Women's Soccer: Role Models to girls in Worcester (USWNT)

Some of you may know that I coach two girls soccer teams with the Worcester Youth Soccer League (WYSL), and it's the most rewarding thing I've done, besides volunteering in Yellowstone National Park in 1989.

Well, with the United States' Women's National Team in the Finals versus Japan, taking place on Sunday(17th) at 2 p.m. EST, I have been in my glory watching a group of women, similar to the '99 team, play with poise, a winning ATTITUDE, and a desire to play some of the best futbol I've seen in years.

The game versus Brazil solidified it for me, and, I knew then, that Team USA was destined to win the 2011 FIFA World Cup.

In the meantime, I read the article posted by the Telegram & Gazette regarding the current players serving as role models to girls all over the world, but particularly to girls in the United States.

Here's a short video interview with a young lady that I know, who is inspired and is a star in her own making:

Boston is not Worcester!

The other day, I was speaking with a friend of mine who lives in New York City and he asked me, "What's it like living in Boston?" Well, I first had to tell him that I live 45-minutes West of Boston.
He was asking about Boston because he looking for a change and he's found a number of jobs in the Boston-area.

I had to break it down for him:

Boston is the largest city in New England, and it's got an inferiority complex (C'mon, you know Boston always tries to compete with NYC, Chicago & LA).

Boston is home to 45 colleges/ universities within a 20-mile radius.

Boston has Logan Airport, the Boston Celtics, the Boston Bruins, and The Big Dig.

It doesn't sound bad, but I had to tell him about the traffic, which he's accustomed to living in NYC, and the horrible drivers that occupy the roadways. (I know, the drivers in Worcester can be worse, especially when they don't stop for school buses with flashing lights or pedestrians in a crosswalk.)

And, lastly, I told him the rents and the real estate is VERY expensive.

I then went onto telling him about the number of people that I know that live in Worcester and commute to Boston daily.

These folks have chosen to spend 2-3 hours in commuting for trade-offs such as:

• An affordable apartment or house.

• Morning traffic jams prior to 8 am during the school year, and after 5 pm during the evening commute.

• There are 7 colleges/ universities within a 15 mile radius.

• Great restaurants to dine at.

And, lastly, green space where people relax and play sports.

I don't know if I completely "sold" him Worcester, yet, so I invited him to spend a few days in the WORC.

Maybe I can get Mayor O'Brien, and a few select folks to make a pitch at why Matt should pick to live in Worcester over Boston?

Soccer ATTITUDE! (Worc. Youth Soccer League)

If you know nothing about soccer, it's alright because 5-years ago, I barely understood the game myself, but appreciated it.

Well, that changed when the family decided that our daughter should learn to play the game, and thus the family needed to learn the game, too.

Miss C (which is what we call her) loves the game and has progressed to be a very good defensive player, but before we get to the present, allow me to reminisce for a bit.

Miss C started playing when she was 5-years-old and played on a co-educational team where the goals was very simple: learn what it means to be a part of a team, respect yourself and respect others, and always try your best.  She learned all of those things.

Fast forward to Miss C being 8-years-old, and it was the last season for co-educational teams, and then it was onto same sex teams. 

I looked around and there a number of parents who, just like myself, knew very little about the game, but appreciate the game and knew it was a fun game for any child to play.  Also, it's an inexpensive game to play because players don't need alot of equipment.  

So, I volunteered to become an Under 10 coach at the Recreational Level.

The Worcester Youth Soccer League (WYSL) is very good at providing educational and training programs for coaches. Thus, began my foray into the world of American soccer.

Coaching girls who are learning the game and giving their all is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done in my life, and I love when a child surprises themselves by making a move that they may have practiced for hours to execute it, flawlessly, in a game.  (Yeah, we ALL sport a Kool-Aid-like smile on our faces.)

I've been coaching for 3-years and have had teams that have won every game, and I've also had teams that have lost every game during the season, but I tell them all on the first day of practice that I won't give up on them, and, thus, I expect them to never give up on themselves and their teammates. 

I use a mathematical word: ATTITUDE ( I encourage them to apply it to every aspect of their life.)

A= 1

T=20

T=20

I=   9

T=20

U=21

D=  4

E=  5

----------------

100 (The numbers always equal 100.)

Miss C has heard this all of her life, and I use it in my everyday life, "Your ATTITUDE always determines YOUR outcome!"

And, that ATTITUDE was very visible on the largest stage yesterday during the 2011 FIFA World Cup match between USA and Brazil, in Germany.

If you saw the game, you know exactly what I'm referring to.  

If you missed the match and only caught the highlights on ESPN, then you saw women who believed in one another and showed the world their winning ATTITUDE.

So, if you'd like your son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, niece or nephew to play during the Fall 2011 season, you can do so before Saturday, July 16th.  Which, after this date, there's a late-registration fee of $20 that you'd have to pay on top of the registration fee.

Visit www.WYSL.org to register and pay by debit/ credit card or print a copy of the Registration Form and mail it with a check or money order to:

WYSL

P.O. Box 20763

Worcester, MA 01602  

Lastly, if you have questions about the League, you can send an email to registrar[at]wysl.org.