United States, an Olympic team

Last in all editions of the Pro League - since 2019 -, on the brink where they were about to lose the possibility of maintaining their place in this tournament in the 2022/23 season; the need to resurge appeared. The Phoenix had a flight reserved from Ranchi to Paris, and it was for this team from the United States that hit rock bottom to dream again. But dreams in sports are worked on. And that's what they did until they secured tickets to the Olympic Games.
David Passmore took over the team in the middle of last year. The pandemic was no longer a sufficient excuse for anyone, although some suffered more than others. The new coach had a plan. He assembled a coaching staff according to his needs and had a focus, an axis that could not be lost: "to create a team culture." This concept would be crucial because there lay success; sharing the same beliefs would make the path to the goal easier for everyone. The United States reached the final of the Pan American Games in November. The opponent was the feared Argentina, whom they had managed to overcome in history, but this time they didn't come with enough momentum as they were in a rebuilding phase. They lost 2-1, and that defeat, although painful, opened the door to the Ranchi Pre-Olympics where only three out of eight teams would achieve the most desired.
For Passmore, "the plan was always to qualify for Paris 2024, but upon arriving, he knew that a lot of work and development was needed after COVID-19." Joy finally came on January 18, in India, when they turned the game around against the Japanese in the semifinals, and with two goals - in the 52nd minute, Hoffman, and 55th minute, Tamer - they secured, in addition to being in the final, a spot in the upcoming Olympic Games with a 2-1 victory. The final against Germany (0-2) would be anecdotal.
"We worked very hard to build a solid culture, create good structures both in attack and defense, and ensure that the athletes were fit. We also worked on the mental aspects of the game, which was very helpful in key pressure moments of the Qualifier. I never believed we would achieve it until the final whistle against Japan when the team showed its character in the last eight minutes. Such confidence only develops after a Pro League where we were clearly behind the other major nations," explained the coach.
Thoughts and emotions play a leading role in these matches where you have the possibility to achieve a share of the Olympic dream but also the chance to delay or lose it. If they won, they were already in, and if they lost, they had to win the next one to achieve it, and there was even the possibility of being left out. "We decided from the beginning that we would focus on one game at a time, on the process of playing well, and how we planned it. Although you can't remove the tension and pressure, you can make sure the athletes have a positive and relaxed mindset. Of course, the fact that we had our goalkeeper playing so well (Kelsy Bing was chosen as the Tournament's Goalkeeper) and that we created some good opportunities helps to build confidence," David said.
Making mental well-being a priority was part of the coaching staff's project. Ashley Hoffman, captain and scorer of that first goal in Ranchi that left the partial draw and gave a breath of fresh air, also believes in this idea that became "culture": "In my experience, too many athletes spend most of their time under great amounts of stress. Being in a constant 'fight' mode affects all body systems and therefore performance, but more importantly, mental and emotional health. Our states directly impact our ability to perform positively or negatively," reflected someone who surely learned discipline from her mother Brenda, bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympic Games, a unique feat for the country.
In addition to being one of the most experienced players, at 27, Ashley brings her knowledge of practicing yoga and mindfulness to the team to neutralize the mood in different situations, whether on a daily basis or before a game. "I think it's a natural extension of the work our sports psychologist and our teams do with us. All parts together, plus our culture and each person's individual efforts to be mentally and physically resilient, have led to improvements in high-pressure moments definitely."
Understanding how a team reaches the goal helps put into perspective what it really needs. The United States had suffered many setbacks, bad results. A gentleman coach named David Passmore arrived with an idea that aligned the planets. Everyone had to have the same goal, the same ways, identical commitment, and total dedication to this team. He called that group "culture" and thus achieved such a strong unity that allowed them to resurge.
"I dream of winning an Olympic medal," said Ashley Hoffman. And she adds to the Argentine illusion. America will have two representatives in Paris 2024.