A Quote by Ashlyn Harris

Every time I get the ball, I have to kick it as hard and as far as I can. — © Ashlyn Harris
Every time I get the ball, I have to kick it as hard and as far as I can.
A lot of the time I am told to clear the ball, kick it out, 'degager le ballon' they shout, but I can't do that and if I have to do that then it feels like a defeat for me. I don't know how to do it. I never get rid of the ball that way and when I am watching TV and I see players who do get rid of the ball then I don't accept it.
When I'm with friends, when I have time, I like to play soccer, and I think it's still my passion, still my love. I'm not crazy to do it every day, but sometimes when I see the ball, I like to kick the ball.
I'm the type of person where, at the end of the game, if there's 10 seconds left, and you need to get somebody the ball, and you're behind by one, give me the ball. Get me the ball every single time.
If the wind is in your face, you swing too hard just to get the ball through it; if the wind is at your back, you swing too hard just to see how far you can get the ball to go.
Follow the ball, man. There's only one ball. They can only give it to one of them at a time, so let's not get too far away from the reality of it all.
The massive thing that has changed for me was the game management aspect. I still get it wrong sometimes, we all do, when to attack and when to kick, how to control the game, speeding it up and slowing it down. Whereas I used to just go flat out, as hard as I can, get the ball out and get to the ruck as quick as possible.
All I really think about is, 'Don't try to kick the ball too hard,' because a lot of times when I missed kicks, it was because I tried to kill it. I just try to think of a smooth swing, being slow and under control, and making the kick.
I try to treat every kick the same and I want to make every kick, let alone the kick at the end of the game.
There was a time where I was such a perfectionist even if I made the kick, but that's no way to live. I can tell you what, that will drive you crazy. I'm very hard on myself, but if the ball goes in a little bit left of the middle, you're not going to hear me crying about it.
Once practice starts, we work hard, and that's the best conditioning there is. Everything counts. Every little thing counts. Run hard, play hard, go after the ball hard, guard hard. If you play soft (what I call signing a 'non-aggression pact' with your teammates), you won't ever get into shape.
Behind every kick of the ball there has to be a thought.
There are players that try to imitate others, but at free-kick time it is a personal thing. Every person has their own technique and routine when they stand over the ball and I have mine, I am not trying to copy anyone.
I just trust my teammates to be able to make the right play - I don't have to score every time I have the ball, or shoot the ball every time I have it.
From close range the free-kick is taken with inside of the foot. I will take a run-up of two or three steps and take the kick with the inside of the foot and the ball will travel in a straight line towards the goal. If it is a long-range free-kick, then I will use the outside of my foot. The ball will turn in the air and head towards the goal.
I've lost balls in every hazard and on every course I've tried. But when I lose a ball in the ball washer, it's time to take stock.
I remember playing football dressed in peculiar costumes with some friends in France and laughing so hard we couldn't even stand up, let alone kick the ball.
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