My name is Natalie. I have been a varsity soccer player for the last three years. Starting in my freshman year as a striker, now I am in my third season and I have been told that I will not be able to play that position today. Not for my lack of effort, or my incapability to play soccer, but for the simple fact that I cannot run for twenty minutes straight.

Now it is not because I am not in shape or non athletic. It is just a simple fact that I am not a runner. No one in my family is. My coach refuses to understand that all bodies are not meant for running. He has told me that since I am unable to run the twenty minute warm up run (without stretching mind you) I will not be put in any game this season. Not even as a substitute.

I feel that this is extremely unfair since it has never been a problem that I do not have the ability to run that length of time. I do what I need to do in the games and am an asset to the team. And now, I am being told that my last soccer season, since I am a senior, will be spent on the bench.

Please, if you feel that he needs to stop and realize that not all humans are not built for running, sign this. He said to me, when I told him that running is difficult for me, "So you are telling me that you are unable to do something that the human body is made to do". A coach should not make you feel like you are less than what you really are.

So please, sign this for me.