What does commitment look like?

What does commitment look like? 

 I've been asking this question of myself quite a bit lately.  Commitment is kind of one of things that you recognize when you see, but to define it is a bit more elusive a proposition. So, of course defining what commitment looks like is what I am about to attempt.

On this fall's team I had two great examples of commitment among the players. As I have thought about these players the last couple of days I was able to come up with some commonalities I believe distinguish them from their teammates in terms of commitment.

1) They were not only present but also punctual.  These two players simply did not miss team activities and both were always on time and usually quite early.  Being present and punctual seem like such simple common sense things to many of us, but we all also recognize being present and or on time is a very real struggle for others.

2) Attentiveness.  We might call this an ability to focus or concentrate.  Attentiveness, to me, is the ability to listen and carry out instructions.  I loathe having to repeat myself seemingly ad naseum to some players and value greatly those players who are attentive and responsive first time.

3) The questions committed players ask tend to be far different from the questions of others. Attentiveness will lead to this.  They seek out nuances in details and ask for clarifications of the process.  Their questions are both about improving themselves and improving their team / teammates.

4) Their effort is never questioned. They are the pacesetters for the team. This is true in terms of work ethic, attitude, spirit and enthusiasm. They bring the best effort they have day in and day out.

5) And I have found their commitment is not contained between the lines of the pitch but permeates everything they do.  Their lifestyle and habits outside the lines mirror what they do inside the lines. School work, nutrition, rest -  the same level of effort they give inside the lines ... it's a product of what they do outside the lines.

Keep learning.

It is winter here in Ohio and although we do not have snow on the ground it is generally to cold and wet to do much soccer related activity outside. Basketball and wrestling dominate the gyms and where I am located we have one turfed indoor facility and field time / leagues are outrageously overpriced. Factor in the sun rises late and sets early... well, this is definitely the off-season for us. We do futsal in a gym on Wednesdays after basketball and on Sunday afternoons when basketball generally does not play or practice.

I also do a lot of review work from our past season.  I make notes in journal form on every practice, game and team gathering when in season.  Now is the time to review these to glean every bit of information that might be applied going forward. I also watch last seasons practice and game tapes for the same purpose. It can be amazing what a distance of 3 or 4 months allows one to see,

This is also the time of the year when I search out new books and articles to read. I spend too much time on YouTube watching soccer videos. Games, instructional and motivational videos. Anything I can find to learn, to enhance my skills as a coach, to make myself better at what I do.

I also take the time to attend practises conducted by other coaches.  I have watched tryouts for club teams this winter.  I have watched basketball and wrestling teams practice. I attend as many sporting events as possible to observe how other coaches ply their trade. I am intensely curious to see how other coaches interact with their players, their assistants, the referees and others.

I am now contemplating attending a coaching clinic or two.  Weighing the price of doing so against who will be the presenting clinicians. So much is available on the Internet these days, but it is refreshing to attend in person. Being able to ask questions of the presenter and other attendees.

On Saturday we ( my high school and program) are hosting a beginners referee and re-certification class. I will be in attendance all day, From 7:30 am until after 4:00 pm. It is important to build relationships with referees and to understand what they are looking for in-game.

These things will all factor into plans for next season. Our off season preparation will be based on what I am learning and in some cases re-learning now, in the dark of winter.  The success of our 2017 fall season will depend largely on my success in learning over these cold winter months.

Merry Christmas!

I am a Christian so my greeting is Merry Christmas!

We gathered with our sons, their girlfriends and my wife's parents this past Saturday to celebrate Christmas. We have recently experienced a loss of income and so this Christmas both the number of gifts and the amount spent on gifts were not as lavish as past years. That is not to say our gifts to one another were ever exorbitant in the first place but the presents under our tree have always been plentiful.

I cannot say I was stressed or worried about the cutting back on presents this year. Our sons are all young men making their own way in life at this time. So, very proud of the young men they are becoming. Each has found a lovely young lady to share time with and who seem to fit right in with our family. They are such a Blessing to us all. Anyway, Christi and I set an amount to spend and while we did adjust it upward slightly as we purchased gifts we pretty much adhered to our budget.

It was around Thanksgiving I had began contemplating this Christmas season with our sons. We anticipated the boys would spend either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day with the families of the  aforementioned girls. It can be very difficult to coordinated time together and I believe attempting to do so can be a source of much stress. There was an added complication with Maryssa, Lance's girlfriend, being a college basketball athlete this year. She has a very limited Christmas break.  After some discussion, we settled on Saturday December 19th as the day we would celebrate together.  It was to be the best Christmas I can remember.

As mentioned, the presents were not as plentiful as past Christmas', but the presence was greater than ever. This, of course, is what made for my best Christmas ever. I have thought a lot about my faith in recent months. I cannot say I have doubted or questioned my belief's. It has been more a journey of understanding how experiences, bad and good, in life fit my faith.

I do not attend church services as regularly as perhaps I should. I justify this through my belief the church is not a building but people.  Therefore gathering with the church takes place anywhere two or more of us are together in His name. In short, we will not change this world by attending church. No, we will change this world by BEING the church.

The steadily growing realization of this TRUTH is what has made this Christmas the best in memory. It was the PRESENCE of our loved ones that made this Christmas special and this hit home especially as we gathered at a local steakhouse for our meal on Saturday.  I had decided around Thanksgiving time I did not want to cook and clean up after a meal as we had always done in the past. My solution was to take everyone out to dinner at a very nice restaurant.  Best decision I have made in some time.

As I sat across from my wife and we were flanked on either side by our sons, the girls and my in-laws I found myself constantly smiling. I was so content listening to the discussions and lively banter. This is when it really occurred to me the PRESENCE was stronger than ever. The presents given in acknowledgement of God's gift of his Son to us were of secondary, even minimal importance. It is His presence in our lives as was highlighted throughout the day Saturday that is significant. Presence, not presents, is the difference maker in our lives.

Church is not a Sunday only exercise,

Christmas is not a once a year occurrence.

We do not attend church. We gather with the church. And Christmas is not a day, but a way of life. The gift is neither gold, frankincense or myrrh but the magi gathering with Jesus, the church. Their presence with, not their presents to, the new born King is what is important. And it is God's gift of His Son's presence here on earth that is His gift to us. The magi returned God's gift of Jesus' presence by being present with Jesus.

There has been a growing realization of this in my life over the years that finally came into clearer focus this past Saturday. I am not so naive to think all has been revealed to me. I know I have so much more to learn from God. This is but a milestone on my journey through this life.

Those of you who are still reading might be wondering what this has to do with soccer. Why a testimonial on a soccer blog? When we gather as a soccer team we are with the church. Here in the United States where liberal democrats are doing their best to eliminate all mention of God from public life it is more important than ever to remember WE are the CHURCH, Christmas is our life. Through us the warming brilliance of God's LOVE cannot be hidden or extinguished.  God's presence is present in our presence with Him.

Merry Christmas!

Learn from the past.

 

 

Prepare for the future.

 

 

Perform in the moment.