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Today’s snowstorm causes an unexpected intermission of our winter sessions.

Although we miss the presence of the hundreds of children who are normally at our JPSA facility every Saturday, we are hoping everyone is safe!

Just like the game, in life we need a pause. This pause doesn’t actually stop the game or what is happening around us but it might spur a change or new discovery!

Yes, there is always a lot happening at JPSA and this winter is no exception.

This winter we have been creating memories 7 days a week through the various programs offered.

There is a big appreciation for our students attending the academy training sessions for their outstanding attitude, effort and commitment. Each week they are showing minor improvements, as they are more familiar with the structure of the sessions!

The exercises developed in the sessions are recreated game like situations. The coaches will explain the rules and then allow the players to problem solve.

We encourage our students to be brave, creative and competitive which increases the intensity. This part is important in order for concepts to transfer into the game.

With consistent planning and execution the gradual improvements will be witnessed!

We are looking forward to building another great week starting Monday!

To all students, keep going!

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

The outcomes will always be celebrated, scrutinized and discussed.

The investigation as to why it was a positive outcome or negative outcome is too much work for most.

If our satisfaction relies solely on the end result, there will be a greater attraction to short cuts and wrong doings.

Often, the appreciation of creating alone will spur more positive outcomes in the future.

We won’t always finish the plays that are created in the game but we cannot neglect the greatness built up to arrive in front of goal.

The sacrifice, intelligence and quality revealed needs nourishment to start over again.

We will frequently demonstrate our displeasures or excitement for the final outcome, as we should, however putting in the effort to acknowledge the creation is a humble and forward moving approach.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

What is seen has a story behind it.

Illusion and magic is mastering the identification of missed perception.

What we see is directly related to how programmed we are of the things to look for.

Opportunities don’t fall on our lap but they are identified over time with filled gaps in our perception.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

Working hard to make it easy is set up for a failure of expectations.

What comes easy will be naturally and unintentionally less appreciated.

We should strive to make things better and the only way to fix things for the better is to teach and learn and allow and encourage others to embark on the same path.

The majority of people can quickly think of one difficult thing that needs to be done but it is ignored because the timing is wrong.

Timing is important but that right moment doesn’t come out of thin air. The best time arrives when we manipulate scenarios to benefit our long awaited approach.

Most often times these hard tasks are eventually faced when our choice of delay expires and it’s forced to be completed.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

What has always been done is easy and comfortable.

It was good enough before so why change it.

Many rules and methods of playing the game of soccer have changed over time.

These changes are made through evaluation, discussion and forward thinking based on various factors.

Some people might approve or disapprove of a rule change but in the end there is an acceptance after implementation. What seemed like a disaster rule that will ruin the game, often is a much-appreciated change based on the new strategies it opens up for coaches to plan and players to execute or invent.

Looking back at videos in the early 90s with the goalkeeper picking the ball up when it is passed back to them is a foreign view to some and the rule is so commonly known now that it is as if this always existed.

This change has impacted the game in such a positive way!

If we are stuck in our own ways and married to the past we will never improve the game of life that we play each day!

This forward thinking might not help our immediate needs but in the long run it will show its worth to all.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo

In life and soccer we will encounter highs and lows.

At the academy, I am often stressing the philosophy of soccer is life and we need to always keep going!

Over the weekend there was a match between Atletico Madrid and Valencia that exemplifies this very approach. Without going into too much detail of the game, Atletico was able to battle back from being down 0-2 to winning the match 3-2.

Most people will appreciate the efforts of a comeback victory and this game was no exception as the tying goal and winning goal were both scored in added time. Turning a loss into a win in the matter of a few minutes shows great character, mental capacity and is the consequence of quality and quick decision-making in the game and life.

When we better understand our time frames, we act accordingly by deploying urgency or patience but always in relation to the situation in front of us.

Through unwavering belief and consistency our victories will be earned and sometimes it comes about in the least expected way.

Scoring the winning goal in the 93^rd minute was not expected by the Atletico Madrid center back, Mario Hermoso but he was the one to finish the play and look at his home fans cheering with almost unfamiliarity to celebrating.

Hermoso and Atletico faithful will not forget this moment!

This great example to keep going will only be useful if we are able to apply this to our own life. When we feel as though we are losing or missing our aims remember that the win is soon coming as long as we are persistent that the losses are not permanent.

Yours in soccer,

James Palumbo