OK, Blog-lodytes...it's Friday. Sit down, shut-up, and get ready for a sermon.
I mentioned yesterday that the whispers of Fall are beginning to blow across the land. College teams--more aptly College Coaches--are starting to prepare for their upcoming seasons. I failed to include--and please forgive me--that the same whispers and rustlings of High School (depending upon what state you live in) and Club (Select) soccer are Springing to life once more. (See how I used that seasonal reference???? Clever, eh? Kinda' like one of those nature shows on PBS).
Anyway, as you young GKs begin to prepare for upcoming seasons, I feel that a tribute to those that make it possible for you to participate and compete in this 'beautiful game' is in order.
Your parents--regardless of what age or level you are--have been (in most cases) directly responsible for 85% of your success. Think about it. From your first pair of tiny soccer shoes to your latest pair of $175 Goalkeeper gloves, your parents most likely shelled out the cash for your soccer career. They certainly shelled out the time and effort to enable you to enjoy whatever success you have achieved 'life-to-date'. Do you really think that your parents didn't have better things to do on Saturday mornings than drive you to AYSO or YMCA League matches? Do you really think that your parents didn't have better things to do than slice up countless oranges, purchase countless Capri-Sun boxes, and sit on the sidelines and watch your run around (in some cases stand around) in hopelessly 'too big and baggy' youth uniforms? Hey, cuteness will only take you so far.....
Now that you're older and are a 'Stud' on your Select Team (certainly a Stud in your own mind), and feel that you want/deserve the same boots that Clint Dempsey wears ($280) and gloves that Julio Cesar wears ($175) wears; do you really think your Mom and Dad don't have a better way to spend $455 (not counting the Club fees, uniform fees, travel costs, etc) than watching you find new and creative ways to let goals in? Let me give you a clue to the proper answer here......YEAH, your parents can think of better ways to spend their money, time and energy. But you know what? They do ALL of the above for one very simple reason. They LOVE YOU. Yeah, YOU! (I know, it's hard to believe, right?) and the GREAT thing about it is this........regardless of how good or bad a player/GK your are, regardless of how many games you win/lose, regardless of how many Camps you go to, regardless of how far you drive/fly for Showcase Tournaments......they STILL love you. A LOT. That's because that's our job. (I'm speaking as a parent now). It is our job to love you, Win, Lose, or Draw. And we do.
Soooooooooo. What can you do? Easy, 3 things: 1. Try hard, work hard, play hard. 2. Take care of your gear. (Boots, gloves, uniform, training gear....MAKE IT LAST!) 3. Most important.......Thank them and let them know you love and appreciate them. Tell them, "Thanks for driving, Mom". "Thanks for letting me go to that Camp, Dad". "Thanks for letting me get those gloves." "I promise to take care of them and make them last." And most importantly...."I love you guys." Then, say it again. "I love you Mom and Dad." You know what? For all you get. For all your parents give you. That's a pretty good deal. 3 simple words, yes. But certainly the 3 most important words you'll ever say. I. LOVE. YOU. Go tell them right now.
OK, sermon over. Now get back out there and train. And mow the lawn, and take out the garbage, and clean your room............
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May every shot be hit right at you. May your goalposts always be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV
I mentioned yesterday that the whispers of Fall are beginning to blow across the land. College teams--more aptly College Coaches--are starting to prepare for their upcoming seasons. I failed to include--and please forgive me--that the same whispers and rustlings of High School (depending upon what state you live in) and Club (Select) soccer are Springing to life once more. (See how I used that seasonal reference???? Clever, eh? Kinda' like one of those nature shows on PBS).
Anyway, as you young GKs begin to prepare for upcoming seasons, I feel that a tribute to those that make it possible for you to participate and compete in this 'beautiful game' is in order.
Your parents--regardless of what age or level you are--have been (in most cases) directly responsible for 85% of your success. Think about it. From your first pair of tiny soccer shoes to your latest pair of $175 Goalkeeper gloves, your parents most likely shelled out the cash for your soccer career. They certainly shelled out the time and effort to enable you to enjoy whatever success you have achieved 'life-to-date'. Do you really think that your parents didn't have better things to do on Saturday mornings than drive you to AYSO or YMCA League matches? Do you really think that your parents didn't have better things to do than slice up countless oranges, purchase countless Capri-Sun boxes, and sit on the sidelines and watch your run around (in some cases stand around) in hopelessly 'too big and baggy' youth uniforms? Hey, cuteness will only take you so far.....
Now that you're older and are a 'Stud' on your Select Team (certainly a Stud in your own mind), and feel that you want/deserve the same boots that Clint Dempsey wears ($280) and gloves that Julio Cesar wears ($175) wears; do you really think your Mom and Dad don't have a better way to spend $455 (not counting the Club fees, uniform fees, travel costs, etc) than watching you find new and creative ways to let goals in? Let me give you a clue to the proper answer here......YEAH, your parents can think of better ways to spend their money, time and energy. But you know what? They do ALL of the above for one very simple reason. They LOVE YOU. Yeah, YOU! (I know, it's hard to believe, right?) and the GREAT thing about it is this........regardless of how good or bad a player/GK your are, regardless of how many games you win/lose, regardless of how many Camps you go to, regardless of how far you drive/fly for Showcase Tournaments......they STILL love you. A LOT. That's because that's our job. (I'm speaking as a parent now). It is our job to love you, Win, Lose, or Draw. And we do.
Soooooooooo. What can you do? Easy, 3 things: 1. Try hard, work hard, play hard. 2. Take care of your gear. (Boots, gloves, uniform, training gear....MAKE IT LAST!) 3. Most important.......Thank them and let them know you love and appreciate them. Tell them, "Thanks for driving, Mom". "Thanks for letting me go to that Camp, Dad". "Thanks for letting me get those gloves." "I promise to take care of them and make them last." And most importantly...."I love you guys." Then, say it again. "I love you Mom and Dad." You know what? For all you get. For all your parents give you. That's a pretty good deal. 3 simple words, yes. But certainly the 3 most important words you'll ever say. I. LOVE. YOU. Go tell them right now.
OK, sermon over. Now get back out there and train. And mow the lawn, and take out the garbage, and clean your room............
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May every shot be hit right at you. May your goalposts always be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV