Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Changing of the Seasons
March 22, 2010 | Cowgirl Soccer
March 22, 2010
The Cowgirls' soccer season might have come to an end a few months ago, but preparation for next season is off to a start.
Sophomore midfielder, Elizabeth DeLozier, also known as "Flash," said that it's a common misconception that soccer has an offseason in the spring.
"Technically there is no off-season, it's just as busy." DeLozier said. "Spring season is exciting because whether you were struggling for more playing time in the fall, maintaining a starting spot or even improve on strength and condition, the spring is the time to prove yourself and get a fresh start."
The Cowgirls are constantly putting their practices, workouts, games and team bonding into action. The only main difference between the fall and spring season is the weather.
DeLozier said during the fall, practices are three times a week with games on the weekends, and during the spring workouts are every day.
Every area of the field is practiced on in the fall, but learning to work as a team is also important. Shape, shooting and defending are the key areas the Cowgirls strive to improve on in the spring.
"The level of intensity for our team does not drop from fall to spring season," DeLozier said. "We are constantly competing to make each other the best we can be."
Games aren't just going on in the fall for the Cowgirls; spring games also occur in a slightly different way. The sophomore said spring games are 70 minutes instead of 90 minutes that take place in the fall. Also, two games on a Saturday are not uncommon in the spring, whereas in the fall games take place on Friday and Sunday.
"Once the spring season starts, it feels just like the fall," said junior defender Allyson Leggett. "Although it's very time consuming and time management is something I have definitely had to learn, I wouldn't trade it for anything."
The fall season marks the beginning of the team bonding for the rest of the year. The first week of preseason involves starting to bond as a group and coming together.
"Team chemistry is a huge key to finding success, so establishing that early on is a huge goal," DeLozier said. "We love to do things as a team, and that's how it should be."
Leggett said the spring is the time to figure out what kind of team the Cowgirls will be in the fall and how to fill the void of the graduating seniors.
"New leaders start to step up and the dynamic changes somewhere," Legget said, "This the time we kind of get back into our groove."
DeLozier said that before spring practices start, the captains round up the team and decide on the team goals and things the Cowgirls need to improve on for when August rolls around. The attitudes of the players seem to stay the same in the fall and spring because it's important to make sure the level of play doesn't drop off.
"Making these goals as a team and recognizing areas we are going to work to get better really put the focus on individually taking responsibility to do your part," DeLozier said. "Keeping the intensity and competitiveness up provide a really great practice environment, where we push each other to do the best we can so when game time arrives, there is not a drop off."
She said a positive environment is something the Cowgirls thrive on, which the team does by mentally motivating themselves by bringing their best to practice, games and workouts.
She said during the fall they are ultimately competing to win a Big 12 Championship and advance in the NCAA tournament, so motivation is easier.
Leggett said the spring is a time to be a little more relaxed because the pressure of making it to the Big 12 tournament and the NCAA tournament is not the main focus.
"We still want to win and get better, so the work ethic in the spring doesn't change," Leggett said.
Whether it's the fall or spring for the Cowgirls doesn't matter at all, making sure the team is always prepared is the focus throughout the year.
"Even though there is no championship game or tournament to win, our motivation still continues throughout the spring season," DeLozier said. "We challenge each other to win every game and play our very best. Achieving our spring goals just like we do with our fall goals, is still very important."
