The Hoops Little Book of Football: Quotes from players age 8 and 9 playing grassroots football to raise funds

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All soccer quotes are not created equal. There is far more to a successful quote than something rousing or inspiring. Yes, inspiring soccer quotes are important, and they have a place on this list. However, there is something to be said for the short, entertaining quote. Those that lift the mood when dark clouds threaten the horizon. First and foremost, funny soccer sayings make you smile, and a smile can go a long way to breaking even the deepest of emotional funks. Sometimes, all it takes is a motivational word or two to break a barren spell. Perhaps a few words from a coach to help you find your rhythm out on the pitch. Maybe you just need to find some extra impetus to stand up and drag your ass to the gym or out for that run you’ve been promising you would take for the last six weeks. Whatever the need for then, motivational soccer quotes are a powerful weapon to own. We have compiled a list of the 100 greatest quotes about football - all of them from football experts, athletes and players to perfectly capture the essence of this beautiful game. The 100 Greatest Football Quotes Once a man has made a commitment to a way of life, he puts the greatest strength in the world behind him. It’s something we call heart power. Once a man has made this commitment, nothing will stop him short of success.” Grassrootsphilosophy / infrastructure • Football for all, everyone has a chance to play, • #1 international sport in the world • No discrimination - fair play, anti-racism, anti-sexism, • Players come first - good practice, child protection, safety, relationships, teamwork • Take the game to the underserved, where they live • Action must be dynamic, simple, exciting and rewarding

The true champion believes in the impossible." - Usain Bolt, former Jamaican sprinter and soccer fan, reported by Goal. Firstly, soccer is an individual motivator. However, at the same time, soccer unifies communities. It creates teams and breeds bonds between players and fans alike. It is a team game not just in terms of participation but also with regards to supporters. In football as in watchmaking, talent and elegance mean nothing without rigour and precision." - Lionel Messi, reported by The Guardian . It’s easy to have faith in yourself and have discipline when you’re a winner, when you’re number one. What you’ve got to have is faith and discipline when you’re not yet a winner.” Most important of all, to be successful in life demands that a man make a personal commitment to excellence and to victory, even though the ultimate victory can never be completely won. Yet that victory might be pursued and wooed with every fiber of our body, with every bit of our might and all our effort. And each week, there is a new encounter; each day, there is a new challenge.”Life is like a game of soccer. You need goals. If there are no goals in your life then you can’t win.” Catchy Titles’ • McDonald’s Football Celebration • Football Without Limits • Cup of Hope • Fun Football • All Stars Football Carnival • Let’s Bring Joy to the Children • Together We Are a Team • Have Faith in Yourself • Girls Only Road-show • Young Champions • Starball If you're not playing with passion, then you're not playing football." - Thierry Henry, reported by Goal. The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

Football brings benefits to society as a whole, as it is not only about the game itself, but instilling values including teamwork, social development, health, fitness and personal fulfilment. The game is a vehicle for educational, social and sporting development, and as such, UEFA invests heavily in grassroots football to ensure that everybody has the opportunity to be involved in the game, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, race, religion or sexual identity. The children are more important than the sport in which they are engaged. The game is not the thing, the child is….. As a kid, you obviously dream of being a professional footballer. I would watch players like Ronaldo of Brazil and pretend to be him on the playground. But I don’t think about trying to become one of the best in the world or anything like that. I just play football.” Leaders are made; they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile.” If you’re in the penalty area and don’t know what to do with the ball, put it in the net, and we’ll discuss the options later.”Football is not a sport for the elite…… • It is available for everyone, irrespective of size, shape, color or faith. • It is a real sporting democracy, which offers educational values, health benefits, social opportunities, and sporting worth. The game is a wonderful vehicle for personal and sporting development. • At the base of the football pyramid, grassroots football benefits all levels of the game. • UEFA's mission as the parent body of European football includes helping to ensure that the sport maintains a healthy grassroots – the foundation on which the élite game can thrive.

I’m a football coach. I’m not a doctor. They don’t call plays, I don’t do surgeries. We have a great deal here.” Research shows that when young grassroots players have positive experiences, their lifelong participation as players, coaches, leaders, volunteers and fans is more likely. In recognition of this, UEFA’s grassroots programme encourages national associations to put philosophies in place that will help to ensure the future of the game. Every kid around the world who plays soccer wants to be Pele. I have a great responsibility to show them not just how to be like a soccer player, but how to be like a man." - Pelé, reported by The Telegraph.Social Benefits Mastering the typical adolescent crises and constructing an identity are core issues. The team structure of a soccer club is important for personality and identity development. Research indicates that young people in a sports organization can be distinguished in a positive way from those who have left the organization or never been a member. Participation in sports contributes to the young person bearing lighter loads of physical, psychological and social stress than their non-sporting classmates. Participation in sports also offers opportunities for positive expression and the possibility to dismantle certain negative stresses. Also allows for social integration.

Whatever success I’ve had, it is because I’ve tried to understand the situation of the player. I think the coach’s duty is to avoid complicating matters.” The leader can never close the gap between himself and the group. If he does, he is no longer what he must be. He must walk a tightrope between the consent he must win and the control he must exert.” I've worked too hard and too long to let anything stand in the way of my goals. I will not let my teammates down, and I will not let myself down." - Tim Howard, reported by Goalcast.I don’t believe skill was, or ever will be, the result of coaches. It is a result of a love affair between the child and the ball.” You can overcome anything, if and only if you love something enough.” ― Lionel, on his social media profile . If we lose, we do it gracefully. If we win, its because we have played better football than the other team and we do that gracefully as well There are always new, grander challenges to confront, and a true winner will embrace each one." - Mia Hamm, former women’s US national team striker, reported by Goal. Success’ in grassroots soccer is very relative to the ability and ambition of the individual player. For some it is to move to a higher level to progress and further develop their game. For others it is continued enjoyment from playing with their friends on a more limited basis Success should be considered as giving everyone the opportunities to play and to take part in social activities built upon the foundation of team spirit. Grassroots success is about pinpointing the needs and investing time and effort in catering to those needs in a way that will allow as many people as possible to continue in the game for as long as they want.