So have you ever been cut from the team? I have and it sucks. Yes, I could have used a nicer word but that’s not how it feels. Today, I was shocked to see an article on MSN Sports about David Beckham’s 16 year old son being cut from an elite youth academy soccer team. It makes my heart hurt for this kid. How bad must he feel being cut from the team? If that’s not bad enough factor in who his dad is and it must make it 100 times worse to see it in the news.  For those of you who don’t know David Beckham, I’ll just say he’s one of the world best soccer players, ever. I feel so bad for his son.

I’ve played a number of sports. Some I did really well at and others I just wasn’t any good at. My biggest failure came in my attempt to play basketball. I was horrible to say the least, because I can’t dribble, pass or  shoot. When I got cut I was devastated for several days especially when my friends made the team.

It doesn’t have to be a ball team your cut from for it to feel crappy. You might not make the cheer squad, or the dance troop, get the lead in the play, or any number of activities. Not being included sucks. No words are going to make you feel better in that moment. But there are a few lessons to be learned.

• You’re not always going to make the team. Sometimes your going to get cut from the team. That’s just the truth about not being good enough at that moment.
• Life’s not about getting a trophy just for showing up. Most of life is about earning your rewards.
• It’s totally OK to feel bad for a few days after being cut from the team.
• Failing to make the team doesn’t make you a failure. It just means you didn’t make that team.
• It’s not OK to show animosity towards those that did made the team. It’s called poor sportsmanship.
• Don’t be defined by what you didn’t get. Redefine yourself based on your other strengths.
• There will be other opportunities in life. Find what you’re great at and pursue it with all you’ve got.

Bottom line. Shame on MSN Sports and Marcus O’mard for that story. Imagine your kids name on the front page of the local paper if they had been cut from the team. To David’s son Brooklyn, you don’t have to be your dad, all you have to be is you.