Kick it with Kendall

mentoring, training, and recovery for footballers

  • About
  • services
    • Mentoring
    • Training
    • Recovery
  • Words
    • My concussion story & resources
    • Personal stories
    • Athlete Stories
11248065_681409828659574_9008796828816038438_n-768x882.jpg

The Car Crash That Killed her Soccer Career-Sinead Farrelly

April 17, 2017 by Kendall Johnson in Tips & Tools

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that over 18 months ago, Sinead Farrelly  (former teammate, friend, and Arrow Liver) and I suffered a serious concussion just weeks apart. Throughout my recovery, this human has been my saving grace.

There is an inexplicable comfort in having someone who is pursuing the same seemingly impossible challenge as you. A path of true healing, growth, and fulfillment.

Someone who is so committed to restoring her health, that she would take a last-minute flight across the country with me to see a neck specialist. Someone who would celebrate and laugh at the fact that sleeping through the night without being woken up from symptoms was like winning the World Cup. And someone who seeks to make an impact and spread love in this world.

Without Sinead, there is no chance I would be where I’m at today in soccer, but more importantly as a person.

Sinead is pure light. A reminder to give everything you have to your sport. To be grateful for every chance you have to do what you love. And to know at the end of it all, your worth extends far beyond your athletic endeavors.

My friend Rachel Breton  wrote a beautiful piece for Excelle Sport on Sinead’s brave story of retiring from the sport that meant everything to her. 

Here’s a quote by Sinead from the piece:

“There were times I didn’t feel like I could make it through another minute, but somehow I just convinced myself to stay. ‘Stay, Sinead. Stay here. All you have to do is stay. And I seriously don’t know how I got through that. But the point is that I did. I had the tiniest little spark of hope somewhere inside of my beating heart, telling me to just stay.”

  • Check out the full article here:  After the Whistle Blows: How one player found new life after a car crash killed her career

  • Check out Sinead’s Arrow Living Article here: Nothing’s Real but Trees 


April 17, 2017 /Kendall Johnson
Tips & Tools
  • Newer
  • Older

Praise

“There isn’t anything Kendall does without pouring everything she has to offer into it. She cares enough to not be scared to say what you might not always want to hear. She’s already been a great mentor. She is someone I admire so much. She doesn’t make excuses and will achieve what she is after.”
— Allie Long, USWNT World Cup Champion
“Few people have positively impacted me on or off the field as much as Kendall. She has a unique ability to help elevate all of the lives she comes in contact with. Through her own pursuits, triumphs, and trials, she has accumulated a wealth of different approaches to professional and personal growth. It is impossible to spend time with her and not walk away as a better version of yourself.”
— Michelle Betos, NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year
“In the world of professional athletes, you are surrounded by self-motivated people who are all working to a varying degree of “obsessive” to push themselves as hard and far as they can physically, mentally, and psychologically go. This doesn’t even begin to describe Kendall’s approach to all aspects of life. She lets nothing slip through the cracks and has a natural ability to put her passion to practice. Anyone who sits down in a conversation with Kendall will leave smarter, challenged, and with their perspective on life considerably altered.”
— Emily Menges, NWSL Champion
“I met Kendall at a challenging time in my life, and from the start, I felt comfortable sharing those challenges with her. After I first opened up to her about it, it was easy from then on out because she always helped me see my feelings are valid; my experiences and my story are my own, and I can make them to be what I want. She helped me find the beauty in times of struggle and she somehow managed to respond to my life hurdles, and her own, with an open mind and a good laugh. She has helped me to believe life works for us, not against us, and my life has become better for that. She is an amazing teacher.”
— EJ Proctor, Duke goalkeeper
“I have played soccer almost my entire life, and something that I have always struggled with is my mindset and confidence. As someone who strives to train, play, and perform at the highest level all of the time, it is very frustrating to be set back by my tendency to let my mind get in the way of my play. My goal is to play soccer at the highest level possible–to be recognized as a top player at Kentucky, play professionally, and compete on the national team. I have tried many mental techniques surrounding my game in order to help maintain a steady mindset throughout my seasons, but I have struggled to find strategies that are the best fit for me. 

I have calls with Kendall very consistently and she always creates a space that makes me feel completely at ease and comfortable to share whatever is on my mind. Something that I really appreciate about talking with her is that she really wants to know and learn about me as a person, and we never immediately get into the soccer portion of the call. It is really comforting to know that I always have someone as knowledgeable and thoughtful as Kendall to talk to about the highlights and setbacks of my life and soccer journey, and I feel really confident in my future plans after talking with her. Not only do I feel like I am doing everything I possibly can to accomplish my goals as a result of the training schedule that we often work on together, but we also discuss and build upon different approaches to improve my mindset, such as journaling, visualization, mental plans and steps going into training, and morning routines.

I have learned so much from Kendall and have felt such a big difference in my confidence not only as a player, but also as a person. I have grown to trust my own voice and opinion on another level, as well as increasing my confidence in my knowledge and preparation. I have seen such a big difference in my mental and physical space as a whole and I always look forward to our next call. Thank you so much Kendall, I cannot express how much I appreciate all of the time, effort, support, and thoughtfulness you put into and bring to every one of our calls!”
— Elle, University of Kentucky commit

SCHEDULE A FREE DISCOVERY CALL

Learn more