Tryout hangover

This morning I felt like a zombie. Forced myself out of bed, gulped back two bottles of water from constant dehydration and regretted all I'd done the night before.

The tryout hangover. I know it well.

Push-ups, crunches, laps, scrimmages, sprints -- It's been a crazy couple weeks. Even though my body is feeling the aches and pains, I can proudly say I tried out for FOUR different sports teams this semester at UTSC. Am I crazy? Um. Yes.

I'm only taking three courses this semester, so I do have a bit more time to dedicate to athletics.

The teams I tried out for were girls soccer, hockey, flag football, and boys hockey (yeah, I'm surprised too).

Soccer tryout

I've been on the girls soccer team for the past three years, so I felt extremely comfortable being at tryouts and already knowing the coaches and past teammates. I was surprised to learn there will not be a girls B team this semester (usually there's an A and B team), and I can tell it bothered a few players. One girl even started a petition to get the B team back, but unfortunately, it didn't go through. I was also surprised at the amount of players who showed up. At least 50 girls pulled up their socks, tied their cleats, and competed for a spot on the team. I've never seen so many players at a tryout, it was awesome!

Tryouts are now over and the team has been made. I made the team (yay) and we already won our first game! :)

Flag football tryout

What's a fourth down? Don't ask me, I have no idea. So, why did I tryout for flag football? I wanted to try something new this year, and I thought this sport would be perfect. I learned quickly that you can be an amazing athlete, but in football, if you don't know strategy or football logic, you won't go far. At tryouts I was pretty good at throwing and catching the ball, but it was the plays and cuts that threw me off.

Actual conversation.

Coach: Jess, you're going to run a hook.
Jess: A what?
Coach: A hook.
Jess: What's that? Do I run far?
Coach: You run and cut at a 45 degree angle.
Jess: Cut where? At what angle?
Coach: You basically run straight and turn right.

Embarrassing.

For the sake of my dignity, I didn't attend the last tryout. It wasn't a sport I could see myself enjoying, but you can't blame me for trying!

Hockey tryout

Hockey is my safe place. I feel at home on the ice. Being on the team for the past two years, tryouts didn't even feel like work, it actually relaxed me. I have so much fun on the team and all the girls and coaches are great! The only frustrating part is we don't have a goalie...

If you, or someone you know, is a hockey goalie and is a girl who attends UTSC - WE NEED YOU!

Boys hockey tryouts is a WHOLE different story. I have a lot to say when it comes to being a girl playing with guys on the ice. I did make the team, but I will save this discussion for my next post.

Until then, if you have any questions about any intramural sports, comment below or tweet me @Jessica_Moy and I'll try my best to answer! :)

At UTSC, we are spoiled when it comes to athletics. Intramural sports are FREE to join, not to mention jerseys, water bottles, practice time, transportation are FREE as well. So don't be shy, it's never too early or too late to get involved!

See you guys next week,

Jessica Moy

Interhouse soccer - and why I was a huge chicken

Two years ago I received a Facebook message from a guy who goes to UTSC asking if I wanted to play interhouse soccer. He explained it was a co-ed league that played every Tuesday at the school gym.

I was reluctant to agree, but he pleaded because his team needed to recruit more girls.

[For those of you who don't know, interhouse are co-ed leagues that include sports such as soccer, cricket, volleyball, ball hockey, and basketball. The best part is, they're free and happen right here at our school. 

You have to be a U of T student or 2011 - 2012 Athletics and Recreation Centre member. To play, you can sign up as an individual or gather an all-star team of your friends. Registration begins the beginning of each semester. Visit the UTSC athletics centre for more information.]

Back to my story!

Of course, I didn't know anything about interhouse nor did I know anyone on the team very well. After much deliberation, I pulled out my indoor soccer shoes cluttered beneath my closet and told the Facebook guy i'd meet him at the gym on Tuesday.

Game day rolled around.

Even at the beginning of my second year at UTSC, I was still getting used to the campus. I wasn't fully comfortable with entering a place I didn't know much about - this included the UTSC gym.

I walked to the gym, pulled out my T-card, and past the turnstiles. I immediately heard yelling and cheering. I looked to my right, through the tiny windows of the gym doors, and saw a bunch of soccer players and fans watching intense five on five action. 

The ball was bouncing every which way, players aggressively fighting to score a goal, and fans cheering from the benches. 

I was intimidated. 

My next initial move was to enter the gym and start warming up with my team. But - I didn't.

I turned around and left.

Yes, I was a huge loser. I chickened out. 

Like many of you, I wasn't comfortable with the space or the players I didn't know.

The next day I got a message from a girl on my outdoor soccer team saying, she was on that interhouse team I was supposed to play for. I told her I was hesitant on going, but she said to come with her to the next game. 

Fast forward to next Tuesday. Going with her made me a lot more comfortable. I saw the guy who messaged me on Facebook and briefly introduced myself before he threw a pinny at me, saying it's time to warm up.

I only knew a few names on my team, but I did my best to remember.

The game was fast pace and I did my best to keep up. The majority of the league consisted of male dominated players. For this reason, any girl who scores, their goal counts as two.  So, the last couple minutes of the game my team kept passing to me - saying to go for the net and score. For my first game, I believe I held my own pretty well.

