Tracy tells all...
August 2001
Is it hard to direct the defense from goal? (Hannah, 10)
No, actually the goalkeeper has the best view of all the players on the field. And since the goalkeeper can see all the players and the ball, it is expected that the goalkeeper do the majority of the communication and organization of the defense. Most teams also have a strong leader as a central defender who can help organize as well. Kate Sobrero helps me out by organizing the midfield in front of her while I do my best to organize the 4 defenders in front of me. The keys to effective communication are to be commanding and specific.
How does the crowd affect you during a game? (Jackie, 15)
I typically notice the crowd the most when we come out just before the game during introductions. I love looking up into a packed stadium. It gives you a real boost to know that all those fans are there to see you perform and to help you win. Once the game starts my mind is on the game, so the crowd isn't much of a factor. Although it does become hard to communicate with my defenders when the crowd gets loud. And I must admit that I do hear the "DUCAR" cheers everytime I kick a ball…that's pretty cool.
Tracy, What is it like to play with the international players especially Dagny Mellgren? (Carol Anne, 12)
Playing with and against the best international players in the world is the BEST part about this league. We have the best foreign players in our league and so that makes the level of play much higher. In practice I have to train harder in order to compete with Dagny and also our 2 Germans, Bettina and Maren. And in games I always have to be sharp because there are players like Sun Wen, Charmaine Hooper, Sissi, Katia, Pretinha, Sawa, etc looking to score on me all the time. They are all so good that if you have any lapses in concentration you will be exposed and punished for it. And off the playing field it has been great to interact with the foreigners, learn about their cultures and how they train. We love Dagny, Maren, and Bettina!
Is there any part of the body that goalies may need to stretch out that field players wouldn't? (Sara, 10)
Some goalkeepers like to stretch their upper body more than a field player would. A goalkeeper uses their upper body more since they are always catching and throwing. However, I don't really stretch my upper body that much just because I never feel that it is very tight. That is just my personal preference. Instead I do a very thorough lower body stretch after I jog around and break a sweat. I never stretch when I am cold. And I also do a lot of lower back stretches because I have a history of back problems.
What's the coolest thing you've gotten to do because you were a pro soccer player? (Jackie, 15)
The coolest thing about being a pro is that I get to be a role model. That is my favorite part about this job. I like the fact that just by being myself and doing my job well that I can help guide girls and boys to become better players and people.
Do you and your husband plan on having children and if so, would you ever consider coaching their soccer team?
Yes, we plan on having children once I have finished my professional career. We will probably have 2 kids, and Chris says he wants 2 girls. He says boys are always getting into trouble. He's funny. And yes if our children are into sports, (we hope!) we would love to be able to coach them. Although I would first make sure they are comfortable with that idea.
What is it like to be playing the sport you love so close to your hometown of North Andover, MA? (Erica, 14)
It is wonderful to be back playing in Boston, so close to where I grew up. I haven't been in the area since I left for college in 1991. I love New England and I appreciate it even more now that I have been away for so long. Plus my parents get to come to every game and that means a lot to me. They weren't able to watch me play that often in college or on the National team, so it is really special to be back home. It has also been a lot of fun to run into old friends and get reacquainted.
How old were you when you started playing goalie? (Ugo, 11)
I think I was about 7 or 8 years old. I was on a town team and just got thrown in goal one day. It was just my turn…everyone on the team got rotated through. I took a liking to it and did pretty well, so from then on I would play half the game in goal and the other half on the field as a forward. I continued that pattern until I was about 13. I knew when I got into high school that I would have to pick one position to focus on, so I decided to go to a goalkeeper camp. I figured that if I liked the camp I would become a goalkeeper and if not then I would be a field player. Simple enough. It was a very intense camp and just for goalkeepers. As you have probably figured out by now…I loved it and I have been playing in goal ever since!
You are one of my favorite players. You are a great goalie!! I love playing goalie, it's my favorite position! I sometimes get really nervous and feel like I can't do it, and when I let in a goal it feels like I let my whole team down, and I feel horrible. Does that ever happen to you? (Rebecca, 10)
Thanks. I still get nervous before every game. That is very common. The first step is to recognize that getting nervous is okay and that getting nervous can actually help you. It is up to you how you respond. You can feel the nerves, start to panic, expect the worst, and then most likely you won't perform well because you are thinking negatively. Or hopefully when you feel the pre-game jitters you get excited to play, get psyched up, feel the adrenaline rush, and use that energy positively.
Another trick you might try is mental imagery. Before games when I get nervous I use it to stay focused. I see myself making the right decisions, making saves, doing everything I do in goal and doing it perfectly. See every component of the save from start to finish. See your teammates, hear the crowd, feel the pressure, smell the grass…make it as vivid as possible.
And I have to agree with you that it always feels horrible to let in a goal. I would be more concerned if you weren't upset when you let in a goal. No goalkeeper likes to give up goals. However, failure is a HUGE component of our position, so you will have to learn to accept that you will always give up goals. Some will be your fault, and some won't. Some will be great goals, and some will be weak. The key for you is to always learn from each and every goal that you let in. Analyze the goals you give up AFTER the game. Learn from your mistakes, fix team problems that led to the goals, and then move on. The biggest mistake you can make as a goalkeeper is to dwell on failure. What is in the past is PAST, so focus on what you can control…make the NEXT save. Accept responsibility when you could have done better, but also keep in mind that the 10 players in front of you could have done better too. Sometimes great goals are scored…toss those aside and don't worry about them. Focus on the balls that are savable and don't be too harsh on yourself…everyone else will do that for you.
