Sam was just like any other 8 year old, third grader,

at Barnes Elementary School.

He loved recess.

That was the time for hanging out with his fellow third graders, playing games, and just generally having fun. Football, that was the game.

Football was the game Sam had always wanted to play.

But alas, Sam was never chosen when the other guys made up the teams. He would try his hardest every recess to get the guys to chose him. Just once if he could play, he would show them, he would let them see how well he could play football.

Sam had watched football every Sunday with his dad. He knew all about it. He knew he could play better than most of the other guys at recess. All he needed was his one chance to show everyone how well he could play football.

It was a Wednesday, with a cloudy sky that threatened rain at anytime. James, and two other of Sam's friends were out sick with colds. Sam could feel it, just before the recess bell rang. This was his day. He knew he would get his chance to play football today.

The bell rang, everyone ran outside for recess, and sure enough the football guys invited Sam to play. This was his chance, this was his day. With a nervous stomach Sam went over in his mind all the times he had watched the others playing football at recess. He remembered how they threw the ball, kicked it, and ran with it. He knew how to hold his arms up to block the other players. He knew football, and he was ready to play.

The game started out much the same as it did most any day. Players running, jumping, blocking, and kicking the football, each other, and the ground in general.

It was just before the bell rang to go back in when Sam found himself presented with a life changing moment. One of those times when you are so sure in your mind you are doing the right thing, and you do it. Sam was standing directly in front of the fumbled football. Of course he knew what he had to do. He had seen it in his mind a million times. Pick up the ball and run all the way to the goal for a touchdown. But in that moment, that single second, he felt in his stomach that something was not right. He looked around, no other player was close to him, he could hear some of the other players yelling at him to pick up the ball. So he did. He grabbed the ball, tucked it into his stomach and started running as fast as he could. He ran, and ran, but none of the other players could catch him.

As he was nearing the goal he could hear all the other players yelling and cheering for him. He could feel the adrenalin rushing through him as he got closer and closer to the goal. There it was directly in front of him, a few more steps and Sam would score his first touchdown. He did it he said to himself aloud as he ran into the endzone. He stopped and slammed the ball down hard into the ground as he had seen so many Sunday's with his dad. He felt as if he had just won the gold metal at the Olympics.

Just then the ending recess bell rang. Sam could see the other players running towards him to congratulate him on his big play, but Sam was wrong, and inside he had known it the whole time.

You see the one small thing in this game that Sam had failed to learn was which way to run.

Do you know all the rules for the game of life you are expected to play, and win?

Do you listen to that inner knowing that tells you when to go, when to stop, and which way?

Have you practiced each and every play over, and over again?

How can you expect to practice, play, and win in a game where the rules, boundaries, and which way to run is unknown, or always changing?

This is where a coach can help.

We can help with finding your game,

practicing, and developing strategies,

listening, and helping with making the right choices.

You still may not be able to win every time,

but you will at least know which way to run.

Peace, Love, & Happiness

Coach Jeff Nis

www.yourlifeyourdreams.com