Soccer Tennis / Mind Games

Todays session was again shorter than normal but more intense to get the players ready for the game tomorrow and make sure that our bodies are firing again after a lighter session yesterday.  Main topic was trying to work on some transition play and getting the guys to focus mentally.  Proper preparation for games is paramount to success and as much as we try to prepare our players on the field with technical, tactical and physical aspects of the game, mentally its up to them to get their minds ready.    Pregame rituals differ for each player with what to eat the night before, pregame, sleeping times, superstitions and these are the areas that we as coaches have limited control over.  At this stage of their collegiate careers the players themselves have to know what works for them and have to make sure that when the whistle blows for the kick off tomorrow they are ready to compete.

I know none of our players would do the following but thought it really emphasizes how each individual prepares for games and this is probably one of the weirdest pre game rituals Ive experienced, not that he did this when he was a pro but i think its a great story.  Believe it or not I played on a team with a retired Bulgarian Soccer International who also played in a World Cup Finals.  After showing up for our local amateur men's team he refused to play until he had a Heineken beer and cigarette.  That day no one had picked up some Heineken's for post game refreshments so he left and returned 20mins later with the game already started, drank his newly purchased Heineken and entered the field of play.  Not that I am encouraging this behavior but he was one of the best players I ever played with.  True story!

To promote the game tomorrow I thought it would be a good idea to play a little soccer tennis on the Foggy Bottom Campus right in front of the library.  Obviously with everyone studying before the weekend people coming in and out of the library and the central location it seemed like the perfect idea.  It was a perfect idea until we were kicked off the area for apparently not reserving it.  Reminded me of the old days when I practiced on the polo fields down on the national mall where we would occasionally get kicked off by the Park Police.  We've come along way since having to practice there without a permit 

Hope to see you at the game tomorrow 3pm kick off and free BBQ for all attending.

Raise High Moment of the Day

Soccer tennis on Kogan Plaza