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This Week in Soccer
A Season to Remember
By. Jessica R. Chisley, Assistant Coach
January 18, 2007
This writing comes perhaps a bit overdue, but alas I have finished it. Post-banquet, my emotions were running high so I found it a bit difficult to collect my thoughts and write anything I felt to be worth while. However, after serious reflection, player evaluations, and the start of the spring term, I have been able to sit down and piece my thoughts together. I do apologize to those of you who may have been eagerly awaiting this article and I hope you enjoy the new addition.
The 2007 season was a whirl-wind! Just as soon as it began, it seemed as if it were ending. As expected, there were ups and there were downs. However, a season without trials and tribulations is not truly a season. Soccer is a game with challenges around every corner – whether mental or physical, individual or team, there is always an obstacle to overcome. Naturally, at the conclusion of a season comes reflection. With this reflection comes evaluation. With evaluation comes the question: were we successful ? Rather than telling you how we answered this question, read on and we shall see.
A season may be classified as successful when a team meets a certain number of specified criteria. For instance, the most obvious of these criteria is a win/loss record or a season winning percentage. However, as our coaching philosophy states, you cannot measure a program as successful merely in terms of winning and losing. Sure there may be victories and defeat, but when we look back at a season, we aren't looking to tally the number of wins over opponents and say “we won more than we lost; therefore, the season was a success.” If we allow ourselves to do this, we are not nurturing the foundation we believe makes a program strong.
Rather, as coaches when we look back at a season we should ask ourselves a few questions. 1) Are our players better people having experienced the challenges of this season? 2) Did we help our players find a way to take the program a step forward? 3) Did we inspire and motivate our players to get better? 4) Did we as coaches do all that we could to prepare our players not only for soccer, but also for life? 5) Did we fuel the player's passion for the game? Looking at success in these terms, we are better able to take a whole-sale account of the season rather than a text-book account based on wins and losses.
Our goal as coaches is to teach players how to compete and to win. In doing this, we are also teaching them life lessons, which is the second, but most important goal of this staff. Sport mirrors life. There are challenges around every corner. Some we overcome, some we do not. However, the lesson is in how we respond to these challenges. How do make ourselves better so the next time we encounter a challenge we hopefully do not fall short again? Furthermore, if we do fall short, how do we motivate ourselves to keep at it until we at last succeed? Looking at sport in this fashion helps us as coaches to avoid viewing success in narrow ways such as results and how we measure up against other teams. This season our players learned a few lessons that we hope have transcended the soccer field into their everyday lives.
At the post season banquet, we were able to reconvene and reflect on the many minor, but important things that made this season special. The night was filled with laughter, tender moments, remembrance, reflection, and again, attention to life lessons. We started off the night with our coaches' speeches, then progressed to player recognition, and concluded with our 2 nd annual season highlight DVD.
Both Jay and I encouraged the players to pursue their dreams and set their sights on enriching their lives. The catalyst for my speech was a college friend who had been involved in a severe car accident. I wanted so much to speak with the girls about the many wonderful accomplishments they'd had this season, but inside I was compelled to encourage them to focus on living each day of their life to the fullest. The message title was: No Day, but Today. Though this title is inspired by the Broadway musical RENT, it took on a whole other meaning after my friend's accident. I basically encouraged the players to put every ounce of effort into their daily lives and into the little things. I urged them never taking for granted any moment, but cherishing them all because it could all disappear in the blink of an eye.
Jay took a different direction with his speech. He spoke about what Centre Soccer means to him and also reflected on the season. The focus for his speech was a quote written by sophomore outside back, Nicole Wendschlag. In a preseason activity she had written, “I want this team to leave an imprint that will always be remembered. Not only are we remembered for being great soccer players, but more importantly we are remembered for being the people who we are – caring, compassionate, determined, loving, and driven. I want us to bring success to this program that doesn't end when we leave but continues to answer other children's dreams.” Jay concluded his speech with a wonderful comment on what happens when a person surrounds them-self with good people. “When you surround yourself with wonderful people,” he stated “you will have a wonderful life.” Needless to say, Jay is truly proud of this team for various reasons. By far, the biggest reason is their character. What a wonderful group!
Honestly, in reflection of the way the season wrapped up, we believe that the players are very much taking advantage of the opportunities they have. The post-season honors we received this year are a testament of the determination, dedication, sacrifice, pride, and will-power our players have. Let's take a moment to look at the accolades received for this season.
Four players were named to the All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) team: sophomore Allison Terry ( Lexington , Ky. ) was named to the first team; sophomores Erin Menard ( LaGrange , Ky. ) and Kate Anderson ( Louisville , Ky. ) were named to the second team; and freshman Katie Kerr ( Canyon County , Ca.) was named to the third team. In addition, Terry was named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/Adidas NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes Region Third Team; and Menard was named D3kicks.com All-Great Lakes Region First Team. The season wrapped up rather nicely as well as we posted a season record of 14-5, a conference record of 6-3, and finished 3 rd over-all in the SCAC. Academically, the team had eighteen of our twenty-eight players earn All-SCAC Academic honors. (To be named All-Conference, players must post a semester GPA of 3.25 or higher.)
These accolades reflect the dedication, desire, commitment, and determination of our players. It makes Jay and me ecstatic to see the players not only meet our standards, but set and meet goals of their own. Thus, we arrive back where we initially started. Was this season successful? Without hesitation, we give two very enthusiastic thumbs up and answer whole-heartedly “YES!”
Things do not end here, however. Already the players have begun the process of preparing for next season. Over the winter term, they were lifting weights three times a week and waking up at 6AM to attend speed and agility classes here at Centre. Now, we stand at the threshold of a fast-approaching spring season. In just a few short weeks, the players will have the opportunity to lace up their boots and once again play the game we all love. This spring, the ladies will have a handful of play dates and will have many opportunities to compete. We will host our first ever Alumni Game, travel to Western Kentucky to take on a few Division I programs, and also play an inter-squad scrimmage.
As you may see, success is a process, not a destination. This cycle is one the players have learned aides them in becoming the people they want to be later in life. It teaches them to work hard for what they want, pursue their dreams with a vengeance, and to surround themselves with wonderful people to enrich their experience. They know every year brings with it new challenges and obstacles. Yet, if we fail to do our homework in the off-season, we will not be ready for the test when the new season begins.
We want to wish our graduating senior Clay McCollum well as she prepares to enter into the next phase of her life. We hope the experience she has had here at Centre is one she will treasure for many years to come. On behalf of the entire Women's Soccer program we want to say: thank you, Clay! You will certainly be missed next year. We also want to thank our wonderful Centre Soccre Fan-attics for their continual support and encouragement of the program. Without the love and support of our parents, this program would not thrive. We look forward to seeing you again next year! Take care and best wishes for a prosperous New Year!
One final message for you. There is a saying: “Life is not about the breaths you take; but the moments that take your breath away.” Drink in the moments and don't forget to stop every once and a while to smell the roses.
This week in women's soccer archives:
Tuesday Oct 31, 2006
Tuesday Oct 24, 2006
Tuesday Oct 17, 2006
Tuesday Oct 11, 2006
Tuesday Oct 3, 2006
Tuesday Sept 26, 2006
Tuesday Sept 19, 2006
Tuesday Sept 12, 2006
Tuesday Sept. 5, 2006
Monday Aug. 28, 2006
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