In my last post I talked about my top 5 moments/experiences while playing college soccer at Olivet Nazarene University and how special those moments were for me. This next post will be about what I believe to be the 5 most important aspects of succeeding at the college soccer level.
1) Off Season
There is nothing more important than what you do during you're off season. I use to believe all your development whether physically or mentally was done during the season, and the off season is your time to relax and recoup...AND THAT IS DEAD WRONG! Although it is important to recovery during the off season (because everyone needs a break), the summer is when you need to be putting in the work to get better. If you're an incoming freshman, use the the summer to get as in-shape as possible so that you don't fall behind when preseason starts, and try to play with players that are above your skill level so that you can get a taste of what you'll be experiencing in the Fall. If you're a substitute player off the bench, use the summer to work on improving your technical and fitness development so that you are pushing for a starting position next season. Lastly, if you're a starter, use the summer to improve on something that will make you an even better player next year (because everyone needs to work on something, and don't think that spot is guaranteed next year).
2) So, You're Not Starting (Especially for GKs)
Trust me, there is nothing more devastating than you're name not being in the starting line-up while your friends are out there on the field, especially if you're a goalkeeper. Usually, you think the decision is political or because the person in front of you has seniority. However, if you play for a good coach they won't care who or what you are, the best players will play. Sometimes it isn't about being more skillful, but maybe someone has better chemistry with their person they're playing next to, or the coach just might not think you're experienced enough yet. I know many times my own players had come up to me during warm-ups or at practice the next day with the same statement, "Why aren't you playing? You should be the one starting." As a top player though, you have to learn how to deal with those decisions and work harder in practice and during the off season to show that coach why you should be playing. Trust me, the coach wants nothing more than to have a hard decision on who to start, because that means he is comfortable with whoever he puts out on the field. And when it comes to coaching, confidence in your players is key.
3) You're Diet
I learned this one the hard way. Preseason came and went and I wasn't the starting choice at first, so I decided eating McDonald's and pizza everyday would be okay since I wasn't going to play anyway. However, during the beginning of the season my freshman year I was named starting goalkeeper 5 games in and I was not at my best at first. I had to work hard to get back into somewhat shape, because getting in shape during the season is difficult because you are playing, practicing, and going to school every day. Over the last three years of my college career, especially during season, my diet wasn't the best but it wasn't pizza and McDonald's and it showed in my performance. You will be surprised how much quicker you are physically and mentally if you're eating right.
4) You're Attitude
It doesn't matter how good or talented you are, attitude is everything on and off the field. I have played with some talented players over my four years, but some of them had pretty bad attitudes, and in my opinion it is even worst to have a bad attitude if you do not already get regular play time. As much as players don't think coaches notice, they do! Poor attitudes on the field hurt team chemistry whether you're playing or on the bench, because negativity brings others down. So, have a good attitude even if you're mad about play time, because it is not your teammates fault that you're not being selected. So, make sure you lift them up because coaches notice that and you will see how much it improves your game.
Attitude off the field and in the classroom is just as important. My freshman year there were times when I was more focused on soccer and hanging out with friends which caused my grades to suffer which did affect my game. Because instead of worrying about playing, I was having to worry about getting a good grade on the next test/assignment because otherwise I would be ineligible. So, make sure you have a positive attitude about all aspects of college, especially on what you're going to school for like soccer, sports, and the classroom.
5) Freshman Preseason
Obviously as a freshman you have more or less of an idea of what to exactly expect going into your first preseason. I think my freshman year preseason is what set me up for a successful career at ONU, because I worked hard and made an effort to get to know my teammates. That first preseason leaves an impression on your teammates and coaches, and will probably determine whether you get the nod or not your first year. And if you're able to get that play time as a freshman and keep working hard to keep it, then it will be hard to take away from you. If you're working hard and confident your coaches will see that, and your teammates will also see that and will trust you more on the pitch. Lastly, make an effort to get to know your teammates. I'm not saying to go and bug them, but make a conscious effort to talk to them, ask them questions, and let them get to know you. If you're too shy or too quiet it might be hard to build relationships which does affect team chemistry, so make an effort.
