“All The World’s A Stage”: How the rise and fall of the WPS led to a more globalized game.

This article originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of Our Game Magazine.

[Sidelines] Playing international football is not always easy, nor is living abroad or being in a constant state of transition. There is a lot that goes into being a world traveler. The packing alone requires thought and effort, in order to prepare for a successful journey. As traveling is part of being a footballer, I always take the time. I always make the effort. After all, these are small sacrifices in return for a chance to play the beautiful game!

So, in preparation for my move back to Sweden, I created a playlist for the seemingly endless flight: a mixture of relaxing songs in acknowledgement of another sad goodbye to home with some uplifting pop beats to celebrate a new adventure. And that’s when I came across Swedish House Mafia’s hit, Don’t You Worry Child. I smiled as memories flashed in my mind of friends from home singing to this song at a nightclub and the countless spontaneous dance parties that broke out in the locker room in Sweden to this favorite local beat. The song reminded me that although there are 7,000 miles in between, my two lives are not that far apart. As I turned on this tune during my trans-continental flight, I thought how the Swedish artists performing high energy House Music in English is symbolic for the globalization in football. Like the sport of football, sharing world music is a beautiful thing. I relaxed as my mind drifted back, toward my past, and forth, toward the future... How will the globalization of football play out?

In its short existence and with all its problems, the WPS was undoubtedly the strongest women’s league in the world. The seven and then six team organization planted a tight-knit network of elite female footballers and seeds of globalization took root. The highest caliber of international women footballers (including Marta, Carolyn Seger, Kelly Smith, Christine Sinclaire, and Homare Sawa) flocked to the states to play alongside an incredibly strong domestic group.  During its existence,  very few Americans played abroad, as rosters in Europe’s long-standing leagues were comprised almost entirely of domestic players. However, when the WPS ceased operations, both domestic and foreign players scattered throughout the world in search of clubs. In 2011, my former team Kopparberg’s Göteborg FC roster was entirely Swedish. Then, for 2012 they signed five internationals. For 2013, my current team Tyresö FF’s includes two Americans, two Brazilians, a Dane, a Dutch, and a Spaniard, all of whom once played in the US.

And where will all this “free trade” in football lead? Well, if my experience is any indication, then, I think we are headed in the right direction.

From watching international football, we see how stylistically distinct football can be from different countries. From playing international football, I have observed how much different styles of football reflect the attitude and concerns of the country’s culture.

At the top of the women’s game today, American soccer epitomizes physical dominance and mental toughness, resulting in a fast-paced, intense football style, reflecting a culture that emphasizes personal achievement and competition. Of course, I was reared in this style of play. And then there is Sweden, with its culture of “lagom.” Roughly speaking, lagom means in moderation or sufficient. From a young age, Swedes are celebrated for fitting into the status quo. Not surprisingly, their football style spotlights team tactics and fulfilling defined roles within the unit. And although I will always proudly flaunt my American competitor attitude, I’m learning to embrace this “balanced approach.”

I’ve found that when you have a blend of cultures and football philosophies together on the field everyday, these international teammates share ideas, skills, and training regimens and grow in ways they might not be able to in a homogenous environment. In time, what often starts out as a cacophony of styles, transforms into a very sophisticated melody. Don’t you worry, don’t you worry child!

Football is the world’s sport. We’ve seen that for years on the men’s side where even every small country, poor province and remote island manages to field competitive teams. If women playing abroad is not proof enough that a global philosophy is the sign of the times, then how about the fact that both our men and women’s national teams are lead by foreign head coaches?

Now, with the commencement of the National Women’s Soccer League in 2013, we shake things up again. The league will blend Mexican, Canadian, and American national team players with a domestic group and potentially two additional international players per team. The NWSL did not, however, present the same immediate lure for international players as the WPS, and many chose to stay in Europe. Time will tell how this crucial development of the women’s game in the United States affects the world, as many international and American players, myself included, look on from afar with hopeful eyes.

As for me, I am determined to make Sweden a part of me, both on and off the pitch. I know there is so much to learn here. But just as significant, I intend to leave my footprint here on the Swedish turf. As a Californian, I believe in the beauty of The Melting Pot. Globalization in football is the wave of the future…and the future is now!

4.The Yellow Machine.

[THE PITCH] After my extended trip to Jacksonville, Florida, Nashville Tennessee, and Helsinki, Finland, I was uncharacteristically exhausted and theatrically glum. Considering just how much I had enjoyed my time stateside there was only one reason for my melancholy. Jetlag…DUH! I fled into my bedroom, shut of the lights, and with a maniacal grin, turned on mindless television for hours at a stretch under the pretense of “resting” and “recovering.” Yet somehow I still overslept three days in a row! (Much to the astonishment of my little penguin housemate, who was kind enough to wake me up just in the nick of time for training.) However, as I unpacked and attempted to settle back into my home and routine, I realized I had just 10 days until my next trip to Algarve, Portugal.

