From playing with Cobras and switching over to World Cup I always remember one tournament more than any others. It was always held on what seemed to be the coldest Saturday, either before or after Halloween. Players and coaches were allowed to dress up in costumes as long as it did not affect the ability and safety for players to play, which is why so many of us remember this tournament so well.

While playing with the Cobras, this tournament was always a struggle to get 11 players to sign up, despite the number of players we actually had on the team. Even with a struggling team we typically made it to the playoffs but we very rarely had the drive, devotion, and energy to see the finals. Playing in this tournament with World Cup was a much better experience. We had more than 11 players giving us a better chance of making it to the finals and giving us the energy because we had the players to rotate in and out of the game when needed.. The team had the drive and devotion to this thriving club to make it to the finals and take home the trophy.

For me, I always looked forward to the next tournament in hopes it would be better. Because every time this tournament came around I was always sick as a dog. Barely able to play the sport I loved during the season I loved. When playing with the Cobras I had to tough out the sickness and play, especially when we didn’t have a large amount of players to begin with. I always felt like I was more of a burden for the team instead of the reliable, strong player I was. For World Cup, it was more flexible. I was able to play what was comfortable for me. Out of the whole tournament I would probably play a total of one whole game, while at Cobras I had to play all the games, taking a larger toll on my body and the sickness I was trying to fight off.

The last year World Cup did the tournament I decided I would sit it out. With the past record of being sick every tournament before I did not want the sickness again and thought the best way to void the sickness was not doing the tournament. Low and behold during the time the tournament was held, I was in fact still sick. So it wasn’t a tournament haunting me. But boy was I happy I wasn’t on the field playing this time.