top of page

2025 Wish: Enjoy building memories

Writer's picture: excelsoccerexcelsoccer


Tibi's Soccer Team in Hungary
Tibi's Soccer Team in Hungary

Happy New Year!  As we start the new year, I want to dedicate this blog to our athletes. Let's celebrate the new year by appreciating the work that athletes put into soccer and remember you are building vital memories with your children. 


Remember that our athletes are working very hard and are putting a lot of time and effort to their favorite sport, soccer!  Our athletes are making sacrifices every day.  The photo for this blog has a picture of me as a former professional soccer player. I am in the second row. Can you find me? Now that picture brings back memories! I know the effort it takes to succeed in soccer. Many people will only see the athlete on the soccer field.  Only the athlete, themselves, knows how much they do every day to be successful. 


Athletes are motivated to be physically active, achieve their soccer goals, win games, and build friendships.  But we often forget the other biggest reason for why our children put so much time into their sport.  They want to make YOU...US (including myself as a parent) HAPPY.


Children know and understand their parents love of sports.  As parents we love our children and we introduce them to this wonderful world of sports at a young age. They will try and hopefully fall in love with the sport. And that's when the journey begins. 


I've watched athletes look at their parents before, during and after the games. They want feedback from their parents. They want to know what you think, what would you have done differently, and overall, your thoughts on their overall performance. Yes, the athlete is looking to do well and win.  But most importantly, they want to play for you. They want to make you happy and proud!  They want to give all they have and that is a wonderful gift!


At this age, the athletes are so young, even high schoolers, and they don’t have any other way to thank you.  Athletes know how much parents do for them - whether it is to pay the cost of the uniforms, provide all of the travel, and the overall sacrifices that we all make to help our athletes grow in their sport.  


My message to our families is simple. Enjoy the moment. Always be kind and happy for them.  Yes, I say this to myself too! As parents, we get to travel to places throughout our child's soccer journey. We may go to places that we never would have gone to otherwise.  And I am not talking about Lodi! We spend countless hours in the car whether it is to and from games or to practices.  


The bond you build with your children throughout this wonderful journey is priceless. I know we like to give tactical guidance and advice and pep talks. I am guilty of doing so! Let's all turn this time into an incredible gift and a special experience.  Enjoy the ride as they are moving through life with the speed of light and we might miss a thing or two. I know I did.


My daughter, Lily, is graduating from University of Massachusetts this spring and just competed in nationals with her college club team. Now those are memories I will never forget. But it is not always the big moments. As I reflect on her soccer journey, I know I have so many memories of places and things we shared. We are grateful to each other and to the memories the sport created! 


Do I remember all the games I went to watch?  I do not. I will remember the terrible smell of her goalie gloves.  (Yes, I threw up one or three times.) Her messy hair after the game with her big smile. The muddy, dirty uniform after a rainy game. The breakfasts, lunches and dinners at various places and the countless trips to the gas station, hotels, and even airports. And how can I forget the nasty bathrooms or port-a potties along the way. I will remember the music selection.  The debate on who gets to pick the music. Is it my euro trash (dance and trance) or AC/DC and Aerosmith, or is it, as we called it country Sunday, with just country music?


Remember, the friends and families around us is what makes these memories complete and unforgettable.  I would not trade this for anything in the world.  So thanks to my daughter, Lily, and to each one of your children who I've had the pleasure to know throughout all these years.  You are wonderful, resilient, dedicated, relentless, reliable, respectful, smart and brilliant.


As I always say…  Is there anything better than soccer this in the world?


My new year's wish for you all is to have many great memories in 2025!   Be safe, be kind and know love never fails.


Cheers

Tibi


392 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Never fear. The Hungarian is here.

Join Our Email List

 

  • Twitter Social Icon
  • Facebook Social Icon
  • Instagram Social Icon
  • YouTube - White Circle

© 2018 Excel Soccer Skills Development

Created with Wix.com

bottom of page