It was the Championship Match. The last match of a long, hot day.

It was the final match of the 3-on-3 soccer tournament played on small fields with small goals.

Fast paced and exhausting. On small fields, no mistake is forgiven. Each defensive mistake results in a goal for the other team.

The regulation match had just ended. The match was tied at four (4) goals each.

Now they were playing in the Golden Goal Overtime which means the team which scores the first goal wins the championship. That final goal is called the Golden Goal.

This was the fifth match of the day for both teams. So all players had exhausted bodies and tired minds.

Parents of players always focus on the goals.

But the experienced players and the soccer aficionados focus on fast transitions and forcing defensive mistakes by the other team.

And then it happened. After just 24 seconds of play in the 3 minute Overtime Period.

One small misstep during a transition from offense to defense. One undetectable hesitation, a 6-inch error which created a New York nanosecond opportunity (just a sliver of time and space) for the offensive player. And then. . .

Shot.

The Golden Goal.

Championship.

Whistle blows.

The final result. After all players had played hard and smart all day.

As in many championship matches of life, BOTH TEAMS deserved to win.

But just ONE team gets the Championship Trophy.

Based on one small, unnoticed defensive error measured in just inches and a fraction of a second.

And it was not the player’s fault. Just a really exhausted body and a tired mind.

The Life Lesson: Life isn’t always fair. Maybe?

But here’s a more relevant lesson in the decade of 2020.

Ya gotta transition fast.

Ya gotta pivot. Fast. And often.

Ya gotta move from an offensive field position to a defensive field position. Fast. And often.

And again. And then once more. Until the whistle blows in whatever game you are playing today.

At the beginning of the Championship Match one parent mentioned, “The players are just focused on ‘slushies’ after the game.”

But all slushies taste better after winning the Championship Match.

Now that sounds like the real life lesson.

Enjoy your slushie today.

* * * * * * * *

Bonus Lesson

After the Championship Match, BOTH TEAMS showed the appropriate respect for their opponent. A refreshing site to behold.