Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak

"Live The Dream"

By: Rich Fernandez - Bay Area Sports Drive Soccer

Email: rfernandez@bayareasportsdrive.com

It takes more than just having a dream to reach a high level of success in life.  Hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and even a bit of luck are all key components that can help individuals reach the highest level of success in their given fields or in life, in general.  Dreams are just that, dreams--if these individuals don’t have the four previously mentioned components.  In the world of sports, success is often measured by how players dominate their respective sports, how many games they play in and win, along with how many championships they win along the way. 

Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak, a young girl growing up in San Ramon , CA , dreamed of success.  When she was eight years old, she drew a picture of herself standing on an Olympic podium, wearing three gold medals around her neck.  Tiffany, through hard work, dedication, and sacrifice, found herself actually standing on that Olympic podium, receiving her gold medal as a member of the US Women’s National Soccer Team at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta , GA.   Everywhere Tiffany has been, she’s been a winner with a string of championships and accolades that are not only impressive but also amazing.  As a three-time Parade High School All American, a three-time NSCAA All-American and a two-time National Girl’s High School Player of the Year, this Bay Area athlete’s success started off early. The honors didn’t stop there.  While a senior at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill , Tiffany was named MVP of the ACC Tournament in 1998 and finished third in voting for both the 1998 Hermann Trophy and MAC Player of the Year Award.  As a junior, in 1997, she was named First-Team All-ACC and to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, helping her team win the NCAA title.  During her sophomore year, in 1996, she was nagged the whole season with injuries but still battled through them to help UNC to the 1996 NCAA title, and during her freshman year of 1996, she earned First-Team All-ACC honors.

We’ll take a closer look at her continued success as a member of the US National Team and WUSA Carolina Courage later on in the article.  A question that might be brewing in your mind might be, “How did she do it?” or if you’re a young girl, “Can I do the same if I have a dream?”  As a father of a young eleven-year-old girl playing soccer, I too had the question of how did she do it along with all of the other great female soccer players like Hamm, Foudy, Chastain, Lilly, Sissi, and Akers--just to name a few.  In 2006 my daughter had the opportunity to attend a soccer camp put on by Tiffany Roberts Soccer (http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com), an organization that was founded by Tiffany and her husband, Tim Sahaydak.  As I watched Tiffany run her camp and got to know her over the next few years, I can honestly say that her success in soccer and life wasn’t by mistake. 

Growing up, Tiffany was already at a disadvantage, since she was the only girl out of four siblings growing up.  Instantly, she had to learn how to be tough and had to work extra hard at gaining her brothers’ respect!  “It was hard at times being the only girl because they liked to pick on me a lot, but I liked the attention and I really enjoyed trying to compete with them in all sorts of sports, even though they’d kick my butt in everything!” Tiffany remembered.  “They definitely made me tough!”  Little did Tiffany know, but Anson Dorrance, the Head Coach of the UNC Women’s Soccer team, made it a point to find players who had older brothers.  In a book written about Dorrance and the UNC Women’s Soccer program titled The Man Watching (published by Sports Media Group and written by Tim Crothers), Crothers notes the following:

“Dorrance also seeks out girls with big dreams or big brothers. Ideally both.  Dorrance thought Tiffany Roberts might be a Tar Heel when he learned she’d grown up with three older brothers who would regularly stick her in front of their hockey goal and fire slap shots at her.”

The Olympic Development Program, or ODP for short, in a nutshell is a national process for identifying and developing the best youth soccer players.  The process promotes players to the U.S. National Teams, which represent the United States in international competition, such as the Youth World Cup and the Olympics.  There are some youth club coaches and players who love ODP, and there are others who don’t put much stock in trying out for or even making the ODP team.  Whatever your position is on ODP, before she made the National Team, Tiffany was a part of ODP.  “Yes, I started playing ODP when I was about 14 years old.  ODP was the avenue I used to be scouted!” she emphasized.

