Q&A with Philip Simmons soccer player Haley Franko
CHARLESTON, S.C. —聽A Q&A with Haley Franko, who is a soccer player at Philip Simmons High School.
Age: 16
Sport: Soccer
Sports participated in: Soccer
Years in current sport: 13 years
Team/s: Surf SC Girls Academy 2008, Philip Simmons High School Varsity
School: Philip Simmons High School
Grade/Year: Sophomore
What are your personal goals within your sport/athletic dreams?
Haley Franko: My personal goals for soccer are to keep getting better and push myself every chance I get. I love being able to see the progress that I make in practices and during games. Playing college soccer has always been one of my biggest dreams and I would love to if provided the opportunity.
What is your biggest challenge in your sport, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
Franko: One of the biggest challenges for me in this sport is staying mentally positive. I’ve learned just how much the mental aspect can affect your game. I tend to get in my own head and get down on myself after making a mistake, but in reality, mistakes are going to happen. I’ve realized that it鈥檚 crucial to keep playing and not focus on the things that don鈥檛 go the way I expect them to. Instead I try to focus on the next great play I can make.
What was the best advice you were ever given?
Franko: The best advice I have been given is to be kind to everyone. You never know what someone is going through. You should always be nice and encouraging to everyone.
What do you love about your sport?
Franko: One thing I love about my sport is the hard work and dedication that comes with it. Soccer has really taught me that you have to work hard to get what you want. To succeed at this sport, and any sport, you have to put effort in with and without your team.
Do you have a pregame ritual you follow?
Franko: I have followed the same pregame ritual for a while now. My hair is always braided in some way, and I always wear my pink prewrap. I always listen to music too.
What do you like to do outside of your sport?
Franko: The majority of my time is spent doing school work or playing soccer. But when I get the chance I love to go to the beach or pool, and spend time with my family and friends.
What has being a member of a team taught you?
Franko: You always have to be positive and encourage each other no matter what. Part of being a team is believing in each other and pushing each other to be the best you can be.
What is the best piece of advice you received from a coach or mentor?
Franko: The best advice I have received from a coach is that you are your biggest critic. You see the mistakes you make more clearly than others do. One thing I have struggled with is not getting down on myself after I make a mistake, but you have to realize everyone makes mistakes and it shouldn’t define how you play the whole game.
Describe a mistake you made while competing and how you overcame it.
Franko: One mistake that I make when playing is not making the right pass at the right moment. During games there are many options of what you can do in certain situations, and sometimes I choose the wrong one. When I go back and watch recordings of my games, it helps me see the options and what I could have done differently in those situations. I try to apply it in my next game and try not to make the same mistake.
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