Wheels Down in Portugal

Hello from Albufeira, Portugal! After landing in Lisbon on Saturday morning, we took a three-hour bus ride to the hotel. I remember about 15 minutes of the ride before it was impossible to keep my eyes open any longer. It was hard to wake up myself enough to even get off the bus and venture into the hotel lobby, but as I walked through the doors of the resort/spa where we’re staying, I was already amazed. It was not so much the resort that I was in awe of — although it is very nice — but the absolutely beautiful view of the ocean.

Lori Lindsey (my roommate) and I unfortunately do not have a room facing out onto the water, but every time we go to pick up our training gear from the equipment room across the hallway, we stop to look out. It’s been raining off and on, and as we heading out to training yesterday, some people mentioned the “cold” weather. I laughed with Jill Loyden, because compared to New Jersey, we were excited to be training in the warmth.

Today began with our routine (as of last camp) urine test to check our hydration levels. Every morning we have to report to Dawn Scott before breakfast, cup of stuff in hand, so she can test our urine and we can fill out an assessment of how we’re feeling. We record our weight, heart rate and how we feel physically and emotionally, in addition to what types of recovery (proper cool down, stretching, ice bath, massage, foam rolling, etc.) we did the day before.

Various strategies have been discussed among the team on how to do well on the urine test. Some claim that if they chug a bottle of water right before bed, they’ll be hydrated in the morning. Originally, I wasn’t part of this group of “cheaters,” and thought that if I just drank enough during the day I’d be fine. It seems, however, that after some experimentation, they may be right. Obviously we all know that it’s best to hydrate consistently throughout the day, but for scoring well on Dawn’s test, the chug before bedtime is a must.

This morning, half the group did strength training with Dawn, while the other half trained at the field, and then we switched. Nine serious athletes doing strength training and plyos in a spa fitness room is quite an amusing scene. I don’t think the woman working at the reception area of the spa was too happy about it. We just finished lunch and have some time to relax before our second session today. Seeing as my eyes are slowly closing as I write this, I think it’s time for my nap. More to follow. … We have a closed door scrimmage against China on Sunday.

Meeting the Treadmill Challenge

On Tuesday I had my first experience with a treadmill. In preparation for Portugal, our new conditioning coach, Dawn Scott, sent us a training program. The first day’s task was to complete what is called the “progressive treadmill test.” Basically, you start at a run (7.2 miles per hour) and then increase the speed (by 0.6) every 30 seconds. If you get to the fastest speed on the treadmill, then you start increasing the incline every 30 seconds. You run until you can’t run anymore. Pretty intense. Now keep in mind, I literally have never run on a treadmill and don’t even have a regular membership to a gym.

So here I am at the local Y.M.C.A., sprinting at the fastest speed on the treadmill, sweat pouring down my face, straining to maintain my pace, while the walkers and joggers next to me are probably thinking, “this girl is insane!” The test lasts roughly five minutes, so my embarrassment was short-lived, but I was glad when I could leave the treadmill room and get away from all the awkward stares. I was feeling pretty decent about my effort until I texted Heather O’Reilly and found out that she did better than me by about 45 seconds (we’re not competitive or anything). She did have a slight advantage in the fact that she knew my score before she started the test, so I’m going to use that as a bit of an excuse to boost my morale.

After this new and interesting running experience, I returned to the comfort of my usual training environment — the racketball court. This small, white, enclosed area has become an essential part of my training over the years, especially during New Jersey winters. All I need is a ball and my iPod and I can entertain myself in there for hours. As much as I’d love to be able to train in the sunshine on pristine grass fields, I really enjoy having to find new and interesting ways to train and play during the winter. I’ve kicked around in parking garages, school blacktops, parking lots, even the 8-by-6 foot free area of my basement.

During this preparation time before we leave for Portugal, Dawn also has us filling out a detailed food diary for a week. We have to record everything we eat or drink in detail, the time we ingested it, and the amount. Although it can be a pain to have to write down everything I eat (I LOVE food, so my list is very long most days), it’s interesting to analyze my food choices. I am very conscientious about what I put into my body, but I’m sure that Dawn will find some ways to tweak my diet to make it even better and improve my performance and recovery.

O.K., time to go train! I’m down at U.N.C. for a few days (I am getting my jersey retired at the U.N.C. vs. Duke bball game) so I’m hoping the weather is a little bit more mild and I can go outside.

My Bags Are Packed for Portugal

I’m almost done packing and ready to head off to Portugal! For me, packing involves arranging my two outfits, cleats and toiletries into the smallest bag possible. I like to not have to check a bag, and I think traveling is a lot more enjoyable when I’m not lugging around a ton of stuff. Also, I’m always striving to pack the lightest (again, I’m really not competitive at all!). Unfortunately, Casey Nogueira has outdone me on the last few trips, taking only a backpack. I’m not prepared to travel that sparsely, but I’m pretty proud of my one small bag.

Some things on my “must pack” list: “F.C. Barcelona’s Road to Rome” DVDs (which includes the 2009 Champions League final), my iPod, journal, reading material (I borrowed “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership” by John C. Maxwell from my Sky Blue F.C. coach, Pauliina), my “Learning Brazilian Portuguese” book and CD (I have to get ready for the upcoming season and the return of my Brazilian buddy, Rosana), gushers, adapter, my food diary that I kept for a week to go over with our conditioning coach, and my passport (not as important as the Barca DVDs, but I figured it would be helpful).

