On Success

This afternoon the Long Trail School middle school boys' soccer team won its 8th straight game. While I am a firm believer that a team and a player can learn as much about themselves in a losing effort as a winning one, it sure is nice to taste success on a regular basis. The confidence that our boys built over the course of the past few weeks is evident on the playing field. They were excellent teammates today, sharing the ball well, looking for each other on give-and-goes (the best play in the history of field sports), and, in general, demonstrating passion for and skill in the game of soccer.

I was especially pleased with the way some of our more gifted players sought to collaborate with the other guys on the team. Instead of dribbling past two or three defenders for a shot on goal, they sought out their teammates, creating opportunities and allowing our guys to make a play on the ball.

Soccer can be a magical game when played correctly. Today was one of those days where the flow of the play seemed to be orchestrated by a conductor of a symphony.