A new town, a new school and having to make new friends. How many times have I gone through this in my life? I really thought my dad was settled in his job and finally I would be able to enjoy some stability but sure enough, an opportunity came up and dad couldn't resist, so here I am again having to start all over.
I slowly shuffle towards school, lost in my thoughts, thinking about the friends I had to leave. I wonder if this town has a soccer team. Does my school? The move happened so fast that I didn't even get the chance to do some research. I haven't really lived in any one place long enough to make any super close friends and for most people that come in contact with me, I am considered to be a loner who walks around seemingly in my own little bubble. The only place, I really feel able to express myself fully is on the pitch. Get my on the field, give my a ball and I am come alive. Soccer is the one place I seem to be able to make a connection with others easily. Man, I hope there is a team here I can play one. My saving grace has always been soccer, it's how my dad and I relate and how I can deal with the constant moving. I've been told I have the potential to play in university and maybe even on the national team but it's been hard to get noticed since I've never stayed anywhere long enough to show my skills to scouts. As has become my habit, I head towards my first day at the new school really early. Nothing like getting there with time to roam the campus and get my bearings. With some luck I might run into some fellow students and start the process of trying to make new friends. Will they like me ? Will I like them ? What will the teachers be like? I pull out my schedule, learning the classes and their room numbers, trying to commit the teachers' names to memory. I know I am supposed to check in at the office and they will probably give me some sort of tour and briefing but I want to be ready. I am lost in my thoughts... it takes everything to put one foot in front of the other. No matter how many times I have gone through this routine, I always dread it. A first day that will be filled with a bunch of other firsts. " Can you pass the ball back please ?" Much to my surprise, I had arrived at school and I was standing beside the best soccer field I have ever seen. There are a bunch of guys standing there, hands on hips, staring at me, probably wondering who is this person. " Hey you, can you please pass us the ball ? " I seek out the owner of the voice and it's obviously the unofficial leader of group. You know, every group has one, that guy that everyone else defers to, usually the smartest, funniest or most athletic one that the rest of the group sort of all comes to agree is the leader. Sure enough, there was a soccer ball that had rolled up beside me and was just there, waiting to be kicked. This is it, my chance to make a first impression via the sport I live and no way I can screw this up. I feel a brief moment of insecurity, wondering if despite countless hours training and playing, if I try and send the ball back, I am somehow going to shank it in the wrong direction or scuff it and see the ball not even make it half way back. Who am I kidding, I got this and easily send a perfectly weighted , lofted pass that sails right into the group, nicely hit with my left, with just enough back spin to deaden the ball as it hits the turf. With a quick thanks and a thumps up from the leader, the group breaks up into two teams and gets back to playing. Before too long, all the familiar sights and sounds of the game talk hold, the passing, trash-talking, players barking out directions to each other, that one guy who things he is Messi attempting to dribble through everyone, that is until some gets fed up and fouls him. This is soccer at its best. when even the simplest of pick up games takes on the appearance of World Cup final. I find myself staring, fixed in place, taking in the action as only a true fan of the game can. Everything around me is a blur except for the 110x60 patch of turf and the soccer action taking place. I guess I get caught up in the moment and lose track of time and before I know it, the leader stops running and yells out; "Hey you, you play soccer? You any good ?" What to answer to this ? How can I know if these guys are any good? I am quite good if I'm honest, better than most to be really honest but it's all relative. If over sell it, I'll look like I am full of it, if I undersell it, it will look like I lack confidence. If these guys go to my school and play on the school team, this is my chance to make a good impression. How I answer and how I back it up with my play could determine my chances of fitting in. Being too slow to answer back, the leader walks over while his buddies continue to play. " Hey, so, do you play soccer? We are a player short to make even teams if you're interested" " Yeah, I play soccer, I can hold my own" " So come one, join the game, school starts soon and we don't have much time" With these words and a wave of the hand, he sprints back to the field and rejoins the game. It's decided I guess, I'm going to join in. I head to the sidelines, put down my backpack, pull out my cleats ( they are always with me) and feel lucky I choose to dress in my customary track pants and sweat top. I change into the cleats, do up the laces and go through a quick stretch and warm up routine. I continue to watch the game and now from a close vantage point, I realize these guys are pretty good. It's just a pick up game but there is tactical structure, quality technical skills and its highly competitive. I gingerly step on the field, not sure which team I am to join or which position I might be asked to play. The game stops as everyone stares at me, this is it, the moment of truth that can determine my soccer future is this new town and school. The leader steps up to me and says; You're going to be me on our team. Can you play midfield? Oh and my name is Paul by the way. I meekly reply that I can in fact play midfield and reach out for a handshake which instead turns into a quick hand-slap and fist bump. I can't believe how easy this is. No fuss, no muss, few words are spoken and it's all about the soccer. Can making friends really be this easy? Of all the times I have started over, it's never happened this fast. There is none of the usual questioning or doubts, just the assumption that I know how to play soccer and off we go. I take up my spot on the field and the game restarts. I'm tentative at first, it's been a while since I've played and want to make sure my first chance to touch the ball with be a good one. There's a quick flow to the game, the ball is zipping around, movement of the ball is as good as any of the competitive teams I have played with. A pass is played into the area and I know I can get there to intercept. I step in ready for contact but my opponents first touch is terrible and the ball shoots up and catches me squarely in the face. My visions blurs, nose feels numb and everyone stops playing as if expecting me to burst out in tears. "I'm fine, it's just a ball in the face, happens all the time. Let's go!" The game restarts and finally I get some touches on the ball. I don't want to make any glaring mistakes so I keep it simply. A few touches and off goes the pass. Control, turn and play the ball forward. Chest trap, play the ball out of my feet and I hit a great cross field pass to a sprinting teammate down the wing. Now I am finding my rhythm . I'm really getting into the game, I start demanding more of the ball, showing for my teammates, screaming for the ball to be be passed to me. I think they are starting to see I know how to play this game but I'm still holding back a bit. My passing range extends, left foot, right foot, chip over the top, driven through balls. I can do it all with ease, This is me. This is what I do. My team gets a good spell of possession now, the ball is moving quickly around as we attempt to break down the defensive block. I'm playing quickly, 1 touch , 2 touch pass the ball. It comes back to me and I sense time and space has opened up. I take a quick touch, put my head down, step over , step over, beat the defender of the dribble and hit a great strike, 30 yards straight into the top corner of the net. I have arrived and made my statement. I can play this game. As my team walks back towards our half for the kick off, Paul strolls up alongside and blurts out " You're really good for a girl!"
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2/14/2021 09:16:34 am
Pasadena soccer is a leading football training academy that trains players from a very tender age. The academy coaches some of the well known faces in the industry and is powered by TOCA.
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AuthorAfter many years of coaching at various levels and with different teams, I thought I would share some of my experiences and thoughts about coaching. Archives
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