Be Yourself

Great article on Leicester City.

I think this highlights why the things that work for you club team may not work in our system. We need to play our system and listen to what I'm trying to teach you.

Our system is a system designed to highlight our fitness: long runs, overlaps, attacking out of the defense, unpredictability, pressing. Our system is not possession, holding the ball in the middle, strategic dives and fouls.

This may surprise you, but not one system is better than another. The best system is the system the entire team believes in and plays together.

Weekly Challenge - Winner's Mindset - Your Response Required on Thursday

Last week I received texts from many more players about the team guidelines. If you have forgotten what's on the text, it's below:

I will expect a text every Wednesday before practice to report the following:

1.      Did you follow all team guidelines this week?

2.      What was your personal training routine?

3.      Did you miss any classes?

4.      Who was one person you thanked this week and why?

            5.      Did you accomplish the weekly challenge?

The first week we started texting our accountability checklist 10%  players said they had followed the guidelines out of players who texted. This last week we had a 50% increase in players keeping the rules.

When we did the 3v3 tournament and I picked the winning team an hour before practice I wasn't shocked at all. If you don't believe the rules make a difference ask the winning team how well they follow the guidelines. They all have a training routine, go to class, get enough sleep, work hard and have vastly improved over this season.

This week's challenge has to do with changing our mindset. Read one article, quote, etc. every day that build your confidence in our miracle season.

http://www.incomediary.com/how-to-be-like-mike-20-life-lessons-from-michael-jordan is a good start.

I'm expecting a text Thursday before practice on your progress with this challenge. You will not qualify to play Friday if you do not text me your progress with the 5 things above and the articles you've read. It is that important.

We are the next big thing at Timpanogos.

Scott

Provo vs Timpanogos

Provo 2 - Timpanogos 1

I just watched the Tottenham game vs West Brom. Tottenham hit the post three times, missed many opportunities and West Brom scored to tie the game. One thing that I've learned through watching and playing soccer is that life isn't fair and life isn't supposed to be either. Unfairness is the ultimate blessing in disguise.

When astronauts are in space for a prolonged amount of time they can have serious issues with muscle loss. This happens because their muscles have no opposition; therefor,e the muscles are of no use and deterioritate. Although floating around with no gravity may seem comfortable and a lot of fun, the body is not built to be free of opposition.

The strongest, most capable man is the man capable of overcoming the most opposition. This is why we celebrate the gold medals in the Olympics, World Cup, State Championships, great scientific discoveries, etc. These feats are made great through opposition, nakedly unfair opposition. Think about playing a soccer game without the other team to oppose you. You would win, but you would never be proud of doing so.

Opposition exercises the muscles of true character. Unfairness helps deal with life's challenges. Winston Churchill said, "A kite flies against the wind, not with it." I believe each of these losses is just sending our kite higher into the sky. We need your faith, character and good attitude now more than ever. Do you still believe we can achieve great things as a team or is opposition causing you to doubt, whine and become uncoachable?

I still believe. I don' t know how to help you understand but when I see you guys play well, I know that nobody can beat you. That you can achieve your goals. Provo was playing scared even after they were gifted a goal.

The cure  to our losing disease is your character, your faith and the opposition we have already overcome.

Goal - Nathan Conrad
Player of the Game - Stockton Hunsaker - hustled, made the right runs, had a great attitude

Text "opposition" when you read this.

You Are Important

I felt impressed to share with you my personal reasons for becoming a coach. I want you to read this with your parents or guardians and discuss the main points of the article.

I believe that soccer is a microcosm (a community, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger) for the rest of your life.

I’m trying to help you realize at least 10 things through soccer:

1. A fulfilling life requires your best efforts

2. Failure is a great learning experience

3. Success on a team is not measured by wins or losses, rather the manner in which you did either

4. You can only control you (your attitude, your words, your reactions, etc.)

5. Happiness is a choice, not a circumstance

6. Forgiveness is bliss

7. If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together

8. If you are doing what you are supposed to be doing, you can have confidence in the results

9. Education is the key to achieving your goals – life is a classroom not a test

10. You are important because you are you and nobody else is

I want to expound on point 10 because of some things I learned recently regarding some members of the team. I think a couple of you guys are struggling emotionally because you are placing too much value on things that have little to do with happiness – popularity, girls (at this age), accolades, other people’s approval, more playing time, more wins, etc.

Kim Giles (author) wrote an article about self-esteem and she said the following:

“This idea that human value changes creates a fear in all of us — that we might not be good enough. It is because we believe that human value is changeable that we are insecure and feel inadequate so much of the time.

