Dealing with a Tough Soccer Loss

Good Morning Everyone,

First off, I would like to extend thanks and appreciation to the guest players that helped us out yesterday.  Your efforts and contributions were truly appreciated, and we thank you for joining us.  It's very likely that we may need some additional help this indoor season, thus we have your numbers.  ;)

Secondly, yesterday was a tough loss.  As my son, Ben, put it during an emotional recap on the way home, "We got creamed!"  Yes, we got pummeled, shellacked, blown-out, and thumped, and it can be a difficult thing to deal with and process.  But as Ben Dagg so eloquently put it, "Get over it... they were better and beat you."  Yes, the Dragons were a superior team yesterday, and we need to acknowledge that and be OK with it.  There's no need to place blame on anyone... no need to over-analyze... no need to search for answers... acknowledge the loss, experience the frustration and bitterness that comes with it, and then let it go.
 
The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.
-Vince Lombardi

As far as I was concerned, we played our hearts out yesterday... we faced a very skilled and challenging opponent and gave it our all.  Getting shut out was definitely frustrating, as we had chances that we just didn't finish, but, believe it or not, I was actually very proud of the boys.  They showed a lot of character out there, in a difficult situation, and did the best they could.  We had some good moments, there was never any dirty play, they played until their tanks hit empty, and they respectfully shook hands with their opponent at the end.  For that, I say well done boys... all that your coaches ask is that you give your best.

There are many lessons to be learned from games like these.

- Having blown-out many teams in the past, our boys now know what it feels like.  Nothing wrong with experiencing both sides of that equation.

- Our boys are just as capable and athletic as the Dragons.  The main difference between the two teams is that they've spent more hours with a ball at their feet than we have.

- Suffering a blow-out can serve to motivate or demoralize... it is our job to help the boys through this and encourage them choose the motivational route.

- Losing a game of soccer does not make you a loser... In order to win in life you must be prepared to lose sometimes.

You are never a loser until you quit trying.
-Mike Ditka

Shaking this off, bouncing back, and accepting the challenge and competition ahead of us will make the boys stronger, better able to deal with adversity, and bring more wins and success to them down the road.  With that said, this indoor season is going to be a rough road ahead, and I will do my best to keep it fun, positive, and enjoyable for the boys.  

See you next Saturday... Go Westside Titans!

Coach Dennis