Road to 12 yards

Life is made up of moments, sad moments and happy moments. As individuals, we constantly experience these moments and how we act, react and embrace these moments is what defines us as unique individuals.

There is a moment in soccer which is called the moment of truth, a moment of lottery etc. This moment is the penalty shootout. The distance from the penalty spot to the goal line is 12 yards. The movement of a player towards the penalty spot to take his/her kick is what I call the ROAD TO 12 YARDS. We all go through the ROAD TO 12 YARDS in life’s journey.

• Penalty kicks are not converted by luck. Practice, practice and constant practice would make it permanent. Don’t live your life on luck. Constantly be prepared, success is when opportunity meets preparedness not by luck. Those who are prepared to take the road to 12 yards confidently.
• Good penalty-takers make their decision on where to kick the ball long before they move to the ball. In your Road to 12 Yards in life, you have to know what you want in life, if you move in every direction, you move in no direction.
• Goalkeepers are also training effectively and analyzing videos of players to enable them to save more penalty kicks. Players are aware of this so they also vary their techniques. Add more value to yourself. Success today does not guarantee success tomorrow. Don’t try to use yesterday’s methods to solve today’s problems.
• While players move to the penalty spot to kick, they are fully aware that the outcome of the kick can either bring joy or sadness to others. Know that every decision you make in life affects others too, either negatively or positively.
• Every good Coach trains his players in the science of taking penalty kicks. As a leader, you have to train your team, family, and followers to be prepared to be able to make decisions on their own. No Coach can decide for his player during the road to 12 yards.
• Even Goalkeepers take penalty kicks especially when all the outfield players have taken theirs. You need to leave your comfort zone, learn other skills and add more value to yourself. You never know when you will need it.
• When players are walking to the ball to take their kick, they have to wait for the referee to blow his whistle before he/she kicks the ball. In life’s journey pay attention to details. No matter your movement whether fast or slow you have to listen to your elders/authorities,
• Every player has ever missed a penalty kick but they never stop playing and never stop kicking. Never stop at something even if you have failed at doing it before.

The road to the 12 yards has many moments, it has, excitement, fear, anxiousness, and more moments. However, players have to deal with and live within these moments anytime the situation arises. Be ready to live every moment in life and be determined to come out victorious.