Soccer is one of the world’s simplest games and therefore one of the most accessible. There are few to no gatekeepers in the game of soccer and it is enjoyed by members of all social-economic classes. For example, Pele, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, began his career with a “ball” that was a sock stuffed with newspaper.
With the exception of offsides, which seems to confuse American audiences so much that the Washington Post has to routinely publish articles explaining the rule during World Cups, the rules and goals of the game are simple. Don’t touch the ball with your hands. Keep the ball “in bounds”. Don’t grab, push, check … but as long as the player is going for the ball and not the man, all is fair. Try and score a goal.
This simplicity is the game’s beauty and why it has taken over the world in popularity. The simplicity allows each individual player to develop their own style. It allows each team to develop their own tactics and strategy. As a result, no two soccer games are exactly alike.
The 2014 World Cup Championship German team is known for their almost telepathic teamwork. The 2022 World Cup Championship Argentina team gained glory and victory through pinball resembling passing sequences. The 2006 Italian World Cup Championship team is known for their stellar defense and brilliant counter attacks.
There are tried and true formulas and strategies for winning the game. We also sit on the shoulders of giants who inspire us to play our best games and study their styles. But at the end of the day, there is no right way of playing soccer and each team must find their way of playing soccer.
This year was the first year I was given a team that had a distinctive character and culture. I have never seen it before in all my years of playing and coaching soccer. The team supported each other with an empathy that was not performative, but genuine and came from the desire for glory. I will never forget watching one of my players get hurt from a blasted shot at net that hit him in the body during a cold day. Anyone who has experienced this knows it can be painful. The injured player demanded vengeance for this pain, but a teammate came up to him, wrapped his arms around him and acknowledged “I know it hurts. It is painful. It’s OK. You OK? Let’s keep playing.” The level of focus, teamwork and determination was off the chart.
The team was comfortable with one another. Frustration and exclusion only occurred when it was unclear if a player’s heart was in our scrimmages. As a result, we won all of our scrimmages. The players performed the improbable on their way of one day achieving the impossible.
There is a natural human desire for glory; for praise, honor and distinction. We desire to be seen and our efforts acknowledged. This can be achieved academically, athletically, socially, artistically and many other ways. Right now, it is time to recognize the Boys B soccer team and give them glory. It is well deserved and their record stands as evidence of their achievement.
I will leave you with this - when our future seems grim, when the odds are stacked against you, when hope is lost … remember that in the town of Chatham Massachusetts, there was once a group of 5th grade boys who routinely played teams who were larger and older than them. They were the underdogs, but their hearts were in the right place and their focus was undeterred. They ended their modest season with a 4-0 record, they surprised everyone and they played each game like it was their last.
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