We have the option of seeing life as a classroom, not a test, and you can't fail if there is no test. If there is no test, your value isn't in question at all. This means your value stays the same no matter what mistakes you make. You can always just erase and try again. These mistakes are lessons to teach you things, but they don't affect your value.

Right now, because you think your value can change and must be earned, you base your value on your appearance, performance, property and the opinions of others. The world has taught you to see people who do well in these areas as better than those who don't. But again, this is just perspective.

You could instead decide to see human value as based on our nature and our uniqueness as one-of-a-kind, irreplaceable souls. If our value is based on our uniqueness, then we all have the same value, because we are all unique.”

You are important because you are you. You are important to us coaches because you are you, not because you score goals, win games, lose games (burn), try hard, do what we say, etc.

My goal with this team is put best into words by author Chuck Palahniuk:

"The unreal is more powerful than the real. Because nothing is as perfect as you can imagine it. Because it's only intangible ideas, concepts, beliefs, fantasies that last. Stone crumbles. Wood rots. People, well, they die. But things as fragile as a thought, a dream, a legend, they can go on and on. If you can change the way people think, the way they see themselves, the way they see the world, you can change the way people live their lives. That's the only lasting thing you can create."

I’m hoping you learn lessons that you will share with your peers, family, future children and at the workplace. Lessons that will help you appreciate your journey through life and help others do the same.

Believe in something greater than yourself, become disciplined to free yourself from the pettiness and the superficiality of the world, and you will have incredible success and joy in this life.

I’m confident and whole-heartedly believe in this team’s future on and off the field.

Text “infinite” to me.

Corner Canyon vs Timpanogos

Corner Canyon - 3
Timpanogos - 2

Soccer is one of those sports where you can do everything right and make one mistake and lose the game. Other sports like basketball, tennis, golf, you win or lose by adding a large number of points or shots throughout the match.

I think y'all are just trying to make your state championship run look more dramatic. I believe in miracles and sports is a great place for miracles.


“You will face your greatest opposition when you are closest to your biggest miracle.” 
― Shannon L. Alder

In 2004 the Boston Red Sox barely made the playoffs on a wildcard bid. They made it to the playoffs and were down 3 games to 0 against their rivals the Yankees. The Yankees were 3 outs away from ending the Red Sox's very average season. The Red Sox won the game and won the next three games to get into the World Series. The Red Sox went on to winn their first World Series in almost a century.

Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that we can win every single game the rest of the year? Miracles occur when you are doing everything in your power (keeping the rules, working harder than you ever thought, communicating positively, helping others be successful, etc.) to make the result predictable. Miracles are not luck, nor frivolous, they are the rewards reaped by preparation and faith.

If your actions reflect the confidence that you expect to win the rest of the games, it will seem like a miracle to many other people, but to you the result was a natural consequence of your actions and belief.

If you believe that we can and we come together as a team to do so, we will win. I don't even think it would be a miracle since we already have shown that we can compete with anyone - now we are going to show we can beat anyone.

Do you believe? What are you going to do to make your belief a reality?

Text "miracle" before practice.

Goals: Jason Paredes, Trevor Monney
Assists: Jason Paredes

Orem vs. Timpanogos

This was an interesting game. The weather was hot, pitch was hard and both teams looked very tired. Both defenses played well, but both offenses struggled. Hot weather, fatigue, average reffing and a low-scoring game combined to create a very messy game.

We played a decent game and had some great chances. Only one thing troubled me with this game. We out shot them, they won - doesn't trouble me. We had some easy chances, still doesn't trouble me. We had some bad calls and those calls directly affected our game - this troubles me.

When we let others determine how we play we will have a tougher time winning games. In life, you can only control one thing, you. That's why golf is such a great sport - you can truly only blame yourself. Everyone else is playing the same course with the same weather and the same rules. If you don't want to have others influence the way a game is played, play golf.

You can learn a lot from golf:

1. You break the rules, you get penalized, no referee determines this
2. You can only blame yourself for your score
3. Each hole is a new hole
4. Even if you don't play a great round, you still should have fun

I love golf, even if I have a terrible round here or there. I know that at any moment I can have that one shot that makes the whole round worth it.

We start winning, all this analysis becomes a great foundation for us to win any game. We know what it's like to lose and we don't want to feel it anymore.

Player of the Game: Elijah Nimmer - great defense, stepped into the midfield, won a lot of balls out of the back.

Text "golf" when you have read this.

