Can't really think of a clever topic for a contest, so maybe down the road for 1100 or something. I have been reading this "pile" about PDL, Premier, Select and Rec and I continually come back to the reason I coach in the first place--the girls that enjoy and love this sport. I have a feeling that parents can and will ruin this great sport for many of young athletes and I just caution you parents about your passion and think of your daughters passion, plans and goals. I wrote this to my team and maybe a few words will be meaningful. It is a bit long, so I apologize in advance or you can go to the next topic.
It was all about you -- Little Girl
It all started oh so many years ago, as it was all about you little girl. I saw the excitement in your eyes when we first passed out the uniforms or saw you wear the new boots, it was ribbons in your hair and I knew at these times it was all about you little girl. I saw your passion as we practiced so hard, scored the goals and secured the shutout. We worked in the heat of the day, the many days of rain (when other teams cancelled practice) or even the snow when practice would turn into a huge snowball fight. See this was all about you little girl. I remember those flights to the out of state tournaments, the excitement in your eyes knowing this was your first flight, the pride of playing and winning, the fun we had in the pools, in the ocean, at Seaworld, visiting colleges, telling stories, laughing, crying, getting sick or just plain being silly. How you wore your medal with pride and smiled. See it was all about you and you and you...
As we grew with more responsibilities, stresses and changes in our lives, in soccer or at home, it was still all about you little girl. The pressures and realities of Club changed soccer forever, but it was still all about you. The pain and hurt cut so deep, ended friendships, changed realities and brought more of us together. The strength of friendships, the loyalties and the brightness of a new team created even more memories and it was all about you little girl, all about you. The boyfriends, the jobs, the dances, basketball, softball, mom and dad, hospitals, schoolwork and tests, surgeries, trips, vacations and more boyfriends again came and went, but it was all about you. The emails, phone calls, chats, visits at your house with your parents, instant messages asking advise, offering support and being a friend, because at all of these times, it wasn't about soccer, but rather about life---during these times it was all about you little girl, it was all about you.
As we enter the later years of our soccer lives, the committment changes for each young lady. Soccer is still the sport for me, soccer is just something I do with my friends, soccer is something I want to get better at, soccer is a pain, soccer is what I do for my parents or I don't care about soccer anymore. These are all issues a coach must juggle and try to create a team that has fun, enjoys each other and hopefully molds an experience that brings it back to all about you little girl. However, committment, practice habits, indifference, back talking, gossiping, talking about your teammate or coach behind there backs, excuses, attitudes and bit..iness, lack of desire or just plain not showing up creates a no win situation most cases,...but I try to the best of my ability and time, as it is all about you little girl, it is all about you and you and you...
Sometimes you fail, sometimes you succeed, in life it is all about the experience and I pray constantly that I can provide an experience that is remembered for years to come and is thought upon with smiles and tears and friendships that will last forever, because it is all about you little girl. It is the goofy socks, the celebration after a goal, the dinners by the sea, star gazing, dances, shopping at the mall, sleepovers, the flights to tournaments, practicing for the drivers tests, the Christmas gifts, bowling eating, the smiles, New Years Eve party, the games, the scores, the battles, the successes--this is what it is all about---not the crap that we have endured before and outlasted. These are the experiences that help shape our childhood and prepare us for our futures where we may go to college, invest in a career, be a benefit to society, volunteer as a coach or mentor, marry the college sweetheart, start a family....This is what helps form our character, our sole, and our heart. Soccer teaches us about loyalty, passion, togetherness, determination, hard work, sportsmanship, winning and losing, and friendships. Don't quit on this development little girl, because all of these faces in this room (your coaches and parents) are determined that it is all about you little girl, all about you. We must finish what we start, try our best, be committed till the end, do all of this with a positive attitude, finish the game, say our goodbyes and move on in life. At this time, I pray that when you look back on your soccer experience, you will see, recognize and know that it was all about you YOUNG LADY, it was all about you and you and you....
The following are some quotes from one of the most famous and successful coaches of all time. You will notice that these are more about the person than the player and I hope each of us will take them to heart.
A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment.
Ability is a poor man's wealth.
Adversity is the state in which man most easily becomes acquainted with himself, being especially free of admirers then.
Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
Consider the rights of others before your own feelings, and the feelings of others before your own rights.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.
Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.
Its what you learn after you know it all that counts.
The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones.
Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.
You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
John Wooden
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Topic: Yote's 1000 Post (Read 1423 times)