Soccer Wisdom

In my search for truth I noticed something about people that maybe I already knew, but I saw fleshed out in a group of five year old soccer players. It was the first game of the year for my daughter’s team, and we all got to see how all of the kids would react in the game. It was a big lesson for me in how people perform.

I noticed that in practice some kids did really well at doing the drills and listening to the coach, while others were waiting around for an opportunity to just play and compete.

My daughter tends to goof around a bit at practice and doesn’t do that well at the little drills. But something happens to her when the game starts, she switches on and looks like a totally different person on the game field than on the practice field.

On the flip side, there is a player on her team that simply shines in practice. This player is the best at all the drills and listens intently to the coach. When game time comes, you would expect this player to be one of the best on the field, but in fact, they are left in the dust. I watched this kid as they really focused on technique, form and fundamentals while the fast paced game blew right by.

I know where I fit in here. One of my professors in college told me that I was good on my feet, but not in my seat. I am terrible at practice, but come game time I want the ball, and I am good with the ball. I was the guy in school that never studied and still got an A on the test.

It’s not that people like my daughter and I don’t have respect for the tradition and discipline that goes into being excellant at things. It’s just that we are so focused on the end game that we don’t consider all of the details. 

I am not saying one type of personality is better than the other, it takes both to make the world go ’round.

If nothing else, this is a window into my heart and mind. I may not impress you on paper, but give me a chance to do what I do, and I will change your mind.

I would like to be the guy that looks like a winner on paper…but I don’t know how. I am working on it_

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