[THE PITCH] How often is smaller actually better? Hmm maybe with puppies and prices, but most of the time, the old cliché, “ The bigger… the better” holds true. However, one important lesson that I have learned in a wopping two-year-career as a professional soccer player is that the “bigger-is-better” mentality does not apply when thinking about my game. When it comes to how my brain works in the game, I try to follow the same philosophy as when I indulge in eating one of those delicious Swedish chocolate bars: take small bites.
Taking small bites lets me savor every bit and makes my
“happy chocolate time” last longer. With football, I try to break things down
to their simplest form in order to keep my mind from drifting off to a very panicked
and out-of-control place. Maybe you’ve been to that place too? Like when you’ve
devoured so much chocolate, too fast to even taste it and make yourself a bit
sick… or am I the only one that does that?
If it weren’t for a concerted effort, I know exactly how my
mind would run, and by run I mean race. My legs move at a snail’s pace compared
to my unfiltered mind… I just took a bad
touch à I am playing horribly à I
am never going to score à
What if I never score again? à
What am I doing out here in Sweden? à
Where is my career headed?
All these thoughts in the time it takes for my bad touch to
travel to the defenders foot. Warp speed? More like warped.
In an effort to avoid this crash course, I’ve developed some
don’t-let-your-thoughts-get-crazy strategies to keep my mind as productive as
possible during a game.
1)
Stay present, as the past and the future are
dangerous places to live. Luckily, the present constantly bombards us with
information and stimuli, making this a rather natural concentration of
thoughts. Taking things for what they are in that current moment makes life a
lot less overwhelming.
*I
should note that I wholeheartedly believe in the importance of careful
reflection and retrospection and am an even bigger advocate of what I best
describe as loud, public dreaming. However, there is a time and a place for
these types of thoughts… not during games.
2)
Take control. Along similar lines, I’ve found
making a concerted effort to concentrate on the controllable parts of my game
allows me to improve my play on the fly, where focusing on intangible goals
only distract me from the task at hand. So, missing a shot is, “I picked my
head up too early” rather than “I’m choking because I really need to score a
goal today.” I can’t control if I score, but I can keep my head down.
3)
Keep it simple! Breaking ideas down to their
smallest forms make everything more manageable. Furthermore, it allows me to
think more deeply about ideas if I spent time with each detail separately. For
example, thinking about the simplest aspects of the game can be effective when
the game itself presents a tough spot. Instead of projecting to the possible
negative effects of a setback, break it down to small, feasible “challenges.”
If I am not getting playing time then it is “I need to create more crosses and
shots, so I will work on my dribbling,” not “maybe I’m not good enough… the
coach clearly hates me… this is going to hurt the progress of my career.”
4)
Center yourself around a key word. Psychologists
have long suggested that during emotional moments, focusing on a “trigger word”
can be calming. In the last few
games, I’ve tried to apply this tip to a soccer specific setting. Each game I
chose a new word that is present, controllable, manageable, and positive. At
important moments during the game, I chant my mini-mantra in my head and will
it to be true of myself. When my self-dialogue heads south, I block it out with
the soothing sound of a specific, single word that can bring me back up to a
happy state.
5)
Incorporate positive self-talk. I understand the
ironic wisdom behind the words of Yogi Berra, “Ninety percent of the game is
half mental…” Pumping myself up with positive self-talk is the most powerful
and effective tool I have, on and off the field. Yes, to many I might seem
crazy… my teammates often tease me as they see my mouthing and gesturing to
myself and I’ve witnessed many a sideways glace from a nearby defender. Still,
I defer to the wisdom of Muhammed Ali, who said, “I told myself I was the
greatest long before I knew I actually was.” I can actually feel the power of
these little, self-directed lies coursing through my veins when I’m on the
field. They serve as a positive reminder of the player I strive to be and leave
me feeling more resilient and determined to make them reality.
[Stoppage
Time] Our
game versus Kristianstad marked the beginning of a three-week, six-game stretch
that will put our team to the test. Riding a six game winning streak, we look
forward to Damallsvenskan on the weekend and our more important games mid-week:
Champions League and Swedish Cup.
Last
Saturday we played a familiar opponent (for the third time this season) Kristianstad
on familiar ground (Valhalla turf) in familiar conditions (cold weather). We
knocked the ball around with confidence and ease. We created a good number of
quality chances and the goals came. Then, we played a foreign team
(legitimately had no idea what to expect) ZFK Spartak, on foreign ground (the
lumpiest grass field in Subotica, Serbia) in foreign conditions (I’ve heard
it’s called “sun” and it warms the Earth.) The ball popped up over our feet and
left us scrambling as we struggled to connect final passes or put ourselves in
front of the goal.
We
won both game, however, and that’s what counts.
We
now have a good idea of what we will have to do to have a successful end to
this season: Fight…no matter who…no matter where…no matter what.
Final
Score:
KGFC
3 – Kristianstad 0
See
Promo video here: http://www.goteborgfc.se/Fotboll/KGFC.nsf/0/FB31207F0D3440B5C1257A7E004827C0
KGFC
1 – ZFK Spartak 0
See
Promo video here:
[Off
the Post!] My
sister Tyler has been visiting this past week. She planned this trip a while
ago, before our Champions League schedule came out. When I found out that we
would be traveling to Serbia for three days in the middle of her trip, I gave
her the option: come to Serbia or explore Sweden alone. Without hesitation she
replied, “Serbia here I come!” Sometimes I smile just knowing that she would
travel to the end of the world with me.
Just
a few days after 24hours of traveling to get to Sweden, Tyler flew with my good
friend Cami’s parents to Subotica, Serbia, which turned out to be a great place
to take a quick trip. We found the town a beautiful paradox of lavish detailed
architecture amid a crumbling façade. The warm weather was welcoming, and we
were spoiled by the cheap prices of delicious food and spa services! Sitting
around the table the night following a hard fought win, we all were thinking… what a success!
At one point during the fun and
boisterous celebration, someone on the team mentioned that it was a liiiiittle
bit crazy that the three of them,(Tyler and Des and Diane Levin) traveled all
the way to Serbia for this match. As the details were flushed out, the level of
ridiculousness became more and more clear. They had flown at the crack of dawn
from Sweden to Germany to Hungary, then, rented a car and drove over two hours
through the border to Subotica. Dr.
Levin jokingly announced, “We can never tell anyone about this trip. It’s our
little secret!” Well…Sorry, but the word
is out… we have the most amazing support system in the world!
RFL,
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