“The limits of the possible can only be defined by going beyond them into the impossible.”

One of my old coaches told me you only have 24 hours to either celebrate a win or think about a loss and then you have to move on.  Yesterday we had a rivalry game against another team in town; Huge.  We have a good team with some good players; everyone brings something to the table but it was not our best game. It was disappointing to lose but we can learn from this. We will regroup and take it to Taby this weekend.  

I am happy because we get another shot at Huge; in a sense we are lucky.  Second chances like this are rare sometimes, but I am so glad we have a second chance against them.  They beat us yesterday but we are a better team!  Now, we have another chance to prove it by beating them in Swedish Cup final September 4th.

 I do not look at these upcoming games with a sense of pressure.  I have learned that  "its not pressure, its opportunity"  Every time you step onto the field you have an opportunity prove yourself and to be the best; to go further than you think.  There is so much more inside and I have read, very few people tap into their true potential and really reach their physical limits. Why is that? What separates it?

The 24 hours to think about yesterday's game is up.. Its never good to live in the past. Now, it is a new day and there is a new game to prepare for. We have what it takes to finish the rest of the season strong!  

In other news, this week I am going to coaching course here in Sweden.  The company is call Tiki Taka; its Barcelona's style of playing and coaching.  Tony Gustavsson will be running the course.  Tony is the assistant coach of the U.S women's national team and just recently helped them reach the gold medal.  I am excited to meet him and learn the Barcelona way.  It is definitely my favorite style of soccer.  I love things like this; you learn so much and you never know who you are going to meet or what opportunities could come of it.   

Here is a fun video of the Tiki Taka way!

“Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become. Your Vision is the promise of what you shall one day be. The heart has eyes which the brain knows nothing of."

What is your goal? Why do you play the game? What is your role on your team? What do you aspire to be? 

Player 1

"My goal is to be a professional soccer player and play on the Swedish national team"

"I play because it is fun, I meet new friends, keep in good shape and it is fun to score goals"

"To reach my goal I will train because it is fun not because I have to.  I must have good confidence, dare to try and trust myself."

Player 2

"My goal is to be a professional soccer player in another country besides Sweden."

"To reach my goal I am going to train on my own, watch soccer and give 100% in all my games and practices."

"I play the game because it is fun. It is a fun sport and I like to practice."

Player 3

"My goal with soccer is to play in the highest division in Sweden."

"I can reach my goal if I give 100% in training and train on my own."

"I play because soccer is a fun sport and I like to train and develop."

These are all questions I was asked as a camper at Soccerplus camps and they are the same questions I asked my campers at my camp here in Gavle.  I had the players write it down and we talked about it.  A bunch of players came up to me after and handed me their papers and wanted me to read it. When they handed me their papers I had flashbacks of my playing days at soccer plus.  I saw myself in them.  

The last day of camp we talked about their goals and how they get there.  I told them that they have to BELIEVE.  The most important person that has to believe you can do something is you! I told them that the next session was going to be hard but, it is the ones who are willing to push the furthest that will achieve their dreams.  It will be a test and it is the first step to achieving their goal.  

We hit the field for the last session of the 2012 IFK soccer camp.  It was the best session I have ever had with a group of kids.  I have never seen so many young players on one field give everything they had.  Before the session ended, I brought the girls in, some of them sat down in exhaustion while their friend/teammate helped them up.  They stood arm and arm around me; 44 players looking at me with this particular look.  Everyones eyes were on me. When I looked them in the eyes I recognized this look… When I looked at every one of them I saw myself. I saw myself standing there  as a 14 year old curly haired girl, decked out in soccerplus gear with eyes filled of big dreams, hope, courage, determination and the willingness to go beyond the comfort zone and do whatever it takes to make it happen.  This is what I play for... This is why I play the game; Its for times like these. Everyone was completely in the moment; nothing else mattered outside the field.  I remember being at camp looking at my coaches in complete focus ready to absorb the next test they threw at me.  I gave my players one more challenge.. At this point I told them it is not about who is the most technical, tactical, or physical. It is about who has the most in here... I pointed to my heart. They went off completed the challenge, as hard and as fast as they could. When the final whistle blew they came together as one group and one camp.  I was so proud of everyone of them!

