I'm Afraid

 

     I’m afraid of many things.  As a child, Halloween scared me.  Ghosts, goblins, werewolves…you name it, I thought they were out to get me.  Not to mention the teenage kids in the neighborhood just waiting to jump from a bush and nab my candy.   There were so many unknowns.

     Unknowns are just that…UNKNOWN.  We can’t prepare for them.  We can’t avoid them.  Unknowns just happen.  Being afraid of unknowns, however, is no excuse to not going out to Trick or Treat. 

     Whatever your ‘candy,’ to be successful we need to limit the unknowns.  Success is not something to be afraid, but instead is a trait that can be learned.  Success isn’t guaranteed.  People are not always successful at all times.  In fact, most success stories are preceded by many failures.

     One big fear is if we do the work, we won’t see the results we’re looking for and feel as though we've failed.  What if we do make it work and we do see results. We know that we will have to change to be successful, but we are used to being who we are.  Being something different can scare us. Even though we want it, and the change is positive... what will others think?  Will I alienate my friends?   Many times, it's safe to do nothing because it's where we are comfortable. You could also discover that to succeed is not an end point, but only a beginning.  Anxiety can take over and make us want to hide.  You can feel like you’re playing tug of war with yourself.

In order to be successful and help us conquer these fears, here are a few tips that may help.

1.       BE POSITIVE

a.       Get rid of the negativity.  Negative thoughts breed fear.  Fear leads to self-doubt.  Focus on the positives.  Write down (or at least say aloud) all the good things that happened to you each day.  Surround yourself with positive people.  Just as negativity breeds fear, positive people create safety and self-belief.

2.       YOU ARE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER

a.       Fear grows when uncertain.  When you understand that you are part of a bigger picture, you will know that there are others that will support you.  Focus on being a good person and helping those around you.  Make it a priority to know that this isn’t just about you. 

3.       LIVE IN THE PRESENT

a.       Use your energy to concentrate on what you are doing now.  Embrace your past, but do not live there.  See your future and make sure you pave the road to get there.  Appreciate those on your side.  Be thankful for opportunities that arise and take the time to see the opportunities that are often hidden by obstacles.

4.       HAVE A SUCCESSBRARY

a.       It is difficult to stay on course all the time.  We often need a little inspiration.  Keep quotes, positive sayings, inspirational stories, songs to help you overcome tough times.

5.       EDUCATE YOURSELF

a.       The less you know, the more the UNKNOWNS.  Learn new things to limit your unknowns.  I’m scared of what I don’t know.  I can remember how I felt going into a test every time I did not study.  You bet – horrified.  On the flip side, I could feel the confidence when I spent the time to learn what was expected.

6.       IT’S A JOURNEY

a.       Success is not a destination, it is a journey.  As in any journey, you will have good days and bad; positives and negatives; keep your eye on where you are headed.  Create rest stops along the way.  Rest stops are smaller goals that keep you motivated and increase your confidence for the long road ahead.

7.       DON’T GO IT ALONE

a.       Although you are the only one that can take your journey, you do not have to go by yourself.  Find a mentor or others that are taking a similar journey.  Some people may be able to only travel a short distance with you, while others will join along the road.  Seek advice and be there to assist others.

You’re too afraid to succeed because you’re afraid that you’ll get hurt, which will make you somehow bad.

We’re all afraid. And you most likely will hurt.

But don’t let that stop you. The alternative is even more painful in the end.

OWN IT

Soccer is a team game.  With that being said, the components of each team raise the potential for every group.  On a technical front, in order for your team to improve you must OWN IT.   

For high end, select clubs, attending training 2-3 times a week isn’t enough.  Just like in school you get homework each night to reinforce what you have discussed in class that day.  Depending on your school, you may get 20 minutes to 3 hours a night.  If you want good grades, to understand your material, and be prepared for quizzes and tests, you do that homework.  My guess is most parents are fairly focused on making sure you are doing your homework.

Training sessions are like going to class.  You get to work on techniques and tactics while getting some repetitions.  The coaches (teachers) explain and demonstrate ideas and solutions to problems that will allow you to be successful during tests (games).  Unfortunately, we do not get the number of repetitions we all need at every practice.   We expect all players to do homework, however, not all players do their homework.  And just like in school, if you do not complete your homework and study the results on your test are up in the air.   We just hope that our test will be easy.

Some students understand math much easier than others.  ‘Johnny’ doesn’t even have to open a book and he gets A’s on his tests.  While ‘Billy’ has to study 2 hours a night for the same class just to get by.  Some techniques and tactics just come naturally to some players, while others need to work hard on improving technically or they need to look over (study) materials from the coaches to better grasp the concepts each team is trying to perfect.

