I had an epiphany the other day that has made a night to day difference in the accuracy of my soccer shot.The smell of freshly clipped grass was numbing as I crossed the street to the Canyon park for some practice.

I arrived at the tail-end of the sun set but the dark didn’t bother me. I just wanted to hone my shot before the first game of the tournament.

Between the quiet road and the steep hill there was a flat grassy pitch interrupted by patches of trees. The setting swallowed me up and I didn’t want it to spit me out.

The ball bounced from one foot to the other as I weaved through the darkness. Squaring up to shoot, I pulled back and released.

Leaving my foot the ball sailed straight, hitting the tree, I had decided was goal keeper, right in the chest. I reset and aimed for the lower left corner but my shot nailed the keeper again.

Frustrated I kicked harder and with more feeling, but every time the ball flew straight to the goalie. The harder I kicked with with my right foot the higher my left foot flew up after contacting the ball.

Then the light bulb turned on!  Without my left foot staying firmly planted in the grass I couldn’t aim.  I tried again and the ball sailed smoothly into the bottom left corner, slipping over the roots of the tree that made up my left post.

When ever my left foot was firmly planted, I could send the ball in the direction I wanted.  The next day I applied this technique and scored our second and third goals my first of the season.

Grateful  I thanked God for the epiphany that made a night to day difference in my shot.