No matter how talented you are in a sport, there’s always a possibility of making mistakes that can mess up everything for your team. When this occurs, some athletes get criticized by their own teammates, instead of being encouraged. A coach can correct such a conflict.
The Logansport High School girls’ soccer team had struggled with not only receiving these harsh criticisms but also being able to give a proper one. Practice by practice, coach Neil Muller worked to resolve the issue.
“We get together as a team and discuss it as a team,” Muller said. “We go over a review of how we feel things in that situation should be conducted in what we feel is appropriate for our teams, so that’s how we deal with conflicts.”
Every athlete has a different journey when it comes to soccer, like senior Angelica Hernandez.
“Since I was little, it’s something my mom has always made me do,” Hernandez said. “Although at first I didn’t like it, little by little I got the hang of it, as they say, and now I really like it. I’ve managed to make a lot of friends in the game, even though I wasn’t very social.”
Making friends through sports is a very special connection to have. Continuing that connection, especially during times of conflict, is difficult. That’s why one of Muller’s ways to resolve that is to require the whole team to go support the boys’ soccer at the game on Sept. 25.
“We’re going to the boys’ soccer game for several reasons, one is for some team bonding, two is for educational purposes,” Muller said. “I think you can learn a lot from watching good teams play, learning ball movement, possession, movement patterns and how they handle different situations.”
Joining a new sport sounds uncomfortable, especially when there’s a lot to learn in an environment where it can get intense and conflicted. One of the new players, sophomore Marissa Saengkeo, joined soccer along with her other friends.
“So far, I have definitely improved my shooting skills, passing and overall just being a better player,” Saengkeo said. “I’ve never touched a soccer ball before, so I’ve improved quite a bit. I would say that I’ve gotten a lot closer with the people on the team.”
Of course, such negativity can not be ignored, even if you’re personally not part of it.
“I’ve heard that there has been some negativity, but recently we’ve had bonding practices,” Saengkeo said. “I feel like that’s helped a bunch for us as a team. It’s just a fun get-together and a break from practice, which I really enjoyed.”
No matter how extreme a situation is, keep safe in the love you have for any sport.
“You have to be committed to the work, improvement and the team,” Muller said. “Passion for the sport. Passion to do better. We gotta get girls to understand they need to be hungry to score and to put every bit of effort that they have and find the back of the net.”
No soccer or other sports players should be defined by their mistakes. As the end of the fall season comes around, the deconstructive criticism said by one’s own teammates and even by coaches is hurtful, but not forever. Enjoy those moments with friends and family at an intense practice or on the late-night bus rides from a game.
“I feel like with negative comments, we know they’re obviously going to affect you,” Hernandez said. “But just try to show that you don’t care and handle them the best way you can.”