No matter how easy it comes to you or how difficult it may seem, you must OWN IT.  You must create the time to work on your game every day.  It may be an extra 2 hours a day or you may only need 20-30 minutes.  Some will need to spend time on the ball every day, while others may only need days they don’t train.  

Because all of our tests are group tests and they are pass/fail, it can be extremely frustrating to get our grades.  We have all different kinds of tests.  We have tests where we are not prepared and we fail.  There are tests when we are extremely prepared and the test is just too difficult.  We have tests where some of the team is prepared, but others are not.  Tests when we are not prepared and it is easy.  You name it, we get those type of tests. 

Part of our clubs philosophy is to make sure our tests are not too easy.  We do our best to make sure the test is an appropriate level.  We also do our best to expose our players to what levels are out there. 

When the final whistle blows, the result is up to you and your teammates.  Have you OWNED IT?  

WAYS TO OWN IT

1.       Work on Juggler’s Guild and get a minimum level for your age group, increase a level, and ultimately attain the Gold Level.

2.       Review set pieces and tactics for your team the night before a game.

3.       Increase your fitness.

a.       Work on CONES

b.      Add one day of intense flexibility to your schedule – YOGA, 25 minute plus stretching

c.       Add elements of strength training

                                                               i.      Push-ups, sit-ups, body squats

                                                             ii.      Start strength program under a professional when age appropriate

4.       Take advantage of things like THE CENTER
5.    Reach out to teammates for extra training
       a.  Come early or stay late for 10-15 minutes to work on game
       b.  Grab a few teammates on an off day to watch a professional game
       c.  Discuss team tactics to make sure you understand

6.       Be a great teammate. 

a.       Stay positive

b.      Support players on the field, even if you are not.

c.       We all make mistakes.  Pick up your teammate with positive comments when they make one.

d.      Train/Play with 100% Effort.  Be your best, physically and mentally, every training and game, so your component is strong.

Navigating The Water- ACADEMY v CLUB v TEAM

Chances are you or your son or daughter plays 'select' soccer.  If not, I am sure you know someone who does.  As a professional soccer coach, I often get asked about youth soccer and advice on how to choose a team, club, or academy.  My advice is always similar.  What do you want from the experience? If it is exercise and to have fun, then you can do that with just about any team in the area.  If you are looking for something beyond that, it is first important to understand the differences in being on a TEAM, being part of a CLUB, and being a member of an ACADEMY.
This is very difficult to decipher in the youth soccer market because the terms are used very loosely.  Everyone has an FC, SC, or A at the end of their name.
In order to be clear, here are the definitions of each.

TEAM – a group on the same side, as in a game.  Teams can consist within a club or academy, but can and often do stand alone.  Teams have a shared purpose and direction.  They have goals.  Teams exist for the purpose of the goal and accomplishing that goal.

CLUB - an association of two or more people united by a common interest or goal.  Athletic clubs offer one or more recreational sports facilities to their members. Such clubs may also offer social activities and facilities, and some members may join primarily to take advantage of the social opportunities. Members of sports clubs that support a team can be sports amateurs—groups who meet to practice a sport, as for example in most cycling clubs—or professionals -- football clubs consist of well-paid team members and thousands of supporters. A sports club can thus comprise participants (not necessarily competitors) or spectator fans, or both.  In soccer, clubs are usually comprised of teams.

ACADEMY - A school for special instruction.  They are education and skill based.  Academies have a philosophy on how to educate, what they are teaching, and a long term plan (Curriculum) on how things will be taught.  In soccer, academies are built around  individuals placed  in teams.  The goal of the youth soccer academy is to develop individual players.  Examples of this are professional teams youth academies, most famously are Ajax (Holland) and Barcelona (Spain).  Both are known for producing athletes that are capable of playing within any system or team. 