Timpview vs. Timpanogos

I like the types of chances we created this game. We learned a lot in this game and we'll keep building on the fundamentals. Our two goals both came from fundamentals we learned in practice, simple passing and looking for the easy switch. I think we were caught off guard on how much space we were able to create in the midfield.

You guys can win any team. Last year and the year before I was not so sure. I remember watching Skyline the first year we played and was amazed at how much faster their offense was than our defense. Our defense continues to play well and our offense will start putting away our chances. Our shot ratio was 23-5.

Player of the game: JT for his overlap run and upper V shot.

Goals: JT, Jason
Assist: Seth

Weekly Challenge - Hard Work

Watch this game - Leicester

What impresses you about Leicester?

They play the same system we do.

For this week's challenge

1. I want you to work 10 hours of hard labor for someone who needs it. Hard labor includes: landscaping, laying sod, digging, roofing, hauling furniture, and anything that is physically demanding and helps someone in need. If you need help finding labor, I'll give you Mark the custodians number.

2. Do two secret acts of service for someone - for example - I went outside and my neighbor had edged my whole front yard just because.

Text "labor" when you get this.

Mountainview - Timpanogos

MV - 0
Timpanogos - 0

Another shutout! I don't know if I've ever had two 0-0 ties in a season. The phrase offense wins games, defense wins championships comes to mind. Our defense is doing well this year and that is a very encouraging sign.

I did some analysis this morning on Leicester City. In their last 47 games their average margin of victory is just over 1 goal and their average when losing is the same. The last time they scored 4 goals was over 35 games ago! They are on the top of the most competitive league in the world.

Leicester is a counter-attacking team - they have a sound defense and ruthless strikers, but their strikers don't get that many opportunities. They get out-shot and out-possesses in many of their games, but they find a way to win.

We know how to defend and we are going to figure out a way to win these slugfest games. Our strikers are becoming ruthless and I'm very excited for the rest of the season.

Player of the Game: Cameron Peterson - shutout, solid saves, great game!

Text "Defense" when you read this.

Read This Article - Then Text Me Your Thoughts -

Why Butler Succeeds - click on this article, we will discuss this at Thursday's practice.

I did not read this before my last post.  Text "Butler" when you have read this article.

Alta vs Timpanogos

We have a couple things go differently and the game ends up 2-0 us. I'm not too worried about our ability to compete, we can, we just need to change how we think.

I grew up in a financially poor, but an experience-rich family. My father was a teacher and a great one at that. He was all-state multi-sport athlete. He was a fierce competitor.

My father sold some of our land so he could pay for a concrete basketball court. He could've done so many other things with that money. My father had a winner’s mentality and I believe he was wise beyond his years to introduce competition into our lives, albeit in our own back yard.

When I was in seventh grade the neighborhood and a bunch of kids from the junior high gathered at my house to play dunkball. Everyone put in $1 and the winning team of four took all. Although my team didn't win the tournament, I was changed forever by one play. My teammate stole the ball and passed it to me (the perennial cherry-picker) and I dunked it right in Derek Stephenson's face. Derek was two years older than I and had bullied me my whole life.

I couldn't believe what had happened. I never forgot what competition had given me - the ability to transcend my circumstances, the ability to succeed, the necessary confidence in myself, the sustaining power of victory and the power to forgive. 

I was lucky to be a part of many championship teams. My friends and I played every sport together. This was back when soccer was only in the fall, basketball in the winter and baseball in the spring/summer. I don't think we did much different things from the other teams, we just had the winner’s mentality. 

All our pickup games in the neighborhood were just as important as the club, state, Vegas tournaments, etc. Tempers flared, fists flew, neighborhood battles raged, and from this struggle we all learned how to compete. My club games were much easier than facing the humiliation of losing to my friends.

So here’s the winning formula:

1. Work – work like everything depends on you, every play, every possession, every encouraging word, everything!

2. Faith – believe that you deserve the championship, you’ve put in the necessary work, your teammates will come through, you have the ability to succeed

3. Competition – necessary to show you your true potential, brings out the best in you, pushes you beyond what you think you are capable of doing, shows you that failure just makes you more capable

4. Forgiveness – forgive others and yourself for mistakes, not living up to their potential, falling short, having a moment unbecoming of yourself/themselves

5. Humility – others might have more insight into you than you think, others might know the game better than you, you can learn something from everyone, you can’t succeed without them

Now you know, now you’ll be. Text: "We win, we work, we have faith, we compete, we forgive and we are humble.” I can already see your smiling faces holding the trophy.