I’m looking forward to my first Algarve Cup, and although I always get that momentary feeling of questioning, “Am I fully prepared?” I know that I’ve done all that I could to be ready. Despite the fact that my official trip goals are hidden within the privacy of my journal, my focus is to enjoy every moment and learn as much as possible. More to come from Portugal.

Averbuch: Pia's Valuable Message and Uncommon Delivery

As I was just foam rolling and stretching in my living room at home in New Jersey, the song “You Can Get It if You Really Want,” by Jimmy Cliff, came up on iTunes. I downloaded it on the second day of the past national team training camp for a specific reason. On the first day of camp, we ran the beep test and then scrimmaged in cold, windy, rainy weather. Although I did have fun playing in the rain, it was pretty miserable. Pia [Coach Pia Sundhage] ended practice because the rain was getting worse. She told us to use the jog back to the locker room as our cool down and that we should wait to shower because she was going to come talk to us.

As we stood there soaking wet and shivering, Pia strolled in, her rain gear swooshing and dripping, with a huge grin on her face. She then started to sing the Jimmy Cliff song. (Pia has a good voice and loves to sing to us, occasionally with guitar accompaniment).

“You can get it if you really want. “You can get it if you really want. “You can get it if you really want. “But you must try, try and try, try and try … you’ll succeed at last.”

As I suppressed a laugh, it dawned on me that her message was valuable, despite the uncommon and amusing delivery.

Pia is different from any coach, or person, I’ve met. And in my brief time spent with the team she has already had a great impact on me. The whole time I’ve worked with Pia, I can count on one hand the instances in which I’ve heard her be critical or get mad at a player. She is overwhelmingly positive. And it is a planned positivity — to bring out the best in her players and to create a culture within the team where the good things are reinforced. She feels (and correctly so) that a lot of times we are too hard on ourselves and focus too much on the negatives of our performance. After all, fútbol is a game of mistakes. It is impossible to play and not make mistakes. But by pointing out the times when things are done well, the team will continue to do those things more consistently.

Pia’s positive approach is so apparent that at times players have asked her to be more critical. “But what if I’m motivated by someone getting on my case when I mess up?” Abby Wambach said in a team meeting. Pia’s response, “Then you’ll have to find somebody else to do that.”

Pia loves her job so much that her joy is contagious. And she emphasizes that to be excellent (as a team or an individual), you must do things differently. If everyone takes the same approach, then everyone will be the same. The ones who take a unique approach to preparation will be different and have something exceptional to offer.

This particularly rings true to me, because I have always done things my own way.

At times I’ve been criticized for taking a different path, or people have questioned me about whether what I was doing was in fact helpful, or detrimental.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea for an 11-year-old to be playing soccer every single day?” “Should she really be playing on an all boys’ team?” “Why are you not playing for your high school team?” “Is U.N.C. really the right choice for you with your style of play?” “Is it the right decision not to go to the W.P.S. combine?”

It can be scary at times to do things differently … and I often question myself. When you follow others it’s easy to justify the results, or at least to place blame if necessary. If you do things YOUR way, then you only have yourself as backup, and the responsibility lies completely with you.

Pia has helped to give me the courage to continue to trust my instincts and to keep doing things MY way.

Averbuch: I'm Going to Portugal With U.S. Women's National Team

I remember being in preseason with Sky Blue F.C. one year ago when the national team players came back from the Algarve Cup. Since I was 9 it has been my dream to play for the national team, but last March it didn’t seem to be close on my horizon, and I was nervous when my new teammates flew in from Portugal to join us. Heather O’Reilly, Natasha Kai, Christie Rampone and Kacey White seemed to be coming from another world, another level of fútbol (I prefer “fútbol” over soccer) that I was not privy to.

That feeling was on my mind as I sat in the locker room at the Home Depot Center a few days ago when Pia read us the roster. Luckily, my last name starts with an A, so I didn’t have to wait long to find out that I had been picked. To be honest, I had no idea if I was going to make it or not, which is strange because usually, as a player, you have a gut feeling either way.

Pia isn’t the type to have organized individual meetings each camp. If she has something to talk to you about, she’ll pull you aside in the hallway or keep you after a meal to chat, and you are always welcome to take the initiative and ask her for feedback, but it is certainly not mandatory. During the 20 days of this past training camp, my confidence experienced some ups and downs, but I decided not to go meet with Pia to ask for advice or assistance in helping to boost it. I took it as a challenge to do it on my own. I know what I need to do to be successful on the field, so it was just about getting back to the basics and doing the simple things consistently (easier said than done at times!).

It’s funny, because when I met with Pia in September during my first national team call-up in a couple years, she shared with me that I actually wasn’t supposed to be invited into the camp until my Sky Blue F.C. teammate, Christie Rampone, had to back out because she is pregnant. Thanks Christie! But all along I’ve felt that what I really need is that opportunity, and for someone to invest in me and show me they believe in me. So each camp, it is my goal to secure myself one more opportunity … to be invited back to add to my experience and comfort level with the national team. So, to hear my name on the Algarve Cup roster, my fifth consecutive call-up, was a big deal to me — beyond just the honor of being selected.

I’m excited to go to Portugal. Not only is it someplace I’ve never been, but I’m enjoying being part of this group. I’ve always loved the fútbol, but getting to know the players and staff on the national team is valuable too. And maybe I’ll even pick up cap No. 4!

It’s funny, because as much as I seem to have this all put in perspective, I know that when I’m in Portugal and see the starting lineup and I’m not in it (which will likely be the case as a newer player), I will still feel that pang of disappointment. Although my aim is to get more opportunities and playing experience, my expectations seem to rise more quickly every camp. I guess that’s the feeling that allows me never to be satisfied. More to come from Portugal.