Make a statement

"Humble in victory. Proud in defeat." (an old adage from a proud parent email)

It's how you play the game that matters more than the final result. Hornet soccer should be defined by how well the team comes together and plays against quality opponents. Right now, we're healthy (knock on wood) and starting to click the more we play together. We should be proud of what we left on the field tonight.

In my mind, tonight's game proves how well we can play. We put some nice things together and had our chances to score. Our focus was to give Morton an 80 minute game instead of the 60 we gave in our first match against Morton. We wanted to make a statement as we started the second season (conference play). I feel that we accomplished what we set out to do tonight and it feels nice.

I loved seeing the intensity at halftime and knew good things would happen if the boys could channel their energy and play like a team. The boys battled for the full 80 minutes and looked good doing it. After the game, I could tell that they knew how well they played and were pumped despite the final result. I know that we can build off this game as we look forward to Addison Trail on Thursday. Back to work tomorrow.

I would also like to note that I have never had so much confidence in the players on a team before, both mentally and physically. When focused, I know that we can play with anyone.

New superstition: the team will play well as long as I don't shave.

p.s. My mom came to the game tonight and told me how well the team played. She has watched soccer for many years and I always love to hear what she has to say. It's never about the tactical but rather the motivational. To make my point, I will share what my mom emailed me after our last conversation. Even though the text has broader implications, we discussed how an attitude can spark or hinder development or how players deal with a win, a loss or what the next step may be.

Attitude - The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a (team)...We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it....We are in charge of our attitudes.

War

"Soccer is like war without the killing. Prepare for battle!"

As our game against Central approached, I thought about how we came out last year with a vengeance and won. This year we had the same mentality and really battled like it was a war that we had to win. It wasn't a pretty victory but a win is a win, especially on Centennial Field. Being a rivalry game, the win was that much sweeter. It was hard to stop shaking with exhiliration after the game. This was brought about by how happy the players were. They earned it and I felt proud.

During a game of such intensity (and every game for that matter), I rely heavily of my assistant coach Jen B. Jen is a great coach and I trust every insight and decision she makes. As a coach, it is really hard to see everything and Jen sees things that I don't. I feel this only makes the team better.

Ty knows exactly what I'm talking about. Last year Ty caught an elbow in the eye and came off the field with a nice gash above his eye. He immediately left to go get stitches. I was able to call him after the game with the good news of our victory. This year, during the second half I saw Ty coming off the field with half of his face covered in blood. It reminded me of a battle scene from Braveheart. As always, Ty was calm and collected as the trainers worked to stop the bleeding as he told me "Coach, get back to the game." With an sense of deja vu I returned to the game and watched Ty head to the hospital. Once again, I was able to call him later with the good news. As a result of the battle, Ty received 4 staples.



Check out Chicagoland Soccer's coverage of the game by clicking on the link below.

http://www.chicagolandsoccer.net/Boys%202010/Weeks/week%202/hinsdalesouth-central.html