It's Now or Never for the Bears

If the Bears ever needed an opportunity to finally clinch a division title, this season would be it.  The schedule reveals no immediate threat, with teams like Invictus being promoted to higher division.  With 3 days until Club Bad News Bears begin their 2012 Spring campaign, the hot topic trending on all social medial platforms has created quite a stir in the soccer community.

"Will this be the Bears' year?"

Last season should have been the Bears' "year", but several factors played a part in the Bears' struggles during the 2011 Fall season.  Although they were able to finish the season with a 5-2-1 record and 16 points (their best performance ever), problems such as communication and commitment began to plague a season that "should have been".  The personnel was solid, the strategy was inpenetrable, the focus was unified.  So what went wrong, and more importantly, how do they fix it?

Communication is key in all forms of the word, especially when it comes to team sports.  The Bears' coach, Oscar Aviles, stresses this before, during and even after games. 

"Talk to each other guys!"

But as much of a role communication plays while on the field, it's on the sideline where the lack of such has trickled down, seeping into the team's infrastructure and slowly eroding at the key supporting elements.  This was seen last season during the team's "implosion" when an abrupt change in formation against Invictus led to a divide amongst the team.  Players were heated and clashes of words between players was border line out-of-control. 

It's all water underneath the bridge, now.  Several players are not returning, either by choice or by other means, but the strategy remains the same.  Coach Oscar aims to be more aggressive with the team, stressing a commitment level that needs to be displayed by all players.  The league will see a change in the team's personality; a change that is much needed and would have helped them last season.

One can argue that this is only amateur soccer and it shouldn't be taken so seriously.  And another could view that as an accurate statement, but you don't join a team to go out there to lose.  You go out there, try your best to win, and at the same time having fun in the process.

This is the Bears' season to lose.  The stage and teams are set, and the outlook looks very promising for the Bears.  There isn't any reason the Bears finish less than a perfect 8-0-0 record.  There isn't any excuse why the Bears can't control their own destiny this season.

It's now or never...