Sophomore Jet Truitt said he has improved a lot as a soccer player thanks to the veteran players and how they push him to do his best in training.

He said, “We want to be State champions, so I’ve got to train like a State champion. Especially the seniors support me a ton, making me feel confident in my abilities which have helped me perform against good teams.”

According to a study from The American Psychological Association’s (APA) journal, Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, veteran players bring their accumulated experience to teams, which can offer enhanced leadership and tactical intelligence, allowing them to make big decisions and guide younger players under pressure. They serve as crucial mentors, sharing their knowledge, helping develop younger talents, and creating strong team communication. Veteran players also demonstrate greater composure and resilience when handling challenging situations and setbacks, which reinforces a positive and determined team culture. 

Senior Arjun Yadav said he believes the experience from all of the seniors helps set a standard of play and discipline which is essential for any team’s success. 

Yadav said, “New players to the program look at how we carry ourselves, so I try to lead by example while also making them feel comfortable and part of the squad from day one; it’s more of an acclimatization to the team’s culture than the physical team itself from my point of view.”

Head Coach Shane Schmidt said, “We talk a lot about life and leadership in terms of, how what we do in any sport, but in ours specifically in soccer, and what we do trying to be better soccer players also transcend into our lives and then that just being leaders in groups. It’s not necessarily about mentoring and teaching, but about showing the ways to be successful.”

Yadav echoed this sentiment and said helping younger players adapt has been key to building mutual trust.

“When younger players feel backed by the seniors,” he said, “they play with confidence and energy. This kind of lifts the whole squad. Practices stay sharp, and in games everyone’s more connected.”

Truitt also said he believes the mentorship from all the veteran players helps with the chemistry among players both on and off the pitch.

He said, “We’ve got good chemistry, and good chemistry is leading us to remain undefeated so far and that’s thanks to both the coaching staff  and our older players who have helped me and other younger players a ton.”

The idea that veteran players are essential for team success is supported by a growing body of research on team dynamics and cohesion. Studies, such as one from Northwestern University, have found that “prior shared success” among teammates significantly improves their odds of winning future games, even more so than just individual talent alone. This research points to team chemistry as a “nebulous concept” that is, in fact, a crucial, measurable factor. High-cohesion teams benefit from enhanced communication, increased motivation and better conflict resolution. The studies show how creating an environment where players feel a sense of psychological safety, allowing them to take risks and make mistakes without fear of judgment, is key for both individual and collective growth.

Yadav shared this view as he said many freshman or sophomores might get moved up to the varsity team when the time for Sectionals plays.

“I would tell any freshman or sophomore to not be afraid of making mistakes,” he said. “Now is the time when they can practice at a high level with little repercussions and understand what changes they need to make. If they are scared to make changes to their own game based on what doesn’t work, they’ll never adapt to the speed of the game at the next levels.” 

Schmidt said he believes the mutual trust among players impacts the team’s chemistry a lot. He said there’s a lot of talent in this team and he said he feels the players have really gotten together, how they celebrate one another and especially the small things which are always crucial for a team’s success. 

“I think celebrating the small things is the key,” he said. “And when we celebrate the little things, then the little things turn into bigger things. It’s just kind of a process that with some steps to create a culture and that they buy into it and they lead it, I think that it makes the chemistry phenomenal.”

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Mentorship often pushes seniors like Yadav to stay accountable and for them to tell any younger player, or anyone for that matter, to stay focused or keep intensity high, but seniors also have to do that themselves.

Yadav said, “Hypocrisy kills motivation for the rest. It also makes the season more rewarding, knowing I’m leaving an impact beyond just my own performance, making sure the boys are ready for what’s to come next year.”

This culture of mentorship and shared purpose, according to Schmidt, instilled by veterans and coaches, has been the driving force behind the team’s success, creating a powerful sense of unity that transcends individual skill. It’s a lesson that will stay with the younger players such as Truitt long after this season ends, as the most impactful advice is not just what you’re told, but what you see and feel in a team’s spirit.

Truitt said, “The biggest piece of advice I have been given is that you should always have a purpose when you wake up. You want to be the best you can be. And yeah, if you don’t want it, just go home.”