The Transformative Power of Sports: How Soccer Turned One Child’s Fear into Force

WRITTEN BY CATE WRIGHT

I never would have guessed that soccer would help my son overcome psychological and physical trauma. I have always equated youth sports with physical health; a way for kids to build muscle and cardiovascular fitness while having fun with friends. It had never occurred to me that sports would also provide a powerful pathway to heal the brain and mind, and that soccer would provide a catalyst for my son to recover from trauma.

It all started with a pistachio. A tiny, innocuouslooking pistachio. At my urging, my then 2-year-old son, Jack, popped one in his mouth and chewed it carefully. Ten minutes later an angry crimson rash crept across his skin and he complained of stomach pain. An indication that something was, perhaps, not quite right.

In fact, something was very, very wrong. The “pistachio incident” was the first of many life-threatening allergic reactions for my son, several of them including high-speed ambulance rides to the closest emergency room. It also set off a chain of events that would cause him to lose his trust in food, adults (including me!) and his own body. Repairing the physical and psychological damage from these events has taken many years and would not have been possible without some unexpected help from his favorite sport, soccer.

Athletic performance requires competitors to nourish their bodies with a wide variety of healthy foods, but due to his allergies, Jack’s fear of food had caused him to whittle his diet down to just a few things. Imagine sitting down with a plate of food and not knowing for sure whether or not the nourishment before you will ultimately end your life. A bite of broccoli was a game of Russian Roulette, food was dangerous. This was Jack’s reality from the age of 2 and onward.

The level of allergy in Jack’s body was so high that most foods caused him to have a reaction: a small rash, a bad stomachache or a larger anaphylactic response requiring urgent medical care. He developed a deep distrust of food, and would only eat a few things. Thank you, Costco, for the value-sized boxes of Goldfish crackers that sustained my child for four years!

When Jack began to play soccer, he researched the sport’s noteworthy personalities and discovered Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s highest-paid soccer player. He wanted to be just like Ronaldo: he asked to pierce his ears and requested a pair of diamond stud earrings “the same size as Ronaldo’s” (that was a “no”); he saved his money for a Portugal jersey with Ronaldo’s name emblazoned on the back; he asked to move to Europe (also a “no”); he watched all of Cristiano’s games and spent hours in the yard emulating his footwork. Most importantly, he studied Ronaldo’s diet, which consists of healthy whole foods.

Jack’s desire to play high-level soccer pushed him to examine his diet and to slowly and carefully try new foods. He started to eat smoothies packed with fruits and vegetables and to enjoy how he felt when he fueled his body with proteins like steak and chicken. He started to see his energy and performance improve, which led to even more opportunities to add new foods into his diet. Soccer motivated Jack to conquer his food fears.

During Jack’s worst struggles with his food allergies, he also began to distrust adults. It took time, testing and some guess work to determine what was causing his reactions and along the way, we served him food that caused him to react. He started to distrust the people who put the food on his plate (mostly me!), along with the food he was being served. He struggled with trusting teachers at school, relatives and coaches, unsure if any could or would be able to keep him safe if he were to have an allergic reaction.

That all changed when Jack started to play soccer for Montana Surf Soccer Club. He was placed on a team with Joel Harris as the coach. Joel is the Technical Director for the Montana Surf Youth Academy program and was voted “Gallatin’s Greatest Coach” by Bozeman Chronicle readers, a well-deserved accolade. He is one of those “once in a lifetime” coaches, who is able to quickly and genuinely connect with each and every child on his team, inspiring them to bring their best to every practice and every game. Helping kids learn life skills in the context of sports is Joel’s true gift and he helps every athlete develop confidence, sportsmanship and integrity with a huge focus on fun. Joel was able to accomplish what others could not, earning Jack’s trust and inspiring him with many “cheesy pep talks” (Jack’s words).

Once Jack began to trust Joel, he started to trust other adults and was able to build strong relationships with his teachers at school. He was even able to go on a multi-day field trip with his class, trusting his teachers to feed and care for him for three days at a wilderness lodge.

As Jack continues to find success on the soccer field, we have seen him gain confidence in what his body is capable of. He feels in control, he feels strong and he feels adept. All of the pieces came together this year when he was placed on the Surf Select National Team, a squad made up of the best Surf players from around the world, and traveled to Barcelona, Spain, with them for a tournament. It is truly incredible to see how confident and resilient Jack has become thanks to his soccer experience.

Cate Wright is a mother of two, volunteer and member of the Montana Surf/Blitzz FC Board of Directors. Her work with the Montana Surf Annual Fund is focused on ensuring that all children have access to the mental and physical benefits of sports, regardless of income.