In Finland I suffered a minor knee injury (a bust bursa), and to my dismay would be sidelined for a good part of my short time home. In the wake of such an exciting week in the US, I experienced a strong emotional let down exacerbated by my inability to train. And, once again,  “the little girl inside” reared her head and I responded to the situation by locking myself in my room. I declined invitations to spend time with friends and chose to stay in bed rather than watch practice in the cold. I racked my brain, searching for a way for me to “fix” the problem: just shake it off!  But maybe turning to myself was the problem.

Then, like a well-aimed spitball on a school playground…it hit me! A blue mood and a week of rehab did not cause my excessive yawning or my excessive frowning. There was stress ‘bubbling up’ from under the surface and my “chill” week gave me just the quiet time to hear to hear it.

So, during practice as my teammates ran, kicked, and skipped merrily along, I ruminated upon my personal frustrations. Getting a call for a USWNT camp or tournament will always beis a blessing in my life, but it will have a unique impact on my time abroad. The life of ‘an international footballer’—in both senses of the term: as a player who plays abroad and a full team player competing inter-nationally—certainly ain’t easy! Missing training games and training sessions with my club team gives me anxiety. I don’t like to lose out on these opportunities to learn my teammates flow and style on the field, grow closer to my companions, and explore the new world in which I live. I’m getting impatient as these things develop sloooowly over time. Don’t get me wrong, there is no doubt in my mind that this is where I want to be in my life and career, but I will undoubtedly have to adjust to the new flow and rhythm to get the most out of both of my playing environments.

My knee didn’t recover as quickly as we had hoped so I had to sit out our match versus Umeå IK. Watching from the stands sometimes feels like being in detention while all of your friends are on the playground at recess. And while inherently frustrating for any player, today my stadium seat proved to be an ideal vantage point. The cold, crisp air blowing in my face was refreshing…awakening, in fact.

Whenever I watch football, I always envision myself out there on the field; whether I’m watching Real Madrid or my little cousin Max’s pee-wee soccer team. (Note: I might be “the pee-wee” playing in Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, but in the pre-school game, I’m “Ronaldo.”). Like the soccer moms of the world, I sometimes find myself kicking air when watching a scoring opportunity or experiencing the vicarious nervousness of the striker on a fast break. So, even though I was not actually on the turf on Saturday, I could feel the frustration emanating from the usually smooth running yellow machine that is Tyreso. There is actually a sign in our locker room that reads: A … Yellow Machine!”  (An adjective is missing, here. but let’s just say, that inclusion of such a word would be grounds for serious detention at Lunada Bay Elementary School.)  Well, far be it from me to dispute the graphic characterization of the usually tenacious ‘engine’ that has rolled over more than a team or two in Damallsvenkan, But there are times when I picture this “yellow machine” more like the school transportation of my youth: so welcoming and reliable, I couldn’t wait to take my seat! On that particular day, however, unable to physically contribute, I played bystander as the wheels fell off the bus.

On the pitch (and off) when things go wrong, we often turn inward. When the pieces to the puzzle don’t fit together, we, as individuals, do our best to force them. Collaboration often seems like the more difficult option. However, as in the case of Tyreso vs. Umeå, the solution to a problem with flow and rhythm cannot be achieved through individual effort.[1]When things aren’t going well, fixing what’s wrong requires trust, understanding, and simplification.

I have come to love the simplicity of many of my interactions in this English-is-a-second-language land. In the uncomplicated terms of a Kindergarten teacher speaking to her class, my teammate spoke about what to do when a great team is playing not-so-great, ‘if we just trust in a few players who know the game and know the team, then we will all know our role.” Hmmm… Maybe my first grade teacher’s comment, “Plays well with others” was the perfect report card after all.[2] 

Football is like the big yellow bus of life. Playing and riding are a lot more enjoyable as a group. And they both run much more efficiently with the proper alignment. Yes, there are going to be many bumps in the road, but learning to rely on one another is what makes the wheels on the bus go round and round…

---

[1] Yea yea, we all know winning ugly is possible. But that’s not our goal at Tyresö.

[2] Like the expression goes…everything you need to know you learned in Kindergarten!

RFL,

Power Eating // Forks Over Knives

There is currently a billion dollar “diet” industry. As a professional athlete, what we put into our bodies becomes even more important. You can’t fill up the Ferrari with water… let alone with cupcakes! With all the gimmicks and myths, I thought I’d do a little research into the nutritional needs of an endurance-power athlete. With a little help from Amazon.com, I acquired some literature on two of the diets out there, and set to trying them out.

I started keeping a Diet Journal, not just for calorie counting, but to investigate the other nutritional properties of what I am eating. I also started stepping on a scale that measures weight, body fat, muscle mass, bone density, and water retention. After reading the book Power Eating over winter break, I tried to adopt the recommended diet that fit my nutritional needs. Here are the key principles of a Power Eating diet:

-Eat enough calories (liking this!)

-Eat the carbohydrate you need (loving this!)

-Vary your diet

-Time and combine your food and nutrients (small meals and snacks every three hours, timed around workout schedule)

-Use a food plan (perfect for a schedule freak like me!)

