Just before six o'clock in the morning, Nuremberg. The first rays of sunshine are already peeping through the trees on the St. Leonhard soccer field near the city center. Where young people are usually bustling around and every game is about nothing less than honor, there is still a yawning emptiness. Only occasionally do you see a few joggers and dog owners who are already on their feet.
We have an appointment with Jeannette Harttung, player of FC Würzburger Kickers Women in the third-class Regional League South. At 18 years of age, it was actually just the beginning of a promising soccer career. However, their story already speaks for itself.
And represents so many soccer players on Germany's courts. We all have them and live through them: dreams, passion, disappointments, stamina.
Born in Dresden, Jeannette moved early with her parents to Nuremberg, where she played soccer from an early age. The reason: as a little girl, she watched a game of the German U-20 women's national team on television with her father. Her conclusion: “Dad, I want that too! ”
A short time later, she laced up soccer shoes for a small soccer club in Nuremberg for the first time. With the boys. After a year with the “Club” girls, she returned to boys' teams. The fact that she was a girl was never an issue.
It was about soccer.
After the U-17, the women went to Würzburg in the 2nd Bundesliga. At the same time, she was appointed to the regional selection early on, and from the U14 to the Bayern selection. In the meantime, Jeannette was even part of the extended squad of the junior national team. In the end, however, it wasn't quite enough to establish yourself there in the long term.
Athletics were particularly lacking. Jeannette had focused her personal training on technique and ball-specific aspects of the game and neglected athletics. On the one hand, she herself had missed taking the initiative and working independently on her athletics and, on the other hand, she never received the appropriate input from outside — coaches and supervisors — to work on it.
Her approach to criticism has also fundamentally changed. What used to be emotional and demotivating is now an incentive for Jeannette to work even harder and prove the critics wrong.
A milestone in Jeannette's soccer development was B42. Where external input may have been lacking in the past, there were no more excuses. In addition to club training and school sports, she now also trains regularly with her very personal digital fitness coach.
In total, she trains up to eight times a week. B42 helped her to work specifically on her athletic deficiencies and to gain a regular place after moving to the women's soccer team. And after a difficult first round marked by injury concerns, to fully attack again this season in the second half.
On the pitch, it helps her tremendously not to have to worry about her athletics anymore, but to be able to concentrate fully on the game and the ball.
Jeannette's very personal goal:”Get the best out of myself, to be the best version of myself in soccer.”
Regardless of whether earlier when playing with the boys, or later after severe criticism: the most important thing for Jeannette was always playing soccer itself. Because everyone on the pitch is always the same, no matter where you come from, how old you are or what you look like.
What counts is the performance, fun and passion of playing soccer.
B42 would recommend them to anyone who wants to set a goal and achieve something. Your big goal: get on the pitch and hear the Champions League anthem!
Be fearless. Be focused. B42
Live your passion on the soccer field. With the B24 app for female soccer players.
