By: Tiffany Weimer

Although she didn't make the cut this time, Tiffany Weimer is continuing to train in hopes of earning a place on the U.S. National Team.

Since I started playing soccer 20 years ago, I’ve had an immense passion for the game.  It didn’t take long before I realized what I wanted the rest of my life to look like.  I wanted to play soccer as long as I physically was able to, but I didn’t envision a life of co-ed indoor leagues or over-30 pickup games, I wanted to play at the highest level possible.

I graduated from Penn State about a year ago.  From Penn State I joined the WPSL with the Soccerplus CT Reds; I’ve been in and out of U-21 National Team camps and full team camps and even played in a Hall of Fame Induction game, but mostly I’ve just been training on my own.

I guess you can say I’m currently reliving my teenage years at an age where my parents were married with children, working full-time jobs and paying a mortgage.  Some people might say that I need to grow up and face reality, but to that I say I’m ‘putting the adult world on hold’ and ‘pursuing my life goals’, also known as ‘living the dream’.

I don’t work consistently because training is my first priority. I train everyday as if I were training for some grand event.  Eventually that’s what I hope for, but as far as short term goals go, there is no grand event.  In fact, there are times when I train for months and months without anything in sight, but that’s the fun of it all. 

Last month I was pleasantly surprised when I received a call for WNT camp.  I hadn’t been in with them since January of last year.  Finally all that training and sacrificing would be put to good use.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make the cut to stay for the next week, but that just means I need to continue training and hope for another chance.  It’s my love for the game that makes it tolerable.  That’s what it is for all players in my situation.  Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to handle the harsh reality of rejection.

I have talked to people in my past who have said that they don’t take risks so that they won’t be disappointed if they fail.  In my opinion, that’s not living.  I take a risk every single day that I walk out of my house with my backpack in my hand.  I take a risk pulling up to the gym or the arena or the field or the track.  Every time I slip my foot into a cleat and strike a ball or run a sprint, I’m taking a risk.  I’m risking putting my whole heart into something, with a possibility of receiving nothing in return.  I’m building myself up with so much hope all the time and so much belief in myself that it’s very possible that it all comes crumbling down on me one day…but that, to me, is living. 

When the league comes back next year, it will make many dreams come true.  There aren’t many female athletes who can say they have an opportunity after college to play professionally.  Until then, though, there is an entire year that awaits us. 

For now everyone is in different places, mentally, physically and geographically, but we all want to end up in the same place come next year.  I hope you’ll join me as I continue my career as prospective player in the WPS and so much more.