Synergy, as defined, is the interaction of two or more forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. More simply put: 2 + 2 = 5. Growing up, i was privileged to be apart of a traveling youth soccer team of the same name; a team that had no superstars. Individually, we all had average skills and average speed. Collectively... we were special, we were a family. And yet still today...we are special, we are a family.
Our coach was the late Jon R. Wilson, a man who truly loved the game of soccer, and most importantly, loved us. He named of our team, and I vividly remember him teaching us the definition of Synergy. Those were the days of endless three-man weaves from half field ending in a shot on goal, in proper form. I can remember on more than one occassion, Jon stopping a drill to show us how to properly strike a ball, complete with pointing to the area of the foot, where to plant your non-kicking foot, and how to keep your knee above the ball to keep the trajectory low. Those were the days of set plays for throw-ins, corner kicks, in-direct and direct kicks. We would practice until perfected, and everyone knew their part. Everyone knew their impact on the play, and where to be. Truth be told, practices were sometimes harder than the games; games which usually ended up in a win for our team. There were lessons on what to eat before, during and after a game. There was a magnetic soccer board that was used to teach us the flow of the game, or halftime improvements based on what Jon was seeing from the sidelines. There were paper plates with numbers on them for substitutions. There was a mud-pit of a soccer complex in Raleigh, NC where we won our state games gold medal.
In retrospect, there were times on the soccer field, that we instinctively kicked a ball to an open area, only to find the foot of a teammate in perfect stride, with a chance to make a play, make a goal, or pass to another teamate. It still amazes me. We learned where to be, how to be, and what to do to support each other on the soccer field, instinctively. More importatnly we learned where to be, how to be, and what to do to support each other off the soccer field; during times of great loss, and during times of great joy.
Today, we came together as a group to put on the 5th Annual Bradley Barnhardt Memorial Golf Tournament. An event held every year the first weekend in November to honor the memory of Bradley, one of our teamates that lost his battle with cancer at such a young age. The goal of the tournament - to raise money to support organizations actively fighting for a cure for cancer. Every single teammate of Synergy Soccer contributes to the tournament every year and is integral to the success of the tournament. This years tournament was no exception. It is a humbling experience to be apart of something much greater than ourselves. We all do our part. We all know where to be, how to be, and what to do - instinctively to support each other, without question. Collectively. Synergy. 2+2=5.
