I was at a team meeting

So for the first time in my life I got to be in the same room as a team meeting. I actually was in for two team meetings for both the men's and women's soccer teams at work.

It was funny how different the two meetings went.

Although neither involved swearing. Probably because it's too early for anything to have gone wrong.

The men's team was much quieter. It was more business like with them. A few of the older players looked like they introduced themselves. The freshman looked nervous. Maybe a little scared and unsure. They also looked so scrawny. The men have a new coach and a lot of new players coming in. Their old head coach moved on to Division I.

The women's meeting was so much different. It was like an instant family reunion. Everyone was hugging and waving and yelling. They never stopped talking. They really acted like a family though. They acted as if this was the first time they'd seen relatives in years. Everyone seemed to want to catch up. That also made the meeting more difficult to run.

I got to listen to both head coaches talk. Considering that each program has won national championships before, the women have won 5, the men won in 2007, both teams had the same goal. That was to win a National Championship.

The coaches mostly talked about pre-season and it gave me some insight into what athletes go through.

These teams each had scrimmages planned. They had team-building activities planned. The coaches warned that it wouldn't be easy. What I got out of the meetings was that the players would eat, sleep, train and play soccer day in and day out.

There was an emphasis, a huge emphasis on fitness level, staying hydrated, proper nutrition and stretching...and napping...if they weren't playing soccer or running they needed to put their feet up, nap, and stay hydrated.

I think the training staff also said something about blisters...I'm guessing that the feet must get tons of them when you spend five or six hours a day in soccer boots.. (cleats for those of you who aren't used to the terminology)