At the age of 16, Tiffany became a member of the US Women’s National Team, a time when young girls at that age are getting ready for their Junior/Senior Proms and going out on dates with boys.  How was she able to sacrifice her teen years and focus on training full time with the National Team?  “It wasn’t really difficult because I was so focused on my ultimate dream . . . which was to win a gold medal!”  Many teens would dread missing all of the fun of high school, especially when their friends would tell them what they had missed and would make it a point to rub it in their faces, but not Tiffany’s friends!  “I missed going to some of my high school activities and events but my friends were so supportive, they always made me feel like I was making the right choice!”  An honor roll student for all four years in high school, Tiffany had to leave school early to train for a spot on the 1995 Women’s National Team.  Tiffany had the support not only of her friends but also the entire school.  In fact, they held a surprise assembly for her and honored her as athlete of the year.  Even more support poured in for her when the mayor of San Ramon held a Tiffany Roberts day in her honor!

Traveling and training with the National Team at 16 years old can be very overwhelming; most teenagers at that age would immediately become homesick and want to quit and come home, but not Tiffany.  “For some reason I never got homesick,” Tiffany explained.  “Traveling with the National Team as a teenager was a dream come true, and I always had so much fun learning about new countries and cultures.  Also, most of my teammates were older than I was, so they always looked after me and made me feel accepted.”

Tiffany’s first appearance in a World Cup came in 1995, when the FIFA Women’s World Cup was being played in Sweden .  The US was the defending World Cup Champions and was looking to repeat as champions.  You can imagine the emotion and pressure felt by a player taking the field at the biggest event of his or her sport.  Tiffany being a young 16-year-old member of the team certainly felt the pressure when she took the field for the first time at the event: “I was very, very nervous, and I was in awe of my own teammates and opponents!”  When asked if her family was there that day, Tiffany confidently responded, “Of course, my family was there to support me; they wouldn’t have missed it!”

At the 1995 World Cup, the US finished third, having lost in the semifinals to Norway .  The US fully expected to once again win the World Cup title but got upended by Norway .  Losing in the semifinals and not even making it to the finals was hard enough, but the Norwegians also rubbed it into the faces of the US players by parading around and doing the Norwegian Train all over the field. “I don’t really like thinking of that day, but I remember being very sad and disappointed.  I was crying my eyes out, and I remember that I never wanted to feel that way again.  We used that moment as motivation, and it helped us beat them in the ’96 Olympics the following year!” Tiffany explained.  At the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta , Tiffany finally realized that dream she had been dreaming since she was a little girl.  The US women beat China 2-1 in the gold medal game and disposed of Norway in the Group Semifinals 2-1, and it was then that Tiffany was on the Olympic podium, receiving her gold medal!  

Next challenge up for Tiffany was college.  She is a West Coast girl who ended up playing at UNC.  Who discovered her?  What did her parents think of her desire to attend college on the East Coast?  “UNC had the full package!”  Tiffany listed the reasons why she attended UNC, “Top rated academics and soccer program, not to mention a fun social scene!  I also wanted to try something completely new.  It helped that many of my National Team teammates were either in college or had already graduated, so they were able to give me a lot of feedback on their universities.”  Who was the one who discovered Tiffany?  “Anson Dorrance discovered me and recruited me to come to UNC.  It was easy to sell UNC to my parents because it is an amazing school.  Though it was far away, my parents wanted the best for me, so they were very supportive with my decision!”  While at UNC, Tiffany majored in communications studies and was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and the UNC Dean’s List (1996-1998).  Tiffany was not only an amazing soccer player, but also an even more amazing student at UNC. 

At the 1999 Women’s World Cup, the US won the championship in amazing fashion, winning on Brandi Chastain’s final penalty kick beating China 5-4 in a penalty kick shootout and the rest, as they say, is history.  Winning the gold medal in 1996 and now the World Cup Championship in 1999 are two crowning glories in Tiffany’s National Team career, and added much to her life both personally and professionally.  “Now that I’m a collegiate coach, I use those championships as lessons.  I think about the reasons why our team was so successful and try to apply them to my current team at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU),” Tiffany reflected.  She went on to say, “I realized that we were successful because we all held high standards for each other and had great team chemistry.  I try to focus on these values when coaching.”  Asked if Tiffany had her family in attendance on that glorious day, she responded, “I’m very thankful that I was able to share the championship moments with my friends and family.  My mom and dad made sure they were at every game!”

