The Gift of Friendship from College Soccer

 I first met her when I was given a list of phone numbers to call for our college soccer team. She answered the phone and we chatted like we'd been best friends forever. She joined us and we played soccer together that year but remained friends forever. Ashley was one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life. Her family, an extension of the kindness she extended to me and my family. I miss Sheri's meals, her cookies, good company and the painting sessions we had at her place. 

Ashley called me one morning not too long ago and I answered the phone. "Well, mom died." She said. I cried with her for a long time. Sheri was a great teacher and poured her beautiful heart out to all of the students she lead. She was very well loved and respected. Ashley poured her beautiful heart out into the life of her mother. They loved and respected one another deeply. Their relationship was beautiful, authentic and full of good fruit.

I thought before and after Sheri's passing Ashley would travel the world, she would have children, we would live to be old lady friends, because that's the type of friend Ashely was, a forever friend. A four leaf clover out of a field of three leaf clovers. She was very sad after Sheri's death and leaned into her family as she lost the center of her world when she lost her mother. It was where she wanted to be, with her family, her grandparents, her dad, her brothers and their children. 

I remember the UCLA games we attended together. Swimming in the Sacramento River, camping on the beach shores in San Diego, dancing at her cousin Paige's wedding, hiking in Las Vegas, camping in Hana while looking out onto the stars in the beautiful sky. Conversations full of deep belly laughter, authentic prayer and thanksgiving. Dedicating ourselves to the almighty under the fresh mountain water, cleansing and rejuvenating our weariness, every hike we could. Painting sessions with a blank canvas, not quite knowing what to paint but making the best we could. 

I remember we, with our entrepreneurial spirits, tried to sell our paintings. Not one of them sold. We laughed about it afterward, sort of embarrassed we'd even thought they were worthy of selling. I believed hers were well worth it and she believed mine were well worth it. She helped me believe in myself, to keep my faith and to love the ones I love even more than I thought possible. 

I awaited her holiday greetings to program her phone number into my new phone. Our life seemed to fall apart during the week of Thanksgiving. I couldn't return to work because I was ill. My children were ill and our life changed after that week. At the end of December, I fell when I was playing soccer and my ankle injury is still trying to heal. I received a text message from Ashley's twin brother this January talking about her memorial service. She died on Thanksgiving, he told me. I called him in complete disbelief. We sobbed. I'm so sorry to Ashley's family and hope they're filled with comfort and peace.

Rest in peace to Ashley Polan, one of the best friends I could've ever asked for. I know you're flying with God and you will be loved and missed forever. Thank you for the gift of friendship.

Community and Soccer Socials

 Soccer unites. 

Watching my Dad and his team play soccer every weekend when we were growing up was an education of its own. The team stayed the same mostly year after year. They had tournaments and their normal league games where we met lots of different kids. The kids from the team are who we always played with. We made the best memories. I miss those days we thought would never end as children. 

I think about what I can give to my children now that they will appreciate when they get older. What did we like as kids? The consistent weekend games, giving us something to look so much forward to every week. It's important to strive towards having something to look forward to. 

I went to an Empire Strykers game after learning I can log in and watch the live games via Twitch. It was a clear view and a fun space to chat about soccer. I'm so thankful to be able to gain access to soccer games like this. 

"There are players are from all over the world." Amazing what Google translate can do. 

Women Empowerment

My first college soccer coach was a woman. It was a coaching team of women actually. Prior to those years in college I'd only had male soccer coaches, except for my mom coaching us in AYSO. To have a woman as my coach was exciting and comforting. She pushed me to be the best I could be on and off of the field. I have tremendous respect for her and the coaching staff. We are seeing more women coaches these days. Having women coaches brings a different dynamic to the game. Of course now it's normal for women to coach women but what will the shift be like when women coach men? 

The first time I've ever entertained the thought of coaching men is when I became a mother of sons. What would the response be like? 

I have just started learning about the new USWNT coach and am excited to continue to learn about her. I watched a video of her speaking for a Football Writers Association ceremony and have hope for the USWNT with her as coach. 

It's exciting to see women's teams strengthen from all around the world and strive toward equality. 

"At the pinnacle of women's soccer, events like the FIFA Women's World Cup serve as catalysts for progress and empowerment. These tournaments showcase the skill, athleticism, and determination of female players on the world stage, challenging stereotypes and breaking barriers in the process. 

Yet, despite significant strides, disparities between men's and women's soccer persist, including unequal pay, limited resources, and unequal opportunities. Efforts to address these disparities and promote gender equality in soccer are ongoing, with advocates pushing for greater investment, visibility, and representation for female players at all levels of the game." 

- Chat GPT

Penalty Shots

 Man are penalty shots nerve racking. It's such a humdrum way to end a soccer game, yet probably majority of soccer players have had to take a penalty shot a few times in their career. 

I remember the penalty shots I had to take like a blur from the past. 

I pole vaulted and long jumped for track and field and ice skated so I became accustomed to the pressure of the individual moment in a team sport. 

I learned to shoot really hard and into the corner of the goal. 

