⚽️ Be Brave, Be Confident, Be Strong!

From Olympic and World Cup player to coach:

Carmelina played for the national team at only 17 years old and had an impressive soccer career. However, she was cut from the team when she was 19, which led her to complete her NCAA career at Penn State and contemplate her future outside of soccer. She pursued coaching and received her first opportunity from Karen Ferguson at the University of Louisville. She took many risks in her career, transitioning from player to coach three times. During the 2015 World Cup in Canada, she played in front of a home crowd in Edmonton, Alberta, at the same stadium where her career had started. She played her first-ever U19 World Cup for Canada when she was 17, and her brother was in the stands for both moments. After playing her last season for an Australian club, Carmelina retired with an Olympic bronze medal and two World Cup appearances. After retiring, the Canadian Soccer Association hired her to participate in a bespoke mentorship program designed by John Herdman and Bev Priestman, where she learned about the foundations of high performance and coaching.

Guidance for working in sports:

When someone seeks advice on how to get into a sport, the best suggestion is to take advantage of any opportunity that comes your way, as long as it aligns with their goals and provides a chance to learn. No job is too small when starting, and sometimes you have to jump in and learn as you go without letting fear or ego hold you back. Coaching has taught Carmelina that one can only partially prepare, so using each moment to build resilience and gain experience is essential. Being brave and following through on commitments is crucial to building trust in oneself and others. If you're dreaming of working in sports, list five people who can offer insights into the industry. (LinkedIn is a great place to start) You should be curious by making a list of things you want to learn and questions you can ask them, such as how they got started, the skills needed to succeed, and their challenges. Your success depends on the people, purpose, process, and environment you create. Surround yourself with competent, ethical individuals in a supportive environment to ensure success.

Building a winning team:

Carmelina uses an exercise designed by a world-famous sports psychologist, Dan Abraham, which helps individuals understand their daily contribution. This exercise is called Game Face or Coach Face and is based on two action-based words - a role model or an animal. The concept helps establish one's identity around these words. For example, hers are Brave, Confident, and Strong, and she aims to embody these qualities daily. As a coach or player, it is essential to have action-based words to lean on. Although identities are more than three words, they can get to the root of who they want to be. This activity is not just limited to sports but can also be applied in the workplace. Staying true to yourself and not faking your personality is essential. "Carmelina suggests that it is important to strive for consistency in all aspects of your life. It is best to integrate the different roles that you may have while acknowledging that they may require slightly different behaviors and approaches. This way, you can represent an authentic part of yourself in all areas of your life.

What’s Happening in Sports

The 2024 NFL Combine starts on Thursday, February 29th in Indianapolis. 256 players will aim to make a lasting impression on the 32 NFL front offices.

Major League Baseball plans to expand to 32 teams and has named potential cities, including Charlotte, Las Vegas, Montreal, Nashville, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, and San Antonio.

FuboTV files an antitrust lawsuit to block Disney, Fox, and Warner Sports streaming deals.

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