I hope you enjoyed these last two posts. Again, now that I finally finished college I was able to give my breakdowns from a player's point of view on how to be a successful college soccer player. I would love to do one from a coach's point of view in the future (as I am currently the assistant/head GK coach at ONU), but that will be later down the road. See you next time!
Friday, May 31, 2019
Friday, May 24, 2019
College Soccer (Part 1)
Now that I am officially done with college! I want to share my college soccer experiences and helpful tips for those goalkeepers that are currently playing in college or are going into college soccer. I wanted to split this into two parts so I can share both experiences and tips without having you guys read too much at once. This first part will be dedicated to my top 5 most favorite and most exciting moments/experiences as a college player.
1) 2016 Conference Final
This game is at the top of my list because it was a total team effort in such an important game. Down 1-0 for most of the 2016 Conference Tournament Final to Cardinal Stritch (WI), and with 30 seconds left in the game our center-mid throws a long ball into the box that gets cleared out by the defense. Then out of nowhere our forward hits the best half volley you've ever seen to beat the All-Conference goalkeeper top corner. Being at home you can just imagine how the crowd reacted, and we went on to win the game 2-1 in overtime on the golden goal rule. It was the best team performance and the most exciting comeback game I had ever been apart of.
2) Freshman year game vs Roosevelt
This game is number 2 for me because of its importance to the school program and my performance individually. Never had winning a season conference title before, the only team that really stood in our way my freshman year was Roosevelt (CHI). It was one of those games where you knew goals would be flying in left and right, but as a goalkeeper you need to come up big when it matters most. If there was ever a game I couldn't count on both hands how many saves I had it was this game. Winning the game 4-3 in overtime, which ultimately helped us win the first season conference title in school history, I received praise from my coaches, players, the other team's players and coaches on how big of an impact I had on the final result. This was truly one of the best games of my career.
3) Junior year vs Davenport
The total opposite to my number 2 moment, this game my junior year vs Davenport (IA), was one to remember because it was one of those games where you make every save possible but still come up short. As a player I was never one to rate my success per game, but this game I would've given myself a 10/10. It ended in a 1-0 lost, but after the game I received praise from my coaches, players, and more importantly the respect of the other team's goalkeeper who had just won a National title only a year or two before. During this game I would say I even came up with the best goalkeeper save of my entire soccer career. Even though this game was awesome for me individually, it is as number 3 because it is still a team lost and soccer is a team sport.
4) Freshman year preseason
My freshman year I didn't know what to expect going into college soccer. All I knew was that I had about 2-3 teammates I personally knew, and that everyone else was probably going to be better and more experienced to me. The reason I loved this preseason so much was because it was probably the hardest preseason I had in that as a freshman I felt that I had to prove myself. Also, the teammates I met and the relationships I built during that preseason set me up for a successful 4 years with the program. Everyone was welcoming and assured that I knew what my role was to help the team be successful. Even though I felt I worked my hardest that preseason and didn't get the starting spot (which I eventually would after so many games), I put myself into a position where if I got the chance I would be the coach's next best pick and I was.
5) My goalkeeping teammates junior year
I have to include my other goalkeepers in this top 5 list because as a unit we pushed each other harder than I had ever been pushed before my teammates. We would have competitions against each other during finishing sessions to see who let in the least amount of goals, or we would see who can punt the furthest. There was always something within that group my junior year that made us competitive with each other, and the best part about it was it made us better as individual players which helped me translate the competitiveness onto the field. My favorite moment that year was our fitness test during preseason because I remember we all tried so hard to beat each other, and by the end we were dead. And I remember I finished first, and as we leaning over, breathing hard, trying to catch our breath I look over to my other goalkeeper Colin and say, "I really tried to whoop your asses out there." Most would take that as an insult, but I believe that group was so tight and loved competition that that was the reason why Colin just started bursting out laughing. Needless to say that was the year we had won our second season conference and tournament title, and it also happen to be my best year statistically on paper.
