The Wisdom of Soccer: Lesson #1

Written by: Daniel Richard

Image courtesy of Eneas and wjarrettc

Here’s the first part of a series of articles titled “The Wisdom of Soccer” that are dedicated to all of us who are into the Euro 2008 season this month.

Lesson #1: “The ball is round”

Here’s a cliché that you have most probably heard everywhere you go (or maybe last hear it coming out from a football-fan-of-a-friend of yours minutes ago).

“The ball is round”.

That phrase is used to describe a powerful fact that anything is possible! Which includes both the good and bad parts that an individual involved in that sport would have faced, be it from club players, to managers, and goes all the way even to the dedicated supporters and fans of their favorite teams.

And I’d give a mention to some of the more obscure points that I’ve came up with from that very quote alone:

1. A shot might not always result in a goal

Productivity blogs have one similar trait which is in giving advice on how we can hit goals, reach our targets, and motivating readers to try out the new 5-steps, 14-steps, or 10-step ways to get us closer to getting things done.

Here’s one truth. Not everything we try today are a surefire way to success for the near future!

2. Goals do come from shots that people try despite “impossible” situations

There are lots of superb goals that we love to see that were taken from seemingly impossible places!

From David Beckham’s 70 yard goal against Wimbledon early in his career.

To a mid-field strike that set a record of fastest goal in women’s college history.

And here’s one from Joe Cole against Sweden during Euro 2006.

One more from a magnificent overhead volley in an indoor football tournament.

Okay, last one for this point with a compilation of 10 superb goals… using the back of the heels at the tightest positions!

The following goals were scored by some of the best players in modern times from Del Piero to Gianfranco Zola, to the best two goals made by Van der Vaart and Kendi Kalesine (definitely worth the mention).

Those are the goals that footballers love to score, and thanks to video technology, they can be replayed and talked about for the years to come!

And the joy of scoring goals from hard situations too are why we continue to pursue and achieve our ambitions, reaching goals that are above our reach today.

3. Perfecting their instincts!

One thing I realized after watching the above clips was that they had to make a decision to strike on the fraction of a second that resulted to those goals.

There are numerous choices they can make at the point of time when the ball is passed to them, and given the limited time they have before the ball reaches to them, they had to make up their mind on the next approach to take. They could pass the ball, or lay it off for someone else who could also do the job of taking the shot that may or may not result in a goal, or they could give up at that moment and cause the ball to miss them which could have resulted in an out or reaching the opposition team player’s feet.

It takes years of practice to get the simple shots and passes fine tuned to a level such that they would be confident that the move they make in the game will result in what they had intended to do with the choice they make there and then.

Upon practice, the players’ instincts on the pitch will then be perfected, thus allowing them to do what they do best for the whole squad.

That’s right. It takes practice, practice, and more practice to get the mental strengths up, along with their foot work, techniques, and skills that contributes and enabling the team to win matches.

4. Giants can be humbled

In this Euro 2008 tournament, both of the recent champions have been knocked out of the competition. The mighty Italy, winners of the World Cup 2006, lost out to Spain in the quarter finals, while Greece, the champions of Euro 2004, couldn’t get it’s spot in the final 8.

There are many more examples in league games when teams of smaller pockets (lesser budget given at the start of the season) can unlock defenses of stronger teams and eventually defeating them after the final whistle had been blown.

5. Unknowns can be kings

Who would have thought that Greece could make it to the finals of the last Euro 2004 competition - and became champions of that tournament?

Who would have thought that the Russians could have defeated Holland in this current competition, and are now one step closer to the finals?

Who would have thought that a team started by a group of school boys, aged fourteen to seventeen while chatting away on a bench in 1897, with a jersey color of bright pink could turn into a mega-rich football club today?

That third example was referring to Juventus, from the Italy’s “Serie A” league.

The picture on the right showed the pioneering players from a team photograph taken way back in 1898, just one year after they were formed.

Or let’s look at one more inspirational character in the world of soccer today, where a player just a handful of years ago was a tiny sized player who had total devotion and played his heart out in his soccer games, and is now one of the most well known player in his age.

That would be Lionel Messi, who was signed up by Spanish giants Barcelona FC, and given the space and technology to develop in his footballing skills and also increasing in his muscle mass to go against the growth hormone deficiency that he was diagnosed with when he was eleven.

I am sure that there are more rag-to-riches stories that comes from this great and wonderful sport we all have come to love.

So what if the ball is round?

It will still be round and stationary if nothing is done to it.

That means, the ball (or take it personally and referring it as you), will stagnant and be satisfied with your current position and shape if no action is being taken today.

It will deflate over a period of time if nothing is done to it.

Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding, will decrease. It takes air to form the shape of the ball to make it round as there is density in air. The good news is that a ball requires air to be pumped in to retain it’s shape over time.

It will not taste the back of the net if nothing is done to it.

Work is needed to be done if you want to experience the glory of that moment when a goal is scored.

The workers’ hunger helps them, because their desire to eat makes them work. - Proverbs 16:26, New Century Version

Take action!

That’s right. We got to take action!

Let us not get mentioned in the same sentence where a person would start off with a sigh and go on to say that “the ball is round” as he retreats back to a defeated mood for no particular reason.

I would rather that we get mentioned in a joyous state where people will say that “the ball is round”, and that we have accomplished great things and doing things that may seem impossible to them! With waves of crowd coming in to support after the huge victory and having a great time working with us together!

Start practicing (reading books, articles, or join people building activities) and applying your skills in the positions you are at today.

Continue or ask for a change in roles with a new mindset and attitude that builds up the team, enhancing the bond between all the teammates, while not avoiding the fact that there will be friction and sharpening taking place in the course of action taken.

Learn from the seniors, mentors, and people who are at the top of their game.

Humbling yourself to learning and following from the younger generation who too possess great skills and wisdom that are applicable to the level playing field that both generations are working in now.

Now that you are here, and that we have come to the end of the first lesson, make a choice. Let’s start winning on the grounds that we are on and start looking forward to the next lesson here on Winning Everyone!

The ball is round, but you are the one who take action of it! Subscribe to Winning Everyone and be aa match winner today!

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