How can you recognize which is which?  Again, with these terms associated with just about every organization – what should you look for?
TEAMS are run for themselves.  They usually have a single coach (and maybe an assistant).  They tend to practice with only other members of the team.  Decisions about competition are based solely on the goals of the team.  Teams are based in a small window of ages, usually 1-2 years.  The coach is often extremely influential in the success.  Teams often find it difficult to gain access to upper level competition.
CLUBS are normally comprised of teams.  As a result, many clubs are teams that share facilities.  Some clubs are more organized than others and pull their resources together for the advantage of each team.  For example, they use money from multiple teams to pay a coach to train multiple teams or to purchase/rent fields.  Most of the larger clubs have their teams organized and base their competition on what is best for the teams.  Clubs usually have teams in multiple age groups. 
ACADEMIES are comprised of individual players that are placed on teams.  Individual players often train with a variety of ages and play with different teams within the academy based on their technical, mental, and physical development.  Emphasis is on individual skill and education.  The goal of academies is to have players be able to play in any team.  Players are the first priority, the academy is second, and the team is third.  Competition is based on what is best for the individual player.  Academies have a curriculum for players 5 years to 18 plus.  Some Academies may limit their ages to a more defined limit (example – 8 to 14).
Each of these have their place and each of these can be successful in both terms of on field results and player development.  The differences lye in how each gets their results. 
Again, what do you want from the experience?  I look at it the same way as I would look at choosing a school.  Do you look at a school for the fall, then maybe switch in spring?  Are you looking for a school that allows their teachers to teach whatever they want, whenever they want?  Are the teachers a student in the class’ parent?   What do they teach?  Who are the teachers?  How are students tested?  What happens if my son or daughter is excelling? Struggling?
Let’s explore some of these.  There are many things to consider…
Convenience – can I get my athlete to and from practices and games?  How often do they practice?  
Friends – my athlete would like to play with their friends (Parent would like to hang out with their friends). 
Commitment – we want to try out a higher level from recreational/SAY.  Test the waters. 
Cost – how much will this cost?  Ask questions up front.  What do fees cover?  Do uniforms cost extra?  Are there additional fees for tournaments?  What, if any, other fees will we incur while playing? 
Curriculum – what will my athlete be learning this season, year, throughout their time here?  How are they tested?  Is there a report card (evaluation)?
Do they win? – I answer this very simply, Do you send your child to school to get an A?  Or do you send them to school to get an education?
Each player and family will answer these differently based on their personal circumstances, commitment level, and other variables.  The reason there are so many teams, clubs, and academies is because there is a need.  If there weren’t players for these teams, they would not exist.  When exploring your options in the soccer market, educate yourself.  Compare different options and go with the situation that best fits your athlete’s needs and circumstances. 

CREATIVE, CONFIDENT, COMMITTED, and COHESIVE | Being Committed...Getting Tough

Ohio Elite is different from many clubs.  We focus on the player first.  We give players various opportunities playing with different teams in their age group and higher.  Training is every bit as important as the games.  What is Ohio Elite doing? 

We (the staff) believe the players are the ones that make the team.  The players are the ones that make their high school squads.  The players are the ones that are recruited for college programs.  Every step of the way, the player is what moves the bus.  Our club is one made of players.

On the boys side, we are creating a program that emphasizes being CREATIVE, CONFIDENT, COMMITTED, and COHESIVE athletes.  It begins in our Youth Development Academy (YDA).  Director, Scott Wheeler, spends countless hours giving the athletes ball touches and emphasizing individual technique.  The YDA allows the players to take opponents on with the dribble, no matter where on the field.  We do not tell them to kick the ball out of bounds or smack it up the field just so the other team won’t score.  The YDA encourages players to keep the ball and pass or dribble from the back to the attack to develop confidence and creativity.  Because young players lack strength and technique, there will be several mistakes.  Many times this may result in an opportunity for the opponent to score.  However, they are learning what is necessary to be successful at the Regional and National level when they are older.

I have written several blogs on what we expect in training and ways to stay focused and improve.  Every training session we work on technique, tactics, and giving players ideas on how to create opportunities.  Aside from techniques and tactics, the staff pushes their athletes to play ‘outside their comfort zone.’  We want players who are COMMITTED to improvement.  I know, easily said…but what does this mean?

We want ruthless competitors.  We want, and need, our players to see the competitive situation in a positive light and as a challenge versus looking at competition as a negative and seeing it as a threat.  When presented with a challenge, our players will try to solve the problem.  A challenge is a puzzle, a maze, a video game...it is a problem that must be solved in order to win.  Players need to be excited about tackling challenges and enthusiastic about finding answers, no matter how long it may take.

·         CHALLENGE is moving, THREAT is static.

·         CHALLENGE is alert, THREAT is flat footed.

·         CHALLENGE is fast, THREAT is slow.

·         CHALLENGE is head up and checking shoulders, THREAT is tunnel vision.

We want our players to be in the CHALLENGE STATE as often as possible.  So we put them in demanding situations that are uncomfortable during training.  We make the space small, limit touches, play them numbers down.  We often give them timed runs that are extremely difficult.  We try to see when players switch form a CHALLENGE STATE to a THREAT STATE and get them to switch back immediately.  For me, this is MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

We understand that staying in a CHALLENGE STATE is difficult.  Here are a few ways to help you stay focused and in a CHALLENGE STATE. 

1.       BAM – Body, Action, Move

•   Body – keep body language positive at all times
•   Action – constantly look for an action to execute
•   Move – stay on the move as much as possible

2.       STRIKE A POSE – stand in Power Poses (like Superman with hands on hip)

• Research shows that holding a Power Pose increases testosterone levels and decreases the stress hormone, cortisol.
• Power poses increase the appetite for taking risks.

3.       “Your physiology changes your psychology as much as your psychology changes your physiology.”

Master behaviors and mastery of goals will follow.