Enjoy the Journey
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The most difficult thing to do in competitive youth sports is to enjoy the journey.
This goes for players and…parents!
For the players reading this…
“You are only young once”.
Embrace it, love it, and enjoy the process. Simply be better than yesterday.
Enjoy the freakin journey! It goes by so quick.
Trust me, these are the wonder years.
One day, you may look back on this amazing decade and realize you took it too seriously. I don’t want this for you.
Embrace the big moments and cherish the little ones.
You felt great at practice? Soak it in. You made that sweet play along the sidelines? Be proud of it.
Don’t let criticism cripple your actions. Don’t let the doubters take space in your head. Don’t let your parents make you feel less than.
Don’t hold back. Never hold back.
Enjoy the journey of being a soccer player.
P.S. – Parents, I challenge you to share these amazing moments with your kids without applying too much pressure on them. They’ll figure out their path. Encourage them to work hard and be a good human. Focus on effort (work rate), not results (wins and losses).
Written By: Beau Bridges
Beau is the founder of SoccerNovo, dedicated to helping players and parents navigate the youth soccer landscape. As a former youth coach and soccer parent, he shares insights on player development, recruiting, and the ever-evolving soccer scene in the U.S.
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