Having strong family values, ties, and bonds is very important to Tiffany, especially growing up being taught Filipino family values and teachings.  One could even say that this strong family core helped her at some of the most difficult times in her life, like when she was not invited back to the National Team in 2000 by new head coach April Heinrichs.  Shocked and stunned, she turned to her family and her then-boyfriend and current husband, Tim Sahaydak, for support.  “I’m very proud of my Filipino heritage, and I would have to say that it has played a big role in my life.  Knowing that I have a strong family unit has always helped me overcome obstacles.  They have always been there to support and encourage me throughout the years!”

Hard work, dedication, focus, and support from her family helped Tiffany become an impact player in the WUSA for the Carolina Courage when they won the Founders Cup Championship in 2002.  With her goal of becoming one of the best players on the Courage, Tiffany set out to improve on all aspects of her game so that Heinrichs would notice her and change her original decision to leave her off the National Team.  Well it worked!  For the 2003 World Cup, Tiffany was back where she was meant to be, which was playing on the National Team.  Although the team lost to Germany in the semifinals and finished in third place, it didn’t take away from the accomplishment Tiffany had achieved by working her way back onto the National Team. 

Tiffany’s work ethic, selflessness, dedication, and drive didn’t go unnoticed by her teammates on the National Team.  In her book titled It’s Not About The Bra (with Gloria Averbuch by HarperResource [An Imprint of HarperCollins Publishers]), Brandi Chastain had this to say about Tiffany:

 “On our team, enormous respect goes to someone like Tiffany Roberts.  She’s been on and off the National Team since 1995, but not one day in training goes by when she isn’t working intensely.  She may not make the traveling roster to Japan or Canada , but that doesn’t deter her from working hard.  Everyone talks about her: “Look at TR [her nickname]; it’s so impressive.” And we tell her so when we meet up after training in the locker room.”

Another one of Tiffany’s famous teammates also recognized something special about Tiffany.  In her book titled Go For The Goal (with Aaron Heifetz by HarperCollins Publishers), Mia Hamm makes this observation about Tiffany:

“I believe that to fit into a team, no individual can put her needs above those of the team as a whole.  She must play her role, the position the coach assigns her.  On the Olympic team, we had players who could’ve started but didn’t complain when they were asked to contribute from the bench.  They understood their role within the system.  When they got into the game, they made the most of the opportunity”

“Two shining examples of this are Shannon Macmillan and Tiffany Roberts.  Eight months before the Olympics, Shannon was not even on the team, a victim of one of the final cuts when the coaches chose the roster for residency training camp.  Shannon got a second chance and battled her way back into camp.  She earned a spot in the starting lineup and scored two goals en route to the Olympic semifinal.”

“Tiffany Roberts, a starter on the 1995 Women’s World Cup team, found herself on the bench as a reserve because Shannon emerged in the months leading up to the Olympics.  In the Semifinal against Norway , our coaching staff decided we needed a tenacious and tough defender in the midfield to shut down Norway ’s brilliant center-midfielder, Hege Riise.  Tiffany got the nod to start in place of Shannon, who became a reserve for the match.  Not only did Tiffany play a great game, executing her role perfectly, but Shannon came off the bench to score the winning goal in sudden death overtime.  I know it sounds almost unbelievable in this age of prima donna athletes, but I never heard either of them complain.  There was no sniping or backbiting.  And when they got on the field , both came through for us in a way that sealed their place in history.”

