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COMING TOGETHER
Back to the Basics – Work and Play
September 2, 2008
Two weeks ago, the season began for the Centre Women's Soccer team. It started with preseason training camp. Fourteen days of mainly nothing but soccer – learning various systems of play, refining technique, improving individual skill, and maintaining fitness. It is a time when the athletes literally eat, sleep, and competed on the soccer field . Day in and day out they are challenged both mentally and physically as we work diligently to maximize the limited time allotted before our first competitive match. It is certainly rigorous and intense work, but highly beneficial in the end.
This preseason, however, wasn't all work with no time for play. On the contrary, there was plenty of time to have fun. In addition to our annual Meet the Team night, the ladies also had the opportunity to partake in a few team activities with their male counterparts. The first was a Cornhole tournament, which was played under the lights on the game field. With boards lining the field, the evening dew could be seen glistening on the grass, and the sounds of bean bags could be heard hitting hardwood surfaces from a distance. Those who were not busy playing the game, were scattered about on the pitch conversing. Some meeting for the first time, others catching up after a long summer's break. It was truly a wonderful evening for both the Men's and Women's soccer programs and certainly a welcomed break from the vigorous training schedule.
Nights later, the teams reconvened at the local bowling alley for another fun evening of competition. Laughter filled the air, smiles could be seen on the faces of each athlete, and a carefree spirit seemed to hang in the room. Now, what evening would be complete without some sort of light-hearted jesting? There was certainly plenty to go around. As the coaching staff had hoped to outperform their athletes, it certainly was not the case. Sadly, the Gods of Victory were not looking favorably upon them that night. Though exact scores escape memory at this point, it is safe to say the athletes brought their game faces and demolished the coaching staff.
In addition to spending a few evenings getting to know the Men's team, the ladies also had the opportunity to spend time with one another. Coach Hoffman graciously opened his home for a night of Olympic themed Pictionary and gave the ladies the opportunity to watch the US Women's National Team take on China.
Prior to the opening scrimmage, the coaching staff took the team off campus for a day of team building. Out in nature, with tiny winged friends and creepy crawlies, the ladies spend the day working through various challenges, reflecting, and learning more about each other.
In the final days of preseason, the ladies fought through a few more grueling days of practice before loading the bus and traveling to Ohio for their season opener. By Saturday, August 30th, preseason was behind us and it was clear the ladies had grown quite close. The freshmen were adjusting to the college game fairly well and had begun to find their niche within the team fiber. In addition, the team as a whole has come up with an ingenious way of keeping each other motivated. Each athlete has chosen one teammate who will serve as their Focus Friend. It should be noted, however, that the relationship is symbiotic. The focus friend basically helps to keep the athlete focused both on and off the field. She holds her counterpart accountable, serves as a motivator in times of struggle, and is there to listen. As the Focus Friend has the potential to significantly impact the athlete, partners were chosen with great care.
Now, with this week underway, we begin preparation for our upcoming match-ups with Washington and Lee University and Kenyon College. Both games will be a bit of a challenge. However, our focus is inward and fixed on the necessary things that will make us successful on the field. We just need to play to our potential, taking it one game at a time, one half at a time and doing the best we can. In the end that's all we can do. Think Centre!
This week in women's soccer archives:
Tuesday Nov 7, 2007
Tuesday Oct 30, 2007
Tuesday Oct 23, 2007
Tuesday Oct 14, 2007
Tuesday Oct 9, 2007
Tuesday Oct 1, 2007
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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