Thursday, April 6, 2006

   Soccer
Been a long time, my friends...

Well, we won both the regional and state competitions for Academic Decathlon. At regionals, I won an alternate Silver Medal in anatomy. Which, by the way, I never studied for. And, at states, I won an alternate Honorable Mention in Super Quiz, Renaissance history, and an alternate Gold Medal in Language and Literature. I worked really hard for the gold, so I was happy I won something. The regular players are going to San Antonio, TX for the national competition. I get to stay home.

I got a D or worse in U.S. History last marking period. Sucks... I just can't seem to concentrate anymore. I get distracted easily.

Then there is soccer. I had decided to join the recreation soccer team this year. But, I found out the cut off date for the earliest birth date is 8/1/1988. I was born 6/22/88. I am a month and eight days too old.

I was really upset about this. I asked one of my friends to ask her dad who was a coach if there was any way I could play. He said no.

I know I suck at soccer. I know I am overweight and that drains stamina. I know that Iwould never make it on a team I had to try out for. But I love soccer. I always see it on TV or read it in books and I wish I was the one otu there kicking the ball. It's so stupid and childish, but I want to play so badly it hurts to think I may not have the opprtunity.

I decided to petition against the date barrier. I wrote to the Soccer Commissioner. I doubt he will say yes, but I tried. Here is my letter:
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Dear Mr. Gysbers,

My name is Rachel. As of now, I am a junior at Indian Hills High School. I was looking forward to rejoining the Oakland Recreation Soccer Program this upcoming season. On the notice, it states that to be eligible for Division 2, my date of birth would have to fall between 8/1/1988 and 7/31/1992. My birth date is June 22, 1988.

I have decided to appeal to the Oakland Recreation Soccer Program on this case. I was informed by Mr. Jacobsen that I would not be allowed to play because I am too old. And I had to wonder, is a month and eight days really much older? I will also still be in high school next year. Why should everyone else in my grade be able to play, and not me?

Of all the recreation sports, soccer has always been my favorite, but it was also one of the only ones to base the divisions off of age, as opposed to grade. When I played a long time ago, every other year I would be placed on a team of girls I did not know because they were a grade above me. I hardly ever had the chance to play soccer with my peers and the season was too short to establish steady friendships with the girls I had never met before. This was actually the reason I quit soccer. Soccer is a team sport, but how can a player function if he/she with unfamiliar people?

I have long regretted my decision to quit because it was the only sport I truly enjoyed and I missed it thoroughly. I had planned to play again in middle school for Valley Middle School’s team, but I did not make it through tryouts because I am a rather average player and I had not played in a while. I decided to try again in high school. I watched the first day of tryouts. They wanted the players to juggle, sprint, and play in a mini-game. I was not worried about the mini-game, but I had never learned how to juggle a ball and I am not a fast runner. The girls’ soccer team also had to make cuts. I did not try out in the end.

I thought to go for recreation soccer in my sophomore year, but I had recently been employed at Staples in Oakland. My mother’s business was doing poorly and I was soon making more income than her despite the fact I was only a part-time worker. My mother asked if I could help with expenses in the house. To help out, I worked almost everyday after school of my sophomore year. I did not have time to join the soccer team and my family needed help. A friend of mine asked me to join for my junior year, but my mother was making zero salary at the time and searching for a new job. I missed the signup date by many months before my mother had decided to go into real estate.

This year, my family is still rather financially unstable. I also realized that my senior year was my last year to play soccer before college. I have already decided to work less at Staples and enjoy my final year. I was hoping to play soccer one more time before college. I have lost all my other chances, whether by my own fault or unfortunate circumstances. I have emailed multiple college coaches at schools I was considering, but many of the schools either do not have a soccer program or are looking for players who played on their high school team. I cannot choose my college based solely upon whether they have a soccer team I can join or not.

So, this is my request: Can the Oakland Recreation Soccer Program make an exception for one month and eight days? Can I play soccer in this upcoming season?

Sincerely,
Rachel
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I am praying he will say yes, but I am already depressed about the no from Mr. Jacobsen. I feel stupid for being so worked up over this, but I feel it is important to me.

~Lumi ^_^

Current Mood: Depressed
Current Music: None
Quote: "The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn't move, kick it until it does." ~ Phil Woosnam
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