Check hard!

It has been a little over a month since I uprooted my family and moved them half way across the country to St. Louis. The last few weeks since beginning my assistant soccer coaching position has given me little time to unpack or spend time with my wife and kids, let alone find time to blog. Also hanging over me are two freelance projects I agreed to take on - so my time has been a little tight. I don't know what is waiting for me and my family at the end of these couple of months, so we will just have to wait and see.

It has been awesome diving back into the world of soccer. It was my first passion in life, but for the past 5-6 years I have had little connection to the game as either a player or coach. Step 1 was getting back in decent "soccer shape" with my fitness, and Step 2 was regaining my "owe so deft" soccer touch (okay, that might be a little exaggeration). Step 3 was reacquainting myself with the tactics and knowledge of the game, but it is cool to see how quickly it all comes back.

The season has started pretty decent thus far. It is a talented team who had a very successful season last year - so expectations are high. The toughest part for the team to grasp onto is the overall effort needed to really compete at a high level. It needs to be there from the opening kick - and if it is not - good teams can quickly become average. That has been our problem at times this season. This past week we played a very good game against a good team - and we are hoping it is a sign that we have turned a corner.

Soccer has been called "the beautiful game." For me, it is beautiful because it is such a fluid game with little interruptions or stoppages of play. It requires all of the players on the field working for each other and making sacrifices, and much like a domino effect, when one player moves on the field it opens up space and opportunity for another. For many reasons - this is one of the most mature aspects of the game that doesn't always come naturally. It has been a struggle for us to this point - but there have been signs it is getting better.

There is never really a time in a soccer game when you are standing and doing nothing. The game keeps moving. If you have ever watched a game on TV - there aren't even any commercial breaks because the game has no time-outs. Since it requires constant moving, it puts a lot of pressure on each player to keep running and creating space on the field. If a player wants to receive a pass from his teammate, he can't expect to stand there and wait for the ball to show up on his foot, he needs to "check hard" to the ball. "Checking to the ball" means making a 5+ yard sprint either to the man with the ball or to an open spot on the field where your teammate can pass you the ball. The sprint is crucial because it allows you to create distance between you and your defender so that you can receive the ball. By making this "hard check" you create space for yourself, as well as your teammates, because the space on the field that you just left is now open for a teammate to move into. This is how the game works. You leave a space, and now you have created space.

Unfortunately, the temptation for a player is to "check hard" to a ball, and if he/she doesn't get the ball, they stop and stand there and still call for the ball. In doing so, they no longer are an option to receive the ball and they have made it easier for the opponent to defend. Players might think, "I did my job and they didn't give me the ball. My work is done." But to play the game, it requires non-stop checking and moving.

When a player checks to the ball and doesn't receive it - the best thing they can do is keep moving to another part of the field and then wait for another opportunity to check to another ball. It is rigorous and constant. In fact, for every 4 or 5 times a player checks hard to a ball - he/she might only get the ball passed to them once. The idea is that if everyone is moving and everyone is checking hard to the ball - there will always be someone on the field who is open - and it makes it miserable on the opponent to defend.

So, what in the heck does this have to do with life?

Well, I figured that the longer I kept writing I would think of something ;)

Actually, there is a valuable lesson to be learned from "checking hard" to the ball. From my experience, you never know when that next great opportunity is going to come along. Now, life wouldn't be so humbling if we actually knew what opportunities were going to work out (and which ones are duds) - so we are forced to treat all of them with the same energy and effort.

"Checking hard to the ball" in life for me means bringing your best to whatever you are doing - because it is the right thing to do. By bringing your best effort you guarantee that you will be ready for the bigger opportunity when it shows up. On the flipside, if you "show up" from time to time, or whenever you feel the event is worthwhile, you not only lessen your chance of taking full advantage of every opportunity - you also will be less prepared when it comes along.

Bigger picture, I think we all can realize that our effort affects not only our own fortune, but everyone around us. As in soccer, by living selflessly and doing the right thing in everything you do, it creates great opportunities for those around you - whether you know them or not.

You never know when the ball is going to come your way - so all you can do is your best all the time in everything you do. If the ball comes - you will be ready. If the ball does not come, you just keep moving, and get ready for the next check. There is no time to stop, sulk, criticize, or argue - just keep on moving and get ready for the next opportunity.

Don't worry - it will come - just keep checking hard.

Have a great week!

Much love,

Travis
561.676.4583