"Don'tcha wanna dance, say you wanna dance, don'tcha wanna dance"

There have been so many exciting things happening. Everyday is a new adventure, a new story to tell.  My training with Tyresö last week was phenomenal; the focus was in the final third and finishing.  We played small sided the last 15 minutes of training and the soccer was fantastic.  The image I had in my mind on how the game should be played had really come to life… The play reeked of TikiTaka and it was so much fun to watch.  My groups in Tyreso consist of talent groups of different ages and different teams within the club; through the time I have had them so far I have seen a massive improvement. They all have developed as a player and as a “team”.  There is a feeling that they are one; “One team, One Tyresö.” 

                                          

TikiTaka has also just recently partnered with Olympen Skolan. It is a huge partnership! Olympen is starting their first football school.   The school could not be in a more perfect location. They are located between Stadion, which is one of the most beautiful stadiums in Stockholm, and a beautiful soccer complex, Ostermalms IP.  I am playing a big role in this partnership and the experience so far is amazing! I am included in all the decisions and have a say in the publications and press.

One day I had a meeting with the Principle of the school, the director of sports and the communications manager.  I actually dressed up very professionally for the meeting. I felt good showing up for the meeting in “business attire” Usually my “business attire” involves shorts, a tee-shirt and soccer cleats; (nothing better than knowing you get paid to play or coach and that the field is your office.) Dressing up was a nice little mix up and it made everything feel even more special. I met everyone and after 20 minutes they asked me to change into my soccer clothes...  They wanted to do a photo shoot for different ads and so forth.  I thought is was pretty funny; I only lasted 20 minutes in my so called “business attire” until I changed into what I belong in!

 I had two open TikiTaka sessions with Olympen; anyone is welcome. They are attracting kids from all over Sweden.  In my first session we had kids from Lulea; which is way up north.  This past Friday I ran another open session. Before the session was held, Olympen invited me to their “Olympen Games” The Olympen games is a whole day event filled with dancing, competitions and more. It was like a giant field day.  It was so much fun!!! Olympen is also starting a school of dance and their focus is on Street Dance.  The girl in charge of the dance school put the kids through a routine at the beginning and at the end.  It was incredible; she had a stage set up and there were over 200 kids jumping, dancing, singing, and clapping, I have never seen anything like it. It looked like a raging concert full of little kids!!

I was up next! I was lucky enough to have some incredible guests with me; Tyresö FF’s players Vero Boquete, Meghan Klingenberg and Christen Press joined the session.  They are all World-class players and they all had such a positive impact on the session!! It was great for the kids; they got to witness greatness firsthand and meet some great female role models.  It was so much fun having them there! They have joined my Talent groups at Tyresö as well and I am extremely grateful.

I started the session with my “dance with the ball” I love dancing with the ball! It’s a very different type of training but to me soccer is a dance; it is a game full of different rhythms. There are individual rhythms, team rhythms etc. If you can find your “rhythm” you are going to succeed. The players were getting really into it! The DJ playing my music told me in the beginning that he was only going to play one song and then he had to shut down and pack up. He ended up playing six songs…   The reporter for a soccer magazine joined the session; he interviewed me before and told me he would stay for the first 10 minutes of the session and then head out. He ended up staying the whole time… The DJ and the reporter caught the fever as well!! When the music stopped I focused on one on one’s and attacking the space on a dribble and a pass.  I think the kids got a ton out of it and learned a lot. Then I ended with some team building exercises. 

Parents, players and coaches came up and thanked Tyresö players and I for the session.  I had one parent come up to me and say that her son is really interested in this football school.  She told me that her son has been discouraged from soccer lately and is not having very much fun. He said that he might not want to play anymore. She told her son to come and try out my session.  Then she said to me, “I have not seen my son this happy with football or anything in a long time. He looks like he loves it again.” Those words are proof of a beyond successful session!! That was the best feedback I could have asked for.   We talked for a little while and I told her our TikiTaka philosophies and so fourth and her son is extremely interested in coming to the school. He found the fire again!!!

The day was done and I was sitting on the bus back to my Stockholm home thinking and recapping on the session, everything about the day and almost could not help but smile.

Another blog will come shortly about my adventure as a player. I am excited to announce that my good friend and Former Florida Southern Teammate Morgan Sammons has signed for Gustafs and is here in Sweden J More to come!!

“You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..." John Lennon

Joy, Happiness, Hope.  Joy in playing the game, happiness within the game.  Hope, hope within the game and hope in something more, new opportunities, something great; hope in a common goal, hope in a dream and the spread of that hope, happiness and joy. 

“Jackie, we are coming to your game. We need it! We need something good.”  

My team had a game this past weekend in Stockholm against Vasalunds IF. It was at a beautiful stadium and it was a beautiful day.  I saw Fredric, the director of Tyreso, Emma; who I coach with and her dad.  I then saw Therese, her parents (the family I stay with in Stockholm) Jesper, Martina and August all in the stands.  I was so happy to see them all there! 

                          

We scored early on; I split two defenders and our outside mid Ronja sent a perfect cross to our other outside mid, Lina, who made a great run into the box and finished it first time on a volley.  It was a classy goal!! Vasalunds fought back hard; I was impressed with them. My team had some times of great combinations and we created some solid opportunities. It may not have been out prettiest game but we held on and the game ended at 1-0. 

My dad told me when I was younger that when I am making a run into the box trying to score, that it “doesn’t always have to be pretty. A goal is a goal.” That is how the game was on Sunday; not our “prettiest” game but I am proud of my team for sticking together and getting the win! “A win is a win!” This is the first of many three points to come this season!

I met my little Swedish family after the game and everyone seemed so happy talking about the game and just everything.  Again, it was like I lived this moment before. I know I am in the right place.

Sometimes I can’t help it and my mind brings me back to different places and events in my past.  So much has happened… There are so many different stories to tell and I promise one day I will write a book.  After thinking back for only a second I started thinking about all the great things that have happened; all the things I enjoy such as just simply playing the game, taking a walk, exploring a new place, a coffee in the sun with a friend… 

 It is an amazing game. It brings people together from all over the world and from all different types of backgrounds.  The excitement, passion and joy is contagious… You almost can’t help it.  The game this past Sunday brought “something good.” I want to be the one to make the difference, bring that joy, that excitement, that happiness, and that hope… Whether it be as a player or as a coach.