What My Return to Soccer Taught Me About Marketing

I started playing soccer again. I love this sport. I started playing in 1980, and continued playing until about 1991. I played or practiced every day. I’d be outside with the ball until the sun went down and my mother would be insisting I come in for dinner. About 8 years ago I started coaching. My oldest started playing the game and I fell in love with the sport all over again.

Coaching kids became a way of life. I see one of my old coaches from time to time and he’s tickled that one of his players picked up the torch. I wonder which, if any, of my players will become a coach.

All that aside, I joined an indoor soccer team. At 41 years old, not having actually played in 20 years, I had my first game with the Mighty Mud Football Club. I played most of the game at fullback (defense) and had a few good stops, and more than a few botched plays. While playing striker (Forward) I actually almost scored once with a great shoulder and spin move. All in all it was a awesome game. More than a few times I passed the ball like I meant it. More times than that though, I shanked it. All in all I had my butt handed to me, on a plater, by guys and girls 10 to 15 years younger than me. All in all, it was incredible to be playing again. Today my legs and ankles are stiff and sore.

Maybe that should be expected. Maybe not. In my mind, knowing the player that I used to be, I’m better than most of them, at least I used to be. I’m also, in a word, stale. I’m out of shape, so I was winded after just a few minutes. I have not used these muscles this way in a very long time.

On the surface, I have the knowledge. Down deep, I have the ability, but from lack of use, I do not have the stamina to go the distance. My mind may remember what to doubt my muscles do not.

I have become stale.

How many times do we set a marketing plan in motion only to let it grow stale. We must continue to put it through it paces if we want to keep it fresh. Exercise your campaign, because if you don’t, it, like my leg muscles, will loose focus. Watch your trends and your sentiment to see how you are coming along. Above all, don’t miss an opportunity to put yourself out there on the pitch, and play ball.