It was the experience of participating in the out-of-school district football tournament. It pushed me way beyond my comfort zones by competing with teams from areas other than mine that really put to the test the skills in a new challenging environment. It was not just to play with them but to learn from others and reflect on my growth as an athlete.

LO 1: Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth

Participation in the out-of-school district football tournament allowed me to consider my strengths as a team player and strategist on the field. I realized my strength lay in effectively providing my teammates with information. At times, especially during the tournament, I found myself taking some of the less experienced players through plays to better position them for their shots on goal. Simultaneously, I realize areas that need improvement-most notably endurance in longer matches. During the last half of the final game, it was really difficult for me to maintain energy and focus levels. Going into the future games, I will aim to better my endurance with additional conditioning exercises so that I will be able to give good performances in upcoming tournaments.

LO 7: Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions

This tournament also highlighted the importance of fair play and sportsmanship, where being an athlete was quite bound by ethical considerations. One match where we were in a situation to take an advantage of a referee’s oversight, we instead played in honesty, even if it would mean losing a scoring chance. It reminded me of some core values related to sports: integrity and respect. It is during the reflection that I realize how winning through unfair means would not have aligned with the principles that I want to uphold as a player. It reinforced the fact that the true spirit of sports has nothing to do with the result but how we play the game.

Overall, the experience made me appreciate myself more, including both my strengths and weaknesses, which otherwise may not have been realized; it rejuvenated in me the value of proper ethical decision-making at a competitive level. Overall, the experience was a perfect learning curve, especially in terms of both field and personal life.