Playing for the joy of it: Pick-up soccer

I slipped on my David soccer jersey, threw my hair up in a messy ponytail and quickly tied my cleats. I needed to be there right away. I wasn’t late. I already felt like I was missing it., the field, the goal, everything. I met my friend halfway, (not even talking),we sped to the fields, we were play differently. Most of us aren’t even friends, but that’s what brings us closer.
In soccer, it doesn’t matter who’s who. We don’t care if we have pinnies or not, even goals don’t matter. Sometimes you just have to improvise because you don’t always have everything you need. If you don’t have a goal, use two shoes as posts . All you need for soccer are players and a ball. The more, the merrier. Sometimes, groups of people show up other times ,very few. But that’s the game. You don’t know what’s going to happen, you just play through it. Here is where I belong. It’s my home. The sport isn’t something I do for exercise I play for the joy of it.
Goals are what everyone loves. Sometimes I score a couple of goals, other times very few. It doesn’t matter because I’m playing , and that’s the best gift. We aren’t sad when the other team scores because we’re having fun and it just doesn’t matter. Here it’s about making mistakes and learning from them. When the younger kids get frustrated, it’s our job (as older kids to help them), and give them pointers. I practice my skills that I’m not comfortable with in games and I try them out here. Soccer is different. When I play I get the best feeling in my stomach, because this is where I belong and where I’m most comfortable.
This isn’t like a game with my travel team, or a hard soccer practice, this is pick-up soccer’ where we can try out new things and help others as well. This is pick up and not some rough contact game. It’s just for fun, however, it’s the best , because here , on the field, is where I belong and I can do anything.