College is in full swing (as much as it can be). Classes are going smoothly. Masks are being worn everywhere. Yet one aspect of college that just doesn’t feel right is sports. This time last year we were already playing games on the beautiful Scotland Yard.
Photo Taken by Thomas Drake
Due to COVID-19, the soccer season has been moved to the spring. For the fall semester we are only allowed to practice to hopefully get ready for a season in the spring. In the first two weeks of practice, the soccer team was only allowed to practice in pods—groups of ten. We were allowed to do contact drills. However, with only ten guys it is difficult to find drills that are not repetitive. We could only be with our pod in the locker room as well. I live with three other soccer guys on the team and two of them were in my pod, but my other roommate was not.
Back in our room after practice, I would ask him how his practice was. For me, having to ask this question felt wrong. The fact that we are on the same team, and I have to ask how his practice was, disturbed me.
God is working through everyone’s lives right now, and we all are experiencing some sort of difficulty. With this being said, these difficulties that we are all going through give us the opportunity to be thankful for what we do have.
I could be not playing soccer at all right now because the NCAA decided it would be too dangerous. I could be on my hall and not on the field with my brothers in Christ playing a beautiful game to glorify God. Not having games right now is disappointing to a lot of people, but we should be optimistic. We could not be practicing at all.
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September 7 marked the first day of practice where we were allowed to practice as an entire team. It was refreshing to be able to play with and against our teammates.
Our practices sometimes lacked the competitive edge that helps to get the most out of each player during practice. Now, being able to create teams and play against one another gives us this opportunity back. Needless to say, the team has responded well.
Our work ethic was high and the quality of soccer was at the level that has come to be expected day in and day out. This will only increase as we move further into the semester. We all have things to prove and spots to fight for, and competition brings out new aspects of players that have been hidden previously.
It is difficult to stay motivated when there is so much uncertainty looking into the future. It’s hard to wake up at 5:15 a.m. on Thursdays when competition is not guaranteed.
The best part about the men’s soccer team is that there are 29 brothers who will encourage you, motivate you and be by your side no matter what.
We have a higher purpose that is to glorify God in everything we do, including playing soccer. This is what keeps us motivated to sprint that extra yard, jump for one more header or wake up early. Even if we don’t get to play, we still work hard for our brothers and for the glory of God.