Some want to play to help them lose weight. Some want to play because that's what they've done the last 3 summers. Some play to get away from their kids for a few hours. Some play just to get some fresh air.
I play to be a student of the game, absorbing the Life lessons sport has to teach. I play to compete. I play to breathe... because sport is my oxygen. Intense? Heck yeah. No apologies here though. There are enough people sleep-walking through life. Count me out.
Half the crew is out for a jog. Half the crew is out to compete. Should I stay with the team and hope that attrition strips away the irritated few who didn't sign up to push themselves? Or should I walk away, as promised? Two games left in the regular season... stay tuned true believers.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Fail to plan = plan to FAIL
As I watch a young soccer team play, I've often wondered "What does their coach's lesson plan for the SEASON look like and how are they executing it in this game?" You never know how much, or how little, planning goes into a team effort / leadership.
In the Titans' case, very little planning at the Season Big Picture level has been done. And it shows. We fall apart when the unexpected happens-- like last game. We didn't think we'd be short-handed for half a game. Mentally, we were thrown off our understanding of typical formations. Emotionally, we were shaken. Perhaps if we'd had SEASON GOALS or even goals for THAT GAME to focus on we could've pulled ourselves together and functioned more cohesively as a unit. Instead we were blown out 54-0. We managed to lift our spirits at half time but that's about all we could salvage.
Plan.
In the Titans' case, very little planning at the Season Big Picture level has been done. And it shows. We fall apart when the unexpected happens-- like last game. We didn't think we'd be short-handed for half a game. Mentally, we were thrown off our understanding of typical formations. Emotionally, we were shaken. Perhaps if we'd had SEASON GOALS or even goals for THAT GAME to focus on we could've pulled ourselves together and functioned more cohesively as a unit. Instead we were blown out 54-0. We managed to lift our spirits at half time but that's about all we could salvage.
Plan.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Happy Canada Day!!
This week my flag football team (Titans) won its first game in almost 3 years. 2-1 was the score. Sounds like a soccer score right? I performed well in the first half, but tightened up in the second half and probably threw a half dozen interceptions. Brutal. Maybe that's why it was not a very satisfying win for me.
After missing two consecutive games, it was nice to see that my teammates have groomed their catching skills... without me. The two most impressive catches during the game were the most difficult passes to catch. One was an absolute bullet through a maze of people right up the middle of the field. My intended receiver snatched it out of the air with the determination of a Praying Mantis. The other awesome catch was over the receiver's head, calling for a Michael Jordan-esque pose in mid-stride.
My former team had a game scheduled after mine so I decided to watch & cheer them on. It felt good to do that. It was nice to be on their sideline pulling for them. They were almost short a person and one of them considered asking the other team to let me play. That felt nice. It was a windy day but it was still hard to watch Crush struggle at the QB position. Different people. So much hesitation. Not leveraging people's strengths at the position for particular plays. Tough to watch because I wish them so much success. sigh. But it got worse when Jenny dislocated her elbow. yech what an awful sight. Fortunately there was a physiotherapist at the field and we were able to get her to the hospital within about 20 mins. Seeing part of Jenny's forearm bulging under the skin where her elbow normally is made me wonder how she didn't feint. She's definitely a trooper.
My last two weeks have been very busy & very focused on soccer. Watching World Cup matches with friends, alone, in bars, at home. Watching Bianca's gold medal tournament match (u14). Interviewing the famous player / coach Tracy David. Dreaming about bringing a WPS regular season match to Alberta. I've been up to my eyeballs in soccer since June 11th. Wanna know what's funny about that? I'm dying for the NFL season to start. I'm not sure what that says about me-- I have the attention span of a two year old? ha haaa. oy vay! The best part is that once I reach Week 5 of the NFL season, I'm sure I'll return to absorbing more soccer again. Life in the fast lane.
But it's nice to feel a renewed dedication to football... now that I have time. Just in time to experience Damon Allen headlining a QB camp my brother is putting on with Kent Ridley. Damon Allen-- CFL deity. I swear he is the coolest cat I've ever met. He has such a reserved & dignified swagger. Football royalty. I'll lose my mind if I get to participate in the camp.
How's everyones' summer going?
After missing two consecutive games, it was nice to see that my teammates have groomed their catching skills... without me. The two most impressive catches during the game were the most difficult passes to catch. One was an absolute bullet through a maze of people right up the middle of the field. My intended receiver snatched it out of the air with the determination of a Praying Mantis. The other awesome catch was over the receiver's head, calling for a Michael Jordan-esque pose in mid-stride.
My former team had a game scheduled after mine so I decided to watch & cheer them on. It felt good to do that. It was nice to be on their sideline pulling for them. They were almost short a person and one of them considered asking the other team to let me play. That felt nice. It was a windy day but it was still hard to watch Crush struggle at the QB position. Different people. So much hesitation. Not leveraging people's strengths at the position for particular plays. Tough to watch because I wish them so much success. sigh. But it got worse when Jenny dislocated her elbow. yech what an awful sight. Fortunately there was a physiotherapist at the field and we were able to get her to the hospital within about 20 mins. Seeing part of Jenny's forearm bulging under the skin where her elbow normally is made me wonder how she didn't feint. She's definitely a trooper.
