CBC SOCCER CBC SOCCER 20122012

STATE CHAMPIONSSTATE CHAMPIONS

Pre-PlanningPre-PlanningO It has ALWAYS been my approach to plan for

the current year at the conclusion of the previous year – while everyone and everything is fresh in my mind.

O However, 2012 was going to be different due to the players’ choice of playing High School or Academy (club) soccer. So, NO pre-planning – ……….. wait and see wait and see what shows upwhat shows up!! !! ……….

2012 Start-up Points2012 Start-up PointsO Leave the ‘egos’ behind

O Realize that everyone of us can get betterO Work hard to make this the best team that

it can be

O Take pride in representing the rich tradition of CBC Soccer

O Let the end of the year tell the story of the Let the end of the year tell the story of the yearyear

First Day DisasterFirst Day DisasterO Roll call first day of tryouts ---O 10 NO SHOWS ---

8 Academy, 1 concussion, 1 early ’retirement’

O The absolute WORST first day in my 42 years at CBC Soccer ….. and I told the boys that …. In no uncertain terms

O Day 2 was better – it had to be !

The Plan - GoalsThe Plan - GoalsO Every team, with the exception of

Chaminade, lost players to the Academy. No one lost as many as we did (8) - (we got 1 back)

O So we decided our goal for the year would be: …………. Be the best of the rest …………

O and if, we got a shot at Chaminade down the road, to beat them.

Along The WayAlong The WayO In looking at our schedule, , we had 24-

26 games in a 38 day period – very demanding.

O We decided to rotate players for week-day games and play the best team on the weekend games.

O This allowed everyone to play, contribute and build our depth.

O We also decided that playing Futsal would speed our player development

Road BumpsRoad BumpsO It was the 4th and 5th games of the year

when we lost 2 key players – senior captains Xhovani and Joe through injury.

O We still had a grind ahead of us – we needed everyone to step up and contribute

O We finished 2nd in the CYC Tournament

O We played in the Gateway Classic against good teams from Colorado, New York and Las Vegas and we won our bracket, without X and Joe !!

TeambuildingTeambuilding

O During that time we went 10 – 2, and won 1 Championship and finished 2nd in another.

O Different players made big differences at different times.

O The TEAM concept was growing stronger !!

Mind GamesMind GamesO Visualization:O You must see yourself doing well, being

successful, and then you replay that and then you replay that over and overover and over. Build confidence, eliminate doubt

O Throughout the year, we continued to reinforce this idea over and over through emails and daily meetings

Mind Games (2)Mind Games (2)O If you think you’re beaten, you areO If you think that you dare not, you don’tO If you’d like to win, but think you can’tO It’s almost certain you won’t

O If you think you’ll lose, you’ve lostO For out in the world you’ll findO Success begins with a fellow’s willO It’s all in the state of mind

Mind Games (3)Mind Games (3)O Life’s battles don’t always goO To the stronger or faster manO But sooner or later the man who winsO Is the man who thinks he can

O Like our beliefs and attitudes, our thinking can be a powerful ally. How we think affects how we feel, and how we feel affects how we perform

MindsetMindsetO Throughout the year, we built 3

important concepts into our approach:O …….. Belief .. Belief ….. Character ….. ….. Character ….. Team Team

…..…..O We believed in each other and that

somehow we would come through ..O The character kept us fighting until

the last minutes (Vianney, Marquette).. O And the team concept was that

anyone could make a difference

Mindset (2)Mindset (2)O Belief - the foundation of confidence

and the ability to unlock that which holds you back – taking on tough tasks

O Character: the never-say-die attitude -- the ability to see challenges as opportunity to achieve and reach deep within yourself

O Team: Together Everyone Achieves More The glue that brings it all together

Defining MomentDefining MomentO vs DeSmet at DeSmet (Oct. 9)

O Just lost back-to-back games …….. vs St. Dominic and Jeff City … (0-1, 0-2) …. (14 – 4 – 1) record up to that point

O 11 – 1 – 0 (record after that game: 25-5-1))

ChampionshipsChampionshipsO We played for 6 championships this

year:O We finished 2nd in the MCC ConferenceO 2nd in the CYC Tournament

O 1st in the CBC TournamentO 1st in the Gateway ClassicO 1st in District Tournament (toughest

District!)O 1st in State Tournament

Crunch TimeCrunch TimeO Seeded 2nd in District behind

Marquette meant that we would play an always tough DeSmet team in the first round – DeSmet always builds for the post-season

O The winner to get Marquette – a very dangerous team with a prolific scorer.

