--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was 5 and playing against…" description: "\"When I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them.\" — Wayne Gretzky" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/wayne-gretzky-4019_bigger_when-i-was-5-and-playing-against-11-year_2196290.png" --- # When I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were… ![“When I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them.” quote by Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/wayne-gretzky-4019_bigger_when-i-was-5-and-playing-against-11-year_2196290.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/wayne-gretzky-4019_bigger_when-i-was-5-and-playing-against-11-year_2196290.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/053/wayne-gretzky-4019_bigger_when-i-was-5-and-playing-against-11-year_2196290.png) > “When I was 5 and playing against 11-year-olds, who were bigger, stronger, faster, I just had to figure out a way to play with them.” [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He learned to adapt his play style to compete with larger, stronger opponents. **In simple terms:** Adapt to compete with stronger rivals. Key Takeaway Find creative ways to level the playing field. Themes adaptation competition strategy Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - youth leagues - coaching - personal development Key Concepts sports psychology resilience innovation Questions to Reflect On - How can you adapt when outmatched? - What strengths can you leverage? A Different Perspective Physical size alone doesn’t guarantee success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [11 Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/11-year-729970/) [Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigger/) [Faster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faster/) [Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure/) [Figures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figures/) [Olds Bigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/olds-bigger-4805382/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing/) [Playing 11](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-11-1801808/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Year Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/year-olds-308930/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [At drama school, I was always playing the 11-year-old boys.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kit-harington/at-drama-school-i-was-always-playing-the-11-year-old-boys/) [Kit Harington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kit-harington/) > [Dear 11 year olds on Facebook with Its complicated. Seriously? What did he do? Steal your animal crackers?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pretty-ladii/dear-11-year-olds-on-facebook-with-its-complicated-seriously-what-did/) [Pretty Ladii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pretty-ladii/) > [11 year olds today are like: 'Omg I love smokin pot. I get like so drunk. Yolo!' Me when I was 11: 'I forgot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/11-year-olds-today-are-like-omg-i-love-smokin-pot-i-get-like-so-drunk/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Playing against 10 is harder than playing against 11 players. You know why? The team with 11 will think "ok, we can take it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johan-cruijff/playing-against-10-is-harder-than-playing-against-11-players-you-know/) [Johan Cruijff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johan-cruijff/) > [Sometimes the opponents deserve a red card, but instead, they carry on playing with 11 men. So you also have to be more lucky…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-conte/sometimes-the-opponents-deserve-a-red-card-but-instead-they-carry-on/) [Antonio Conte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-conte/) > [I'm very happy to be associated with Playing 11; fantasy gaming is growing very rapidly and Playing 11 is a great stage for people/users…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuzvendra-chahal/i-m-very-happy-to-be-associated-with-playing-11-fantasy-gaming-is/) [Yuzvendra Chahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuzvendra-chahal/) > [No 11-year-old girl wants to be 5-10. I always felt big and unattractive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheri-l-dew/no-11-year-old-girl-wants-to-be-5-10-i-always-felt-big-and/) [Sheri L. Dew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheri-l-dew/) > [I was the most tired 11-year-old in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clemantine-wamariya/i-was-the-most-tired-11-year-old-in-the-world/) [Clemantine Wamariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clemantine-wamariya/) > [That's the thing that continues to blow me away and just never ceases to amaze me. Younger people continue to seek out this show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-roday/that-s-the-thing-that-continues-to-blow-me-away-and-just-never-ceases/) [James Roday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-roday/) > [I'll say - I have four kids! I married a woman when I was 24 years old. She was 13 years my senior. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/i-ll-say-i-have-four-kids-i-married-a-woman-when-i-was-24-years-old/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [The whole time I was on 'Grey's,' I'm still reconciling myself to my 11-year-old son, because he never saw me during that time. By…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaiah-washington/the-whole-time-i-was-on-grey-s-i-m-still-reconciling-myself-to-my-11/) [Isaiah Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaiah-washington/) > [My 11-year-old thinks I'm cool because he watches things I've made on YouTube.