My last two weeks have been very busy & very focused on soccer. Watching World Cup matches with friends, alone, in bars, at home. Watching Bianca's gold medal tournament match (u14). Interviewing the famous player / coach Tracy David. Dreaming about bringing a WPS regular season match to Alberta. I've been up to my eyeballs in soccer since June 11th. Wanna know what's funny about that? I'm dying for the NFL season to start. I'm not sure what that says about me-- I have the attention span of a two year old? ha haaa. oy vay! The best part is that once I reach Week 5 of the NFL season, I'm sure I'll return to absorbing more soccer again. Life in the fast lane.
But it's nice to feel a renewed dedication to football... now that I have time. Just in time to experience Damon Allen headlining a QB camp my brother is putting on with Kent Ridley. Damon Allen-- CFL deity. I swear he is the coolest cat I've ever met. He has such a reserved & dignified swagger. Football royalty. I'll lose my mind if I get to participate in the camp.
How's everyones' summer going?
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Let the games begin!
It's 20°C outside... and will stay that way for at least a full week. Summer is here!
My 9-year old nephew Jaden amazed me with his Wii playing genius on my rented copy of FIFA World Cup 2010. Watching Jaden play was almost better than a live game because I could direct his play-- the ultimate sideline maestro. I can be ORANJE vicariously. What joy!
I added a FIFA World Cup countdown widget to my Mac's Dashboard. I got a new white board at the office and it's already graced with Nederland's group match dates against Cameroon, Japan & Denmark. I got my soccer boots completely spiffed up by my favorite shoe shine vendor dntn and I've played football at the park the last 3 consecutive Sundays and can't wait until tomorrow.
I'm a wee bit excited for soccer / football this summer.
CLARITY: I prefer to use the word football when referring to soccer. I think "American" football should be called American rugby. But for the sake of simplicity and clarity, I will refer to the real football as soccer.
I'm almost as excited about yet another summer season of flag / touch football. This winter I retired from my football team of the last 4 years-- Orange CRUSH. I came out of retirement because it seems that one of the 8 teams desperately needed some leadership in order to stay afloat. Not wanting the only women's flag / touch football league to take 2 steps back, I decided to step up to QB the Titans. In the spirit of providing bolstering leadership, I'm also trying to pull together a Skills Camp for all 8 teams to attend next week.
The QB coach for the University of Calgary Dinos football team has already come out once. He's tentatively scheduled to come out one more time next Tuesday. Rick Crawford of Sparta FA has agreed to help out and Tim Burris of Iron Will Football will be driving down from Red Deer to chip in. Kent Ridley of Ridley Scouting will come in from Airdrie and former McMaster U Marauder, Tim Bryson, may also lend a hand. Should be a great crew of guys helping women's football learn basic skills that will help players enjoy the game more.
Kickoff is May 25th for football and June 11th for WC football. Let the games begin!
My 9-year old nephew Jaden amazed me with his Wii playing genius on my rented copy of FIFA World Cup 2010. Watching Jaden play was almost better than a live game because I could direct his play-- the ultimate sideline maestro. I can be ORANJE vicariously. What joy!
I added a FIFA World Cup countdown widget to my Mac's Dashboard. I got a new white board at the office and it's already graced with Nederland's group match dates against Cameroon, Japan & Denmark. I got my soccer boots completely spiffed up by my favorite shoe shine vendor dntn and I've played football at the park the last 3 consecutive Sundays and can't wait until tomorrow.
I'm a wee bit excited for soccer / football this summer.
CLARITY: I prefer to use the word football when referring to soccer. I think "American" football should be called American rugby. But for the sake of simplicity and clarity, I will refer to the real football as soccer.
I'm almost as excited about yet another summer season of flag / touch football. This winter I retired from my football team of the last 4 years-- Orange CRUSH. I came out of retirement because it seems that one of the 8 teams desperately needed some leadership in order to stay afloat. Not wanting the only women's flag / touch football league to take 2 steps back, I decided to step up to QB the Titans. In the spirit of providing bolstering leadership, I'm also trying to pull together a Skills Camp for all 8 teams to attend next week.
The QB coach for the University of Calgary Dinos football team has already come out once. He's tentatively scheduled to come out one more time next Tuesday. Rick Crawford of Sparta FA has agreed to help out and Tim Burris of Iron Will Football will be driving down from Red Deer to chip in. Kent Ridley of Ridley Scouting will come in from Airdrie and former McMaster U Marauder, Tim Bryson, may also lend a hand. Should be a great crew of guys helping women's football learn basic skills that will help players enjoy the game more.
Kickoff is May 25th for football and June 11th for WC football. Let the games begin!
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