My Journey into Football.

I started playing football in May 2016. As a team we started playing futsal. I really had not been too interested in playing the game as much as I enjoyed watching it and training athletes. My main game had been basketball through school and college and then from college through my early career it had been bodybuilding. I had also been training a football player for Strength and Conditioning for 4 months prior to that.

I really had not been one to play the game but I had a strong and strict mentor and great teammates. After my first game, I took some time to reflect on the game. I knew nothing about practically being in the field. However, in this team I was a part of I realised I wasn't put down but encouraged and built up.

Some of my team mates

My Head Coach and team captain saw my potential and srengths and weaknesses in realation to the game and assigned me a position. It was a position that I instantly 'clicked' into and in further months started to become even better at it.

I started to learn more about the game and follow the instructions and rules. I found myself improving mentally, physically and skilfully. I also took time to study the game. We play 5 a side football so I started learning more about that. I also took an interest in changing my training routine to play better on the field. That tremendously helped my client who played football. I was three weeks into play when I got my first compliment. 'You have really improved and I dont like it. You are causing too much trouble for me to score.' 

 

First pair of football shoes!

My head coach sponsored a pair of football shoes for me. I was using cross trainers to play when he advised to get indoor football shoes and he got them for me.

A month and a half later I scored my first goal! My head coach who was also playing with us set me up for it! As the months progressed I started to focus more on my defense position and also watch other positions play. As a strength and conditioning coach at some point I have to know how to train those positions. In November, we moved more into indoor 5 a side football. I scored my 2nd goal playing a forward position!

My improvements came through an extremely patient and suppportive team. They kept correcting me and encouraging me. There was never one session I came out feeling like a loser. 

 It seems at the age of 36 I have found a sport I can get involved in. I look forward to each session and enjoy every bit of learning I get. My journey continues.....

Team Building with Laser tag - 1

Laser tag is a great team builder. After playing more than 30 sessions I am drawing from my experience in the game. Laser tag can mimic team work of a family, a military unit, a corporate department, sports team, etc. After all, teams are found in nearly every field and department today.

As I write this blog I would like my readers to know that I am a son in a family, a family man, worked for 6+ years in the corporate in analyst to managerial capacities and played club level basketball and done some coaching for basketball teams as well.

1) Different Gameplays

Laser Tag has a variety of gameplays. In each gameplay, since the goal is different the team has to work together to achieve the goal. It brings realistic scenes as at some point in the game you run out of 'ammunition' at crunch situations or the team might be faced with that same scenario, 

2) Different Venues

Each venue brings its own challenges for the teams. We have played out in the woods, in the parks, in apartment blocks, enclaves, inside houses, confined spaces with minimal lights and heavy sounds. The teams have got to decide on communication methods, best course of 'attack' or 'defense' etc.

3) Different Times per session

Ever had those days at work when the team suddenly has to finish something in a short period of time? Or the work assigned has a longer time period and you are pacing yourself without having to drop productivity of yourself or the teams? Well laser tag games can be of different time lengths depending on game play or availability of time to just 'sneak' in a game!!

4) Realising who are the best people within my group for me to work with

In my case even within the team, I usually work even better with just one or two other people. This is not to say I ignore the rest of my team. Its just that when these team members and I come together we can keep our entire team strong and achieve the gameplay goal more efficiently.

5) Realising my strengths and weaknesses.

One thing I learnt really quickly in laser tag, is I am not all I thought I was. In my first few games I thought I would be taking my team to victory and when the results came out I was hit the maximum number of times without landing a single shot!! Delusions of myself broke quickly. However, I also started realising where my strengths were. I was better off listening to a leader and following instructions than giving them. Learning my strengths and weaknesses helped me push my strengths up to help the team and go back and work on my weaknesses. While I had some of my ego busted during some of the games I was also grateful to lend my strengths to benefit the team.

6) Realising others strengths and weaknesses.

Taking up from the last point, I realised strengths and weaknesses of others. So where I was weak I would have to depend on the others who were strong and where I was strong I went forward and covered the others. I did realise there is no place for ego or pride if the team is to win together. 

7) Teaches us where to take risks.

There are some times when the team needs to take risks. It isn't nice but sometimes its the only way to go forward and possibly win.

These are just a few points that I realised are important for team building. In part two I will be talking about a few more points that I had realised progressively as I kept playing the game.

If you find these points useful for team building I strongly suggest that you go ahead and call for a laser tag game whether at home or the office. Contact www.skirmish.in ASAP.