I can honestly say that this injury is the biggest challenge a soccer girl could ever have to face. I would know, I have now done this twice. But yes, it is possible to return to play.
A little background on my story... The first time this happened to me I was playing in a winter outdoor game during December of 2014. My team was winning 5-0 and there was very little time left. I went to cross the ball, landed funny, and then heard the pop. I instantly went down having no clue what had just happened. It was hard to walk and I needed help off of the field. After MRIs and XRAYs later I found out I had torn my ACL. I was in disbelief because this is an injury I never thought I would have to face. Eight months of rehab later I was finally cleared to play the sport I love again. I used my fall season to adapt back to my speed of play. I would play around 20 minutes a half. Then in spring season I had found my feet again. I played every high school game of my senior season starting at left defender. We beat teams that we never had before and accomplished a lot as a program. Before I knew it I was playing in my last high school game ever with a clear vision of my future. I could not have been more excited to play at Washburn University in a few short months.
But then it happened again. It was the end of the first half and I went to stop the ball in the corner. As I stopped, the opposing player behind me ran through my knee and fell. I felt that heartbreaking pop and fell to the ground. Tears instantly filled my eyes. Not out of pain, but out of fear of the unknown and expectation of myself to play in college. My coaches rushed the field to calm me down. I left for home and visited my doctor the next day only for him to confirm what I already knew.
Flash forward to student orientation. I had to tell my new college coach that I had torn my ACL again. I didn't know what to expect. Was I still going to be on the team? Were my teammates still going to like me? Would I still be a part of things? Would I like my trainers at WU? The answer to all of this is yes. I sit here writing this four months later and I could not be more blessed with the team I have. My coach still keeps me involved, I have PT with a trainer who encourages me everyday, and my teammates are my best friends.
Injuries happen, but the way to get through them is by never giving up. It is one of the hardest things to overcome, but with a positive mind set, supportive family and teammates, and a lot of hard work, it is possible to overcome an ACL tear.
If unsure where the ACL is in relation to the knee view the link below:
https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001074.htm
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Monday, October 24, 2016
Don't Let Coach See...
As a soccer player or athlete in general there are some things that coach should never see.
2. Party Pics- At top levels most coaches follow you on social media. Do yourself a favor and keep the pictures of nights out with friends to yourself.
1. Cutting Corners on Sprints- If your coach sees this happen I apologize for what comes next. The rest of practice will most likely consist of running (soccer ball not included).
2. Party Pics- At top levels most coaches follow you on social media. Do yourself a favor and keep the pictures of nights out with friends to yourself.
3. Drinking Soda During Season- Just don't do it at team meals with your coach. If you do, expect the health lecture that follows.
4. Equipment Left Outside- Equipment costs money and coaches don't want to replace it. Most coaches will make you run as a punishment.
How To Dress For Success
After playing fourteen years of soccer it is safe to say that one thing I always do before games and practices is check the weather. This is not an uncommon task and has become almost natural over the years. If you are going to dress properly for performance it's important to know the conditions you will be playing in.
Warm, sunny days are simple. You don't have to wear anything other than your uniform. If it gets too hot it helps to roll your sleeves up, but that's about it. Don't forget to bring a water jug, especially if the predicted weather is above 80 degrees.
Rainy games are a bit tricky. While playing in the game there isn't much you can do, but it does help to bring a rain jacket or parka for warmups. Sometimes the rain will stop and if you have this you might not be soaked head to toe by kickoff time. An extra pair of socks can be helpful too in case water leaks into your cleats during warmups. If it is cold and rainy don't forget long sleeves to wear underneath.
Snow is probably the most undesirable weather condition to play soccer games in, but it does happen. If you are playing in a snowy or cold-weather game Under Armour is necessary to wear under your uniform or you will freeze. A long sleeve black fitted shirt and black leggings are the most common cold weather clothing on the field. Gloves, hand warmers, earmuffs, and double layers of socks is also helpful. What you wear during warmups is a decision for your coach, but sweatshirts, North Face jackets, sweatpants, and fuzzy socks are highly recommended.
Warm, sunny days are simple. You don't have to wear anything other than your uniform. If it gets too hot it helps to roll your sleeves up, but that's about it. Don't forget to bring a water jug, especially if the predicted weather is above 80 degrees.
