Why, why can’t this moment last forevermore?, Tonight, tonight eternity’s an open door, No, don’t ever stop doing the things you do, Don’t go, in every breath I take I’m breathing you, Euphoria...." Loreen

It had been a fabulous weekend!! Eurovision was on Saturday night.  Eurovision is an annual music competition.  Every country in Europe sends an artist or group to perform and then at the end of the show each country votes to determine the most popular song.  I watched Eurovision for the first time last year in Finland and loved it.  I was really excited to see it again. 

I had practice Saturday morning and then immediately after I took the train into the city to meet up with some my best friends. First, they surprised me and gave me a ticket to see Sweden verse Serbia at Sweden's national Stadium in Stockholm, for my birthday!! We are going to the game next Tuesday. Thank you so much Helena, Martina, Hanna, Linda and Therese. You guys are amazing and I am so happy I am so close to you all.

 The weather on Saturday was perfect so before Eurovision we enjoyed the sun in a park and played some Kubb (a Swedish game). After we went and had a little BBQ and got ready for the show. It was great!! Sweden's performance was incredible!!! They were the best.  When the points were being awarded we were cheering every time Sweden received any.  They got points from every country and won the Eurovision title!!! The Swedish song was Euphoria by Loreen.  Loreen's performance was absolutely stunning!!!  Euphoria has been on repeat on my ipod since the competition. Here is Sweden's Eurovision performance.

It was a fantastic night; I did not want to leave!

Sunday was just as incredible.  We had a big game verse IK Huge.  They are the other team in Gavle and our biggest rival.  We played a great game! Everyone all over the field was on.  Defensively we were compact, together and doing whatever it took to win the ball.  In the first have Sandra our forward scored two great goals!! One goal came off a beautiful cross from our outside mid Jossefine and then Josse split the defensive perfectly to send Sandra one vs. one with the keeper.  Huge was pretty good on the outside but we shut them down every time.  Pernie our goalkeeper came up with some big saves as well.  We created many opportunities but the game ended 2-0. Everyone contributed to the win and had a great game.  The Win felt great and it was well deserved!!! It was an incredible end to a great weekend!

"The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work." michael jackson

When I was younger I went to every one of my Dad's indoor soccer game.  I would live at the indoor arena in the winter; if I was not playing I was always watching.  My family and I would go to watch the Boston Breakers when they were in the WUSA, I followed the USA national team, The English premier league, the champions league, etc.  If there was a game on that I could watch, I watched. I was and still am a soccer junkie and in love with the game. 

I feel like watching the game helped me develop as a player.  I believe you can learn just as much or more by just simply watching the game.  I don't think youth players watch enough soccer, especially girls. 

I want my youth team to start watching soccer! Last week I had the perfect oppertunity to get them started.  Tyreso was playing IK Sirius in the Swedish cup. Marta is playing for Tyresö.  They are a team out of Stockholm and  compete in  Allsvenskan (Sweden's top league.)  Tyresö is stacked!! Besides Marta, they have big names such as Lisa Dahlkvist,  and my personal favorite Caroline Seger.   

 The game was at IK Sirius's home field in Uppsala. Uppsala is not far from Gavle so I thought this was the perfect chance for some team bonding.  My girls get to be together, watch some quality high level soccer and see one of the best female players in the world!   


  I met the girls at the train station and we were off to Uppsala.  We got some food and headed to the field.  I was really happy they came to the game and I think they got a lot out of it.  I told them to pick out a player in their position and try and imitate their movements and technique when they play. I want them to become students of the game. 

They all seemed to be big fans of Marta and I asked them "what do you like about her?" "What makes her special?" Marta is a spark. She is technical, speedy and fun to watch.  Marta puts on a show.  She gets people excited about the game.  Every player has a special quality; Marta uses hers to full capacity and sticks out.  I want my players to use their special qualities to become a spark on the field.  By seeing a this spark, hopefully the next time they play they will want to imitate and shine in their own way. 


This past week, the training's with the girls were great. Monday was the best session so far! I tried out some new ideas and they were beyond successful.  The session was on speed of play and creating space.  The girls really grasped all the concepts I threw at them and when we ended in a game they looked like soccer players.  It was fun to watch!   They are gaining confidence and becoming a team! It was one of those days where everything just clicked.

I had practice  with them today and we have a game tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to it! It is another day to play and another chance for them to express themselves.  Now it is up to them to transfer what they have learned into the game!

*More updates to come about my team's last game and the game this Sunday

"Nothing is learned from success" African Proverb

This past week we had two games; one against Stromsbro and another verse Bele Barkarlaby.  We tied both games. I'm glad we came away with the point but I felt like we deserved to win.

