As many know I am currently taking some time off from coaching soccer. I felt like I needed a bit of a break and when the team I was coaching all moved up an age group I decided it was a good time to step back for a while. I didn't completely leave soccer. I still play on our Men's and Co-ed Tauro team and I am also on the Technical Committee for Eastside Youth Soccer Association. However, I was asked to coach the U12 boys premier team again this winter but turned it down so I wouldn't be so busy that I couldn't spend time with my new daughter. I also gave up running our Men's Tauro team a few seasons ago and now just play on it.The reason I mention that is that in my past I have often been known as "the soccer guy" to many people...that's soccer guy, not god. I'm not the best soccer player in the world by any stretch of the imagination and truthfully I don't even follow international soccer or the European soccer all that much (though I don't mind watching a game or the highlights). But I have always been passionate about soccer. When I came back from Africa in grade 8 I wanted to play soccer in gym. In high school I was on the soccer team from grade 9-12 and was a captain in my final year. I played soccer at Bethany Bible College and really pushed to get the soccer program going convincing the school to let us go to tournaments in Abbottsford though it was a 16-18 hour trip one way. I pushed to get the coaching job at Bethany College to coach the men's and women's teams and then coached the men's team for many years. I started up the Alumni Soccer Tournament at the school to get players to come back and play. I took my soccer coaching courses and obtained my full Community Coach certification to get better and got involved in youth soccer in the city to become a better coach. I was an instructor in a soccer program to teach players that wanted to get better in certain skill areas. I have coached everything from college kids to kids 10-12 years old in a variety of skill levels (although mostly premier) and was even an assistant coach on the Saskatchewan Under 13 boys Provincial team.
That entire last paragraph sounds like bragging, but that's not how I mean it. The point is, I felt that my passion for soccer people saw gave me the stigma of being "the soccer guy". I felt that people thought all I cared about was soccer. When people I only knew casually would talk to me, they would start to talk soccer. After a while it seemed to get to me because I wasn't sure if I wanted to be only known for one thing. I was feeling like all people thought I was was a soccer guy.
Over the last couple years I've been trying to decide if that is what I want to be. Is it ok to be known as a one trick pony? I think these thoughts have stopped me from going further with my soccer coaching skills. For the last number of years I've been wanting to obtain my B-License in coaching which would be great to have, but I think part of me hesitates doing that because that will pigeon hole me even more into being labelled as "a soccer guy". I'm not sure why I don't want that.
What do you think? Is it better to be well rounded and mediocre at a lot of things, or is it ok to be labelled and always known as "the soccer guy", or "the ribbon dancing girl" or "the audio sound guy". Any thoughts?
4 comments:
One trick pony. How about old dog. As in 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'. Are you really going to able to put the effort in to becoming an amazing cook, carpenter, or dancer. Probably not. I think poeple should embrace their passion. And as I spend yet another night on the couch cause I went to play soccer I just can't help myself. I don't think you would be 'not well rounded' just REALLY good at something, and somewhat good to okay at other things.
A heard a pastor say once "We praise what we prize". That kind of passion is great if pointed at stuff that "lasts" - wife, family, God, friends. The risk with people (I find) who seem almost "obsessive" about one thing (video games, soccer, being broke, work... name it) are those that seem kinda stuck in a rut. The fact is that we all should be multi-faceted. Loving soccer isn't a problem: but if that was all someone felt they could have a conversation with you about... might be an issue even as you try to expand as a new dad, or in your ministry at church.
Just for the record though: I find we can talk to you about much more than soccer. :) But if you're worried about that - personal reflection doesn't ever hurt. Interesting post, btw: it's making me wonder what I'm known as. (lol) One guess: That girl who blogs. :-D
Thanks for the comments! I don't know if I would call it "can't teach an old dog new tricks". I agree that I probably would have trouble getting really good at something new, but I guess what I'm wondering is more what Kendall says, "What am I known for?". If I'm only known for one thing, is that ok? Or is it better to be known just as a regular person? I think most people are known as a regular person. It's those people that as soon as you see them you think "soccer guy" or whatever. What I'm wondering is, is that ok? or more specifically, "am I ok with it?"
That makes sense. well I think most great people are known mostly for just the thing they were great at, plus a lot of poeple are not really not known for anything. I think being known for something would be better than just being a regular person.
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