James Palumbo

As far as I know we have the same amount of time each day.

How the day is spent is the result of our decisions made. Without our daily commitments we might feel that things are happening to us however staying true to our daily promises will create a feeling of power.

We can only take control of the day by honoring our set path and following through with belief it is bringing us closer to our goal.

We are going to lose the game tomorrow. If that is our pledge then the game will serve no real purpose of competing. The decision has been made that something is going to happen to us, in this case a loss.

On the other hand, I may choose to state; we are going to give our best efforts in competition tomorrow and a win will only be deserved by staying committed to this…My desire is to win!

Our self-declarations put us in a position of power.

Understanding that “long days” are a decision of ours and to find peace we must realize that we are in control of the longest and shortest of days.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

We need to begin with an organized base that is clear and understood by all.

From there, the everyday challenges and curiosities will be acted upon with excitement and preparedness.

In the game of soccer and life, being in the right spot is not enough.

Being located in the right place at the right moment will allow us an opportunity to contribute positively only if our positioning is correct.

Without this crucial piece we will be there with good intentions however unable to provide the service needed.

Once we arrive at our correct location with good timing, we should open up or body and mind to consume and digest as much information as possible that will assist in our contribution.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

A push…

With our constant connection we can receive a push in many ways.

Without being able to push ourselves forward we will not be able to achieve the things we have set forth.

Our society is consistently challenged by the need of outside permission to be and give our best.

Bringing clarity to our desires will help those on the outside to better judge how much guidance can be given while also igniting self discovery.

It is harder when we don’t know what we are after because then the push from outside or inside will be a waste.

An uncertainty arises as to what path we should go down when there are too many options out there.

Since we are aware that there were other options, people might turn around and go left or right instead of the straight path they originally selected because it got hard.

Naturally, most do not prefer hard.

The tricky part with this approach is that we will inevitably reach a hard part and that is why we need to pick the road we truly find the most enjoyment from. What happens is that we learn to enjoy/embrace the hard!

Finding your passion or purpose are all sayings that are heard daily by society however do we take the time to find it and be honest with what that passion is?

Maybe some need to answer the question why am I doing this? And am I willing to persevere through the tough times for it.

If the answer is no then it makes the decision making simple, just don’t go down that path.

With this decision, we can now look at our next path and ask the same question.

Sometimes the best push is the fact that there are no options and what is pushing us is the fact that if we do not go forward we’ll go backwards.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

One after another they will come.

The size and speed may be different.

The only guarantee is that the waves will arrive.

How they arrive and with what force is difficult to predict however we must be as prepared as possible.

If the wave knocks us down with a big force and we are hurting but able to get up it will only prepare us better.

The impact of the biggest waves should give us more awareness on what is expected the next time around.

We can learn from each wave or keep taking them and hope one doesn’t knock us out completely.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

The players walk onto the field with the excitement of scoring a goal or running past a defender or just touching the soccer ball.

It is a sensation or desire that all kids in attendance find joy in.

The sport may vary however the environment and experience will always bring back the special feeling, whether positive or negative.

We are responsible just as much as the kids to create that fun, energetic, motivating, positive and competitive setting.

We are all natural competitors in each area of our life and too many people are trying to pull this piece away from our youth and us.

It is ok to lose when we give everything we have to win.

It is not ok to lose if it is the result of a stifled competitiveness.

Who wins the trophy is obvious but who truly wins might be misunderstood by many or unnoticed.

Maybe scoring that goal was the best that child felt all week or that new friend they met at the tournament turns into their new best friend for the next 20 years.

Wins come in all shapes and sizes and can be defined by each person.

My win is witnessing others realize the smallest of wins.

The purpose of these Academy Tournaments is to provide an environment for self-expression, passion and love for the game through our motto of skill, sportsmanship and self-discipline!

Through the desire to compete, hard work, and respect for all, we will always see winners walking away from the tournament whether there is a medal around their neck or not.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo