James Palumbo

There must be enjoyment in figuring out the best way to win.

If we do not appreciate the challenge and prefer to win the easiest and fastest way then we will always seek this path.

Some may say losing is learning however if the desire to learn is not present and the quickest way to win is on the mind then there will be no lessons learned.

If we are blind on the path to winning and rely too much on others to make the difference we are only there for the ride.

Honest individual effort is becoming more visible for all to see since most others are on cruise control…

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

We might not have the ball all the time however the things we do off the ball can have a greater impact on the team.

When we truly trust our teammates is when we occupy the space necessary to provide continuity to the play.  If we fear a loss of possession then we gravitate closer to the ball with anticipation of a mistake.

Better players encourage higher trust levels amongst teammates and gives support for others to do less on the ball and more off the ball.  These actions that take place off the ball might seem less extraneous however they require vision, thought and planning.  For any team or organization this high level behavior can be the difference between winning and losing.

We can all recognize and value the work that is being done by the player on the ball, however the strategic actions of surrounding members will dictate how far along the team will go.

We shouldn’t try to show how much we do instead we should do what is necessary based on the location of the ball, the quality of our teammates and what challenges we are up against.

If we feel we are doing too much, we should ask ourselves why and in order to change we’ll have more to do…

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

The ability to change should be looked at as strength.

The better we are able to handle adjustments, the more willing we are to grow.

We are not created to stay as we are.  Maybe who we are and what we represent can remain constant however our ways of doing things should be changing.

The game is changing faster than ever before.  Some of the coaches and I were discussing when FIFA will change to censors to detect offside and out of bounds etc.  It is only a matter of time that things will change to become more precise.

We are continuously changing the ball from one side to the other side with hopes of finding the right hole in the opponent at the right time to exploit.

This is why it is more important to understand why we do something before understanding how we do it.

The why we do something is the fuel that creates multiple how to do’s.

Embracing change is healthy since it is inevitable.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

We shouldn’t strive to be better than someone else; we should attempt to be better than how we are today.

What is better though? What am I trying to achieve?

This is where competition and others who might be further along can play an important role in pushing ourselves forward.

The lazy view: Why is that person there? They must be lucky or cheated.

The determined view: Wow, that person is at that level…I believe I can reach that level and even go beyond.  We need the example or destination to chase.  This is healthy competition when we want to win we believe we can and are willing to put the necessary work in to fulfill new heights.

At the moment there is a big juggling competition going on amongst the players in the club. Originally everyone submitted his or her records and each person’s score was unknown.  The moment this information was shared with everyone the work began to be at the top or at least move up a spot at a time.

This is the push that makes the difference.  Will we keep going to break our own record knowing that if we do not work towards breaking it someone else will?

That little chart with names and numbers will be the reminder that if we are at the top the others are coming and if we are at the bottom we know what we have to do…

Push forward!

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

As we develop a certain skill that we feel competent in performing our next challenge is to remain consistent in how we execute this acquired skill each time.

Our nature is to move on to the next challenge, which is important in the process of moving forward however we should always give the appropriate concentration to the already developed skills we possess.

The simplest tasks done with laziness and lack of attention will have poor quality and over time this becomes a habit.  This approach will become contagious and affect the next step needed for progress.

A simple 5-yard pass deserves attention, care and thought.  There should be a useful reason for this pass and if it is executed with low concentration there will be an unnecessary consequence.

There is such significance in doing the smallest things properly and yet it is very common that they are done with little attention.

We improve by building not by completing.  Things can get done and then forgotten, which leads us nowhere.

Our coaching staff continuously stresses the importance of quality technical executions from our players.

The higher our concentration on the smallest details, the better we will build.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

The more familiar we are with accountability the higher the standards are raised.

When operating in a group or a team often times there are the few that are behind. The idea behind sharing your work with those who you trust is to promote accountability.

No one wants to be the only one who didn’t get to the things that were said to be done.

Do we fall behind and miss things from time to time? I believe so, however habits are created quickly and broken slowly.

Just as a coach is accountable for the preparation of the team, the players should be accountable for their attitude and actions towards their personal soccer development.

A routine or schedule is the common path to promoting accountability.

A collective responsibility can be taken on with great strength and belief when each individual is accountable for their role.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

When fear is present it means there is care towards a personal outcome.  We should be ambitious enough to scare ourselves however strong enough to not let the uncertain outcome paralyze our movements forward.

There must be planning, preparation and attention to details in order to increase the likelihood of a positive result however there are no guarantees.  And since there are no guarantees, there should be a curious and calculated side to each step forward.

