I'm sorry that the season didn't turn out the way many of us expected it to. We can learn a lot from this season that will help us achieve more than we may have been able to had we had a decent season.
I loved a quote from an article about Paul Pierce whose last second 3-pointer was disallowed after instant replay. It's on the wall above the Boston Celtic weight room and it says "What hurts more the pain of hard work or the pain of regret?"
It takes a season like this for us to start realizing what it takes to win and keep winning. Some of the things that I noticed during this season will help us in the off-season and during next season. I may not have received these insights had we not had a rough season.
During the season after we started losing, I got a call from a player who asked me if I could open the gym at 5:30 so he could practice. I know he put in extra hours and he learned a lot about what it takes.
When a player didn't start, he moped around for a couple days then realized that worrying about something or complaining about it will not change your circumstances or bring to pass the thing you are worrying/complaining about. He began working harder, not complaining, made some attitude adjustments and became a much better contributor to the team. This is what it takes.
When a couple other players had some trepidation concerning free kicks, they asked for additional advice and practice. We spent a Saturday and subsequent after-hours practice time on the free kicks. Thereafter he assisted 2 goals because of his additional practice. This is what it takes. Pants Party!
When a player didn't get much varsity time he played his heart out in every JV game that he was able to. This is what it takes.
A couple players already had their fees taken care of but still sold cards and refereed so that others could play. They didn't complain, they just went to work. This is what it takes.
So where are we now? Are we going to take the great examples above and follow them? I think you will.
Lastly, I'd like to mention a pattern that I would like you to remember. I've also described an application example. It starts today!
Quote:
Watch your thoughts, they become words;
watch your words, they become actions;
watch your actions, they become habits;
watch your habits, they become character;
watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
Application:
I think we can we state, what am I going to do about it?
He guys let's practice, this year is our year to win state
Scrimmage tomorrow 6:30am, you in?
Skills n drills Thursday, sorry FIFA 2016, you're going to have to stay in the case again
I can't wait to start this next season, we've been working so hard
4A MVP State Champion earns scholarship to D1 school
Text destiny once you've read this. Thanks for all your efforts this year.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Season Synopsis - Critical
I had a strange dream last night. I was officially the coach/player of our soccer team and the other team kicked the ball out of bounds. I went to kick the ball up field and somehow I kicked it in our own goal. I went to kick it again and the same thing happened but this time I saved it and the ref gave me a yellow card. The third time I kicked it and the grass was so thick and the wind so strong that the ball went only about 20 yards or so. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't kick the ball the way I wanted to.
This dream strangely reminded me of this season. We tried running a lot, we lost. We tried more fundamentals, still lost, new formation, team building, scrimmages, etc., still couldn't get the team to move in the right direction post spring break.
I don't pretend to know exactly why our season went the way it did, but I have a couple ideas.
First, I received feedback from last year's team that they needed to have more fun. One thing I think we did have a lot of was fun, which is important and necessary. People playing forward, counting megs, world cup, tournaments, etc. were a lot of fun, but not sure if they helped us win games.
Before the last game I had a couple people approach me with their wishes for the game and none of them had to do with winning. After we lost the last game I looked around to see many smiles, laughs, hugs, etc. If our goal was to have more fun this year than last, then I believe we did. It is important that whatever the circumstances you have a good time.
For me, there is something that stirs deep inside with a well fought victory, much deeper than just having a good time. I played in indoor game not to long ago where we won 20-1. Although there was nothing on the line for the other team and everyone played every position, I don't think they had fun and it was kind of boring for us. We beat another team that was really good and I think we talked on the sideline for an hour about how much fun it was
Everything that I put my heart into and came off victorious, had many moments that were not fun, even miserable, but the good, bad and ugly was worth every effort. "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." Vince Lombardi.
Second issue, I believe, was our off-season preparation. I wasn't aware of any practicing as a team during the summer, fall or early winter. Even the early mornings had only a handful of attendees. For a team to really gel, they need to play together a lot. When I was about 23 I had played with a group of kids for about 2 years. We played together every week either co-ed, indoor, outdoor or tournaments. We ended up beating BYU, UVU and everyone in the Utah County Premier league for almost 7 years straight. I don't believe we were more talented than every team we played, we just worked so well together.
Third, we had a hard time taking one for the team. Whenever someone would come out, they would be upset. We would win a game and a people who didn't get to play the position they wanted would say how boring the game was. When people would come off the field they would tell me they were better than the person that came in for them instead of cheering that person on. Players hoping others would fail so they would still be ahead on the stats board and the list goes on.
When everyone feels trusted, supported and cared for, they put forth a much better effort. When it is not about you but others you will be surprised how much you will grow. For next season, remember to let people change their ways, let people grow, believe that people can change and be the one to help the one. Philips brooks - how carefully men creep into nameless graves while now and again one or two forget themselves into immortality. Forget yourself and go to work - Gordon B. Hinkley.
As a coach, if I have not taught you to not only be the one, but to help the one then I'm deeply sorry for that oversight. Encouraging others and achieving something great together is much more important than playing time, your role, stats, or winning.
Text critical to me if you have read this.
This dream strangely reminded me of this season. We tried running a lot, we lost. We tried more fundamentals, still lost, new formation, team building, scrimmages, etc., still couldn't get the team to move in the right direction post spring break.
I don't pretend to know exactly why our season went the way it did, but I have a couple ideas.
First, I received feedback from last year's team that they needed to have more fun. One thing I think we did have a lot of was fun, which is important and necessary. People playing forward, counting megs, world cup, tournaments, etc. were a lot of fun, but not sure if they helped us win games.
Before the last game I had a couple people approach me with their wishes for the game and none of them had to do with winning. After we lost the last game I looked around to see many smiles, laughs, hugs, etc. If our goal was to have more fun this year than last, then I believe we did. It is important that whatever the circumstances you have a good time.
For me, there is something that stirs deep inside with a well fought victory, much deeper than just having a good time. I played in indoor game not to long ago where we won 20-1. Although there was nothing on the line for the other team and everyone played every position, I don't think they had fun and it was kind of boring for us. We beat another team that was really good and I think we talked on the sideline for an hour about how much fun it was
Everything that I put my heart into and came off victorious, had many moments that were not fun, even miserable, but the good, bad and ugly was worth every effort. "I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious." Vince Lombardi.
Second issue, I believe, was our off-season preparation. I wasn't aware of any practicing as a team during the summer, fall or early winter. Even the early mornings had only a handful of attendees. For a team to really gel, they need to play together a lot. When I was about 23 I had played with a group of kids for about 2 years. We played together every week either co-ed, indoor, outdoor or tournaments. We ended up beating BYU, UVU and everyone in the Utah County Premier league for almost 7 years straight. I don't believe we were more talented than every team we played, we just worked so well together.
Third, we had a hard time taking one for the team. Whenever someone would come out, they would be upset. We would win a game and a people who didn't get to play the position they wanted would say how boring the game was. When people would come off the field they would tell me they were better than the person that came in for them instead of cheering that person on. Players hoping others would fail so they would still be ahead on the stats board and the list goes on.
When everyone feels trusted, supported and cared for, they put forth a much better effort. When it is not about you but others you will be surprised how much you will grow. For next season, remember to let people change their ways, let people grow, believe that people can change and be the one to help the one. Philips brooks - how carefully men creep into nameless graves while now and again one or two forget themselves into immortality. Forget yourself and go to work - Gordon B. Hinkley.
As a coach, if I have not taught you to not only be the one, but to help the one then I'm deeply sorry for that oversight. Encouraging others and achieving something great together is much more important than playing time, your role, stats, or winning.
Text critical to me if you have read this.
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