It really is about the school…..
It is an exciting time as college soccer season kicks off! I’ve enjoyed getting back into it and following many different teams via social media. I can tell the students are having the time of their lives and developing both on and off the field. As I see videos of practice, team bonding activities, and first preseason games it brings a giant smile to my face. My first experience of college soccer was a bit different than your average student athlete, but I still had a blast and learned a ton!
I know I brought this up in my confidence write up: here. But, it played a big part of my college experience- so, in case you didn’t know, I broke my foot during my senior year in high school. I took several weeks off and wore a boot to allow it to heal. At the time, I thought that was the hardest thing I’d ever go through. No soccer? WHAT?!?! But, several weeks later I went to my final doctor appointment and was told I could play as long as I wasn’t feeling any pain…..even though there was still a fracture!! <– That will come in as an important point in a minute. I took that as a green light! I finished my club soccer season with the most amazing experience. Our team took 3rd in Regionals in Hawaii. It was the best I ever felt I played and I was excited to continue riding that high into my college experience!
College soccer kicked off with double day training in August for us. The dorms weren’t open yet, so I remember leaving home with just a few of my things because my parents were going to meet me at school later. I boarded a plane and headed up to Idaho to become a Division 1 college soccer player! I was nervous but mostly excited because, I’m not going to lie, my soccer confidence was in a really good place at the time.
Before we could start training with the team we had to go through a medical physical. I didn’t think anything of it. However, the doctor asked me about my past injuries and insisted that we x-ray my foot again to make sure I was okay to play. Again, I didn’t think anything of it because I had played and trained all summer. I was wrong. The x-ray showed there was still a fracture in my fifth metatarsal. The doctor explained it was what they call a “Jones Fracture.” No blood ran by the area of the fracture and so it was rare for that type of injury to heal naturally. Big bummer! I scheduled my first surgery….
I spent my first double days watching my teammates. I spent my first college soccer game in a boot on the bench watching and cheering on my new friends. It definitely was not what I had envisioned for myself, but I learned more than I realized that year and ended up having an amazing college freshman experience.
As a teammate, I learned to be supportive and dedicated without being able to touch a ball. Off the field I learned how to make new friends. I had the time of my life meeting and spending time with people from my dorm. The friendships I made with my freshman teammates as well as my dorm buddies are some of the best, most real, friends I’ve had in my life. I learned tons about time management: classes, homework/study tables, rehab, weights, and attending practice…..without having my parents around to guide me. Lastly, I learned to get around on crutches in the snow! Snow AND ice!! I rarely (okay maybe once) missed a class because of my injury. If that doesn’t build character, I don’t know what does! #noexcuses
If you have any interest in playing college soccer, don’t hold yourself back from learning more. Visit our page or message me for a free consultation!
https://jhicksconsulting.com/althleteform/
Learn more about me here: https://jhicksconsulting.com/about-mandy-raff/