Of course we don’t want to lose the ball however we cannot prefer to not have the ball.  Yes, if you don’t receive the ball you will for sure not lose it, however you are on the field for a reason and must appear at the right moments to contribute.

We were brought into this world for a reason, same as if you are on a soccer team.  If you are truly a member of a soccer team because you love the game then you have a responsibility to yourself to train and compete without fear.

It is easy to break our own promises because it is only in our head and others will not hear your hesitant thoughts, yet they will definitely witness the fearful actions.

My humble advice is to always keep going in the area you truly feel connected to, especially in the moments where you are full of fears and doubts.  You might be very close to the necessary breakthrough but without self-belief moments such as these will never arise.

Lets not hold back and show up when we are needed most.  If we fail we are accountable for the mistake and have the opportunity to show our response to it.

These moments develop our personal growth.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

How do we identify our strengths?

I believe this is a balance between what we understand has worked by our actions and the feedback from qualified outsiders.

Some of the responses that our coaching staff has recently received from our players on their strengths and weaknesses are interesting.  There can be a variety of reasons behind their answers but the most important thing is to begin the conversation and make them feel comfortable expressing these views.

Some people do things so well without realizing it.  When something is done repeatedly with success it becomes normal to the person performing the task that they do not see it as a strength.

Discussions with people that we respect, trust and know are qualified in a specific area can help with the understanding of what we do well.

We must seek out these people in the areas of life that are important to us however always understanding that no one will know us better than ourselves.

I believe we have a responsibility to share a kind message to those who are repeatedly doing well in a specific area that we have knowledge in.

You won’t find me giving feedback on a ballet performance…

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

The majority of the teams in the club will be competing this weekend against clubs from various locations in NY/NJ/CT depending on the league participation.

As a club, our hope is to see that some of the principles, concepts and behaviors that are being developed in learning sessions are transferred into the competition. Practice should be the rehearsal for the game and not something players are supposed to be at before the games on the weekend.

A committed team is not a group with perfect attendance but is a collection of individuals who are able to use their personal strengths in a specific role to contribute to the united goal.  Anyone can be present, yet there is a difference from just being there and contributing to the cause.

One of the greatest challenges is finding the right competition and the best role for each individual player to truly contribute.  Yes, there can be a positive result and that makes everyone feel like they played a part in this achievement however only the educated eye for the game can notice the story behind the outcome of the game.

Everyone wants to win and I believe this is particularly important when it comes to development. This desire to win will drive the players, coaches and club to continuously improve.  With that said, the how and why a team wins or loses is more important in youth development then the actual result.

To the players of the club; I hope you are envisioning the role you may play in the game this weekend and that you believe you are capable of contributing to the team, competing against the opponent and enjoying yourself!

To the parents of the club; we appreciate and recognize your sacrifices, support and love for your children. Being the most influential person in your son or daughter’s life you all play a very important role when witnessing these games. Before and especially after the games you all have the opportunity to impact your child through your actions…

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

By definition a celebration is doing something special or enjoyable for an important event. Sometimes we celebrate by praising someone or something for a great outcome.

In soccer and in life there are many earned celebrations.  The most common celebration is for a goal due to the great importance of scoring in order to win a match.  Of course there are many important moments in a play that leads up to a goal and for that reason a team celebration is the usual event.

The emotion felt and shared by others who witness an accomplishment is a great feeling. Sometimes it can be recognition from the least expected people however there is no denying the greatness that was displayed.

That is why you’ll see events such as a standing ovation for Ronaldinho’s performance at the Bernabeu, same with Del Piero at the same stadium.  Another example is when the Juventus fans applauded the bicycle kick of Ronaldo when he was playing for Madrid and they knocked Juventus out of the Champions league.  The opposing fans offering a moment of respect and appreciation for greatness is what sportsmanship and respect is all about and deserves to be celebrated.

Goalkeepers will celebrate their save of a penalty, defenders might express their relief and pride in a perfectly timed tackle and forwards might point to the midfielder who played the perfect ball for them to finish the play.

There will be various reasons to celebrate while we navigate our way through our own game of life.  As we fight and push towards achieving our goals we should acknowledge and celebrate the important challenges conquered. It is ok for us to celebrate going 1-0 ahead as long as we understand that the game is not over.

The ball will return to the middle of the field and it is back to work defending our territory and beliefs while attacking the areas that will lead to another goal.

Celebrations do not come natural to me, however I understand the value in them.  I am sure there will be many celebrations for all of us this year and we should not let them go unnoticed…

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo