Last letter to my soccer team... my Warriors! Thought you might enjoy, What is interesting is that in 12 years of coaching, I never had a difficult parent or a difficult player... or, maybe it was the power for harmony ;-)
Harmony was at the heart of every moment with this team.
Dear Warrior Nation:
Thank you for a wonderful get together and a special night. Congratulations on a great year and a great Spring Season. This email will be a little long, so I apologize up front.
ON WINNING
It is FUN to end up the season at number 1…. To walk away with a medal and a little extra swagger. But, as I have said many times, I don’t measure my life by winning. Think of it this way, on that 1 – 0 win over Vernon, they had a header on a virtually open goal. The header hit the post and bounced back into Ben’s waiting hands. If that ball had gone into the goal, we would have ended up in third. Would that have made our experience together over the past year different in any meaningful way? Luck and external factors play a role in winning. Again, winning is FUN… and it’s clearly the preferred result in competition – specially in sporting competition. But, in LIFE, focus on giving it all you’ve got. That is what is in your control. And, as we’ve discussed – if you give it all you’ve got, over and over again, you will very likely win, more often than you lose. That has certainly been our experience with the Warriors.
Celebrate specially big when you manage to win… but celebrate every competition… and make the “expectation” - giving it all you’ve got.
FOR THOSE OF US WHO JUST JOINED THE WARRIORS THISYEAR
There is a poem that I love, that I have shared with our team in the past, but its particularly relevant to those of you who spent a year with the team…
It seems wherever I go,
People come into my life or go out of it,
Touching me where I feel
Then leaving me only a memory.
Like the Gossamer fairy tales of children,
Easily Forgotten
And I wasn’t through knowing them.
So, how do I know who I am seeing for the last time?
How do you halt your life to gather and keep
All those around you that you’ve ever known?
And how do you keep fairy tales from
Losing their magic?
But come,
Brush against the walls of my life
And stay long enough for us to know each other,
Even though we’ll have to part sometime.
And we both know,
The longer you stay
The more I’ll want you when you are gone.
But come anyway,
For fairy tales are the happiest
Stories we read,
And great books are made of
Little chapters...
Author “Unknown”
ON COACHING
As I mentioned yesterday, coaching for me has been a dream come true. It has allowed me to stay a kid for a very long time. Thank you for letting me play! As a kid, I wanted to be THAT Dad that got to coach his kids. And, as a coach, I wanted to be the coach that had THAT team… You know… THAT team that makes all the fun noise at the games. THAT team that seems to work a little harder than all the rest. THAT team that you remember for a lifetime. THAT team where the parents seem to get along and are happy to be a part of it. THAT team that seems to enjoy the game more than all the rest. THAT team that plays strong and never gives up… THAT team that everyone quietly wishes “I wish that I could be on THAT team!”… THAT team is the one I wanted to coach... and that team is exactly the team that I have had the pleasure of coaching for years… and this past year was wonderful.
When I was a kid, I wanted the coaches to see me, to believe in me and what I could do, and could explain the game to me in terms that made sense. That is the coach that I have tried to be. I see the superstar in every one of my players… I speak to the superstar in each one of my players. And, what I love most about coaching young men, is that when you speak to the superstar inside of them… the superstar shows up and gets bigger and stronger!
I have loved coaching – and I am so very grateful to each and every one of you for giving me the opportunity to do it with such great young men, and such great adults. And, thank you to my most humble and gracious assistant coach, Coach Ben.
GOING FORWARD
So, soccer is over for us, but we are all still here. As I have said before, if you need anything… if you have any questions about anything that you think I may be able to help you with…. Please do not hesitate to ask.
You know my contact information. Also, I will get pictures from the party on drop box so that everyone can get a copy!
WARRIORS – CONGRATULATIONS on finishing number 1, but more importantly, congratulations for being exactly who you are – for working as you worked – and for enjoying the ride together. Congrats to those of you playing travel, and good luck to those of you trying out this week.
DREAM BIG Warriors…
and remember keep showing up and giving them all you’ve got!
Always, BELIEVE in the warrior inside of you.
THANK YOU for allowing me to coach “THAT” team…. “THAT team”, that I will treasure forever!
It has been atrue pleasure.
Your most grateful warrior,
Coach Nestor