Workouts

Why we require individual workouts

As we have consistently communicated over the years, individual player workouts are an expected and necessary part of the Landmark program.  We compete with teams that can practice together daily, while we at most can train together 2 times per week.  To be competitive at the level we aim to be requires players to accept the individual responsibility to complete work on their own.  

Additionally, this expectation is in line with our purpose and values we will teach.  

Clearly, winning soccer matches is a goal of the Landmark program.  But it is NOT our purpose.  Landmark Boys soccer seeks to teach the love of Jesus Christ, encourage our players to build a relationship with Him, all while we promote a high level of Soccer and brotherhood.  That includes challenging players to grow through actively practicing our faith in all that we do.  Living out one’s faith consistently and in difficult situations is sometimes hard.  We aim to practice living out our faith with each other and in competitive environments and also drawing connections to living them beyond soccer.

How this applies to individual workouts… 

We put the team first ahead of ourselves.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3) Sometimes working out is hard.  Having nothing and no one to work out for is harder.  When you don't feel like working out, remember you have a team counting on you, just as you are counting on them. 

We control what we can control, and we take responsibility for it.  We cannot control much of what happens in a match.  But we can control our preparation.  “Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28) First make a plan to get the work done.  Tell someone your plan and follow through.  This is self-control.

We work hard and endure to the end.  Success under pressure is mostly accomplished through the sweat and suffering that comes prior to conflict.  Embrace the work so that you can endure difficulties  when they come.  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

We are brothers first, soccer players 2nd.  The work does not have to all be a grind.  Find someone and workout together.   “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”  (Ecclesiastes 4:12)