Tag: soccer

Blogpost, posh

Unbalanced POSH Fall to Leeds

Pete Huryk

As Hector Kyprianou’s off-balance “shot” went wide of the goal on Sunday, it was the perfect representation of the match. POSH have been in great form for a while now. The loss combined with the performance were relatively uncharacteristic of life at London Road recently. There were moments when the players showed the understanding and fluidity that fans have become accustomed. Unfortunately, it wasn’t consistent enough to find the net or create many chances. For some, it seems be more than just a loss to a highly rated Championship side. They view it as an indication of bigger problems or impending doom if we’re promoted to the Championship. It’s just unbalance!

Played two weeks earlier, I’d be willing to bet (and I’m not a betting man) that POSH win this match. Leeds’ poor recent form aside. The POSH squad was balanced at that time. Although there are several stars within the team, the collection of the pieces and how they interrelated is far more important. The loss of Kioso and Bilokapić caused uncertainty in the play of a side whose success has come from understanding the tendencies of their teammates and being able to predict their movements accurately. Kioso’s recall does NOT mean that we need to sign him at all costs. He is a good player, no doubt. However, it is not him specifically that needs to return. It is the balance and understanding. Whether Katongo or Knight or someone else, Ferguson has proven that he can get these players to meld together. It just doesn’t happen overnight. The defeat is not a sign of anything more than a bit of time is needed to get the balance back. And I know that many love the FA Cup but this was a great result on so many levels.

  • It takes away the distraction from league play.
  • Fergie can “audition” a few alignments and personnel combinations in order to see what really works.
  • The message can be sent to the players (honestly) that they need to improve to reach Championship standards.
  • This is EXACTLY what Fergie signed up to do. Take a young squad filled with unpolished diamonds and get them to play great football together. The departure of one (or more) spells opportunity for others, not doom for the collective.

Over the years, I’ve never been shy about my support for Darren and I won’t be now! This transfer window will be difficult, no doubt. Peterborough United is not Wrexham. We need to sell assets to progress the club forward. So if Edwards, JCH, EMC, Poku, RJJ, Knight and Burrows were all to go in this window, I know one thing for certain. Fergie will get a new set of players up into the promotion places as soon as humanly possible. It’s what he does! It’s who he is! POSH we are! 

The Leeds loss was a blessing. Onward! Forward!

Pete

Blogpost, SoccerLifeBalance

The Coach’s Conundrum and Corollary

Pete Huryk

Last night, I read some really exciting news! Brian White was named to the roster for the US Men’s National Team’s camp this January. While he was in high school, I was lucky enough to coach Brian. His success on the field has everything to do with his choices and dedication to his craft as a player. I am extremely proud of him for all of his achievements, not only because he is a great player but also a great person. However, that pride as a coach is not restricted to Brian and his very public achievement. I am also extremely proud of Mitch, Thomas, Mason, Joe, Trey, Julie, Adrienne, Sarah, Mike M., Mike A., Jeremy and the list goes on. There is so much pride in my almost quarter century coaching career and very little of it has to do with kicking a ball.

During the end of season banquet one year, I was asked to “say a few words.” We had an extremely successful season and that was an amazing ride. However, the theme of my words were that the success of coaching was not to be measured in the wins that we had achieved that season but rather the successful marriages, careers, lives, etc. that would come ten or twenty years down the road. 

The coach’s conundrum (for me at least) is that we want to win the game but we know that game isn’t what matters. Wanting to win is important. Preparing in order to win is important. Not because the game is a matter of life and death. But because the game helps us toward better results in life before our death. Through sport, we learn how to give our all, hopefully in service of something bigger than ourselves, for a finite amount of time. Years of practice, hopefully, lead to progress and mastery. Not only of the skills required to play because those are largely fleeting but the intangibles that come with sport. The results of any individual contest are nowhere near as important as the ripples that sports create through a lifetime of endeavors that require commitment.

Like Ted Lasso tells his son in the first season, being a coach is a lot like being a dad (or mom). It requires a letting go of the control one might want on the result. The strength of a good coach or parent is in the preparation and the long term impact. Some do it without realizing and others are intentional about their influence. Neither is easy and people get it wrong all the time. Especially, when we tend to focus on the things that are fleeting rather than the ones that are lasting. 

