My summer before getting to Yale University and becoming a part of the varsity women's soccer team there, I got a call from my future head coach telling me that the rest of the goalkeepers were suddenly injured. This news was a shock to me–I would have to start our first few games at Yale as a freshman. Knowing you're coming in and starting due to injuries adds a lot of pressure to your preseason performance and performance in general. Especially since being a goalkeeper is such a high-pressure position, I was incredibly nervous for our first practices and games. Here are my biggest takeaways for athletes who may find themselves in a similar position. 

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Never Stop Learning 

My biggest takeaway from starting as a first-year due to injury is to be a sponge. I learned and grew so much during my experience playing with the other starters and upperclassmen during my first few weeks of school that I never would have had I not been put in the position where I started my first year. I made so many mistakes while on the field, both in practice and in games. My teammates and coaches helped to guide me through these mistakes and become a better player. 

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Embrace Mistakes

Learning through experience is one of the most beneficial ways to learn as an athlete because you may see for yourself what works for you and what does not. I think making mistakes in high-pressure situations caused me to learn faster than I would've by just making mistakes in practice because the results of my mistakes would be losing games or giving up goals. If I didn't have my teammates and coaches to look to while learning and growing during my first season at Yale, I would not have drastically improved as a player in the way I did. While making mistakes as a player is not exactly a confidence boosting experience, especially when you make as many as I made during my first season, it is an efficient and effective way to learn, especially when you are surrounded by so many other talented athletes who can help to guide you. 

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Remember You Don't Have to Do it Alone

One thing I would've changed about my experience, though, would be to lean on my teammates more for confidence building and support beyond just learning soccer skills. Making so many mistakes takes a toll on your confidence as a player, and when you lose confidence in yourself and your abilities, you end up making even more mistakes than you did otherwise. This is something I am absolutely going to better incorporate during my future seasons as a Yale women's soccer player.

Your first year as a college athlete is going to challenge and stretch you no matter what. Learning from those who have been there can help you be more prepared and confident as you navigate new terrain. Hopefully, my experiences will help you become the best athlete you can be!

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* Originally published on July 28, 2022, by Annie Welch