My thoughts as we move forward.
You showed tremendous effort, stamina, and determination all weekend long. You were first to the ball all weekend, and
took the game to our opponents. There were a few times when that was not the case, but you always bounced back.
Sitting on the bench during the game, I heard you talking and seeing what is happening and understanding what needs to be
done. We as a team, and each of you as individuals, have grown and developed over the last few weeks after a rough start
to the season. The real challenge is to continue that growth. It was so fun to win 3 games in a row by shutout
this weekend. It was fun to score 6 goals in one game. It was fun to see the enthusiasm that comes from winning
and I know that everyone enjoyed themselves. Remember that feeling and remember the effort it took to get us there.
As your assistant coach, I am proud to work with you and try to help you grow as
a soccer player. I am by no means perfect and will continue to work to improve on my coaching. I know that Darrel
and I want only the best for each of you, but we can’t do it for you. As all of you watched the good passing by
the other team in the championship game when you were on the bench, I heard things said like: “look how they travel
in groups” and I said, “Why do you think that is?” and the answer was. “So they can make triangles
and make easy passes!” That is EXACTLY what we are trying to teach our team and we are doing it, some of the
time. The only difference I see is that each player has to be more serious, focused and committed to doing the right
thing ALL OF THE TIME! We have it in us, because I have seen it. We can play that way, but it starts at practice
and at home. Every time you do something with the ball, you have to give it your absolute best. When I watch some
of you warm up or do a drill during practice, I often see just partial effort. Then in the game when a situation presents
itself for you to make a play, the pass is a bit too weak or off target, the trap is not executed, the header is missed, or
you over run the offensive player rather than breaking down and containing. All of this type of thing can be corrected,
but you have to want it! You have to demand perfection from yourself and those around
you at all times. Yes, you should be able to have fun, but you also have to be focused and committed
to every drill. Have fun AFTER each drill is done to perfection, celebrate the effort! When you see another team
pass the ball well and move after they pass and execute precise passes and give and goes, you comment how EASY it looks.
It is EASY if you have the skills to do it. The skills to make passing look easy are developed at practice. They
are developed with extra effort on a daily basis at home, individually. Those skills become natural AFTER a lot of hard work.
You have to demand excellence from yourself if you want to get better. Great
players outwork average players, not just during a game, but every day! At the stage we are as a team, we can leapfrog
ahead, if we change one thing. That one thing is Commitment to Excellence!
I hope you will think about the fun you had this weekend, and remember the feeling of winning. Then reflect on the disappointment
of losing in the championship game. Ask yourself WHY. Ask yourself if you can do more to be better, so that when
the next opportunity presents itself, you will be up to the challenge. We have four games left on our season.
I don’t see any reason why we should not win all four games. They will not be easy, but if we play hard and practice
HARDER, we can and will win all four games.
