it’s warming up…

14 April 2013
Weekly Review 8th – 14th April 2013
Saw the first warm day in Amsterdam since last year, today! That means summer is right around the corner and having better weather coming has lifted up my mood somewhat. The week went like this:
Played in a U/23 game on Tuesday night. There were only a few reserve team players and the rest were u/18 players and 1-2 trialists. I looked over to the opposition warming up and I was like fuck this, I don’t want to be playing with kids In the warm up. I didn’t feel right. I felt tired and sore and not very energetic at all. I starred as a right winger and had the worst first half I’ve had in a year. At half time I said to the coach “I feel sick, give me 5-10 minutes in the toilet” – so I could use it as a excuse for not playing well. I went to the toilet and I gave myself a talking to. Like what the “Fuck am I doing right now? Wake the fuck up Nick!”  So then I was switched to left back in the second half and I did overall pretty well with defending. We ended up winning 6-2. One of the goals they scored was my fault though, I let their winger get in too easily and he crossed it to someone for the finish. I think the tiredness and lack of enthusiasm came from just being tired, I don’t think I ate enough before and didn’t sleep as much as I should have.
Trained in two Damsko sessions this week, nothing special.
Felt good before the game on Sunday against AFC. I said to myself that I just need to focus on driving at defenders when it’s one on one, pass the ball or cross when it’s two. Take shots, be careful with my back to the ball, go inside and scream for the ball. I had a feeling I would start, but that wasn’t the case at all and I ended up just coming on for the last 5-10 minutes. We won 6-2 (again) and I made a few good runs and got some crosses in for the time I was on. Whatever, it was a nice day to be outside anyway at the rest of my day was spent in Vondelpark with friends here. That’s about it.

Goal Journal

Long term goals
Play professionally by end of summer 2013
Short term goals
1. be more explosive
doing this!
General comment: Really focusing my workout exercises on more dynamic, explosive ones. Focus less on the arms now.
2. make a real habit of scanning alot
Have to focus on this.
General comment: Not scanning enough and not making a real habit when I could really shine out of tight positions.
3. Ongoing – Find out what makes great players, great. What separates the “great” from the “good”.

4. Defend better

a. communication
b. knowing who should be marking who.
5. Build LinkedIn network
Added a few contacts..
6. Plan better.
I need to be more efficent about exactly what I’m going to do in my workouts, rather than just make it up as I go.
accomplished: be stronger off the ball,  quicker plays, don’t let attackers run inside, play long ball forward instead of risky passback, 
Plan & Checklist – Did 13 hours. Next Week 15 hours.  
Monday: personal session gym and football and a bit of yoga with school
Tuesday: u/23 match
Wednesday: personal session + gym
Thursday: damsko session + club training + stay behind
Friday: damsko session + gym and personal session at usc
Sat: rest
Sunday: game

U/23 game on Tuesday, expecting to start in that as a right winger hopefully.

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In 2009, I was an average soccer player with a dream. I started this blog to document my journey from local underdog to getting offered over $100,000 in soccer scholarships, a contract to play professionally and the experience of playing in Europe.
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