BounceBounceO Marquette was a test of character - we

were up 2-0 at half and 4 min into the 2nd half they scored … and scored again 10 min later – game tied and momentum to them. We came back with 2 late goals to win!

O Vianney was also a test of character. Game tied 1–1 at half – Vianney scores late on a deflection with 7 min to play to take the lead and end our season… BUT, WE ANSWER BACK WITH 2 GOALS TO WIN THE GAME IN THE LAST MINUTES.

The Mental EdgeThe Mental EdgeO By winning our District, we then played

a difficult Lafayette team, who played with nothing to lose – the pressure was on us to win!!

O Then Vianney – for the 4th time this year – they had not beaten us all year and now we had to win 1 more to advance –

O It became a battle of belief vs hope ---- belief won out!!

The Thrilling The Thrilling ConclusionConclusion

O We managed to stay ranked #2 all year …. Be the best of the rest

O And, in the final game, we got to play Chaminade for the State Championship…. and we won !!

O We became the team nobody wanted to play, because we seemed to have 9 lives

How Did It Happen?How Did It Happen?O Good leadership within the teamO Good organizational planO Everyone bought into the plan and

contributedO We, the boys and coaches, built a teamO We managed to work through

different and difficult periods of the season with belief

O We won games in many different ways

The Road to ParadiseThe Road to ParadiseO DeSmet ….. #5 … Defending State ChampsO Marquette .. #3 … most dangerous forwardO Lafayette …. NR .. Upset-minded, well-coachedO Vianney ……. #6 … for the 4th time this year O Rockhurst … #2 in KC .. The best of the WestO Chaminade.. #1 … top team all year - #6 USA

Take-AwayTake-AwayO There are never any guarantees in sports

O No game is won until the final moment is over

O You can lose any game that you do not properly prepare to win prepare to win

O Winning is a result of good practice and Winning is a result of good practice and confidenceconfidence

Take-Away (2)Take-Away (2)O With patience, togetherness, a belief

system and good leadership, it is possible to achieve at a level higher than anticipated.

O Talent Is Never Enough!!O Talent PLUS ….. Belief ………. Preparation

Character ….. Practice Team ……….. Perseverance

O Talent Plus allows you to OVERPERFORM

Take-Away (3)Take-Away (3)O The fact that this team continued to

improve and grow throughout the season

O Being at our best when it mattered the most

O Winning as a TEAM with Belief and Character

O This was a season of destiny

O This season was very special for many reasons:

O Overcoming the various obstacles :O Losing players to the AcademyO Losing key players for long periods of timeO Tough, demanding schedule with game after

game against quality opponents

It’s not what happens to you that counts, it’s how you deal with it’s how you deal with what happenswhat happens that’s what counts!!

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Final Thoughts (2Final Thoughts (2)O The unbelievable difficult post-season

path

O 5 of the 6 teams we played in the post- season were potential State Champions

O To be the best ….. you’ve got to To be the best ….. you’ve got to beat the restbeat the rest

Final Thoughts (3)Final Thoughts (3)O Every game was a

test of and a testament to your charactercharacter

O Everyone contributed something ……… 21 different starting lineups this year

O BeliefBelief … CharacterCharacter … TeamTeam … ChemistryChemistry

CBC SOCCER CBC SOCCER 20122012

STATE CHAMPIONSSTATE CHAMPIONS

25 -5 -125 -5 -1

Who’da thunk itWho’da thunk it

Don’t stop believingDon’t stop believing