“The goal is…to write a simple affirmation in your notebook before you go into practice, or right before practice,” Gall said. “Start with 'I'm great…' and include pitcher, catcher, infielder, outfielder, teammate, whatever, and add a few reasons why.”
Gall, a former pitcher at the University of Maryland, remembers how important words of encouragement were to his success at the collegiate level. In his first season coaching the reigning state champion, Gall introduced several such rituals in hopes of boosting his confidence.
During some practices, Gall writes each player's name on a piece of paper and hands it to the player, placing it in their pocket until practice is over. At the end of practice, each player approaches their named teammate and gives them personal positive encouragement about how their practice went that day.
“You realize you're doing well,” senior captain Fallin Quick said. “But it's nice to know that someone sees it and affirms you and says, 'Great job, great job.'”
Between a week-long spring break and another week of rain cancellations, the Hornets are just two games into the season. But Gall's team, which moved to 2A after winning the 3A championship last spring, defeated seventh-ranked rival Sherwood 10-2 on Saturday.
After the win, the team huddled around Gall, who asked five players to volunteer and praise their teammates. To Gall's delight, a choir of five or more voices immediately jumped at the opportunity.
“They enjoy it,” Gall said. “It helps keep our atmosphere positive and just reinforces what we’re working on as a team overall.”
Freedom (South Riding) struggled to maintain a consistent starting lineup last season due to a string of injuries.
The Eagles were successful despite missing six to eight players in the district, finishing the year with a record of 14-3-1. However, injury issues ultimately prevented the team from building chemistry, and the Eagles ended the season in the district semifinals.
With 10 seniors returning and a team no longer plagued by injuries, the Eagles are on track for a 5-0 record. That start included a narrow 1-0 win over Champe in the season opener and a 5-1 win over the Patriots in district play on April 2nd.
“They entered the season in the best shape they've been in three years in terms of their cohesion, their understanding of each other on the field and their camaraderie off the field,” coach Chris Campbell said. “All of that usually leads to good things.”
Penn State's Addison Hess played a big role in the Eagles' offense, scoring 24 points. Hess, who was named to the All-Met first team last year, already has 10 goals and four assists in four games. She scored 22 goals and added nine assists last spring.
Hess is one of six seniors who have played on Freedom's varsity team since his freshman year, making up the foundation of an experienced group.
“[Hess] He’s just a hard-hitting player,” Campbell said. “I feel like she's grown a lot in her last four years and expanded her game from just a target player to a player who can play with her back to the goal, a player who can play towards the goal. .”
Goalie Avery Strohecker joined the team as a sophomore and is one of the Eagles' 10 total seniors. The Seton Hall signee anchors the Freedom's stout defense. He allowed less than one goal per game in 15 games last season and has conceded just one this year.
The Eagles will play Battlefield, a district rival and last year's VHSL Class 6 finalist, on Friday. After a strong start, Freedom knows it faces even bigger challenges ahead.
“We are doing our best to make sure we see the big picture. [but] Certainly, when it comes to important district games, your heart beats a little faster,” Campbell said.
