Soccer teaches important life lessons that translate to success in careers. The physical and mental demands of soccer require discipline, dedication to training, creativity to solve problems independently, and a desire to win - all qualities that employers find valuable. Lessons learned from warmups, dealing with teammates, endurance, and following rules correlate to skills like preparation, collaboration, work ethic, and professionalism that are keys to success in the workplace. Playing soccer as a child develops leadership abilities and a competitive drive that serve individuals well throughout their careers.

1. Soccer - The Training Ground for Success
There is a generation of American forty-somethings who The lessons that are
grew to love a game at a time when the Cosmos of the North taught on the fields
American Soccer League (NASL) were filling Giants Stadium in throughout the
New Jersey. A time before games were broadcast in English United States today
on ESPN and Fox Sports, a time when you had to watch and over the last 40
international games on the Spanish channel, a time when years are proven tools
the game was not a part of mainstream commercial media, that succeed in the
a time when kids were getting shuttled to soccer practice 30 classroom through the
years before the term “soccer mom” and mini-vans. Today, boardroom.
those kids are the parents running the next great leaders to
the soccer fields across the country. As the competition for
Soccer is the foundation for success in every aspect of life. employment increases,
decision makers have
to drill down deeper
past job experience,
past the college attended and in many cases they are looking
at what sports the candidates participated in to differentiate
what they can expect from the person they hire.
Is there any other team sport that requires the physical and
mental demands of the game of soccer?
The average soccer player will run between 5 and 7 miles in a
match. Soccer is also a free flowing sport requiring the player
to actively make spur of the minute decisions on his own, not
dictated by a coach who calls the plays. In order for a player
to be able to handle the demands of a soccer game, they are
required to be disciplined in their training and dedicated to
the work involved to become better at the game. The most
important trait all soccer players possess is an unwavering
desire to win.
What CEO does not want an employee who can make
decisions on their own based on a core system, is disciplined,
dedicated to their work and possesses a desire to win?
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2. For more evidence of soccer as the training ground to success, • Success – during the soccer match there are many
let’s look at what happens at every quality soccer practice and opportunities for success; a great move, the perfect pass,
match and see how it relates to the “real world”. the assist, the goal or the save, however soccer is a game of
mistakes and how a player responds to those failures will
• Warm-up – every soccer player relies on a good warm-up determine their personal success as well as the success of
before they are ready to compete. In the “real world” this the team.
translates into being thoroughly prepared for every meeting
or presentation. Even today, American soccer players are perceived different
• Teammates – there are all kinds of personalities on a soccer from their classmates playing baseball, basketball and the
team, the goal scorer, the assist man, the defender and of American sport that rarely uses its foot on the ball. In reality
course goalkeepers. Players at a young age learn how to get the difference is minimal, the desire to win, the desire to
along with each personality type for a common goal, to win. compete, but what does tomorrow’s CEO want, an employee
You can find the same contrasting personalities in offices that can creatively think on their own for the betterment
around the world. of the overall goal or the one that needs the plays called for
• Endurance – you learn very early playing soccer that if you them?
are not in good physical shape your mental game will suffer.
As we all grow older, the same is true at our jobs.
• Creativity – since soccer is not controlled by set plays,
Sean Moynihan
players must study the game to excel. This need and Player/Coaching Experience
interest to learn sparks creativity on the field and eventually
at the office.
• Laws of the Game – in soccer if you do not play by the rules
you can get a red card, in the real world you get a pink slip.
National Soccer Gwinnett Tophat St. Rose
Coaches Assoc. Soccer Soccer High School
of America Association Club
The Coerver New Jersey West Monmouth
Coaching Stallions Bromwich University
Method Albion
Sean Moynihan
Senior Vice President
770.552.2460
sean.moynihan@grubb-ellis.com
Grubb & Ellis Company • 3424 Peachtree Rd. • Suite 800 • Atlanta, GA 30326 • 770.552.2400 • www.grubb-ellis.com