I learned to know exactly where I was going to shoot the ball before walking up to the goal... decided during practice and practiced repeatedly until I felt confident about it. 

I tried once, to choose a different spot on the spot before a penalty kick and when the ball went wide I decided ritual is best in the penalty kick scenario. 

I'm pretty sure I cried when I missed the shot. I cried a lot. 

My dad told me, if you give 100% effort in every game, you're going to feel good about it no matter the outcome. 

That's the truth. If you give 100% effort, you know you gave it the best you could. 

Even if I gave 100% effort and the outcome was not in our favor, I still cried sometimes. 

I wanted to win every single game. 

Penalty Shootout Tips by Chat GPT

 "Player:

Practice under pressure: Hey, when you're training, try to simulate those nerve-wracking penalty shootout moments. It's all about getting comfortable with the pressure, so when the real deal comes, you're ready to rock.

1. Focus on technique: Keep your head down, strike the ball cleanly, and pick your spot. Remember, it's all about technique, so stick to what you know works for you.

2. 
   

   Visualization: Before you step up to take that penalty kick, take a moment to visualize yourself crushing it. Picture the ball hitting the back of the net, and let that boost your confidence.

3. 
   

   Stay calm and composed: Deep breaths, my friend. Take a moment to compose yourself, focus on the task at hand, and block out any distractions. You got this.

4. 
   

   Know your strengths: What's your go-to move? Whether it's power, placement, or a cheeky bit of deception, play to your strengths and go with what feels natural to you.

5. 
   

   Study the goalkeeper: Keep an eye on the goalkeeper. Notice any patterns or tendencies they have? Use that to your advantage when deciding where to place your shot.

6. 
   

   Positive mindset: No matter what happened before, every penalty kick is a fresh start. Stay positive, believe in yourself, and remember, you've got the skills to nail this.

   
   

   Keeper:

   1. Stay focused: Hey keeper, keep your eyes on the ball and stay focused throughout the shootout. It's all about concentration and being ready for whatever comes your way.

   2. 
      

      Read the shooter: Watch the shooter's body language and movements closely to anticipate where they might place their shot. Look for any hints or cues that could give you an edge.

   3. 
      

      Positioning is key: Make sure you're positioned well in the goal, covering as much space as possible without leaving too much open. Anticipate the direction of the shot and adjust your position accordingly.

   4. 
      

      Stay on your toes: Be ready to move quickly and react to the ball. Stay on your toes, stay agile, and be prepared to dive in any direction to make the save.

   5. 
      

      Stay calm under pressure: Penalty shootouts can be intense, but as the last line of defense, it's important to stay calm and composed. Take deep breaths, stay focused, and trust in your abilities.

   6. 
      

      Mind games: Use subtle movements and gestures to try to psych out the shooter. Sometimes a little bit of gamesmanship can make all the difference.

      
      

   7. Learn from each shot: Whether you make the save or not, take note of what happened and learn from it. Adjust your tactics and positioning as needed for the next shot.

   Remember, as a goalkeeper, you have the power to be a hero in penalty shootouts. Stay confident, stay focused, and trust in your abilities to make the crucial saves."

Be Exceptional

 "Being exceptional often starts with embracing your uniqueness and pursuing your passions with dedication and perseverance. It involves setting high standards for yourself, constantly seeking to improve, and pushing beyond your comfort zone. Being exceptional means not settling for mediocrity and always striving to make a positive impact, whether it's in your personal life, professional endeavors, or contributions to society. It requires a mindset of continuous learning, innovation, and resilience in the face of challenges. So, dare to dream big, work hard, and let your exceptional qualities shine brightly for the world to see." - Chat GPT 3.5

Nike: Be exceptional.

Game Overview

 The Empire Strykers played a good game yesterday and the competition was balanced, although we didn't win. I realized that the upper bowl seats have a nice view of the game in comparison to ones close to the field because it's easy to lose track of the ball in the ones close to the field. Also, there aren't as many distractions as there are on the seats close to the field. Nonetheless, my kids like to sit as close to the players as possible. Those are their favorite seats. As for me, as a blogger, the upper bowl seats were nice. 

There was an announcement made at the arena that everyone in the upper sections could move to lower seats if they wanted to, so naturally, we moved to the lower seats than where we were. I love that we were given that opportunity as fans because it makes the entire experience more exciting! In retrospect, we decided where we were in the upper bowl was full of a great view of the game with a bigger perspective. A kind lady gave us tickets to the game when we were outside of the stadium. She had a stack of tickets and was happy to share. We remain very thankful for her kindness and generosity. 

Anyway, in the soccer games I've watched lately, I've recognized the fact that the leading strikers shoot the ball whenever they have a good foot on it. It can be from outside of the 18, close to the goal, etc. as long as it's worth a shot, they take the chance. Scored goals happen that way, by chance. Rarely do we know when shooting the ball if it's actually going to hit the net or not. We give it our best shot and sometimes the seemingly impossible strikes actually make it as a goal. The unpredictability is what makes it so much fun! The off the ball movement has been more of what is fascinating to me in recent months. It's what I want to study most.