Wanting good things for my players is a constant and trying to prepare them for the trials that they’ll face outside of the lines is as well. I’ve not done it perfectly because no one can but I’ve done it with intention. All around the world there are people that I had the privilege to influence for a short period of time and I hope that I helped nudge them closer to whom they were meant to be.

Two things! Thanks for reading and check out my book that explains finances using soccer as a metaphor.

Pete

Blogpost, SoccerLifeBalance

Soccer Moms Save The World

Pete Huryk

Imagine it as the headline on the newspaper (if people still read them) or plastered across your Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter (X damnit!) feed. Soccer moms! The often forgotten chauffeurs to legions of youngsters who chase a ball incessantly throughout the country. That makes no sense! Quite the opposite, it makes perfect sense but the credit will never come. The only hope is that the results do.

We live in a tumultuous time with so many layers to our societies and culture. There is division on so many levels throughout the world. Often it can seem as though conflict is the outcome of every encounter with all things up for debate (but more often just labeling and shutting down). It’s a difficult time to be sure but not insurmountable nor particularly new. Throughout human history, empires have risen and fallen. Times of plenty have been followed by time of lack. So going back to my headline idea, the world does not particularly need saving but rather redirecting toward constructive ends.

Then why soccer moms? I’ll deal with the more obvious first. Moms are the force behind the human race. Yes, I know that us dads play our part but there is a lot of heavy lifting at the beginning that requires the mom. One of the problems that I’ve heard about frequently over the past few months is the threat of “under population” that is coming. Just one example but definitely an issue that moms can help to rectify. Many of the others will require leaders who can galvanize people toward a more positive end. All of those leaders will have a mom.

Then why soccer? Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and with good reason. It represents the struggles of life in so many ways that I believe people are inherently drawn to it. The lack of full possession of the ball, skill development over a variety of areas, the need for balance in attack/defense, the limited influence of coaches during actual performance, and so many other facets make soccer the world’s game. It is a truly simple game that is utterly complex in its application depending on the level of the players. Just like life!

So as the world continues to run into issues, the course will need to be redirected. Moms are bound to be major players in the nudging of society and culture. The beautiful game teaches so many principles that can be applied routinely to the bigger game of life. It stands to reason that Soccer Moms (could) Save the World. The question is what direction to nudge? 

With economic upheaval looming in the near future, finance might be the place to start. Financial literacy is not taught in most schools. Most kids are not going to learn about this topic on their own. They need to be nudged and given a vehicle to get there (sorry for the extra driving moms). My friend/co-author and I took the time to create that vehicle. “Setting and Scoring Financial Goals” is our attempt to give young people that understanding that they need to make good financial decisions.

We’re living in unprecedented times where information is at our fingertips and individuals do have the ability to unite as one voice or echo a voice that’s worth hearing. Perhaps the combination of these two hugely influential forces could be used to make for a better tomorrow if the right echos were heard by the young players in their care.

Mother’s Day is May 12th this year. Just an FYI!

Pete   

Blogpost, self-reliance

Aliving!

Pete Huryk

Playing with language is one of my favorite things to do. We capture our experiences in words. Or perhaps evaluate or maybe even create through these sound and character accumulations. Our minds get a different picture or experience depending on the words that we use and how we use them. Push and shove mean basically the same thing but put into the context of a situation, they can be miles apart. So we need to be deliberate and sometimes careful with the words that we use. Sometimes I like to take a page out of my favorite author’s playbook (Dr. Seuss). I make up words to fit my purposes.

Today I didn’t do it on purpose. ”Aliving” was the product of my writing too quickly but it might serve my needs. If you’re reading this, then you’re living. Breathing, drinking, eating, sleeping, talking, walking, etc. you’re doing that thing in the present, right now! It’s an action. And almost the same exact meaning, you’re alive. It’s a state that you’re in. It’s adjective that describes you at the moment. So what if we put them together? Did a word double down on it! What if you weren’t just living or alive? You were aliving!

