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�Winning Isn�t Everything, but the Will to Win IS Everything�

March 2011

by Jim DiNobile, Director of Soccer Operations

To borrow a quote from legendary coach Vince Lombardi, “Winning isn’t everything, but the Will to Win IS Everything”. What a powerful statement about sport and life.

As we head into the Finals Weekend of Region C Cup and with State Cup just around the corner, this statement from the Coach (of the other football) is great food for thought and substance to grow on.

Competitive sport (soccer) serves in many ways as a microcosm for life. Soccer is full of challenges from the physical, mental and spiritual ends of our existence and as in life, can truly bring out our best qualities. Now, as tremendous turmoil and devastation strikes in Japan and unbelievable unrest in the middle east continues to take place, we at home in Tampa Bay have the opportunity to play soccer in a relatively peaceful and tranquil state.

My only wish is that we give it the very best we can in the next few weeks of Cup competitions and be grateful for the opportunity of an opponent and a field of grass to show our true colors!

Winning at all costs in soccer is never gratifying and always seems to be too big of a price to pay for victory. Victory should always be a result of searching inside oneself and each other and bringing out the very best of what you can truly offer as a player and teammate. Demonstrating good sportsmanship toward the opponent, officials and spectators should never be compromised in an effort to win. It is the respect of an opponent that will certainly bring out your best.

Any coach, parent or individual should support and encourage a player to find the means to truly give his or her best effort, best preparation and best know-how to get the result they aspire for. If the player should fall short, then the due respect of the opponent should be honored. If the player falls short knowing that they gave it their best, they should be inspired to try again to achieve greater heights within themselves.

As we head into the end of the season competitions, truly try to find the best inside of yourself; try to find the strength to achieve your goals and be grateful, especially in light of what is going on in the rest of the world, that we have the opportunity to do so. Take every advantage to do your very best.

With that being said, that is all anyone should be able to ask!

GO FUSION!

Winning vs. Development and Region C Cup

February 2011

by Jim DiNobile, Director of Soccer Operations & Girls DOC

We have come to the juncture of the Region C Cup for many of our Fusion competitive teams that begins on February 25 for the u11-13 teams and March 5 for the u14-18 teams.

As coaches we talk about development and improving the play and understanding of the game for each player. In saying that, all coaches and players are mindful of winning the game. Most all players, no matter what their age, are aware of the outcome of the game with regard to which team scored the most goals and as a result, is declared the winner.

It is true that in order to develop, all players need to receive appropriate teaching and coaching at training (practices) with the idea that they take what they have learned during training and apply that on game day. In both training and games, we as coaches have to be able to place the players in appropriate situations based on the demands of the game so that the player may gather the experiences needed to foster that development. If players are put in situations and roles that are too demanding and inappropriate to their skill level, failure and disappointment can quickly happen. These are things we need to be able to handle as players, but coaches need to make accurate choices of what they are requiring from the players, so that confidence and skill improves over repetition and time.

Since the start of practices back in August of 2010, there have been numerous trainings, games and tournaments to teach, learn and develop as individuals and as a team of players. During this time all players should have gained experiences to prepare them for the culmination of their league season known as the Region C Cup!

The competitive nature of soccer players is to test who they are as players and as a team against the opponent who has journeyed along the same path to get to this moment of the start of Region C Cup. At this point, we have to be able to put our best effort forward as a team of players and carry out to the best of our abilities what the coach, team and the game will demand. Each player will have a role (job) to perform. Some players will be asked to do certain things that they alone can do for the team, while other players will be given other responsibilities that are special to their place on the team. All players must accept what they are being asked to do, no matter how big or how small it may appear, fully knowing that whatever they are asked, it is very important to the team’s success. When all players are willing to accept their role and do the best they can, their chances for success increase and they truly have the opportunity to be the winners they strive to be.

As Region C Cup games approach, everyone should be ready to take on the challenges of the Tournament and do it in the way that demonstrates the highest level of sportsmanship and respect to all in this beautiful game of soccer!

Remember this is but one Tournament in your soccer career and there will be many more to follow; however, treat it like it is the most special one!

Good Luck and go for it!

GO FUSION!