain ball control and create a modified “shot” to send the ball up the field. I became an offensive-defensive hybrid, becoming an all-purpose asset for the team.

This team was undefeated in our league, with very coordinated movement and excellent fitness beyond ours. However, what my team and I lacked in skill was made up for in faith. We trusted in each other’s ability, and no matter the result, we knew that we’d give it our all. The teams assembled on the field, and the game began. The entire game felt like a stalemate. The ball went back and forth, with no goals scored. That is, until one of my teammates slipped on the ball. The ball flew so high, it soared over the goalie and scored us a point. The rest of the game was the longest seven minutes of my life, but we defeated the undefeated and progressed to the