OaktonWSoc
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@oaktonWSoc
Oakton College Women’s Soccer. D2 JUCO. Insta: @oaktonWSoc @oaktonowls Rated #1 ROI school in IL per @usedgov
We receive so many recruiting emails that tell the same story: I have very good grades, I am a hard worker, I am all this and all that on the soccer field. Very few of them describe their mentality. At the college level, our livelihood is dependent upon the performance of our team and in addition to the obvious, we seek out players who hate losing more than they like winning. Talent is plentiful in the youth soccer pool but it is this mentality X factor that creates separation. It is clearly an intangible that is not always easy to measure, but will usually be evident in the way players approach the game: audibly firing up their team in close games, sprinting into the net to grab the ball after a goal, running down an attacker after giving the ball away, hitting a slide tackle to prevent a ball going over endline for corner. Many say this is something you are born with, the way you are wired, but like anything else mentality can be improved. For those who want to play at the next level, don’t ignore this important piece of athletics. @WMTribeWSOC #Mentality #CollegeSoccer
Our brain is wired to remember more bad than good. Conscious repetition of the good is important. You become what you repeat.
“Without therapy, I might be one of those names that make people go, ‘Ah yeah, Diego Luna … What happened to him?’” USMNT and Real Salt Lake star Diego Luna opened up about how much therapy is helping his battle with mental health issues and anxiety 🗣️ “I’m sad to admit this, but I only began to consider therapy when my mental health started to affect my soccer,” Luna wrote. “At the start of 2024, I wasn’t scoring goals. I wasn’t even starting regularly. I had also just become a father.” “Having a son at 19 was a huge challenge, especially mentally, and I felt like the walls were closing in on me.” “Growing up in a Latino family, you were supposed to handle your emotions by doing something, like playing soccer. Out on the pitch, I was always a fighter, ‘a dog,’ as Pablo Mastroeni likes to say. As a ‘real man,’ I wanted to figure things out on my own.” “I felt like the walls were closing in on me. One day, I simply caved in. When I left [my first therapy session], I still had tears in my eyes. I felt blessed that I had found such a good therapist right away.” “Six days later, I scored my first goal of the season. I could feel the difference. The air was fresher. My feet were lighter. My mind was clearer.” “Seven months later, I won the MLS Young Player of the Year. Gradually, I became the father I wanted to be. As a dad, you can’t be angry all the time. You can’t lock yourself in your room all day. Your highs and lows can’t be extreme. You have to be the rock for your family,” “The more therapy I’ve done, the more I’ve realized I can’t be the only one who would benefit from this kind of help.” “I’ve played for three clubs in four states. I’ve had a son at 19. I can honestly say that, without help, I’d be a lost cause.” “Without therapy, I might be one of those names that make people go, ‘Ah yeah, Diego Luna … What happened to him?’” “If you can relate to what I’m telling you here, please try it out. Don’t wait. Too many people suffer in silence until their 40s and 50s. It’s not cool to be depressed and ‘tough.’” “Getting help is the brave thing to do. I’m telling you that as a friend. Open the door. Get out of the darkness. You don’t have to do this alone.” [via The Players’ Tribune]
