Focus

 Life is not perfect, ever, even though we can make it look that way sometimes. We all have our ups and downs, make mistakes, get back up again. How often? Well, there is literally not a finish line. So, what makes it all worth it? I guess that's what we should focus on. 

Lord Guide Us

Several paths present themselves and it's unclear which one I should choose. 

She meets me at the crossroads and disagrees. 

He meets me at the crossroads. You're reaching for what many are simultaneously reaching for, but what you have, is beyond reach for many. Are you afraid of continuing on an unclear path? Yes. Just take the next step forward.

I clear everything off of my schedule and decide it's what I'd prefer anyway. It's aligned, perfectly aligned. So, I write and I love it. 

Stryker's Indoor Soccer Game at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California

 There is a women's Stryker game at 1 pm today followed by the men's Stryker game at 4:05pm with fun festivities for the kids in between. 

The Stryker games are located at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. 

Parking is usually $15, no cash allowed. 

For additional information, the website is: www.theempirestrykers.com.

The Writing Lesson Plan

 I am excited to teach. I'm thinking about the music, the math, the literature. Playing lesson plans in my mind. The music, the math, the literature, the artwork. 

The writing is what I don't actually focus on teaching most, surprisingly.

I think about my favorite writing lesson from all of the teaching years that I learned from my sister. The students each get a Hershey Kiss on their desk. They can't open it. They can look at it, smell it, touch it, listen to the wrapping as they hold it in their hands. Lastly, they can open it to taste it. They write about each step in the process, with all of their five senses. I don't know why I don't give the students that lesson EVERY SINGLE TIME I TEACH because it's absolutely COMICAL. I'll need to draft up a permission slip that allows me to integrate writing lessons such as these more often than not. 

In Training

 Building Mental Strength: Winning the Game Within the Game

Soccer isn’t just physical.
It’s psychological.

You can have skill.
You can have speed.
You can have talent.

The Game Within the Game

Every match has two layers:

1. The visible game (passes, shots, defense, goals)

2. The invisible game (emotion, composure, focus, response)

Championship teams win the invisible game.

In high-intensity moments:

• Referees make tough calls.

• Opponents try to intimidate.

• Coaches get loud.

• The crowd gets emotional.

• Energy rises.

That’s when mental strength separates players.

What Is Mental Strength?

Mental strength is not about being emotionless.

It’s about:

• Staying composed under pressure.

• Refocusing quickly after mistakes.

• Not reacting to distractions.

• Choosing discipline over impulse.

• Playing your role no matter the noise.

It’s the ability to say:
“I see the chaos. I choose clarity.”

Control What You Can Control

Great players understand something simple:

You can’t control:

• The referee.

• The opponent’s behavior.

• The crowd.

• The scoreboard.

You can control:

• Your effort.

• Your communication.

• Your body language.

• Your next decision.

Mental strength lives in the “next play.”

Mistake? Next play.
Bad call? Next play.
Opponent talking? Next play.

Championship mindset = Short memory. Long focus.

Energy Management

Soccer is emotional. That’s part of what makes it beautiful.

But strong teams learn how to channel energy instead of being ruled by it.

Instead of:

• Yelling back.

• Losing shape.

• Dropping heads.

• Playing rushed.

They:

• Reset.

• Organize.

• Communicate calmly.

• Stay disciplined.

When others escalate, they stabilize.

That’s leadership.

The Calm Team

When a team stays calm under pressure, something powerful happens:

Opponents get frustrated.
Officials respect composure.
Momentum shifts quietly.

Mental strength isn’t loud.
It’s steady.

And steady wins.

Practice Mental Reps

Mental toughness isn’t built on game night. It’s built in training.

Ask yourself:

• How do I respond to correction?

• How do I respond when I’m tired?

• How do I respond when I lose a drill?

• How do I respond when I’m not starting?

Those moments build the player more than the goals do.

Final Thought

The best teams don’t just play soccer.

They master themselves.

When the game gets intense, loud, and emotional — the team that controls its mind controls the match.

Win the game within the game.

Perfect Game Day Weather

 The Empire Strykers have a home game on this rainy day at the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. The doors open an hour prior to the game and the game is at 6:35. 

There is also a home game on Thursday at 6:35. Parking is $15 per car every game. 

The next home game after Thursday is on Sunday at 4:05. 

Lyric's

 You choose who you are, what you represent and who you want to become.