You weren’t just going through the motions and being the normal you. You had that extra pep in your step, you were seeing things clearly, recognizing how special this thing is that you’re doing right now! (Pete, I’m on the toilet reading this.) Yep! In structure that keeps you safe from the cold in winter and you don’t have to smell that crap ten minutes later because its flushed away! Aliving could be living life at a higher cadence. Most days you could be living but every once in a while, you could choose to be aliving.

It’s a silly concept isn’t it? Making up a word to get the most out of the moment you’re living. So much of what we do is silly. Hours of looking at photos of people that we don’t know that make us feel badly about our life even though the two are not connected at all. Reliving a mental picture of our worst mistakes despite not being able to fix them. Most of what we do is pretty silly when put under a microscope. So it comes down to how you want to run your life. It’s really up to you. Either way, you’re alive (unless I bored you to death, Sorry dead dude!) But now you may consider taking another step up the ladder by ALIVING!

It’s a great day to be alive-ing!

Pete

Blogpost, self-reliance

Embracing Failure!

Pete Huryk

Nobody welcomes failure with open arms. It often feels like that “not-so-attractive” girl who’s had a crush on you since second grade. Imagine you’re at the school dance, and she’s the only one who asks you for a slow dance. What would you do? Reject her, hoping that a more attractive partner will come along? Well, not quite. You’d dance.

  1. Learning through Failure: The first step in embracing failure is recognizing that it’s not the end of the world. Just like that not-so-attractive girl, failure has something to offer, too. It’s a chance to learn and grow. Failure teaches us valuable lessons that success often can’t. Each misstep provides an opportunity to refine our skills and strategies.
  2. Building Resilience: Dancing with failure builds resilience. Rejecting her might seem like the easy way out, but it won’t make you stronger or more experienced. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, and it’s a trait highly valued in both personal and professional life. The more you face failure, the more resilient you become.
  3. Embracing Imperfection: Nobody is perfect, and nothing starts off that way either. Ideal opportunities are often the result of many imperfect attempts. By dancing with failure, you acknowledge that growth is a process, and perfection is rarely the starting point. It’s the imperfect steps that eventually lead to something great.
  4. Preparing for Ideal: When you learn to dance with failure, you’re not just settling. Instead, you’re preparing yourself for when the ideal opportunity finally arrives. By then, you’ll have honed your skills, developed resilience, and embraced the imperfections of the journey. You’ll be ready to seize the moment.
  5. Overcoming Fear: Fear of failure can be paralyzing. But when you’re willing to dance with failure, you diminish that fear. You understand that failure is just a temporary setback, not a permanent label. This newfound courage can help you take risks and pursue your goals more boldly.
  6. A Humble Perspective: Dancing with failure also keeps you grounded and humble. It reminds you that success is not always guaranteed and that setbacks are a part of life. This humility can make you more approachable and relatable to others, enhancing your relationships and leadership qualities.

So, next time failure extends her hand, don’t hesitate to dance. It might just be your ticket to a brighter future.

Blogpost, self-reliance

It’s a Cheap Trick!

Pete Huryk

There are only a handful of songs that I remember exactly when and where I heard them. “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls is the most memorable but “I want you to want me” by Cheap Trick is a close second. I was at a pizzeria in Michigan while visiting my ex girlfriend in the summer between high school and college. It’s actually surprising that I’d never heard it before! The tune and lyrics are so catchy with the repetition of want, need and beg.

The world often doesn’t work the way that we’d like. In the minds of many, people should give us what we want. This is especially prominent with kids. They want what they want and can’t understand why they can’t get it… NOW! But the truth of the matter is that a smart adult who truly cares gives them what they need. We all need those people in our lives. The ones who do not simply give in to our temporary desires but can see a better future beyond the moment. The needs that we may not even realize that we have are the focus of their efforts.

So realizing that the tune may not work, the message is clear. I’m begging you to want people in your life who give you what you need rather than what you want or beg for! Maybe even make that person yourself. If you could pull that off, it would be a grand and not so cheap trick.

I want you to need you!

Pete

Blogpost, self-reliance

One!

