I’ve been in hiding lately it seems. It’s been difficult to get out of the house, to interact with others, to watch TV or listen to music. I’ve never been through anything like this, the constant doubts and intermittent depression, the frustration, and seeming so disconnected from life as I knew it.
I had a concussion.
I grew up playing sports, mostly soccer but lots of other stuff too. I was never knocked out while playing, but I know I’ve been hit in the head plenty of times. I played soccer consistently up until a few years ago. I had tendinitis in my knee that was bothering me, but also hated heading the ball because of the instant headaches I would get. I didn’t think much of it, just chalked it up to getting older.
I was coaching my Soccer in the Streets team of young adults one night and an errant shot hit me in the back of the head. It was extremely painful, but I didn’t think much of it. I had a headache, but had one before practice started so didn’t think much more of it. The headache was starting to feel like a migraine by the time I started driving home, and I was getting nauseous. I treated it like the once per year migraines I’ll get, ibuprofen and a cold rag over my eyes in a dark room. I slept okay that night.
The next day I woke up and felt okay, but still with a headache. I decided to work from home and was doing fine for a few hours until a fairly sudden wave of extreme headache, nausea, and dizziness took over. I laid down and stayed in bed for the rest of the day. From there on, sleeping was difficult, the dizziness was pretty common when I was up, and bright lights made everything worse.
Luckily, we’ve worked with a great athletic trainer during my time with Atlanta FC and the Silverbacks Reserves and he helped me through the recovery. Just having his expertise on call has helped me relax, thank you Adam for all of your help with this.
His tips helped make things more manageable and his advice sped up the recovery. It’s been slow, but I know it would have been worse otherwise. I’ve been able to do a little bit at a time in recent weeks, but I’m slower and have less stamina than usual. I’ve been able to work in little spurts at a time, everybody has helped make that process easier. i’m extremely thankful for our Soccer in the Streets team.
Concussions really are difficult. The signs aren’t obvious to anyone but you. There was no blood, no broken bones, no obvious signs of it, but it was by far the most debilitating thing that has ever happened to me. I couldn’t imagine the suffering that people who have had to deal with far more severe concussions have gone through.
Even writing this much has tired me out a bit. I know I have to take it slow, limit my focus and try not to multi-task too much, and ease back into normalcy. I’m trying, but it’s tough to manage.
Thanks for reading my ramblings.
We’ve been struggling at Soccer in the Streets lately about the best way to phrase our curriculum/program manual/philosophy. What we do can’t be put into a cookie cutter curriculum, passed out to coaches, and then put into action step by step. It isn’t possible now at our 12 program locations across metro Atlanta, it definitely wouldn’t work as we expand further.
Each site has its own personality and things that work there but might now work elsewhere. For example, your soccer activities are going to be different working with a group that plays consistently than with a group that has never played before. Our current sites run the gamut from experienced, high level players to kids who have never touched a soccer ball.
So, a step-by-step curriculum won’t apply to what we do. However, our coaches also have a varied skill level. They need to have the flexibility to choose from a menu of possible activities, but also some concrete examples for them to see.
The word manifesto came up, and I’m gravitating more and more to it to describe this document. It will be heavy on the philosophy of why we teach the game in the manner that we do, but also give examples to show this in action. It’s a way to document what we do, and hopefully replicate it in the best way possible.
Heavy assignment, but looking forward to getting it nailed down and put into use.
Read this: http://blog.chron.com/soccer/2012/05/klinsmann-shows-ignorance-of-american-culture/
This is a very mixed up argument and issue. I agree with the gist that Coach Klinsmann might not fully understand the American soccer mentality and psyche.
I also agree that American soccer fans don’t want to see Barcelona style mobs of players whining to referees. As much as I love the style Barca plays with, I hate that aspect of their game. However, I do understand the effectiveness of it and why Klinsmann would make that point.
However, there is nothing wrong with Klinsmann’s point about “stepping on toes”. The physical side of the game is part of the game, it’s undeniable. I’m not the biggest fan of teams that are only able to put their stamp on the game with physicality, but it can be effective. If a team like Brazil is running over the US with skill and flair, something has to be figured out.
Klinsmann comes from a different soccer culture than most of us in the US. Isn’t that why he was hired? At the highest level, it’s all about winning and getting results. These little things are a part of that. It’s not minivans and orange slices with the US national team anymore…
Nasty boys win trophies.
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)
First time I’ve heard this cover, one of my favorite random old hits.
Pandora pulled up Prince’s “7” this morning, one of my all-time favorites. Found this pretty cool live performance, still have to find a way to see this man live, he’s at the top of my “MUST SEE” list…
This scene is one of those perfect real life moments. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed just the right song to sing along to in the car and skipped around trying to find it. Am I the only one who was like, “That’s me!”?
