It's great to return with my column after a well needed break during the holidays.

There is a lot to chat about but first let me give you an update of what's been going on with my indoor soccer team, Baltimore Blast.

We're 5-1 at the moment and are doing really well. We've been able to stay focused as a group as we're a good group of players and we all seem to get along with each other.

We played against Rockford last week and suffered our first lost (14-6). We will be heading to Philadelphia this weekend for a tough game and we have to pull things together if we want to come out on top.

I always say the way we coach players has a great impact on how they act off the field. I personally have created a base for coaching and the way I live my life.

I believe before there are any systems of play there has to be a basic understanding of the game that players and coaches should have and follow.

Coaching your players and building your teams can not be just based on a system. You need a base to work from and every coach has a different view of what that is.

For me it is the three moments of the game and life. These are the moments I follow on and off the field:

The First Moment of the Game: Is when your team have the ball, in this moment your main focus is the value of possession. The value of possession also means getting your team to understand reasons for holding possession – teaching them the importance of keeping the ball, whether it is finding attacking space, realising important areas of the field or unbalancing the defence or breaking down teams to score.

The same would go for life in this moment. Value something that is yours, doing whatever it takes to keep it and let nothing stand in your way. Understand its value and how you can use it to be successful. Also learn how it affects your life.

The Second Moment of the game: This is the moment when the other team have the ball. In this moment you teach your players transition from offence to defence and the importance of working hard as a team to win the ball back. This transition is key because as soon as you lose it your team must quickly move into a defensive mode. It is as simple as players taking a break and going for water and making them get back as a team for the next drill. Transition can make or break teams.

As far as this moment in life, well it is simple. If someone takes what is yours or want what you have, you must transition yourself, do not relax and let it just go away but react to the situation and think positive.

The Third Moment of the game: This is the moment where you have to get the ball back. In this moment you teach defensive structure, how to pressure and zone as a unit. Your team must understand the importance of working together in winning the ball back so you can put yourself back in the first moment.

In life this is very important, because when we lose something, sometimes we tend to relax and let it go. This is the moment when we have to find ways to achieve what we had set out to do at the beginning, the moment when you want to give yourself a second chance, make sacrifices and control what is yours and never allow complacency to set in.

These three moments I have created to be my base. Before I focus on any systems of play these moments are the first of my focus in coaching the game and life issues.

When I teach these moments, players have to work very hard and their focus must be on being successful.

After the team have understood the three moments, then systems can be implemented. In every moment you must teach the players When, Where and Why and also Show, Demonstrate and Explain. This helps players to understand their importance and value.

Note what works for me maybe different for others, but if you have no base for what you are doing, then I say try it and I welcome the feedback.

Until next time!