“Believe and Achieve”

“Believe and Achieve”

A few years ago one of the players I coached wrote this letter to help future players in my club and on my teams.  I have taken out all of the names and club names.  This player today is having a successful college career just finishing her sophomore season.

Dear Future Players

            Hey, I am... I played for …. for six years, and I played for the 94 premier team for most of my career except for one season. In my U 13 year of … I was moved down to the lower team Coached by ….

            When I found out that I was moved down to a lower team I was devastated, but I wasn’t mad at anyone else because it was my fault and this made me more driven to become a better player and to rejoin the premier team. I asked …., who was the coach of the premier team, what I was doing wrong.  My problem was that I needed to focus more and to improve. Then I was determined to develop my skills and be back on the premier team.

            To become a better player I did numerous things. I practiced at home to improve juggling and moves.   I went to extra sessions such as speed and agility and winter training. Also I stayed late or went early to my regular practice to improve on my own.  I follow this quote: “on time is late, early is on time.”

            During the fall season of being on …. team, I was asked to go to Disney in August with the premier team. I accepted and I knew this was my chance to show the coaches that I have improved and deserve to be back on the premier team and made it my goal to show them. I knew I had six months before departure; I worked twice as hard as I did before. I watched videos on YouTube to learn new moves and when they would be used in a game situation. I also watched soccer on television such as the English Premier League, US women’s national team, and the US men’s national team.  All of the work paid off.

            I had reached my goals. After Disney the coaches asked me to be on the premier team. Even though I wanted this since I was moved down it was still a hard decision to make because I was doing really well on this team. I asked a few people I trusted one said to move up and the other one said to stay because I have improved my skills and more comfortable with the ball. After a lot of thought, I decided to move up to the premier team. After continuing my hard work I became a key, starting player on the team.  After my success at …., I made the premier team for ….

            After all my hard work I was glad I was moved down to the white team it made me a better player on and off the field. It gave me the motivation to do the best in everything I do. This experience has been the most rewarding experience I have ever had.

            For future players who are in the position that I was in. You should never give up on reaching your goals and earn your way back up on the premier team and reach high for your goals. Something that helped me was the quote “Believe and Achieve”   and this short story:

 

So, why is this letter important?  Not only does it show that players can survive moving to a team that is the most appropriate level for them without jumping ship to find another “top team” in another club but it shows some of the key components to improving yourself as a player.

1. Practicing on your own at home, extra training sessions beyond just team practices, and speed/agility/quickness training.  It is so important for parents and players to understand that simply going to practice two or three times a week with their club team is not going to allow them to advance as much or as quickly as dedicating themselves to training more in their off time and off season.
2. Watching videos on YouTube, watching games on TV like the English Premier League, US Men’s or Women’s games, etc. It is key to your development that you not only practice and play but you also learn by watching as high-level soccer as you can.  This is easy now with so many games on TV.
3. A positive attitude and never giving up on your goals.  Not everything is going to go perfect in your soccer career or in life.  But if you keep your focus on the goal and not the difficulties as it says in Believe and Achieve you will one day arrive.