GAME ON! - The annual motivation edition

With the OR Rush game looming in the near future as the last remaining tune-up before State Cup, I thought it would be a good time for me to don my coaches cap, get up on the soap-box, and deliver my annual "Get Motivated" Post. This years post will cover motivational speeches given by coaches/players and links to some past motivational posts that have made their way into the blog. Some I will actually write out, others I will link too. So grab a Gatorade, pull on your old high school jersey, pull up a chair with your favorite Sodium player and get ready to be MOTIVATED!

Don't really remember where I found this one, I think it came partially from Al Pacino in a movie where he was a football coach. Of course, it has been adapted to fit our situation.

"Soccer is a game of inches. A goal is often an inch out of the keepers reach. The 50/50 ball is won by an inch. The difference between stopping a forward in her tracks and being scored on is measured in inches. An inch down on the crossbar means a score.The team that fights, scratches and claws the hardest for that inch will win. The team that makes the greatest sacrifices for that inch will be victorious. To be able to look into the eyes of the lady warrior next to you on the field and see that she is willing to sacrifice it all for that inch, and for them to know you will too. That is what being a team is all about.You win as a team, you die as individuals."

Favorite Sayings [link]

TODAY [posted before the first game of 2008 State Cup]

To the lady warriors;
Today you begin the journey you have been preparing for since June of last year. Today you take the field for State Cup. But unlike where you were then, today you are a team. Today you will remember the blood, sweat, tears and exhaustion you endured. Today you will remember the sacrifices you made, how hard you have worked & fought and the lessons taught by Ronnie. Today, when you get to the field, look around you and see how far you’ve come, be proud. Rejoice in your fans who love and admire you. Embrace your teammates and know that each and every one of them will have your back today, and you there’s. Today balls will hit the net, and bodies will hit the turf.

Today you will be unstoppable. Today you are a team. THE team.

Today, you are SODIUM

Thoughts on Motivation [link]

Remember...When we're not training, someone is training to kick our butts!

Win Forever [link - posted before the 2008 State Championship game]

"Every Game Needs A Hero, Who Will It Be?"

Quotes [link]

Hard Work and Dedication [link]

Impressions [link]

Jimmy V [link]- Coach Valvano took a seemingly unknown NC State basketball program and in 1983 won the NCAA Tournament. This is Jimmy Valvano's 1993 ESPY Awards speech. "Never give up. Never EVER give up" He died later that year of cancer.

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 minutes [link]

I guess what I'm really trying to get at here is simple, the time is now to elevate your game Sodium. You are coming off 2 impressive showings. A first place at BME and a second place finish at Nomads. You have to keep pushing yourselves. You can't let up. Yes, we have a relatively easy State Cup bracket, but what happens in round 2? What happens when we face LOSC? Or Keiser? Or OR Rush or FC? Are we going to be prepared? Are we going to ready to go to battle?
Push yourself, push your team, push your opponent. If you don't go out every practice and every game with the goal to get better, you'll get pushed out of the way.
We have watched you work, watched you sweat and watched you give it your best all year in preparation for State Cup. This is what you have sacrificed for. Commit to excellence Sodium. Commit everyday to get better. You have to put your 'Game face' on every game from here on out. You have to treat each game like you are the underdog and their is NO tomorrow. You will go to war against your opponent and show no mercy. "Trample the weak, hurdle the dead" was a great saying last year, and it holds true this year. You cannot let other teams think they can play at your level. Call it the killer instinct. You have go for the throat and NEVER let up! I've seem this team score 5-6-7 goals a game and more. You have to stride onto the field every game thinking you are going to do it again. And when you get up by a few goals, GO FOR ANOTHER! AND ANOTHER! Remember the Mia Hamm saying about leaving a lasting impression? Lady warriors you have the talent, the skills and the heart to defeat any team in Oregon. You just gotta believe. You have to believe that if you work harder, sacrifice more, push yourself further that no other team will survive but Sodium.

Because when it comes down to it, you are the only team.

You are SODIUM