To freshman soccer player Kate Hollern, goals are like a pyramid. The base of the pyramid is made up of smaller goals to be accomplished every day, like the right attitude at practice. The goals get progressively harder as you move up the pyramid, but they are a chain reaction of one another. Soon, coming to practice with the right attitude every day can turn int
To freshman soccer player Kate Hollern, goals are like a pyramid. The base of the pyramid is made up of smaller goals to be accomplished every day, like the right attitude at practice. The goals get progressively harder as you move up the pyramid, but they are a chain reaction of one another. Soon, coming to practice with the right attitude every day can turn into winning the NCAC Championship.
Hollern learned to think this way during her team pre-season goal setting session this year, and has applied it to her vision of her own goals as well. Goals which included starting each game for her position, outside back, and contributing to her team’s performance in reaching the NCAA tournament.
According to Hollern, her team philosophy and coach’s style reflect the pyramid mindset as well.
“Most practices, we start with something small, and incorporate it into the bigger game,” she said.
It seems that Hollern’s path on the soccer field follows a similar trajectory. She has been playing since the age of six, and has grown to truly love the sport. Throughout high school, she worked her way from the junior varsity to the varsity team as a sophomore, and later began to play on a club soccer team as well as her high school team.
When she arrived at Wittenberg, she again had to work her way up on the team. Hollern knows what it is like to sit the bench waiting her turn, but says that every time her turn comes, she works to prove herself and knows her coach notices.
“When I first came to Wittenberg, I didn’t touch the field for the first three games,” Hollern said. “But by the fourth and the fifth I was getting in and playing half the game.”
Her secret, she says, is keeping herself from discouragement. When she does not get a lot of time on the field, it motivates her to work harder and prove herself. Part of learning not to be discouraged comes from confidence in your ability, she believes.
“You have to find balance,” she said. “Come in knowing you are new to the team, but also go in with confidence that you deserve to be there and the coach wanted you there for a reason.”
Hollern says that knowing her place on the team as a first-year is important. Part of the learning curve for her was finding that place.
“For my whole life I had been playing with the same people,” she said. “It was an adjustment to play with totally new people and I didn’t know how they play. You have to learn on the fly what people are going to do.”
With a full season on Wittenberg’s roster complete, Hollern feels that she has found her place. She is excited to tackle the pyramid ahead of her next season with her teammates.
o winning the NCAC Championship.
Hollern learned to think this way during her team pre-season goal setting session this year, and has applied it to her vision of her own goals as well. Goals which including starting each game for her position, outside back, and contributing to her team’s performance in reaching the NCAA tournament.
According to Hollern, her team philosophy and coach’s style reflect the pyramid mindset as well.
“Most practices, we start with something small, and incorporate it into the bigger game,” she said.
It seems that Hollern’s path on the soccer field follows a similar trajectory. She has been playing since the age of six, and has grown to truly love the sport. Throughout high school, she worked her way from the junior varsity to the varsity team as a sophomore, and later began to play on a club soccer team as well as her high school team.
When she arrived at Wittenberg, she again had to work her way up on the team. Hollern knows what it is like to sit the bench waiting her turn, but says that every time her turn comes, she works to prove herself and knows her coach notices.
“When I first came to Wittenberg, I didn’t touch the field for the first three games,” Hollern said. “But by the fourth and the fifth I was getting in and playing half the game.”
Her secret, she says, is keeping herself from discouragement. When she does not get a lot of time on the field, it motivates her to work harder and prove herself. Part of learning not to be discouraged comes from confidence in your ability, she believes.
“You have to find balance,” she said. “Come in knowing you are new to the team, but also go in with confidence that you deserve to be there and the coach wanted you there for a reason.”
Hollern says that knowing her place on the team as a first-year is important. Part of the learning curve for her was finding that place.
“For my whole life I had been playing with the same people,” she said. “It was an adjustment to play with totally new people and I didn’t know how they play. You have to learn on the fly what people are going to do.”
With a full season on Wittenberg’s roster complete, Hollern feels that she has found her place. She is excited to tackle the pyramid ahead of her next season with her teammates.
