Last week a few of our players had siblings and close friends who left for college. One player who is usually bubly and energetic showed up about 20 minutes early to practice, with her shoulders slumped, just standing by the equipment we’d put down. I asked her what was up, and she told me ’Tom leaves for college today, he just dropped me off’. I asked if she was okay, to which she replied ‘I broke down last night, but I’m better today. Soccer helps.”

I know she wanted to go with her parents to drop him off, but that would mean she’d miss practice, and would be ineligible per the state’s criteria to scrimmage as she needs 6 practices to play in it. So she stayed home, and was a little sad about it. She went on to have a good practice, and I overheard her tell some teammates that Tom had left for college that morning.

Now this player happens to be a starter, and happens to want to play high level college soccer. Her talent on the field has nothing to do with her emotions or value as a person. So I’d like to think that regardless of her playing time, status, or talent, I’d have cared enough about her to find out what was up that morning.