Read This Before You Decide To Quit Soccer

It is all too common for high school-aged socceristas to call it quits. Statistically, at 14, girls are twice as likely to quit the sport of their choice as boys are. Which means more than a few of you are thinking: should I quit soccer? Before you decide, take a moment to listen to someone who’s been right where you are now.

When I was 16, after 13 years, I hung up my cleats for good and transitioned to life after soccer. I thought I had it all figured out, but now, ten years later, I wish I hadn’t called it quits. 

In my freshman year of high school, I made the varsity soccer team and started playing for one of my state’s best club teams. I was, arguably, on top of the soccer world. But I was also beginning to drift from my soccer friends, either due to distance or the different directions that high school can take friends. And then I was in a snowboarding accident that took me out for the season. 

I had to watch from the sidelines while my teams played and practiced, became closer friends, and improved as a team. Being out for an entire season seriously shook my confidence as a player. And at my sophomore year tryouts, I stopped halfway through running the mile and walked out.

I didn’t know then how much I would miss it. There isn’t a soccer field in Arizona that I can drive by without thinking about the game I played there. I see kids practicing and watch the USWNT play, and a piece of my heart aches. At that point, the only thing I’d been doing longer than playing soccer was walking. Quitting soccer was the toughest break-up I’ve ever been through. Truly the one that got away. 

Maybe more than anything, I wish I had realized that I could have gone back. The only thing stopping me from joining back up with a club team or going to tryouts was me. There is so much pressure that comes with high school and being a teenager, losing sight of your dreams or confidence in your game is only natural. But do what you can to hold on. 

Soccer had always been there for me. Even when my teammates and coaches weren’t, the sport itself never let me down. Soccer was always something I could do to unwind or just feel pure joy. And that’s still true. I keep a fully stocked soccer bag in my car, so there’s never an excuse not to play a pick-up game or run some drills when I feel like it. 

I can only speak for myself and of my own experiences, but I hope you find some wisdom in my words. I wish I had fought through my insecurities and stuck with the game. I wish I had at least finished my high school career. I wish I had pursued my university’s club team. I wish I hadn’t let the fear of failure keep me from coming back. 

Socceristas, if you’re considering quitting, think on it long and hard. Don’t make it about your team or a new relationship, your parents, or the coach — this choice is all about you. If you’ve genuinely lost that loving feeling and think your time would be better spent somewhere else, then hold on to the memories. But know that it won’t be easy to walk away.

Most importantly, remember that even if you do quit, if that choice doesn’t sit right with you a few months down the line, the game will be right there waiting for you. If you’ve grown tired of club soccer’s competitive nature, find a rec league or get involved in youth coaching. You won’t always be able to go back to your club or high school days, but as long as you’ve got cleats and a ball, you will always have soccer.

Featured Image via Adobe Stock @daniilvolkov