I can't remember if we won or lost, but I do recall my relief when it was over. 

I continued going to interhouse each week and got to know more soccer players at the school. I quickly learned the small community I was becoming a part of.

Becoming well-known in the UTSC soccer community, I was asked to play in indoor soccer tournaments at UTM and Humber College. It's a wonderful thing when you get involved with the school, different opportunities present themselves to you.

If you'd like to join interhouse - message me and let me know. I'd be more than happy to introduce you to players and make you part of a team.  No one wants to be the chicken who leaves before giving the game a go.

UTSC girl's soccer: more than just a team

Hey everyone! My name's Jessica and i'm a fourth year journalism student here at UTSC. I'm anxious to provide you with the abundance of exciting and interesting posts about our Athletics and Recreation Centre every Tuesday. Let's get right into it shall we?

It was 1996 when I tied my first pair of soccer cleats. As a skinny little, hair-always-in-knots, six-year-old girl, I ran out of my mini van with shorts that looked like baggy pants and shin pads that bulged out because my mother couldn’t find child sizes.

Despite drowning in my equipment, I smiled ear to ear as I grabbed my soccer ball and hustled onto the mini field. Running around in circles, kicking and screaming for the ball, occasionally picking dandelions near center field – I didn’t know what I was doing, but I loved the game I was playing.

That passion seemed to stick with me every summer as I signed up for another soccer season. My skills improved and dandelions were no longer being picked, rather I was playing in one of the highest levels for my age. I played competitively until I was 16 and quit due to commitment reasons.

No moment was more tragic when I had to hang up my cleats. I dreaded the summer when I couldn’t play the game I fell in love with.

Fast forward to university. UTSC had a girl’s soccer team!

I contemplated trying out, but hadn't touched a soccer ball in nearly two years. My skills had diminished and equipment definitely had a family of spiders living inside them. I was too self-conscious, scared other girls would have the proficiency in soccer that would easily surpass mine.

  

It wasn’t until my second year that I felt more comfortable around campus. I got used to my surroundings and classes, not to mention knew more people around UTSC.

Second year, second shot - try-outs were here again.

Being more settled into school, I gathered enough grit and the not-so-little-anymore-yet-hair-still-always-in-knots 18-year-old girl finally tried out.

At my first try-out, my nerves calmed as I saw a couple of girls from my classes. Everyone had different skill levels so I immediately felt comfortable. It made me regret not having tried out a year before.

Three try-outs later, I MADE THE TEAM!

I learned fairly quickly that all the girls on the team were incredibly friendly and the level of competition was enough to knock me back into shape.

My weekend soccer schedule included Saturday morning practices (coyotes and mosquitos commonly joining us) and Sunday afternoon games, where UTM was, and still is, our biggest competition.

While I’ve been on the team, UTM has twice beaten us in the outdoor finals.

Indoors, however, we carried home the title two years ago, beating them and other colleges around U of T for the championship and (the best part) received personalized trophies at our year-end Athletic Banquet.

The girls on the team became family. We hang out around campus as well as outside the field. The most famous outing is our annual rookie night.

Filling water bottles and carrying the team bag was not my only tasks as a newly recruited player. At my rookie night, the vets dressed me in a patchy pink and green dress with feminine products taped all around. As well, there was a list of things I had to do throughout the night.

Currently in my fourth year, I continue to play UTSC girls soccer. Between my schoolwork and reading, I look forward to practice and games every week. It’s a great chance to get your mind off of school and have a blast with an amazing group of girls.

The coach this year, Lindsay Lashley, is a former U of T varsity player. She’s young enough to relate to the girls on the team, but wise enough to know the tricks of the trade and give us pointers to help us improve our game.

For our current team status, we lost to UTM last week in our second game 1-0. We hope the next time we face them, it’ll be in the finals, ending their outdoor winning streak.

Playing on the UTSC girl’s soccer team has given me the opportunity to look forward to coming to school. Every team at UTSC takes all skill levels and it is a great way to stay connected with your friends while creating a healthy outlet for competition.

Get to know a few girls on the team…

Name: Anna Iacobucci #21

Major: History

Year: First.. Rookie..

I was verbally attacked at Frosh, which is why I joined the soccer team. Me, being alone, couldn't exactly say no. Playing is always a great time, but I also live in fear for the upcoming rookie party. What would I say to first years too intimidated about joining the team? I'm waiting for that advice myself...

Name: Cristina Muresan #5

Major: Paramedicine

Year: Second

My friend wanted me to go to the soccer tryouts with her because she didn’t want to go alone. I ended up making the team. I was reluctant to tryout initially but I’m so glad I decided to join. I enjoy the experience so much, I was excited to tryout again for indoor. I love the amazing friends I have made. All the girls are very close and we have events that we go to together that bring us closer as a team. 

Name: Alexa Suguitan #12

Major: Psychology

Year: Second

The people you meet on the team you immediately become really good friends with. Don't be scared to tryout! I've survived, you will too.

Name: Angela Kim #11

Major: Business Managment

Year: Fourth

Soccer’s my passion, I love playing the sport, I’ve played it all my life. The competitiveness and intensity is what I love most about being part of the UTSC team. The initiation involved in becoming part of the team is always fun and good for bonding. And we get to laugh at you.