Beyond the Locker Room: Emblems of Life Lessons from Athletics

The Winning Edge From Bret Hall, Former USWNT Assistant Coach

One of the significant benefits of participation in any athletic program are the life lessons of lasting value that can be learned. In this emblem book, Bret Hall, a soccer player, and Brian Oxley, a wrestler, have teamed up to share some of the life lessons they have learned through their experiences in the athletic arena. While these lessons were learned through the grit and sweat of tough athletic competition, their impact goes far beyond the locker room. In fact, they even reach beyond the physical realm into the moral and spiritual realm, penetrating deep into the soul.

After college, Bret pursued his goal of becoming a professional soccer player. He did this with both tenacity and passion. Honing his skills he enjoyed a successful professional soccer career spanning 15 years. He had the good fortune to play on multiple championship teams and on several occasions was honored by selection to the all-star team. These events provided Bret not only the opportunity to play with some of the greatest players in the world of his day, but also to continue in the game full-time as a coach after his playing career ended. Bret has coached at various levels, including a stint as the assistant coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the World Cup in 2007. His efforts ultimately placed him in his current position as co-founder of Bridges FC, together with Rob Keith, longtime friend and soccer player and a former executive of a large public company. Bridges FC is a non-profit organization established for the purpose of training, equipping, and exposing young, talented soccer players to the demands of professional soccer. The goal of this organization is to develop in its players the physical stamina and mental tenacity necessary to play at a professional level and to witness lives transformed through the power of Jesus Christ.