Breathing It All In:
The Youth Sports Experience

Riding down a two-lane residential suburban road, we turn into the gravel drive of our youth soccer field. We arrive to the smell of fresh-cut grass, which is like coffee in the morning: it invigorates and provides a rationale for starting the day away from the safety and comfort of home. 

I hear the sounds of cleats as they hit the gravel, that endearing sound of a child transforming into an athlete, a competitor, a skilled player of a sport that is rigorous, triumphant, and at times even heartbreaking.

The sights at the fields are ones we have seen many times, but often do not take the time to savor or appreciate. At every game, I take a big breath to try to stop the time and draw this special air into my lungs. I take in the families gathered there to support their players; to cheer for them, to console them, sometimes even to help tie a cleat.

Players are there to understand and master a game in which endurance and skill are presented on a grass stage.  It is so much more than just a game; it’s the human experience being highlighted in a sixty minute performance.

The ritual is one so many of us know; but the journey is never the same. Each year, a child grows and becomes a better player. New teammates join a team and families are touched by new friends. We gather with these new friends and they join in our lives rather openly, looking to form friendly bonds and connect as individuals.

We cannot see it but we are growing together, as people, as parents,
as a community. The game itself is what we are all there to attend, but the sense of belonging is what makes each team special and brings meaning to our life’s journey.

As each season draws to an end, there is a longing to know what lies ahead. I always feel a tinge of sadness when a season ends, even if the season was not particularly a good one; every end of season my child is getting bigger and one day, these days of youth sports will be no more. 

I take another breath, again hoping to seize time. Then, I look up at the fields and know that this game will continue for years to come, and it will ebb and flow with new experiences, new people, but forever stay in my soul.

-Angie Haddad