As an incentive, if we win out this week, you can eat sweets next Sunday. 

Player of the Game: JT Gardener - he made his time on the field count. Hustled, moved, talked.

Provo vs Timpanogos

Provo - 2

Timpanogos - 0

My senior year in high school I was playing with the teammates I had played with most of my life. We thought we were going to take the region by storm. Our first game was against Provo. Despite our best efforts we lost in a shootout in a game we should’ve won.

We were heartbroken, our undefeated region goal was now a thing of the past. We were not used to losing, we had won almost every tournament we had ever entered. The story could’ve ended there with a mediocre season and some wins and losses and maybe a state-qualifying bid.

From there on out we won every region game. We had 2 more shootouts and we easily won them both. We were the first team to ever win an outright region title for Pleasant Grove. The trophy still is in the case and memory has never left me. I’m still proud of that accomplishment and proud to have been a member of a great team.

Soccer has shaped the person I am now. The lessons of physical health, adversity, teamwork, setting and achieving goals, loss, depending on others, doing hard things, strategy, taking calculated risks and trusting my mentors against my own judgement have guided me through many of life’s difficulties.

What you learn from this season is very important to me. I hope you take this loss as an added measure of urgency to be the state-championship team I know you are capable of being.

An old Greek administrator named Periander had an interesting motto, “Practice is everything.” Soccer is the practice that can shape who you will eventually become. It really is that important. How you work at practice, how well you listen to your mentors, how you handle difficult situations, and how you treat your teammates will be harbingers of your life to come. For some of you this is a hearty pat on the back, for others it is a wake-up call to avoid destructive habits that will lead to mediocrity and regret.

We really can reach the goals we’ve set. I truly believe we can or I wouldn’t show up tomorrow.

Player of the Game: Seth Berlin – worked hard, kept his head and contributed to a better tempo on the field.

Activities For Champions - Read Before Game Tomorrow

We looked very tired today at practice. I spoke with the other coaches and asked if we were training too hard and we don't believe that we are. We haven't had the 2+ hour practices, Indian sprints, or extended conditioning. We have worked hard and smart this year.

Tired players are risky players - risk injury, risk mental breakdowns, risk poor technical abilities and the list goes on.

I believe an amendment to the team rules will give us the mental and physical energy edge we are looking for. I am amending the rules to the team with the following adjustments:

1.      No candy, pop, sweets, junk food (high-salt chips and snacks), sugar cereal or anything high in salt or processed sugar.

2.      No greasy fast food on game day and bring a half-time snack such as banana and peanut butter, 100% juice, Gatorade, fig newtons or peanut rolls/paydays

3.      Consciously eat healthy every day – fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, etc.

4.      Cell phones and all electronics OFF, not on vibrate, sleep, etc., after 9:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

5.      In bed by 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday.

6.      20 minute design your own session – foot skills, shooting, formation study, fitness, etc. – outside of practice, every day but Sunday

7.      Send a thank-you text, email, note every day for the gifts someone gives you (remember the half-time speech), can’t be the same person every day - "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." John Wooden

Each week we will have an additional character-building activity and this week it will be the following:

Twenty positives to one negative – before you can say anything negative to yourself or others you need to say twenty positive things.

I will expect a text every Wednesday before practice to report the following:

1.      Did you follow all team rules this week?

2.      What was your personal training routine?

3.      Did you miss any classes?

4.      Who was one person you thanked this week and why?

5.      Did you accomplish the weekly challenge?

If I do not hear from you on Wednesday you will miss half of Friday’s game.

If I do hear from everybody and everybody has followed the rules, Thursday’s practice will be a guided pick your practice session.

Also, if we get a shutout or win by 3 goals, we will have either a pizza party or you can eat your favorite sweet/snack that weekend.

I believe these activities will increase our energy levels, character, muscle and team unity. I also believe you will be amazed with the results.

Text “positive” to me before tomorrow’s game.

American Fork vs Timpanogos

Great win again. I hope you are starting to believe in our chances.

We haven't lost in overtime in 3 years and this is the best start to a season we've had so far. Do you believe?

You guys have put in the work and if we continue to do so we are just going to get better. I had a great time watching the overtime. You came out organized and with pace. Very impressive!

Man of the match - Jason Parades - clutch?

Goals - Jason Parades

BAD is good!

Pleasant Grove - 1
Timpanogos - 0

Our work ethic on the field is admirable. Nobody outworks us and never will. You all are working hard and we are doing the right things.