Pete Huryk

It’s the start of things! Or the last thing before nothing is left! Zero to one is often a herculean effort that requires more fortitude than all the progress that comes later. Yet we often dismiss it at the beginning. Act like it’s the same as the next door neighbor, zero. When traveling on the decline, it’s far easier to see the value of one because it’s all that’s left. Teetering on the brink of empty puts one into perspective. The life-giving force that it is.

It’s funny to think how oblivious we are at times. Perhaps delusion is baked into our brains naturally but we tend to think we have unlimited time, unlimited attention and unlimited options. We don’t! And we should really know it. Not because someone wrote about it but because we’ve experienced it on both sides. The joy of single focus where time melts away. The desire for one more moment with a person lost. The recognition that by trying to do everything, nothing was done. We chide ourselves and promise to be different. Yet, when we get confronted again with the multitude, we forget about one.

This one moment is all that you truly have. It’s impossible to live every moment to the fullest because basic needs would get overrun by maximization. However, we can be cognizant of the moment know that it’s not coming back. So do what you can with it. The juxtaposition of two songs called “one” give a great perspective on the human experience of oneness. Metallica’s “One” is the story of a soldier who is injured in combat and lost his sight and his limbs. He is kept alive in an agonizing existence for the study of others while all he wants is to die. He is singular but separate. The “One” by U2 makes us all one. That we are connected and share our experiences whether painful or joyous by being one.

Our lives are meant for more than the mental masturbation that comes from being stimulated but not engaged. An endless loop of input without connection or meaning. Giving ourselves over to the only moment that exists with the idea of connecting with all that we can, that’s probably the point. We should probably try to remember that until the next time that we realize we forgot and went back to zero.

“We carry each other”

Pete

Blogpost, self-reliance

Brush Your Teeth and… Conquer the World

Pete Huryk

The two don’t seem like they should be in rapid succession on a “to do list” right? Brushing your teeth is such a mundane task that most people would take it off the list if they could. Conquering the world is so big and amorphous. How does one even begin to wrap their head around the concept? Genghis Khan probably came the closest when you think of access and scope. However, we now know that he had much farther to go. Even if he could have laid siege to lands on all seven continents. He could not effectively manage them in his time. The world is just too big!

There’s a lot of space in between these two concepts but it’s easy to get stuck at one extreme or the other. Maintenance is a necessary component to life. But it’s also a convenient place to hide. The “have to’s” on our list can overrun our lives if we let them and we would feel justified in never going beyond because we “had to…” It’s also easy to get stuck with our heads in the clouds. Thinking of all the distant horizons that we’ll conquer when the time is right and the stars align. Until that time comes, nothing else much happens. Spirts of activity give the impression of forward progress but the amount of territory acquired on the world conquest is quite minimal.

To be honest, I’m not sure what the best strategy is for getting “the most” out of life. There is a break even point with many things like fuel efficiency and speed. There is a mathematical equation to find that equilibrium. With humans, I doubt there’s a true way to figure it out. It may just be one of those things that we have to feel our way through. After we brush our teeth of course!

Pete

Blogpost, self-reliance

Believe!

Pete Huryk

Believe!

Believe that you can!

Believe that you will!

Believe that no one can stop you!

Believe that the obstacles in front of you can be overcome!

Believe that people are silently cheering you on!

Believe that you have all the resources in you!

Believe that it’s only a matter of time!

Believe it will be as good as you hope!

Believe in who you are!

Believe trying is worth it!

Believe in miracles!

Believe in you!

Believe!

Be!

Pete

Blogpost, self-reliance

Don’t Talk About the Streak

Pete Huryk

When you’re on a streak, you’re not supposed to talk about the streak! Just like the first rule of Fight Club. From my perspective, it’s not the talking about the streak that needs to be avoided. It’s idea that the streak is something that’s out there rather than inside. Streaks are a collection of positive results that are based on appropriate action. If you want to attribute them to a deity or luck or your unwashed socks, go for it! But you’re taking your hands off the wheel at that point.

The idea is not to stay silent on the streak. It’s to keep talking about the process. How did you get here and can you keep doing those actions? At it’s core, that is what needs to be done but at the extreme, everything is given value. So superstition springs out of consistency. Don’t give the jinxes power. Just show up consistently and the results will take care of themselves.

What streak?

Pete