Finding the Back of the Net

Elation, success, joy! That is the core feeling when you find your own personal hero moment. Maybe it’s the first goal for the team, maybe it’s your first goal of the season. In the end it doesn’t matter; it’s all about that feeling. Nothing will ever compare to that first goal feeling. It is unique to each experience and every individual, but we can still all relate and understand what it means. Some might argue that your first goal can really only ever happen once, but I disagree. Every team and every season opens a new opportunity for that first goal. Just because it’s happened before doesn’t mean it will happen again, and even more, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to feel the same. Some players are expected to score often and others it’s expected to be a rarity if it occurs at all, but we still all get to have our first goal feeling. The novelty doesn’t wear off after years of playing and hundreds of goals scored. It always finds a way to come back, and it always comes with joy. Sometimes that goal, that feeling, is the game winner that everyone celebrates and remembers years later. Other times it’s a personal victory that only you remember. In the end, it doesn’t matter who will and won’t remember, because you’re always going to remember that feeling. Maybe you don’t remember the game, but you’ll always remember the feeling when your shot hit the back of the net. It’s about connecting laces to ball and knowing that this is about to be a goal. It’s about watching it soar past defenders and keepers alike. It’s about hearing it cascade along the net and find its spot against the ground. It’s about the cheers from everyone after and the echoes of nice shot all around. It’s about one moment and one feeling that makes you feel limitless. That first goal is the proof that we all crave that we’re meant to play this game. It reminds us that we are worthy and capable while letting us feel incredible. No one is able to take this feeling away or diminish what it means. Personally the first goal I scored on a new team ten years ago is just as important as the one that came this season. The feeling never goes away. It’s a repetitive high that’s just as addictive as the game itself. Elation, success, joy! That’s what it’s all about!