Notes from Peru (Sept. 13, 2010) A Lesson in Overcoming Adversity Arequipa is a beautiful place in Peru. Not so much after a 5-0 loss to Paraguay and a 2-0 loss to Columbia. Losing and how it affects players mentally is very difficult to deal with at any level, and particularly for these men after an outstanding performance in Ireland. This brings to mind the importance of learning from adversity in the game of soccer. In soccer, like life, often the greatest growth comes from adversity … not running from it but overcoming the biggest obstacles. Too often players are taught when they don't play or play poorly; it is okay to search for a reason outside themselves or they want to be told they played well. It seems many parents believe in only positive reinforcement and protecting their kids from any perceived negative experience. What they learn is an unrealistic view of their abilities and when someone doesn't support that view and challenges them to improve they learn they don't have to complete commitments and to just find a new place where their told what they want to hear... Just quit and take your ball to the next playground. In my experience, those players never make it very far. Not just in soccer – but in life. If you take it personally every time someone doesn't play you or pick you, or your boss corrects you, the result will be the same. Players and young people must learn accountability and gain the experience of performing in adverse conditions and learning from criticism no matter how strong. They need to understand that what seems a crisis at the moment really isn't the life-changing, confidence-crushing experience it may look like in the moment. Like many things, it is all in how you approach it … which brings me back to beautiful Peru. Things have not gone how any of us “planned” or hoped. It’s frankly started off rocky. And, if these players want to accomplish their goals, they will have to overcome these conditions. Nervous or not, successful or not, learning to respond with maturity and continuing to improve is the lesson they must be certain to grasp. No other lesson will carry a player further in his or her development. I have been fortunate to witness our U20 teams win a lot but after a brutal loss practice this critical discipline. For example, the altitude here is 8,000 feet and many of the U20 players have had altitude sickness and experienced extreme fatigue, as well as other debilitating symptoms early in the games as their bodies adjusted. Mind you, these players are all incredibly fit and prepared, but still hindered by big hurdles. The U20 MNT lost their first game 5-0. Sure, they had plenty of built-in excuses: altitude, no time to train together, an extremely young group with opponents used to conditions. But, instead these young men chose the route of “no excuses.” In the second game, they responded and were 0-0 at half against a team far better than the first team they played. If not for a dubious penalty call (which always seems to happen in South American countries, I might add), the team would have likely come out ahead. Instead of crumbling, the team and each individual player dug in and worked to overcome the obstacles in front him. Even down a goal they continued the fight. It was a great response. I fully expect the players to continue to improve in the next game. It’s clear each of these players has grown a little thicker skin responding to critique needed after a poor game and the adversity of the loss in a positive manner. Did they like losing? No. Are they improving because of how they collectively responded? Absolutely. We could all benefit from the same experience.
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