Eye of the tiger.
As any athlete knows, the hardest part of being on a team is the off season. Heck, there are even a zillion and one quotes about it! For example, "Playing time during the season is determined by players' time during summer: fitness, diet, stick to schedule, no excuses" - Gary Curneen. Easy enough, right? Wrong. Training in the summer is challenging for a multitude of reasons: you're all alone, no teammates to train with, heat, the "I've got time" attitude, laziness, etc.) However, summertime training is also the most rewarding.
For me personally, training in the off season becomes easier when my mindset is in the right place. Sure, the runs are tough, the lifts are hard, and being by myself isn't fun, but if I think about summer training in soccer terms, then it's not so bad!
I know that if I sprint my 120 one second faster, then I'll be more prepared to beat a Wartburg player to a 50/50 ball. If I add an extra 10 lbs to my squat and do three extra reps, I have more of a chance being strong on the ball during the game. When I think about training and how it relates to soccer, it becomes not only mentally easier, but also enjoyable and fun because I know I am training for a purpose and goal.
Even more than that, training becomes habitual, routine, and something I look forward to ( as opposed to a hassle) when I think of my teammates. The last thing I want to do is let my teammates down and I know that order to be the attribute to my team that I want to, I need to put in the work now, I need to hold myself accountable, and I need to be a champion even when I am the only one watching.
I want my team to know that I allocated the time in the off season because it shows that I care, I'm ready to win, and I prepared properly to do so. I want to train to the very best and hardest of my ability because as an athlete on my team, that is my job. If we want to be the best, then we each need to do our part and train like the best.
Success doesn't come from sitting on my butt and I know that every second I am not improving, I'm remaining stagnant or declining. My team deserves more than that from me. My team deserves a fair shot at winning Conference. My team deserves a player who is willing to work hard to achieve success, even when the hard work goes unnoticed.
Passion. Ultimately, you have to love something you are passionate about...it is impossible to have a passion without love. Because I am passionate about soccer, improving, and winning, I am henceforth passionate about and dedicated to doing the work to achieve that goal.
In the time I am not using to improve, there are 20 other Wartburg players, 20 other Loras girls, and 20 other Luther athletes in the gym, on the field, and making strides. I refuse to let them be the only players improving this summer and I refuse to let them win this year.
Our time is now. True, season isn't for another two(ish) months, but the true "winning" takes place this summer when we train for the battles ahead and prepare ourselves to come out on top.
For me personally, training in the off season becomes easier when my mindset is in the right place. Sure, the runs are tough, the lifts are hard, and being by myself isn't fun, but if I think about summer training in soccer terms, then it's not so bad!
I know that if I sprint my 120 one second faster, then I'll be more prepared to beat a Wartburg player to a 50/50 ball. If I add an extra 10 lbs to my squat and do three extra reps, I have more of a chance being strong on the ball during the game. When I think about training and how it relates to soccer, it becomes not only mentally easier, but also enjoyable and fun because I know I am training for a purpose and goal.
Even more than that, training becomes habitual, routine, and something I look forward to ( as opposed to a hassle) when I think of my teammates. The last thing I want to do is let my teammates down and I know that order to be the attribute to my team that I want to, I need to put in the work now, I need to hold myself accountable, and I need to be a champion even when I am the only one watching.
I want my team to know that I allocated the time in the off season because it shows that I care, I'm ready to win, and I prepared properly to do so. I want to train to the very best and hardest of my ability because as an athlete on my team, that is my job. If we want to be the best, then we each need to do our part and train like the best.
Success doesn't come from sitting on my butt and I know that every second I am not improving, I'm remaining stagnant or declining. My team deserves more than that from me. My team deserves a fair shot at winning Conference. My team deserves a player who is willing to work hard to achieve success, even when the hard work goes unnoticed.
Passion. Ultimately, you have to love something you are passionate about...it is impossible to have a passion without love. Because I am passionate about soccer, improving, and winning, I am henceforth passionate about and dedicated to doing the work to achieve that goal.
In the time I am not using to improve, there are 20 other Wartburg players, 20 other Loras girls, and 20 other Luther athletes in the gym, on the field, and making strides. I refuse to let them be the only players improving this summer and I refuse to let them win this year.
Our time is now. True, season isn't for another two(ish) months, but the true "winning" takes place this summer when we train for the battles ahead and prepare ourselves to come out on top.