One month in and I already know this is going to be once in a lifetime experience and coming to JCC I know not only will I be a Jayhawk for life but also have my American soccer team as a family and friends for life. We all get along amazingly and all share such a strong bond that I thought would of taken the entire season to reach but for us only took not even two days. Everyone I meet at college and outside college all I ask me similar questions of “Why America?” “How did you up and move leaving your family?” “Why?”
I respond the same way to all. Smile and say, why not? It is not everyday you get to experience to play soccer and study in an American college! Yes, its terrifying, scary and sad leaving my family and friends back home, but I have already learnt so much independence, confidence and understanding of living away from parents and overseas. Plus the responsibility is all on my shoulders. Don’t have Mum and Dad to ask what I should do or if I should go or buy this. It’s honestly one big learning exciting experience that I am lucky enough to say I get to live.
I would tell anyone that asked me if they should go? It’s simple, yes. Go travel, learn, discover and experience. Push the envelope and get out of your comfort zone and see what you are capable of, push the boundaries and yourself. You will never know just sitting there guessing and hoping, go out and achieve what you have always dreamt of. Cause I certainly am doing so, here at Jamestown Community College being a Jayhawk for Women’s Soccer and studying my dream career, not much more I can top that with!
- Describe your first day of training
1st of August 2pm we went over to the field all excited and nervous. Was a beautiful warm summer day (probably around 26/28’C) and did training for two hours. The first thing coach made us do was a light jog around the oval. Next thing was run through of our warm up drill. One long line and did warm ups like high knees, back kicks, lunges, high kicks, open gate etc., to 10m then sprint 5m then jog back and do next exercise. After that it was two lines and passing ball first was two touches then dribble do a move then pass, down to one pass and close the gap between the pass. After that we started the fitness. Everything possible squats, lunges, push ups, sit-ups, crunches and burpees. First day of training coach reckons we did probably 100 to 150 burpees through out the training. Next were step-ups on the ‘bleachers’ inclining push-ups and some more burpees! After that coach sat us down for five minutes to have a talk with us about what he expected of us and what we should expect from one another in the team. Then got into circle passing ball around introducing ourselves more properly to the entire team. Name, where we were from, high school, and the degree going to study at JCC. After that did a set of push-ups, burpees and mountain climbers. Then got in a circle and juggled the ball but as a group had to adjust around the ball was a bit of fun. Just when we thought I was over…Hill sprints. We did about 5sets of 5 hill sprints but at end of each sprint had to do burpees. We then jogged back to Gym where coach then let us leave. I left feeling absolutely exhausted, excited and sore. The next day I woke up and had muscles sore everywhere I didn’t expect (shoulders and arms especially.) The hardest part about the training for me was the weather. At Jamestown the heat isn’t a dry heat like Sydney it was a humid and muggy heat that just made it that much harder to breathe in fresh air. But only took couple of days to adjust to different altitudes and now I am use to it.
After that intro into training we were training 7am to 10am every weekday and is constantly at high intensity and coach would make us go for 1mile (1.3km) and 2mile (3.5km) through out the week to help with our fitness. During pre season we never trained at our school to save our field for game day. So we changed at a field down the road for two weeks then also trained one week on turf. Turf (artificial field) is very different to play and train on. In ways it’s amazing, all flat and no holes/bumps. However cause its all cut the same height the ball moves a lot faster off it and spins a lot more. Plus it feels ten degree hotter on turf then it actually is off it. It is a great learning curve for me as it taught me to control my kicks, finer ball skill and power along with the speed of the game was faster so again it improved our fitness.
- Describe how the team is looking?
Within first 30minutes of our first training session it was like I knew these girls for years and we gel so well all together, complementing one another’s skills and techniques along with helping improve all as a team. Obviously not one team is perfect or amazing but we all bring something different to the table that helps make us look like a strong competitor this season! Coach and us girls are all very excited for what the future in this season holds. 3weeks of pre season training for 3hours a day have certainly helped us reached a level of fitness and ball skill that helps now in finer drills and playing the games.
- How’s your coach?
Coach Dana Shelters is an amazing coach who helps us all together as a team, but also as an individual player. Realizing our full potential and what we have to bring to the team. Not one girl is left behind and we all encourage and push one another to be our absolute best. He goes above and beyond for us Jayhawks and certainly makes this a once in a lifetime experience being part of this soccer team. One thing he always emphasizes is, once a Jayhawk always a Jayhawk and that we are a family. I can certainly say that this soccer team is my American Family and have made me feel so welcome with open arms.
Another thing I love is we don’t just have one coach. We also have assistant coach Sarah Hodges Chimera, who helps give yet another perspective into what both coaches expect from us along with her own opinion from her experiences in college soccer. Personally, I like having the two of them work together, they bounce off one another when making pointers in the game or drills and it gives us more available help to us when needed and they always have the answer to anything we ask.
- Are you having fun?
YES! Moving across the world leaving family and friends behind is daunting don’t get me wrong, but being in a new environment and learning to be independent and playing the sport I absolutely love and starting the degree I’ve dreamed of since I was little all in America. I mean, who cant say they aren’t having fun!?
Not only am I learning so much about myself as an individual but as well as a player on the field. Without a doubt every day is a new experience for me and sharing with people who all have same passion towards soccer makes it that more enjoyable and fun!