The championship game for my team, the Baltimore Blast, is just four days away when we play Rockford Rampage who beat Monterrey La Raza on Sunday.

The tension is running high and we the coaches are doing everything we can to make sure the players are ready for this great event.

After 18 years and six in Baltimore, never would I have thought I would be chasing a fourth championship title in six years, and it is always a great feeling playing for the championship as this time I would be more involved with coaching the team than playing.

The team has been consistent for the most part this season and we know that all the hard work through the season was achieved to be in this one moment, and that is playing on Saturday night for the NISL Championship at our home field.

What is needed for us to be successful in the championship game this weekend, you may ask.

Well, there are four major things that have to be controlled before you get into the systems and tactics of the game.

If we want to give ourselves a chance to win we need to keep a high intensity during the game, limit our mistakes, stay focused and have a will to win.

The intensity of the game must be very high but control is key as every player plays the sport to win and to be a champion at the end of the day.

Our aggressiveness, both mentally and physically, will have to be controlled by us.

This is very important, as you do not want your emotions to lead to you making bad decisions, giving up bad fouls and free kicks, which could burn us at the end.

Also, it will be key for us to limit our mistakes on the field as each mistake made could cost us the game.

This will be a major factor and could determine the outcome of the game.

Our players have to stay focused every play and every second of the game.

Our players need to be fundamentally sound on Saturday night.

The players and yes, us coaches, must be focused throughout the whole game, there cannot be any mental lapse in this championship match.

From clock management to knowing the special team plays, there will be no time to relax the mindset as everyone has to be sharp.

We know the game sometimes will not go as planned so we need to understand this and play every shift as if it was our last.

At the end of the day we must not to have any excuses.

One of the key elements of trying to complete the task on Saturday will be having the will to win.

We all have to understand what got us here and why we play the game.

We could do all the hard work of getting to the championship but if we do not understand what it took to get here than the completion of winning it all may be tougher.

Every player has their reason of why they play the game and why they make sacrifices to be the best.We must all look deep inside ourselves and figure out why we need to win this championship and do whatever it takes in getting the job done.

I'm ready and preparing for the battle and would love to bring another championship back to Bermuda this summer.

I know it will be a tough challenge but I tell you we are up for the task.

I ask you all to follow the game this Saturday night by either watching it live on webcast at www.rockfordrampage.com (remember Rockford is two hours behind) or listening to it on www.baltimoreblast.com game time 8.30 p.m. Bermuda time.

Until next time!