Rainy games are a bit tricky. While playing in the game there isn't much you can do, but it does help to bring a rain jacket or parka for warmups. Sometimes the rain will stop and if you have this you might not be soaked head to toe by kickoff time. An extra pair of socks can be helpful too in case water leaks into your cleats during warmups. If it is cold and rainy don't forget long sleeves to wear underneath.
Snow is probably the most undesirable weather condition to play soccer games in, but it does happen. If you are playing in a snowy or cold-weather game Under Armour is necessary to wear under your uniform or you will freeze. A long sleeve black fitted shirt and black leggings are the most common cold weather clothing on the field. Gloves, hand warmers, earmuffs, and double layers of socks is also helpful. What you wear during warmups is a decision for your coach, but sweatshirts, North Face jackets, sweatpants, and fuzzy socks are highly recommended.
Soccer Parent Stereotypes
On every youth soccer team ages ten through eighteen soccer players get to experience the presence of our not-so-unique soccer parents. There are four types of parents that instantly come to mind when thinking about a soccer mom or dad.
1. The Overly Supportive Mom
This mom arrives to games or practices with her minivan full of teammates that she just picked up from the daily carpool route. When on the sidelines, she can be found wearing supportive team t-shirts or a ball cap with a glitter soccer ball on it. She always has a bag filled with sunscreen, snacks, extra socks, a first aid kit, and cash for a post game ice cream run.
2. The Anger Management Dad
This parent, usually a father, can be found on the sidelines of soccer games in his Adidas track suit with earbuds in, as if he just finished a morning jog. He is never sitting down and comments out loud about every move his daughter makes. If she gets shoved down you can expect comments like "get up" or "win it back." After games he will most likely instruct his daughter about what she needs to work on when on the field. He gets this knowledge from all zero years that he played soccer, but it sounds about right to him.
3. The Stats Keeper
This parent is the one that always knows the ranking of specific teams. When traveling to play out of town games they can list off facts like, "This team is ranked 3rd in the state of Iowa and has a winning average of 53%." They also always tend to know the last time we played a team too. So you can expect to hear comments like, "Come on girls, we don't need a repeat of September 22, 2009."
4. The Wannabe Coach
This type of parent is pretty self-explanatory. They want to be the coaches best friend and tend to mock actions of the coach. They also base all opinions off of what the coach tells the team. They can often be found watching the game behind the goal or in the corner. That way they get a clear view of what the coach is doing and saying.
Whether you have a stereotypical soccer parent of your own or know of some on the sidelines it is safe to say that they are all slightly crazy, but we love them anyways.
1. The Overly Supportive Mom
This mom arrives to games or practices with her minivan full of teammates that she just picked up from the daily carpool route. When on the sidelines, she can be found wearing supportive team t-shirts or a ball cap with a glitter soccer ball on it. She always has a bag filled with sunscreen, snacks, extra socks, a first aid kit, and cash for a post game ice cream run.
2. The Anger Management Dad
This parent, usually a father, can be found on the sidelines of soccer games in his Adidas track suit with earbuds in, as if he just finished a morning jog. He is never sitting down and comments out loud about every move his daughter makes. If she gets shoved down you can expect comments like "get up" or "win it back." After games he will most likely instruct his daughter about what she needs to work on when on the field. He gets this knowledge from all zero years that he played soccer, but it sounds about right to him.
3. The Stats Keeper
This parent is the one that always knows the ranking of specific teams. When traveling to play out of town games they can list off facts like, "This team is ranked 3rd in the state of Iowa and has a winning average of 53%." They also always tend to know the last time we played a team too. So you can expect to hear comments like, "Come on girls, we don't need a repeat of September 22, 2009."
4. The Wannabe Coach
This type of parent is pretty self-explanatory. They want to be the coaches best friend and tend to mock actions of the coach. They also base all opinions off of what the coach tells the team. They can often be found watching the game behind the goal or in the corner. That way they get a clear view of what the coach is doing and saying.
Whether you have a stereotypical soccer parent of your own or know of some on the sidelines it is safe to say that they are all slightly crazy, but we love them anyways.
Friday, October 7, 2016
Pregame Meals
No matter who you are, every soccer player has a deep love for one common thing... food.
This might sound repetitive as an athlete, but make no mistake that what you eat effects your game for either the better or for the worse.
Complex carbs is a necessity to game day meals. They break down and provide energy that you need faster than proteins or fats. Some of these carbs include pasta, rice, breads, and cereal.
Instead of boring you more with the types of food you should eat on the daily, I am going to provide you with the perfect pregame meal options.
