So what do I do when things are not going my way? I work backwords and try to figure out where it all started. it important to understand that above all else I am a “professional” and will always be one. That means I show up on time, give my best effort daily, and will never take my frustrations out on my team. If I don’t try in a training session I am not only cheating the guys but I am also not improving myself. So what do I do when things are not going my way? I start with game tape…….I ‘ve watched the first two league matches three times a piece. I have picked myself apart from head to toe. (The good and the things to work on) I have also watched the last two games three times apiece and compared my findings. I find that it is extremely important to be honest with myself when watching the tapes, seeing both the good and the bad accordingly. By viewing the tapes I can assess whether or not I have been playing up to the “standard’ that has been set.
So what do I do when things are not going my way? I ask myself a simple but honest question…..have I played my way out of the line-up or has someone else played their way in? It is common to lose a spot due to poor play but it is not impossible to lose a spot due to someone else playing great. This is a hard one to answer. If I don’t feel that my play has warranted my coming out of the starting 11 then I must search for answers elsewhere. Lastly, I try to put myself on the other side. I have coached youth soccer for the better part of a decade and know that coaching is a difficult job.
I have had to balance playing time and personalities and I know how hard that can be. I know what it is like to not be happy with a team and searching for answers. I know how it feels to know a change has to be made but not be quite sure where to make it.
So what do I do when things are not going my way?
I try to find answers to a many of these questions and then work backwords to answer them differently next time. I keep my level of effort at a maximum and eventually the pendulum will swing back in my favor.
Craig Waibel