One thing that I think has evaded us this year is the confidence in ourselves and our ability to make big plays. We had so many opportunities against Skyline, Uintah, Freemont and Pleasant Grove, but chances don't win games, converting chances does. I think this is a mental piece that can be easily fixed - fitness and teamwork cannot.

Pleasant Grove had 3 chances and converted one. We had 7 great chances and converted none. What's great about preseason is that we can learn from these types of games.

I want you to watch the following clip - Reggie Miller

The announcer uses a term to describe Reggie that is synonymous with players who step up for big games: clutch. In the playoffs, with the game on the line Reggie Miller scored 8 points in 9 seconds. Time after time in his career he became know for making game winning plays. He lived for these moments.

Are we a clutch team? Do believe for being the one to be in the position to win big games or are we going to blame other, the ref, my mom, etc.? What will it take for us to be clutch?

Michael Jordan said, "I never think of the consequences of missing a big shot...when you think about the consequences you always think of a negative result."

You cannot wait for others to make the big plays for you. You cannot wait for the perfect pass, the right call, the perfect run, for someone else to make the play. YOU need to be ready to step up in big situations.

Lastly, legendary basketball coach Pat Riley said, "It's what you get from the games you lose that is extremely important."

Player of the Game: Alex Jessop - reliable defending wins championships.

We got this! Text "clutch" to me before tomorrow's practice. If everyone doesn't, you know the consequences.

Freemont vs Timpanogos

Freemont - 0
Timpanogos - 0

I think we really showed what we were made of for this game. Our defense kept their heads, played physical and frustrated their forwards to the point of no return (red card). We played hard, physical and again kept our cool no matter how crazy that game became. I doubt we will play a team that is more physical than Freemont.

We had soooooooooooooooooo many chances! We completely outshot this team and sadly we weren't able to put one in the net. When I watch game film I'm so amazed at how hard you guys played. The chances will be converted soon enough.

Player of the Game: Anferny Mendoza - working, working, passing, subbing, what a game.

Uintah vs Timpanogos

Uintah - 1
Timpanogos - 2
.
Another good result. We played this team with subs and beat them pretty easily. I knew this game would be a mentally challenging game and we came out and got a result. I really enjoyed watching you guys help the other team up, be positive with each other and work hard. The score should've been a lot different. We had 23 shots to their 7. We are the only team that has beaten them so far.

One thing about this game that needs to be fixed - we need to be able to finish. We finished mentally, we finished physically, but we need to put more balls in the net!

Goals: Vincent Luna (toe poke side netting), Seth Berlin (upper V header? For Real?)
Assists: Drue Stritikus, Vincent Luna

Player of the game: Stockton Hunsaker - he gave the team all he had for the time he was on the field.

Skyline vs Timpanogos

Timpanogos: 1
Skyline: 0

Good start to the season. 2 shutouts and a win. We came out hard and fast against Skyline. The game got very physical and nobody lost their head. At your age that is a very big accomplishment. If you can learn to control your emotions, no matter what the circumstances, you will be so far ahead in the game of life.

Nate has been working on free kicks and was rewarded for his hard work with a great goal - definitely a pants party. We talked about pressing after we lost the ball and that gave us so many opportunities. We worked together and came out with a great result.

Goal(s): Nate Conrad

Player of the Game: Sam McClellan - kept defense organize, pressed well, distributed well, played well.

2016 THS Boys Soccer Team

Player	Team
Trevor Monney	Varsity
Stockton Hunsaker	Varsity
Jaxon Bretzing	Varsity
Vincent Luna	Varsity
Jason Paredes	Varsity
Silverio Gonzalez	Varsity
Samuel Mendoza	Varsity
Isaac Benson	Varsity
Parker Louder	Varsity
Seth Berlin	Varsity
Cameron Peterson	Varsity
Jecel Mendoza	Varsity
Alex Jessop	Varsity
Elijah Nimmer	Varsity
James Bichon	Varsity
Jordan Strong	Varsity
Marc Bichon	Varsity
Jose Delgado	Varsity
JT Gardner	Varsity
Anferny Mendoza	Varsity
Nathan Conrad	Varsity
Sam McClellan	Varsity
Nelson Nelasco	Varsity
Drue Stritikus	*
Alex Perez	JV
Gonzalo Medrano	JV
Jorge Soria	JV
Oscar Cruz	JV
Luis Reyes	JV
Anthony Miranda	JV
Sennen Martinez	JV
Evan Burr	JV
Ryan Howell	JV
Hans Serrano	JV
Tyler Weber	JV
Jacob Stewart	JV
Alberto Martinez	JV
Larri Martinez	JV