EVERYTHING I WILL EVER

TEACH MY SON I LEARNED

FROM FOOTBALL.Nicolas Makelberge

www.makelberge.com @nclsmklbrg

Don't be afraid to approach people you admire for although they might dismiss you, they'll secretly commend you on your excellent taste and judgement.

Find a mentor

1

All teams have their unique constitution, dynamic and maturity and need different skills and abilities at different times. If you fit in everywhere, something's not right.

Don’t worry if you don't make the team

2

Being hard on yourself is what sets you apart and makes you want to continuously improve. At the end of the day however, be your own best friend. You’ll spend a lot of time in the comfort of your own solitude practicing long after everyone else gone home.

Be your own best friend

3

Preparation reassures you that you'll at least not make a complete ass out of yourself, it also gives you the relaxed confidence necessary to be spontaneous and playfully brilliant.

Preparation breeds confidence

4

Rest as much as you practice, both mentally and physically. Practice shapes the sword while rest sharpens it before battle.

Don't overextend

5

Winning teams attract a lot of aspiring players as most hard work has already been done. Don’t be afraid to join any team as long as you see how you can be a contributing factor to its success.

Don't always look to join winning teams

6

Get as much time on the pitch as you can. Choose a manager who believes in you and for which you will get to play - no matter if it’s the big-leagues or not.

Participate

7

Finding out where you’re of most value takes time. Sometimes you need to try many different roles to discover your true talents. You’ll be surprised.

Take some time to fit in

8

Teammates know how you like your football served up, and vice versa. They come to your aid when you’re in trouble - something that takes courage, empathy and imagination.

Teammates are like your mom

9

The reason people aren’t valuing your qualities is because they can't see them or they are threatened by them. In both cases - change team.

If you’re undervalued, change team

10

Words attract unnecessary attention and pressure. Don't throw unnecessary ones out there that you have to anxiously live up to. Let others do the talking and let them eat their words, not you. Let your opinion come out by your actions, not your mouth.

Let your game do the talking

11

Most people are not good at being at the right place at the right time as they hate being alone. Rather, learn to be comfortable with solitude. By reading the game and going against the current you buy valuable time that will make you look faster than you really are.

Find yourself some space

12

Everyone's got an opinion, but few are worth listening to.Only listen to people you admire

13

Praise is “criticism in disguise” as once you fear not being praised, you’re at the mercy of it. Instead, try cultivating an concentrated indifference. It’s one of the most difficult things you will ever do.

Take praise with a pinch of salt

14

If you fear the responsibility of the ball, you choke, become predictable and lose your creative spontaneity. Instead, try seeing it as an honour and no coincident that you’re entrusted it.

Don’t shun responsibility

15

All great goals are based on great teamwork. Sloppy and inconsiderate passes come out of anxiety or negligence. No striker in the world is superhuman and can make up for sloppy preparation - not even the greatest star.

Be considerate

16

When you play it defensively, your opponent not only exhausts himself, he also lulls himself into a false sense of security. As he's getting tired - you're saving energy. Many people get hurt from picking up snakes they assume are dead.

Retreat at times

17

The cunning always take advantage of chaos, by which they take their opponent off guard. Pay extra attention to what your opponent is thinking when chaos appears. If he isn’t thinking - great.

Chaos equals opportunity

18

At times it might be necessary to dramatise an injustice as a lot of subtly nasty thing aren’t exposed until exaggerated. However, don't “dive” frivolously and with bad judgement - or you’ll not only lose the respect of your opponents but secretly that of your teammates as well.

“Dive” only with good taste

19

Your biggest rival is actually your best friend. The challenges he poses helps you discover abilities you never knew you had. Try connecting to this change in attitude and you'll find yourself approaching competition in a whole new way.

Your rival is not your enemy

20

Your opponent is beyond your control, worrying about him steals energy from what you can control - your game. Relax and do your work. Trust your intuition, and the intuition of your coach.

Don't worry about your opponent

21

Displaying an unusual amount of nonchalance (such as fancy footwork or a dismissive dribble) in the face of adversity can ignite a whole team. Make sure your defiance of circumstance comes out of faith and conviction not stupid show-off.

Be cool

22

A mess is yours until you flag it. As you’ve spotted it, you're probably the one who can do something about it - even if it's beyond your responsibility.

As soon as you spot a mess, it's yours

23

Courage comes from caring. Once you stop caring, your courage goes with it. Doing what you care about allows you to transcend fears, anxieties and vanities - the achilles heal of anyone who wants to achieve anything.

Get off the pitch if your heart is not in it

24

If you feel you're not contributing, ask to be substituted. There's no shame in that, quite the opposite. It takes courage and humility to acknowledge that you’re not up for the task at the moment.

Allow yourself bad days

25

Time teaches you what to prioritise When you’re young you try everything to see what works, that’s fine. If you do the same when you’re older - you’re probably desperate. Don’t go chasing all balls in your zone. Save energy for when and where it matters.

26

Keep on until the final whistle blows Games can change radically in stoppage time. Giving up ahead of time is not only bad character, it's disheartening for everyone in your team. On the other hand, there's nothing more motivating than someone who shows an unusual amount perseverance even when all hope seems lost.

27

Save complaining for the showers There's nothing more motivating for your opponent than to see you frustrated. Complaining takes energy away from the game. By restraining yourself, you show strength of character under pressure, something that will throw your opponents off - especially hotheads.

28

To forget and move on is like having a shower, necessary every now and then to stop you from start smelling.

There's always another game

29

There will always be those who rather miss than pass to a teammate in front of an open goal. Learn to live with it as at times you’ll find yourself doing the same.

There’s always an ass@#$

30

Sincerity and a love for the game will at times be interpret as pompous seriousness. Don't worry about haters as what they hate is their own lack of courage to be ridiculous enough to follow their dreams.

Passion will make you look ridiculous

31

A single star more often diminishes the performance of a team as he’s given an inappropriate amount of respect and responsibility. Great teams are made up of equals, or close to.

A single star both makes and breaks teams

32

When you focus on the good you naturally forget how the bad. The body and mind has a remarkable power to figure things out - way beyond what you could ever imagine. Trust it and get out of your own way.

Find your smile

33

Be happy for what the game allow you to discover about yourself. Remind yourself of the joy and beauty of the game. Relish your accomplishments - no matter how humble.

Love the game

34

Nicolas Makelberge www.makelberge.com @nclsmklbrg

EVERYHTING I WILL EVER TEACH MY SON I LEARNED FROM FOOTBALL