 After the game I had some flashbacks of certain events in my college career.  I feel like  my mind is like my own personal movie theater; sometimes I can just place myself in different events in my life. The images are so vivid.  I don't know why my mind works like it does but after the game  my mind brought me back to my personal finance class. My teacher always said to the class "Nothing is learned from success" Its an old African proverb. I could see myself sitting in the business building listening to my professor give us some life lessons.  There is so much truth to that quote and I have seen it within my own life experiences.  My mind then jumped around and brought me back to my Sophomore year in college.  My team at Florida Southern  was incredible!! I felt like my team was always special but I could not see anyone beating us my sophomore year.   We had a rough start and started the season 2-2..  we realized that it was a bump in a road. we came together and ended up going on a 11 game win streak!!! It was unbelievable.

I am a firm believer in the the thought that your actions are a product of your thoughts.  What you think and see is what you become! I think the psychological part of the game is so important.  I have created my own personal highlight tape in my mind.  I go back to different events within on my career when I was successful and I take in the environment.  I always notice the small details; how I felt, the weather, the fans, the ball, my teammates, etc. I do this in hope that I will be able to replicate and play my best game.  I believe if you can see yourself being successful you will be successful; the mind is very powerful!

I felt good thinking about that particular season at Florida Southern and it made me feel better.  I saw myself and my team as a very successful team. I saw us fail but then I saw us overcome the failure.  I remember everything, the environment, the people, the other teams reactions, and the whole feeling of each win. I can picture my self now playing in the middle with Christina Crooks and Erin Hopkins. I could hear our center back Ashlie Haas giving me direction after playing me the ball.  I can picture our speedy outside backs Lexie Bottomly and Kristen Volmer making runs up and down the flank.  The whole team connected so well all over the field.  I remember watching the highlight videos; a few goals we scored started from Martina our goal keeper.  Every person on the field was involved.  It was 'sexy' savvy soccer.  I remember Princess Haley our forward scoring the winning goal in double overtime to beat St. Leo for the first time in school history.  I remember  all my teammates, coaches, and fans rushing to her in celebration.  That feeling of the win gives me the chills right now. 

We may not have started to season as we liked but we regrouped and had one of the most successful seasons in Florida Southern history! Every time we stepped onto the field we came with the attitude that we were going to win.  Losing was not an option; If the other team scored three goals we were going to score four.

 IFK Gavle reminds me of my team Sophomore year. I see similar personalities all over the field.  We did not have the start we would have liked but I can sense we are on our way to a very successful season and it starts with the game against Hille today! Nu kor Vi!!! 

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Life the life you imagined"

I feel like so much happens all the time. Everyday something new and exciting happens. Where do I even start? This past Sunday was another Swedish Holiday.  The swedes celebrate the last day of April and the beginning of May. Everyone is excited because spring is here and summer is on its way.  In Gavle, they had a big Bonn fire and fireworks. All of Sweden was out! I love the different traditions;  Swedes always come up with a good reason to celebrate and really enjoy life!

This past week I got a call from the English school in town.  They heard about me coaching in the schools and they wanted me to come in for an interview for a PE position.  The school was beautiful; the facilities are great.  I met with the academic coordinator and the vice principle.  It was a nice conversation! They asked me about my background and wanted to hear in detail about some of my experiences.  They asked me what my philosophy was. I told them  that first, I want to challenge my players and  create an environment that will help them solve the different challenges thrown at them.  Then pick out points of success and then most importantly create an environment that is fun! My main focus is on the development of the whole athlete, physically, psychologically, and socially.  The academic coordinator agreed with what I said. She told me that their main focus is that they want to show the kids that they are capable of so much more than they think they are.  Their philosophises matched my own.  I really enjoyed this interview.  Who knows what could happen. I will hear in a few weeks if I got the job.  I think it would be a really good experience. 

While I was in this interview, all I could think about was my youth team.  There are some good players on this team but the biggest problem they have is psychological.  Why are people afraid to be great? Why is it that the person who gets in your way the most is yourself?  I had a meeting with my team Wednesday and I asked them "Why are you here?" "Why do you play the game?" I told them every time you step onto the field you should give it your best.  If you don't give your best, even in everyday life then why do it? Why waste time? I have this mentality ingrained in me and I get it from my parents.  They work so hard at everything they do; I learned from example. They showed me what hard work looks like and always believed in me when no one else did. They used to tell me, "Even if you are a garbage worker, you be the best garbage worker you can be!" I told my girls the same thing.  Wednesday's practice was a turning point. I want to change things around.  I'm treating this team as if they were professionals. I have many different ideas to help them get to the level I want them to be at. stay tuned for more.

In other news, my team tied our first game 1-1, now we have our first home game tomorrow.  Brynasvallen is the name of our field and I absolutely love it!! It is ours and I'm proud to call it home.  The field is real grass and our locker rooms are awesome! Everyone was so excited to be back at Brynasvallen; I love the pride of our home that everyone has taken on.  It has been a good week at practice. At training yesterday, it was cold and rainy but it was such a fun practice; We played, worked on some fancy free kicks and corner kicks, did some shooting and a few of the girls were speaking a lot of Swedish to me; I'm getting better but I still have a ways to go. My teammates are awesome! All I can say is that after the training I felt an overwhelming surge of joy; I get to do what I love everyday with some great people!  I'm having so much fun and I am excited to play at home tomorrow! We are ready for this game and are going to capture three points!!