Liberty High School Academy for Newcomers is a school located in Chelsea, Manhattan. It is a school for students from different parts of the world who want to study English and other fields of study. This school does not only offer educational opportunities, but it offers life skills which can benefit a student in the future or even in his everyday life. This school also has a variety of activities to participate in, specifically sports such as soccer, female volleyball, and basketball for boys. Soccer, in particular, is thriving at Liberty High School.
Mr. Kassim, the coach of the soccer team at Liberty, tells us about what he believes is the most important component the team should focus on to improve this season. “I believe the most important thing we should focus on is communication during games. When everyone talks and supports each other on the field, it helps us stay organized and play better as a team.” It is clear that finding the right team captain is critical in this process. He explains, “When selecting a team captain, I look for leadership, good communication skills, a positive attitude, and someone who leads by example both on and off the field. To develop these qualities, focus on encouraging your teammates, staying disciplined in practice, and always giving your best effort. Volunteering to help others and showing respect to everyone also goes a long way.”
The captain of the team, Mamadou, shared what he enjoys most about playing soccer. He responded with, “I really enjoy working together with my teammates and the excitement of competing in matches. I think it would be helpful if we could spend a bit more practicing set pieces, like corner kicks and free kicks since those situations come up often in games. I also appreciate when we end practice with a fun scrimmage-it keeps everyone motivated.” This means we have to practice the most necessary tricks during our practice so we can play better on match days.
Similar to Mr. Kassim, Mamadou also believes, “The most important thing we should focus on is communication during games. When everyone talks and supports each other on the field, it helps us stay organized and play better as a team.”
The assistant captain who plays defense, Mamadou Bah, responded to the following: “Hey, I noticed you always seem really pumped before a game. Do you have any pre-game rituals or routines that help you get in the zone?” He replied by saying “Yeah, actually! Before every game, I listen to my favorite playlist and do some stretches with the team. It helps me relax and focus. Plus, we always encourage and give each other the morale to do better on the field.” When asked about the key to the team’s success this season, he responded, “Honestly, I think it’s our teamwork. We’ve all gotten a lot closer this year, and we trust each other more on the field. Our coach also changed up our training sessions, so we’re working on communication and strategy a lot more than before.
What pushed the Liberty High School soccer team was the strong communication that they focused on and the support the players received from the school and everyone who watches the games.
