Success is Not in Straight Lines

January 23rd 2020

Years ago at the NSCAA Convention, I was sat in a hotel lobby with my good friend and colleague Gary Pritchard (whom incidentally is slated for the ‘4 Questions’ series in February) and we were discussing everything football related. At the time I was a little disillusioned as a coach, needed a direction and a role to sink my teeth into. Gary, always handy with advice and an anecdote asked me “what was my ‘why’?" for being a football coach. I didn’t hesitate - I said “helping players’.

Years have gone by since then and the reason has not changed at all. I still believe in a holistic, player centric approach immersed in play based training method.

Back to the players. I was at my kitchen table the other morning and put on Liga Mex Femenil in the background as I worked. Whilst my Spanish is limited, it is a good way to learn more! As I plugged away I hear “Marlyn Campa - GOLLLLLLLLLL!!” I turned to watch Marlyn scoring (with her face) against Cruz Azul.

I was overwhelmed with pride. I take zero credit for Marlyn being the player she is. She was always going to be. I am more glad that she has been in my life and my kids for so long. I always look forward to her trudging up a TTi for a random session.

The journey for Marlyn has not been immediate. She played as Texas Southern (where I met her), not exactly a soccer school. She then played in San Antonio, of course the Bluebonnets and in between she’s been to Sweden, Peru & Iceland.

The point is, success does not come in straight lines. No ones roadmap is the same as the other.

I have not spoken to Marlyn about writing this. She likely would have said she “wasn’t good at quotes” and “Dont! I’ll be embarrassed”. But its time to lavish some praise. Because the road has led her to many stories (everything in Iceland closes at 8pm!) and will create many moments for her.

I sent this to Marlyn yesterday. It is certainly my “why”…….?

Marlyn, I am so proud of you. I still find so much pleasure in watching you play (a long way since Grambling at home)..

When I first saw you another coach said “she has a little talent but an attitude, there’s a reasons she is at this school” and I replied “good, she will need that attitude. One day you will say that you coached her” 

A year or so later a coach said to me “she’s not good enough for this level, her attitude isn’t right” and I replied “one day you will think back to this moment as a missed opportunity and you will say you ‘almost’ signed her”.

Another coach at a TTi match said “she’s good, but no discipline, she’s wild and lacks tactical knowledge” and I replied “you have only seen this player in one dimension, one day you’ll say she played against you”.

Another coach said “she’s not good enough at the ‘next level’, she won’t make a real contract with a real team or play on a larger stage” and I said “one day she will play in stadiums on television, I promise you”. 

The last person I spoke to about you said, “she will never make it” and I replied “I have heard this so many times, but one day you’ll watch her in a World Cup”.

I have been right so far.