What was it like the first time you walked on the field for the first game? (Sarah, 13)
I was both nervous and excited at our first game versus Carolina. I could hardly believe that the day had finally come that I was stepping on the field as a professional soccer player. And after a year of not playing for any team and almost 2 months of pre-season training it was great to finally get out there and compete. It was also really weird to be back playing at my alma mater, the University of North Carolina, on Fetzer Field, my old college field, as the visitor…the enemy. The last game I had played on that field had been a loss in 1995 in the NCAA semi-finals so I really wanted to get back out there and get a win. Looking back on our season thus far that game has been the most memorable to me. To start in my first game as a pro at my alma mater, in the community where my husband and I currently live, and to win and get a shut-out was one of the best moments of my career.
Other than playing for the Breakers, do you plan on trying for the US National Team and Olympic Team? (Susan)
I have played for the US National Team and was a member of the '99 World Cup Team before being cut from the squad in 2000. I had a great 4 year career on the squad and thoroughly enjoyed my experiences. I must admit I would definitely say yes if I were invited back into camp with the team and would love to PLAY in a World Cup or Olympics, (since I was a backup to Brianna Scurry I would love the chance to actually play in a big event like a World Cup or Olympics). However, I also consider myself very fortunate to have had 4 terrific years with the team and am just happy to be back competing on a regular basis again. It is hard to always be a backup goalkeeper and not see much game time. I am having so much fun playing again and am developing so much more now that I am in games weekly. If I never have the opportunity to play with them again that is okay with me since many people never have the opportunity at all. I am just going to continuing playing my best for the Breakers and whatever happens…happens.
How do you work on jumping so high? (John)
I mainly work on increasing my vertical jump during the off-season. That is the time to push yourself and that is the time when you can afford to be sore. I lift 3- 4 times a week to establish a solid strength foundation. Then on top of that I do plyometric workouts 2 times a week. I have a ton of different plyometric workouts, the more variety the better! Basically the workouts consist are short, 30-45 minutes, and intense. They consist mainly of a lot of jumping. I work on my technique, my power, my quickness, and my agility.
During the season all I do is maintenance work. We lift as a team when we can, and we do some body weight jumps, but never more than 10 minutes worth of jumping in one session. I do so much jumping as a goalkeeper during practice and games that I don't really see my vertical jump decrease at all in season.
Have you ever had any injuries? (Nicole, 14)
Yes, unfortunately I have had my share of injuries. It is hard to survive as a goalkeeper, throwing your body around as we do, for this many years, and not have any injuries. Fortunately most have been minor. I have had numerous finger injuries…ahhhh, the life of a goalkeeper! As you have probably noticed my hands are thoroughly taped when I play. I tape both ring fingers on my hands because previous dislocations and jams have made them susceptible to re-injury. And I also wear small orthoplast braces on both my thumbs because the ligaments in my thumbs are over-stretched from so many years of spraining them…also know as game-keepers thumb. I can still catch fine, they don't hurt, I just go through a ton of tape!
My only major injury was to my back. I had a L5-S1 spinal fusion on my back in 1989 for a disorder called spondylolithesis. And I am sure you all are familiar with that right? Not! No worries, it has taken me about 10 years just to learn how to spell it! In layman's terms I had 2 cracks on the transverse processes of my 5th lumbar vertebrae. I was probably born with it, since my Mom and sister have similar problems, but since I am so active it became a problem. I actually hurt it playing basketball in high school. I had a lot of discomfort in my back and radiating pain into my leg. I tried rest and therapy, but in the end it came down to whether or not I wanted to play soccer again. For me that answer was pretty simple. I was set on playing soccer and didn't want to live with pain down my leg, so I decided on the optional surgery. That was a lot of fun…NOT! I was hospitalized for a week, out of school for 3 months, (well, that was okay J), and out of action for 10 months! It was very painful, but in the end it helped me reach my goal of playing soccer at the highest level. I was pain free for about 6 years after the surgery, but then all that diving around caught up with me. The nature of my position means I thrash my body daily, which takes its toll on my back. And since my back essentially has one less joint to flex, everything else around it has to work that much harder to compensate. Therefore I pretty much have chronic back pain and occasional leg pain. It just comes with the territory. Over the years I have learned how hard I can train without overdoing it and when I need to take a step back and just rest. I ice daily, do a ton of core-stabilization exercises, and get massage therapy regularly. Some days are better than others and on those not so good days I think back to what my surgeon said, "How many other players are there in this league with spinal fusions?". My doctor is amazed that I can still continue to play at this level. He has assuresd me that I will be pain free when, and if, I ever stop throwing my body around the goal like a madwoman. However, I am not ready for that day just yet!
We know you love skittles but we are all dying to know if you prefer the lime or the new green apple? (Yvonne, 19)
I am a fan of the new green apple!