End of Summer

A quick recap on the past few months. Hot, beautiful, challenging, and eye-opening. Getting more and more sessions under my belt, and learning new things about football, coaching and people as the weeks go by. It has all gone by so quick, there are days where I have felt beyond tired, but it has always been worth it. An Australian summer afternoon has a distinct and unmatched beauty. And there are no better ways to spend it doing what I love most. There were a few weeks in November/December; when standing at the entrance of Samantha Riley Drive Reserve and looking west, the sun would set perfectly down the middle of Goodison St, and everything in sight would be painted with a slight tinge of a beautiful hazy orange.

Heat was a no joke, training in anything over 30 degrees is tough, and there were many times pushing our players to their limit. A typical session always involved a moment of collapsing to the floor, and the look on their faces tells me I’ve done my job. I have a permanent tan now on my arms and legs from the hours of sun. And have deepened my relationships with a lot of my players. Sometimes it feels like I am coaching a 14-year-old me, telling him things that I would have gained a lot from at that time. It’s a good feeling.

While I’ve had quite a break from social media, I am training to make it more of my purpose. I am still busy with sessions each day, and while I am physically present- One of the things that MaceFootball was made to be, was something bigger than myself. And being a voice online is much a part of that.

I am grateful every day, and am looking forward to the changes and challenges of these new seasons.

Mace.