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Time off for Team
October 1, 2007
By Jessica R. Chisley, Asst. Coach
Are we really halfway through the season? With ten games down and eight to go, I suppose we are. Looking back at last week, our weekend hiatus from playing could not have come at a better time. It seems as if this season has been a whirl-wind and the free weekend gave us just the time we needed to catch our breath and reflect. Perhaps more importantly, it gave us an opportunity to reconnect on a team level.
Over the course of a season it is easy to lose sight of concepts such as togetherness, team, unity, etc. This happens mainly due to the day-to-day restrictions we have on our time. When we are in pre-season training camp, we have nothing but time . Time to work on fitness; time to work on technique; time to bond as a team off the field. However, once classes begin, it becomes increasing difficult to do much else than practice and play games. As a result, the methods of incorporating team activities changes slightly. Instead of activities off campus, we must use our scheduled practice time to bring the players together as a team. Work days are very good for creating such an environment due to the nature of the practice session. For a player, when the sun is beating down on them and the coach is demanding their best and when they are absolutely drained – the only thing that can get them through is their teammates. Seeing the person next to sweat-drenched and red-faced makes you want to dig deeper so you can give her your all. Self is no longer in the picture. The issue then becomes a matter of helping your teammate through.
After our loss to Rhodes College we came a bit unglued, so we needed to return to the basics. Tuesday on the track we focused on the concept of team and made it the theme of the day. Before the players had an opportunity to think, we lined them up on the track and asked them to do a series of jumping-jack exercises. However, there was a catch - rather than counting sequentially, we asked them to spell Centre over and over. An important concept we never want them to lose sight of is: when they wear the Centre uniform, they represent something much bigger than themselves. That day while standing on the track in the bright, hot sun spelling Centre, the immense pride the players have in this school and this team became evident.
At the end of the day, we brought them together and did a problem solving activity. In two large teams, we gave the following scenario:
Oh no!!! You are stuck on a small, sinking land mass that is surrounded by lava . Safety is 18 yards away, but how will you get to it? Luckily for you, the shoe fairy dropped-off 4 pairs of magic shoes that allow you to walk safely on lava. However, you may only wear them one way across the lava. You only have 7 minutes to complete this task.
With the following instructions given, we gave them 5 minutes to strategize before beginning. Watching the players work through this activity was absolutely priceless. As one team [whom we will call Team A) jumped in and tested the “waters,” the other team [Team B] took their time making their plan fool-proof. As the time ticked by, the players found themselves quickly running out of time. With 2 minutes left, Team B had formed a human bridge. By placing a shoe on every other foot, 8 players were able to act as bridge for the remaining players who were shoeless. The shoeless players would step on the human bridges' feet and slowly make their way to the last person. When every shoeless player had reached a stopping point, the shoe-wearing bridge players would hop to the end of the line in order to extend the bridge.
Seeing Team B's progress, Team A formed a body mass in an attempt to move everyone at once across the “lake of lava.” In the same fashion as Team B, one shoe was placed on the foot of eight players. However, with this strategy, the shoeless players tried to piggy-back their way to safety. As you could imagine, for the most part, this strategy would involve hopping on one leg 18 yards. As you could imagine, this was a very taxing strategy and sadly, Team A was unsuccessful. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Team B crossed the finish line, emerging victorious.
Through that activity, we were able to once again come together as a team and also provide an element of fun to the practice session. Walking off the field that day, the players were laughing and smiling, and that is just the way it should be. Everyday, the players should find joy in being able to play the sport they love, at a school they adore, with people they have grown quite fond of.
The mood from Tuesday's work day carried through our small-sided play-date on Wednesday, and finally into our game against Hanover ( Ind.) on Thursday. At the end of the night, we had scored 9 goals and posted 5 assists – three of which were double assists. Scoring on the evening were: Marina Hoe, Anna Horne, Elizabeth Hooper, Brittany Garr (2), Lora Gralheer, Cindy Bergstrom (2), and Sarah Hall. Tallying the assists were: Allison Terry, Sarah Hall (3), Anna Horne (2), Brittany Garr, and Mollie Sheron.
The Colonels will resume Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) at home this Friday/Sunday, October 5 th & 7 th. Friday's kick-off is set for 7:00 pm with Sunday's game beginning at Noon. All games will take place at the Centre Soccer Complex. As always take care and until next time…
THINK CENTRE!
This week in women's soccer archives:
Tuesday Sept 25, 2007
Tuesday Sept 18, 2007
Tuesday Sept 11, 2007
Tuesday Sept 4, 2007
Tuesday April 24, 2007
Tuesday Jan 16, 2007
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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