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/my-11-year-old-thinks-i-m-cool-because-he-watches-things-i-ve-made-on/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) > [Yesterday I asked an 11 year old 'what was up', she said the sky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-styles/yesterday-i-asked-an-11-year-old-what-was-up-she-said-the-sky/) [Harry Styles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-styles/) > [Dear 11 year old on Facebook with 'It's complicated.' Seriously????? What did he do??? Steal your animal crackers??](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-11-year-old-on-facebook-with-it-s-complicated-seriously-what-did/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I sat there in 1971 and watched my grandfather open Walt Disney World, I was a little 11-year-old girl who worshiped the ground…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-disney/when-i-sat-there-in-1971-and-watched-my-grandfather-open-walt-disney/) [Abigail Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-disney/) ## More by Wayne Gretzky > [“You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/you-miss-one-hundred-percent-of-the-shots-you-don-t-take/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Hockey is a unique sport in the sense that you need each and every guy helping each other and pulling in the same direction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/hockey-is-a-unique-sport-in-the-sense-that-you-need-each-and-every/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Sometimes people ask, 'Are hockey fights real?' I say, 'If they weren't, I'd get in more of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/sometimes-people-ask-are-hockey-fights-real-i-say-if-they-weren-t-i-d/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [The game is played out of instinct, but everyone on the ice has habits - good and bad. So the key to the game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/the-game-is-played-out-of-instinct-but-everyone-on-the-ice-has-habits/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time. There's nothing like it. It's the greatest story. In my era, they used to say you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/lifting-the-stanley-cup-for-the-first-time-there-s-nothing-like-it-it/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Nothing can replace the Olympics. I love the Olympics. I was so proud when I played in '98 and I was so proud when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/nothing-can-replace-the-olympics-i-love-the-olympics-i-was-so-proud/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [It's really hard. And it's harder today because of the salary cap. It starts in September at training camp - getting every guy on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/it-s-really-hard-and-it-s-harder-today-because-of-the-salary-cap-it/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [When you're playing an exhibition, you're kind of letting everyone get an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/when-you-re-playing-an-exhibition-you-re-kind-of-letting-everyone-get/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [I don't think any one person will ever be bigger than the game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/i-don-t-think-any-one-person-will-ever-be-bigger-than-the-game/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [I have recall. I don't know why or how. I had a guy once who said he played against me in novice \[league, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/i-have-recall-i-don-t-know-why-or-how-i-had-a-guy-once-who-said-he/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Everything I did in hockey, I worked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/everything-i-did-in-hockey-i-worked-for/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [In one sense we are a favorite because we won a gold medal in 2002.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/in-one-sense-we-are-a-favorite-because-we-won-a-gold-medal-in-2002/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [Most players go where the puck is. I go where the puck will be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/most-players-go-where-the-puck-is-i-go-where-the-puck-will-be/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [The highest compliment that you can pay me is to say that I work hard every day, that I never dog it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/the-highest-compliment-that-you-can-pay-me-is-to-say-that-i-work-hard/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) > [I just like to keep my money in the bank; I'm not a big risk-taker. I don't know anything about the stock market... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-gretzky/i-just-like-to-keep-my-money-in-the-bank-i-m-not-a-big-risk-taker-i/) [Wayne Gretzky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) [Explore all 117 Wayne Gretzky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-gretzky/) ## More Bigger quotes > [The bigger the canvas, the better I do. I'm not so good at understated, kitchen-sink kinds of parts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/the-bigger-the-canvas-the-better-i-do-i-m-not-so-good-at-understated/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [I have always been a big meta guy because I think the way journalism is practiced in Washington, and the way everyone sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/i-have-always-been-a-big-meta-guy-because-i-think-the-way-journalism/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [I just think structure can make a book feel so much bigger. It's the architecture. You could use flimsy materials if you wanted to,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jami-attenberg/i-just-think-structure-can-make-a-book-feel-so-much-bigger-it-s-the/) [Jami Attenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jami-attenberg/) > [I've always thought that the most extraordinary special effect you could do is to buy a child at the moment of its birth, sit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clive-barker/i-ve-always-thought-that-the-most-extraordinary-special-effect-you/) [Clive Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clive-barker/) > [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Sometimes people can write really great scenes and even a great episode, but they can't see the bigger picture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-night-shyamalan/sometimes-people-can-write-really-great-scenes-and-even-a-great/) [M. Night Shyamalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-night-shyamalan/) > [Never be too busy for the people you love. Never allow pursuits or possessions to become bigger priorities than your relationships. Love is what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-willis/never-be-too-busy-for-the-people-you-love-never-allow-pursuits-or/) [Dave Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-willis/) > [If you consider yourself a part of the culture, then finances can't allow you to be bigger than the actual art form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/if-you-consider-yourself-a-part-of-the-culture-then-finances-can-t/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [If we get better our customers will demand we get bigger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-truett-cathy/if-we-get-better-our-customers-will-demand-we-get-bigger/) [S. Truett Cathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-truett-cathy/) > [ Their \[the U.S.’s\] defense budget in absolute figures is almost 25 times bigger than Russia’s. 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