Meal #1
Meal #2
Meal #3
Meal #4
Don't forget to end every meal with a glass of water to help digestion and stay hydrated for the game. It also helps to follow up each game with a bottle of chocolate milk.
This might sound repetitive as an athlete, but make no mistake that what you eat effects your game for either the better or for the worse.
Complex carbs is a necessity to game day meals. They break down and provide energy that you need faster than proteins or fats. Some of these carbs include pasta, rice, breads, and cereal.
Instead of boring you more with the types of food you should eat on the daily, I am going to provide you with the perfect pregame meal options.
Meal #1
- Cereal
- Banana
- Toast w/jam
- Pineapple juice
- Water
Meal #2
- Turkey sandwich
- Apple
- Milk
- Tomato juice
- Water
Meal #3
- Mac and cheese
- Bread
- Juice
- Water
Meal #4
- Pancakes
- Applesauce
- Grape Juice
- Slice of bacon
- Water
Don't forget to end every meal with a glass of water to help digestion and stay hydrated for the game. It also helps to follow up each game with a bottle of chocolate milk.
Your muscles will thank you!
To get more information on nutrition and performance of college athletes click on the link below.
http://www.ncaa.org/health-and-safety/nutrition-and-performance
To get more information on nutrition and performance of college athletes click on the link below.
http://www.ncaa.org/health-and-safety/nutrition-and-performance
Nike vs. Adidas
Nike vs. Adidas
The sports apparel rival that meets the field or court in almost every sport. Today, social media is very influential with the success of both companies and to no surprise, soccer is the sport that plays the most important role with the branding of these two names. Euro 2016 was the main kick off of the branding battle for this past year.
But who is actually winning? Adidas' Facebook follower numbers have grown twice as fast as Nike in 2016. Adidas also produces around five posts per week where Nike only posts around three. Video content by both brands get the highest amounts of engagement. This is also why Nike Soccer video promotions are always such a huge hit in the world of soccer girls (well, that and the cute soccer guys in the video).
While Adidas may be winning the battle on Facebook, Nike is a clean sweep in the Twittisphere. Nike has 4.6 million followers and growing while Adidas has around 2.5 million. They tweet about 30 times a week and Adidas posts 18.
This post by no means is a promotion for one company or the other. It's just a quick look at some of the facts that all of us wonder about when we see the two popular logos that appear on opponents jerseys.
But whether you are team Adidas or team Nike never forget, "Impossible Is Nothing" so, "Just Do It."
The sports apparel rival that meets the field or court in almost every sport. Today, social media is very influential with the success of both companies and to no surprise, soccer is the sport that plays the most important role with the branding of these two names. Euro 2016 was the main kick off of the branding battle for this past year.
But who is actually winning? Adidas' Facebook follower numbers have grown twice as fast as Nike in 2016. Adidas also produces around five posts per week where Nike only posts around three. Video content by both brands get the highest amounts of engagement. This is also why Nike Soccer video promotions are always such a huge hit in the world of soccer girls (well, that and the cute soccer guys in the video).
While Adidas may be winning the battle on Facebook, Nike is a clean sweep in the Twittisphere. Nike has 4.6 million followers and growing while Adidas has around 2.5 million. They tweet about 30 times a week and Adidas posts 18.
This post by no means is a promotion for one company or the other. It's just a quick look at some of the facts that all of us wonder about when we see the two popular logos that appear on opponents jerseys.
But whether you are team Adidas or team Nike never forget, "Impossible Is Nothing" so, "Just Do It."
Thursday, October 6, 2016
Meet Mal Pugh
Mallory Pugh. 18 Years old. Soccer legend.
To begin, it is
crazy to think that this girl is actually my age. She is the true definition of
“goals” in the mind of a high school or college soccer girl. For those of you who don’t know Mal Pugh I am
here to tell her story. She is an American soccer player who plays for the U.S.
Women’s National Soccer Team and also a member of the UCLA Women’s team. She is
from Colorado where she played for the ECNL team of Real Colorado. Pugh also
was the youngest member of the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup that took place
in Canada. At age 17 she was also the youngest soccer player to premier on the U.S.
team in January of 2016 since Heather O’Reilly back in 2002. Some of her awards
include U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year and Gatorade National Girls
Soccer Player of the Year in 2015. In 2016 she was the youngest player selected
for the Olympic U.S. Women’s Team.
Feeling accomplished yet?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)