Less is More

We're nearing the end of the season, and my first year of university is practically over. I've tried to balance my volunteering with uni work, and for a first attempt I don't think I've done a bad job. A few grades are left to come in, but I'm looking at a first for the year overall.. can't have done too badly!

This season has been different, I've been a part of fewer events in terms of setting them up and then delivering them compared to last season. However, the events I have been a part of have been on a regional and national scale. So I've done less, but in another way it's more.The 'smallest' event I've been a part of this season (so far) has been the Shropshire FA Football Futures County Camp, and I was as an ambassador, leading young leaders. There has also been the Lancashire FA Young Volunteers event, again where I supported the event, I didn't go as a participant. I think that in itself shows how far I have come over the last 3 seasons, genuinely gutted that I couldn't get up to Durham to see their Football Futures Camp.. but there is always next year!!

And then my 2 national events of the season so far, working with ISFA all season, working nationally; travelling around the country to work on a tournament. Not just a one day event, being able to see it through from one region to another and then the finals. Returning to the National Young Coaches Academy as a mentor, unbelievable experience to work with so many young coaches, delivering sessions not just standing around listening. Just seeing how much work goes into events of this size is phenomenal.

So 4 events which have been spread across my season, I guess not being within the sports environment every day makes a difference, I'm not a full part of what is going on locally, but maybe that's my choice. It's your own choice to walk away and not be involved. I hope that this isn't the end of my season, I'm putting off working at home to wait for any opportunities that might come up, last season I missed out on too much through working every weekend. I think that I have gotten the balance right this year, with volunteering and uni work. One which I hope to carry through to next year.

But looking at the coaching side, I've been in 6 different coaching situations, with 3 teams, The FA Tesco Skills Programme, Lancs' Player Development Centre and the Lancashire Schools teams. Each and everyone has/is a different environment, thrown up different challenges, and filled up my week. On a typical week, my only free day has been a Friday, with coaching  every other day. Fitting in events, going home and work around them. I've even had to move my uni timetable around to allow myself time to coach.

Considering I have finished my first year, near enough, I could go home and enjoy a very long summer, but I have decided to stay in Preston for a while longer to continue coaching and making the most of the what is around me. So far I've had another top season on the FA Coach Scholarship Programme, every morning I wake up and read my programme goals and I truly believe I'm getting closer everyday.. I might not be there yet but I'm closer than I was yesterday. I've been able to work with different coaches of different standards, pick up new skills and edit my own coaching style.

On reflection, I've had a very productive season in Preston, sure there have been occasions where things haven't pulled off, but that is just an incentive to work harder and go again for the next chance.

A word of advice to young leaders - opportunities are there to be earned. If you have been unsuccessful in something, ask yourself what you need to do to make sure that you have a better chance next time. Facing rejection is a part of life and whilst it's not a nice feeling it's something you will almost definitely face again.. it's a part of growing up. Instead of sitting there feeling sorry for yourself and thinking you've been hard done by, turn a negative into a positive and work hard at improving your skills and experiences so that when you are successful you can be safe in the knowledge you earned it and really deserve it. The world is a competitive place and everything you are learning now - the good and the bad, is helping you prepare for the future so embrace it, learn from it and make the most of it.
Tina Reed, Durham FA.

I set a goal following my Youth Award, Module 2 - to be more successful as a volunteer than last season. I think I've blown that out of the water. Having a want to do better, work harder and get to where I want to be. I feel like I've worked harder this season, trying to keep my uni work up to the highest level I can, creating time to put my coaching and volunteering in. Things can only get better, sure I can't predict the future and I will need a new goal for next season.. but I will keep plugging away and trying to get the chance at as many opportunities as possible.

And for anyone who doesn't know, the dream: I want to be able to walk up to Wembley stadium everyday and know that I will spend my time working on the Football Futures Programme on a national scale.

I'm very grateful or every opportunity which has been offered out, those which I have prospered from and those which I was not successful. I know that the future will hold success as well as failure, but its not failure unless is choose to give up. My 3 years on the Football Futures Programme (so far) have been something which I couldn't even dream of; sometimes I sit a re-read my blog and wonder if it's really me who has been achieving these things!

One opportunity leads into another, I have the thought of coaching with ISFA, next seasons player development centre and a Lancashire youth management team to mull over and prepare for. At the minute, I have no regrets, and rightly so.. but I haven't found what my legacy is going to be? Or if I have I can't see it.

Football Futures isn't about the awards at the end of the season, but those rewarding moments we get all season long.

Although he won't like it.. Dad, this one is yours - my biggest supporter. The person who stands by my side through every success and failure. Your morals and beliefs have become mine, the ones I lead my life by and try to teach others. The person who I can't wait to tell about the emails I get, the opportunities I hit and miss. Thank you for believing in me, I hope I'm making you proud. Without you, I would have given up at the first hurdle, now look at me, the hurdles get a bit taller so that I can jump a bit higher. I'm shooting for the moon.

I don't want this to end just yet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qwQ6blG3j4