I'm sure I have many other great moments over my four years as a college goalkeeper for Olivet Nazarene University, but these are the first 5 that came to me. Part 2 of my college soccer experience I will be listing my top 5 tips on how to be successful when participating in college soccer.
1) 2016 Conference Final
This game is at the top of my list because it was a total team effort in such an important game. Down 1-0 for most of the 2016 Conference Tournament Final to Cardinal Stritch (WI), and with 30 seconds left in the game our center-mid throws a long ball into the box that gets cleared out by the defense. Then out of nowhere our forward hits the best half volley you've ever seen to beat the All-Conference goalkeeper top corner. Being at home you can just imagine how the crowd reacted, and we went on to win the game 2-1 in overtime on the golden goal rule. It was the best team performance and the most exciting comeback game I had ever been apart of.
2) Freshman year game vs Roosevelt
This game is number 2 for me because of its importance to the school program and my performance individually. Never had winning a season conference title before, the only team that really stood in our way my freshman year was Roosevelt (CHI). It was one of those games where you knew goals would be flying in left and right, but as a goalkeeper you need to come up big when it matters most. If there was ever a game I couldn't count on both hands how many saves I had it was this game. Winning the game 4-3 in overtime, which ultimately helped us win the first season conference title in school history, I received praise from my coaches, players, the other team's players and coaches on how big of an impact I had on the final result. This was truly one of the best games of my career.
3) Junior year vs Davenport
The total opposite to my number 2 moment, this game my junior year vs Davenport (IA), was one to remember because it was one of those games where you make every save possible but still come up short. As a player I was never one to rate my success per game, but this game I would've given myself a 10/10. It ended in a 1-0 lost, but after the game I received praise from my coaches, players, and more importantly the respect of the other team's goalkeeper who had just won a National title only a year or two before. During this game I would say I even came up with the best goalkeeper save of my entire soccer career. Even though this game was awesome for me individually, it is as number 3 because it is still a team lost and soccer is a team sport.
4) Freshman year preseason
My freshman year I didn't know what to expect going into college soccer. All I knew was that I had about 2-3 teammates I personally knew, and that everyone else was probably going to be better and more experienced to me. The reason I loved this preseason so much was because it was probably the hardest preseason I had in that as a freshman I felt that I had to prove myself. Also, the teammates I met and the relationships I built during that preseason set me up for a successful 4 years with the program. Everyone was welcoming and assured that I knew what my role was to help the team be successful. Even though I felt I worked my hardest that preseason and didn't get the starting spot (which I eventually would after so many games), I put myself into a position where if I got the chance I would be the coach's next best pick and I was.
5) My goalkeeping teammates junior year
I have to include my other goalkeepers in this top 5 list because as a unit we pushed each other harder than I had ever been pushed before my teammates. We would have competitions against each other during finishing sessions to see who let in the least amount of goals, or we would see who can punt the furthest. There was always something within that group my junior year that made us competitive with each other, and the best part about it was it made us better as individual players which helped me translate the competitiveness onto the field. My favorite moment that year was our fitness test during preseason because I remember we all tried so hard to beat each other, and by the end we were dead. And I remember I finished first, and as we leaning over, breathing hard, trying to catch our breath I look over to my other goalkeeper Colin and say, "I really tried to whoop your asses out there." Most would take that as an insult, but I believe that group was so tight and loved competition that that was the reason why Colin just started bursting out laughing. Needless to say that was the year we had won our second season conference and tournament title, and it also happen to be my best year statistically on paper.
I'm sure I have many other great moments over my four years as a college goalkeeper for Olivet Nazarene University, but these are the first 5 that came to me. Part 2 of my college soccer experience I will be listing my top 5 tips on how to be successful when participating in college soccer.
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