The internet makes it easier to watch soccer all around the world, and it makes talking to people across such distances easier too. While it’s nice to watch soccer from around the world to learn something new, it’s even better to talk to people from around the world to learn something new.
So, in that spirit, I’m starting a new series. The idea behind it is simple: talk to people tied to the eleven sides we follow and hear what they have learned from life, love, and football. When I get a hold of someone, I’ll share their answers to four key questions to help you two little guys (hence the name 4-for-2….well…and the pun with the common line-up formation: 4-4-2…I amuse myself boys)
Our first interview was with University of Montana Head Coach Chris Citowicki. He’s running around the country between seasons scouting future Griz players and supporting the kids already on campus to be fully prepared for the coming campaign (not to mention their academic and career goals). He was kind enough to take a few minutes to give you boys some advice, and without further ado: here it is.
Q1. How did you first get interested in soccer, what did you like about it?
CC. I was born into it. My father was a semi-pro referee in Poland and both parents were obsessed with the game. The legend goes that my mother was pregnant with me sitting behind the goal at the local club game (Lech Pozana in Poland) and was about to get hit in the stomach with a powerful shot that missed the net. My father dove in front of her punching the ball away and saving unborn Chris in the process. It has been in my life forever and I love how unpredictable it can be. I also love the life lessons that come from it.
Q2. What have you learned about how to live from your career playing/coaching soccer?
CC. How to handle adversity is the main one. I am a fan of Greek Tragedies because they show us the life is not always rosy and happy. There are times that it’s hard and painful and you need to be able to come out of those moments. Study the “hero’s journey” as you’ll see similar things come up: the hero leaves on a quest, experiences tragic loss, rebuilds herself/himself and comes out better because of it.
Soccer also teaches you how to be a part of a team of people who are different. There are definitely patterns of personalities but overall we are all different individuals and how cool is it that you can bring all of those people together to compete for something!? I love it.
Q3. How has coaching soccer in Montana specifically shown you something (about yourself, about the game, about life) that you didn’t know before?
CC. One of our program values is passion and what I learnt is that passion for me equals intensity. I am an intense person who loves to compete for results and I’m borderline obsessive when it comes to my work. During my first two years here that started to lead to burnout and I didn’t like going to games anymore. It was beginning to be too much for me. I learnt that I’m not alone in this (many coaches feel this way) and I also learnt that I need to change the value of passion to JOY. Joy for us is: I hope there are days that you fall in love with being alive. I love this sport and being around these people and that should always be an important focus for me, not just winning.
Q4. What’s your favorite kid-friendly sing-a-long song
CC. “A Friend Like Me” from Aladdin
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