I was on the high school football team for one year. I didn't get to play much, which sucked and was embarrassing, but then I was relieved to learn that most people didn't really pay attention to who played in the game and who didn't. So I always got a "Good job!" if the team won, even when I didn't play at all, and I wasn't above accepting a compliment for something I had nothing to do with. Any attention I could get was welcome.