It was an incredible ending to a phenomenal camp.  I have learned so much from this camp and I have so many new ideas for the future.  I feel like I could write a book just on this experience. 

I would like to thank everyone who helped make it possible.  Thank you to the players, coaches, sponsors and everyone who made this experience unforgettable; without you it would not have been the same. 

In other news my team played in the semi-finals of the Swedish Cup on Thursday and we won 7-0.  The final will be in two weeks against our rival; Huge. 

Yesterday we had a home game verse Hille.  Last time we met we barley beat them.  The score was 3-2; we just slipped by in the last five minutes.  This time we brought it to Hille and won 10-0.  It was a high scoring game but all the goals were classy and it was fun soccer to watch.  Many of the kids from the camp showed up; wearing their blue camp shirts and all.  My youth team was also there cheering us on.   It was neat and it meant a lot; I heard the kids yelling and chanting my name, many times though out the game.  It was fun playing in front of them; my whole team definitely put on a show.

I talked with some of my youth girls and the camp kids after the game and I got that same look.  They all looked at me again with those same eyes; a look I know to well.. I can not help seeing myself in them.  They were all so excited to talk to me and to talk about the game.  It reminded me of when I used to go to watch the Boston Breakers when they were in the WUSA; I was the one with that look.  Its crazy to be on the other side and its very hard to explain the feeling I have; its refreshing to know that so many young players share the same dream. All I know is that IFK has done a great job; we are getting people excited about the game, we are getting them to dream big and most importantly to BELIEVE.

"there is nothing better than doing what you love, around the people you love."

Unprecedented, unique, extraordinary, expectional… That is exactly what the camp was.  It was a complete success and there are very few words to really describe how well it went.  

About 24 girls showed up.  The first day consisted of take on moves, and the principles of one vs. one attacking and defending.  The second day's topic included shooting, volleying and heading.  The last was filled with soccercise (dribbling to music), "Olympic games" and fitness. All the kids grasped the concepts and were able to repeat them back to me and my fellow coaches.  

Each day after lunch there was a scheduled psychological talk with the kids.  We talked about goals, the fear of failure, pressure, and getting out of ones own comfort zone.  I had them talk in small groups with their coaches as well.  

I was really impressed with my teammates/fellow coaches.  They were phenomenal; they helped me with everything I needed!! The demonstrations were great and everyone brought a high energy level which the kids caught on to. I could not have done it without them! They all were so good with the kids and the kids really related to their coach.  All my teammates are amazing role models! Now when the kids read about all of us in the newspaper we will be way more than just another name!

This was my first camp that I have directed and it was exactly how I pictured it in my head. It was amazing seeing what I drew up come to life.  I looked at my field as a canvas. Everything was perfect; from cone set up, to goal set up, to demonstrations, to the transitions from the warm up to the stations.  After each day I felt as if I was on a natural high.  Everything was organized, professional and the topics and drills complemented each other perfectly!

We got many compliments on how well the week went and many of the players already asked when the next camp will be and if we are going to have it again next year.  They also asked for all of our autographs and said that they were going to come watch our home games.  

We did our job, we got these kids excited about the game and that is the most important thing! 

Sunday we had a home gave verse Stromsbro.  It was the first game back after break.  Many of the campers came to the game wearing their IFK camp shirts we designed.  There was so many people at the game; probably the most we have had. I like playing in front of a lot of people  My team put on a show, some of the combinations were spot one and we came out winning 2-0.  It was a good game for us and it was nice to get this win!

Now we have a big game Sunday in Stockholm against Bele Barkaraby and we are hungry for another three points!!  Some of my best friends are coming to the game! Im so happy they are coming.  A wise person told me "there is nothing better than doing what you love, around the people you love." Its true..  It makes everything mean so much more!