Through the process of testing out these principles I learned that raising self-nutritional-awareness is half the battle. The biggest benefit I felt from adjusting my eating habits manifested in my recovery. Of course, I was not magically faster, stronger, or more fit. But since I maintained a similar training regimen through the culinary change, the results felt clear. The same workouts felt easier, so I was able to put in more work and be a wee bit more pleasant when I wasn’t working out. Tired Christen is cranky.

While it’s a bit more challenging to figure out everything in Sweden, I have done my best to maintain my eating habits in this foreign land. And now, with the beginning of Lent, I am a 40-day pescatarian! (Loosely) Following the guide of my new book: Forks Over Knives, I hope to reap the benefits of a plant-based diet. The goal is to improve my personal health while reducing my carbon footprint and respecting mankind’s relationship with animals. Here is the gist of the Forks Over Knives diet:

-Avoid anything that came from a source that ever had a face or a mother. Sorry to the fishies, I’m still going to eat you!

-Eat plants! The more intact, the better.

-Avoid overly processed foods.

-Avoid preservatives and additives.

-Eliminate dairy. Goodbye cappuccinos :,(!

-Don’t worry about carbohydrates (as long as they are the right type of carbs.)

-Don’t worry about protein (plenty of protein to be had outside of steaks.)

I will keep you posted on how it goes!

“One quarter of what you eat keeps you alive. The other three quarters keep your doctor alive.”

3. Fast Forward.

[THE PITCH] I have found through writing this blog that my mood and my thoughts move about as quickly as the airplanes that carry me from country to country. Before I left for USWNT camp, I was working on a blog about how player movements on the field operate like magnets, and how the force of the connections between players makes each of us greater than ourselves alone. Of course, the whirlwind of camp swept me away from my writing, leaving all thoughts on kinetics in the dust. So, I rushed back to Sweden (landed Friday morning and then left Saturday morning for a same-day-game in Finland) trying to find the right words to describe the last week of my life.

For most of us who continue to play football after college, we dream to represent our country. This dream, however, is a wild and blurry ride that requires a seat belt, but provides none. Even though this dream carried me 7,000 miles away, it also transported me back home. While this dream demanded that I take very big risks, it simultaneously provided a safe haven for my heart and soul. And although this dream often morphed into a nightmare in which I was not good enough, it remains the ultimate motivator. A dream, however, is intangible—so how can we hold on to it?

In reality, this dream has been disheartening at times because it is very difficult for an American to sustain a career as a professional women’s footballer today if you do not play for the national team. It has been discouraging and, honestly, exhausting fighting for the endorsement of one coach. Fortunately for me, my time in Sweden, somehow, steered me away from this narrow road that always seemed to come to a dead end. Playing with a sense of freedom is like driving with the wind in your hair, and that is the major difference between my game two years ago and today. I really think that if I had made the national team before I went abroad, I might still be grinding my gears in search of fifth. Tack så mycket Sverige!

This week, under our new coach Tom Sermanni, I earned my first two caps and scored my first three USWNT goals. The team buzzed with a fresh energy of a new era. In 2013, Tom will mix the old with the new—the combination of veteran experience with renewed purpose and fresh perspective will push the women’s game to new heights. And to my surprise, despite feeling the heat of this finely tuned engine, I was taken aback by the welcoming nature of my teammates.

Playing in front of the two largest crowds of my career, I have never experienced such a tremendous rush of fan support.  I felt a sense of relief, accomplishment, and belonging when I put on my red and white striped jersey, but this isn’t the happily ever after to my story. You see, this isn’t a blog about dreams coming true. This is about a journey and it is far from over. In fact, it is just beginning. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel, and no, it is not an oncoming train. It is the sun and it was there yesterday… and it will be there tomorrow. You only have to keep moving forward to see it. No doubt I will encounter another tunnel or two, but today I have a full tank of gas and I’m running full speed ahead! (Zoom Zoom!)

Back… at the House Of Happiness… I take a deep breath and remind myself to continue to work hard. Now, more than ever, it is important to remember the tools that helped me define myself as a player in the first place. So I put the top down and the music up… Pitbull’s on the radio: “I see a future… but live for the moment. Make sense don’t it?”

Rookie For Life,

CP

[Stoppage Time]

WNT vs. Scotland: Highlights- Feb.9, 2013

WNT vs. Scotland: Highlights- Feb13, 2013

 Full games, interviews, and more available here.

[Off the Post!] I think the fact that I have a little bit of the dirty south running through my veins made me appreciate that good ole southern charm that much more.

Case in point: (2/11/13. Nashville, Tennessee)

You know you are in the south when….

…You find yourself at a restaurant called: The Southern *South of Somewhere* and a man at a nearby table accidently drops one of his BBQ ribs in his friend’s glass of Bourbon. The friend then pulls the rib out, licks it off, hands it back, and they both continue eating and drinking without missing a beat. Now that’s what I call southern hospitality!