Builiding a Team

The Luther College Men's Soccer Team has been working hard this pre-season to get themselves into top form on the field with grueling practices, fitness testing, and two-a-days that will push even the fittest players to the limit. But they have been able to enjoy some respite from the physical side of the game with a few well-placed activities that have helped this new team begin to grow together.
There have been a few plot twists this pre-season that have spiced up the day to day grind on the field. The first night, the boys joined Luther's own Kristin Underwood, from the Drama Department, for some theatrical improv games that challenged the team's ability to think quickly, be vulnerable with each other, and take risks. They came away with enough memories and laughter to last the whole season. It was a great exoerience for they guys and an introduction to part of the benefits of a Liberal Arts school. It is experiences like this that can give a team the common memories that will unite them for a lifetime.
After breaking down walls with Ms. Underwood , the Luther Men's and Women's team spent a day putting up walls of a house for a local family as they worked with Habitat for Humanity. The activity was arranged by Student's Helping Our Community president and Luther Soccer junior, Jason Block. There was a good amount of singing, a good amout of nailing, and a great amount of learning that took place, and everyone was thankful that they had the opportunity to expend some energy giving back to the community that has given them so much.
The team has run the gambit of challenges this pre-season. While having their thespian and construction skills put to the test , the team was also asked to challenge their fears and tackle the newly built ropes course here on campus. There were several challenging elements, but the team attacked them and were able to overcome their fear of heights and ended up having a great time. Coach Garcia-Prats was even brave enough to climb up over forty feet off the ground and walk along a thin rope without so much as a tremble (at least that is how he tells it).
It is part of Luther Soccer's philosophy that while we will do everything we can to win and be the best we can be on the field, we recognize that it is often these types of experiences which can grow and stretch the student-athletes in ways that they might never be stretched. We think it is our responsibility to grow the whole individual, to give them memories and experiences that will last a lifetime, and we know we can do that without sacrificing on the field performance. We have had a chance to see this team grow and learn together so much in the twelve days, and we look forward to seeing this new-found cameraderie benefit the team on and off the field this season. We look forward to another great year.