Never Play Afraid
Written by Krystal Gray, Tuesday June 29 2010
I've heard coaches repeat the words “if you play afraid you'll get hurt." Football is a game that takes all of us, physically, mentally and emotionally.
We have all seen the players that haven’t quite figured out how to play with everything they have. It sucks to see potential in people and wonder what's keeping them from reaching all they are capable of.
Love takes all that football takes. Love & Football whether we like it or not, make us vulnerable. In a relationship or on a practice field, in the gym or in a game, it is impossible to hide our weakness from our lovers, teammates, coaches, trainers and fans.
It can actually be very selfish to even consider trying to hide those things. Going into playing a team sport, we understand not a single one of us is perfect. If more people would understand that concept going into relationships, maybe more relationships would have success rates.
We learn to accept each other as we are, we push each other forward and we grow together. We make up where another lacks and they make up in all the areas we lack.
"To Collaborative team members, completing one another is more important than competing with one another." John C. Maxwell
Championship teams have learned it takes every active player and every practice squad player in order to be successful. It takes the whole team, starter or backup, to be a winner.
If the saying is true " we are only as strong as our weakest link," then no one on any practice squad anywhere should feel any less important then the ‘starters’. Everyone on a team has a responsibility to invest in the team on a team level.
I'm not saying players should coach, but I've definitely come to the conclusion that really good teams trust each other, hold each other accountable at a certain level and they care about each other enough to understand that if another player has something to say it must be pretty important.
Respecting our family is first and foremost. I'm happy to say that I am not the best player on our team this year, but I feel blessed that the best players and coaches in this league take the time every practice to invest in our team and in me.
We are growing together and making each other better. The level of intensity and competition on our team keeps rising and regardless of what the stats say this season I know we are all extremely blessed to be apart of something so special.
Coming from last season, I had scare tissue, but my teammates and coaches are breaking those barriers everyday without even knowing it and I feel so blessed & I am extremely thankful.
It is truly amazing to have the opportunity to see what a rookie franchise is supposed to be like. Sometimes we have to go through the bad to get to the good. If I had to go through all that I went through last season to truly value this experience this season then every single second, and every game lost, every time I took a sack or another part of my body was injured, it was all worth it.
We never know when it will rain or shine but we should value every minute of it. All of it can be used for good; can seriously impact our life and the life of those around us.
Playing afraid in football, in life or in love will only get us hurt. Never play afraid, search your heart to find and take what you want and then commit to it without turning back.
“Ordinary people with commitment can make an extraordinary impact on the world." John C. Maxwell.
Baltimore Charm
Team Shot
Coaches Winning Team
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Your writing is really improving. Saw 1 typo, but when I re-read it I realized it actually works on a different level; "scare tissue" is absolutely correct! Good stuff. Keep on writing!