Conceive Believe Achieve Soccer: Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

Sunday

Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

In the 1986 movie Heartbreak Ridge Clint Eastwood demands his Marine recon platoon Improvise! Adapt! Overcome! when encountering obstacles. This has been adopted as an unofficial motto of the United States Marine Corps and fits nicely with their Semper Flexibilis or Semper Gumby motto that implore the Corps to be flexible in addressing obstacles.

Improvise!

Adapt!

Overcome!

I have watched Heartbreak Ridge many times. It's not so much the battle scenes that I find captivating as it is the development of the characters and the process portrayed of a rag tag bunch of wannabes transforming into a kick ass recon platoon. And it is these things I believe apply in life and in soccer.

I have taken charge of a down on its luck high school soccer program. Regular followers of this blog know this is exactly the type of challenge I love. I would go so far as to say I have developed a formula for turning around such programs. Only this time, that tried and true formula has not worked. Thus, I am left to consider other approaches. I am attempting to Improvise! Adapt! Overcome! in a new and different manner. Flexibility was a key throughout our first season. To be honest, I was too accommodating in an effort to keep enough members in the program to finish our schedule. And as we all know, compromising standards is not an answer to anything.

As I look forward to next season I am both looking back to core values we got away from last season and to adapting our approach. There was a lot of improvising last season as I sought to navigate the season. It was born of panic and took place haphazardly. This coming season I am looking to focused improvisation to be a forceful building tool.

I don't know how much is left to be invented in soccer, especially in terms of team tactics, but I intend to go back to the future with some of the concepts and ideas we employ to boost tactics to our advantage. There was a time when the 4-4-2 zonal system I employed was cutting edge and a decided advantage. I understand now that I thought it always would be and I was wrong for thinking that way. The game changed while I was comfortable in what we were doing. I must now Improvise! and Adapt! in order to Overcome! and regain an advantage. I am stepping outside my coaching comfort zone to get back into and hopefully once more ahead of the game.

Stay tuned for updates.

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About Me

I believe that God comes first, followed by family and friends. I am third.

I worked in corporate accounting at The Limited and Cellular One before returning to Lima with my family and becoming a stay at home father. I am also the founder and director of CBA Soccer. I am in my second year as Head Coach / Program Coordinator with the Lima Senior Spartans and am excited about the progress in the process in helping this program take the next step. I have recently re-entered club coaching. This time with Lima Select where I will work with a U16 boys team

I have been married to Christi (Moritz) for 31 years. Christi is starting off on a new career path and we are excited for her. She is involved as a Lay Reader and a member of the bell choir at church. She also serves on the Foundation Board. She is a devoted mother supporting her sons in whatever they do and wherever they may go.

We have 3 wonderful sons. Sometimes we wonder where time has gone. We often speak of building memories and we have been blessed with many wonderful ones of our family.

Grant is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a degree in Applied Mathematics. He has a job with Nationwide Insurance. Grant is continuing his education to better position himself for the future. Grant coaches in the Columbus Crew SC Academy and youth development program.

Treg is engaged to Julie Moore and is a graduate of The Ohio State University having majored in animal sciences. Treg is presently working at the Columbus Zoo. He has studied abroad in Germany and France and worked on a ranch in Colorado. He is planning to enter grad school. Treg also continues to referee soccer and will participate in both regional and national events this summer

Lance played soccer for the Blue Knights of Urbana University. In High School Lance made all-league and all district teams while also being Shawnee's Offensive Player of the Year from his defensive mid position. At Urbana, Lance transitioned to the position of forward/striker . Like his brothers before him Lance referees soccer to help with educational expenses. Lance has also been invited to participate in regional and national events as a referee.

We have a 14 year old cinnamon colored Siberian Husky with two blue eyes named Kiko. She is every bit the puppy she was when we first got her, at least at heart. Full of fun and eager to love and be loved.

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Sunday

Improvise! Adapt! Overcome!

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