English 9 Narrative Essay

Dylan Vogel 2018-03-08

English 9

English 9 Narrative Essay

My Coach Danny

Someday you will meet someone whom you will dislike on the first encounter.

This is what happened to me when I arrived at the tryouts for the soccer season ahead. It was a sunny day but with some clouds hovering around the sun from time to time. My friend Nolan was by my side as we walked down together to the canopy where the players who were trying out for the team would sign in. Nolan and I signed in and got our numbered jersey and headed out to meet the Coach.

Danny was a rather short man that held himself high with authority like a lion surveying his pride. He seemed happy with the players that showed up and was greeting the parents who had arrived to watch in a steady stream. He seemed overly confident with himself. Nolan and Istarted towards him to introduce ourselves, in attempt to make a good impression. We both shook his hand, but he seemed to be distracted, so we headed off to the circle of players who where warming up to get started. I felt about as invisible as a kid could feel. I was starting to get anxious as the start time grew closer and closer. I tried to concentrate on warming up and what was happening in the moment, telling myself “Get the ball. Pass it along. Repeat” to try and get me though the hours ahead.

The tryout blew past with a storm of goals, passes and cheering. The following night, I was amazed that we got a phone call from Danny, who said that he was very impressed by my skill on the field and that he would be delighted to have me on his team.Unfortunately, Nolan didn’t manage to make the team,but I assured Danny that he would try again next year. This moment right here was the high point of my experience with Danny: the problem was that is it only goes downhill from here. From the constant punishment laps for not listening, attitude and bad posture (Seriously. Bad posture!?) he dealt me push-ups and name calling as well as brutal embarrassment. This was all too much for me to handle. I wasn’t sure soccer loved me anymore.

‘’Hey Bobble head!’’ Oh boy, I guess he’s talking to me. ‘’When are you going to start running?” when I was killing myself out there. I was done with the constant running, so I decided to stop… Big mistake. Danny stormed towards me like a freight train, yelling ‘’You are looking for some push-ups, boy!’’I didn’t respond. ‘’Drop and give me twenty”. I did as he asked as the rest of the team looked on with laughter. It felt terrible. It seemed that I was being singled out by the coach, or maybe that was a strategy?

Soccer was starting to become a problem even off the field.It was giving me anxiety when I was at home. Danny started to call home and was complaining to my parentsthat I wasn’t committed to the team and that I would soon get cut if I didn’t pull myself together on the field. Things came to a head but not in the way you think.It all started when the 12-minute run was introduced to the team.I was always the back of the pack, always the last one. But one practice on a cloudy but warm day it was different.

I started the run as usual, at the back.But in the last 60 seconds Danny started to scream at me to run faster. The only thing that accomplished was rise my anger levels. suddenly my adrenaline spiked,my breathing started to quicken as my legs started to move faster. I had never felt that kind of feeling before. I flew past my fellow teammates.The wind whipped through my hair and I felt like I could run forever. I passed more and more of my teammates. I was astounded by my speed it felt like I was dreaming, it was incredible.

After that practice Danny seemed to have found a new-found respect for me.The next couple of weeks seemed to go much smoother.When the games came along I started to get played more.Dannywasn’t calling me nicknames and I was starting to feel more and more comfortable with my teammates. The rivalry between us two seemed to dissipate, anto this day me and Danny have been very close and are getting along just fine. But the lesson I have learnt from him will always stay with me. It will be the reason I drive for success though the toughest problems. But he funny thing is, this all came from two people hating each other to two people respecting each other.