When the WUSA closed its doors at the end of the 2003 season and right in the middle of the 2003 World Cup, many players had no idea what was going to happen with their careers.  Tiffany and her teammates on the National Team didn’t have much time to worry; they currently were preparing for the World Cup and would have to deal with losing their jobs in the WUSA at the end of the World Cup.  Again turning back to her family and her roots for support and direction, Tiffany and her husband, Tim, opened Tiffany Roberts Soccer in her hometown of San Ramon , CA .  Their goal, as stated on their website, http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com/about_us/index_E.html, is clearly stated:

“Our programs are designed to develop and inspire soccer players by offering innovative training methods conducted by an expert staff of truly remarkable women! It’s our goal to impact the lives of girls; imparting on them the wisdom we have accumulated from our world-class coaches and teammates. Our mission is to afford each player with the skills and knowledge needed to live out their soccer dreams . . . ”

The testimonials and support for Tiffany and Tim by folks like Anson Dorrance, Ben Olsen, Tony DiCicco, Julie Foudy, and others can be found on their website, http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com/about_us/testimonials/index_E.html.  These words of praise are a true testament to the type of people Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and Tim Sahaydak are!

Once again, hard work, dedication and commitment have paid off for not only Tiffany but for Tim as well when they were offered the co-head coaching job for the women’s soccer program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).  Although this was a great opportunity for the young couple, it meant that they would have to once again uproot themselves and leave the life they had started to build for themselves back here in the Bay Area.  How difficult was this challenge of leaving San Ramon and her family and friends once again?  “Leaving California this time was the hardest it has ever been!  I think it was so hard because we planned to settle down here and really didn’t think we would ever have to leave again.  We realized that VCU was a wonderful opportunity and we didn’t want to pass it up.”  Is Tiffany homesick this time around?  “We miss California so much but love our new job.  Coaching at the collegiate level was better than expected.  I love mentoring this age group and love managing a team.  It’s so rewarding to see the team or individual players overcome challenges.  Also, having the opportunity to coach with my husband is a dream come true!”  Their first season at VCU came up just short of winning the CAA Championship by losing to #2 Hofstra University 0-1 in the championship game.

Another aspect of Tiffany is her willingness to help others.  Again, it started in high school, where she worked at a center for handicapped children.  Today you can find her working with multiple agencies and groups at the same time, with the same vigor and energy she has on the soccer field.  Tiffany joined the fight against HIV/AIDS by joining Goals for Girls 2007 and traveling to Port Elizabeth , South Africa , to conduct a soccer and life skills camp for 100 young girls:  http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com/latest_news/168813.html

Tiffany has also teamed up with US Soccer and the US State Department in their Sports Envoy International Relations Program.  She has traveled to Uganda , where nearly 400 youths participated in the soccer camps:

http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2.65958:gpx::72231+L3/Display+E+105+105+154130

Another international effort Tiffany was a part of was the recent US Embassy sponsored youth soccer clinic in the Philippines .  Tiffany, a Filipino-American whose mother was born in the Philippines , traveled back to her roots, along with Linda Hamilton, to share their passion for the sport.  They made stops in Manila , Iloilo , and Bacolod :

http://usembassy.state.gov/manila/wwwhs174.html

Tiffany has also teamed up with Girl Talk, a group that brings public awareness to moms and daughters on the choices and consequences of underage drinking.  At each of her summer soccer camps, Tiffany, along with the representatives of Girl Talk, draws attention to the alarming trends in underage alcohol consumption by young girls:

http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com/docs/latest_news/GirlTalk_PressRelease%20copy.pdf

Dreams are just that, dreams--if you don’t work hard and sacrifice in life to try and make those dreams into reality.  When Tiffany signs autographs for young children, she always adds the saying “Live the Dream,” something she did and is still doing today!  From a young girl in San Ramon, dreaming of wearing Olympic gold, to a young lady, actually standing on the Olympic podium receiving her gold medal, Tiffany Roberts has taken the journey and been successful--living the dream and making her dreams come true!  So remember, whatever your goal in life may be, “Live the Dream” . . . Tiffany has. 

PLAYING EXPERIENCE

Championships

NOTE:

Special thanks to Tiffany for making this article possible.

Tiffany Roberts Soccer is holding three separate soccer camps with two being held in Richmond , VA at the VCU campus and one in Walnut Creek , CA .  Go to http://www.tiffanyrobertssoccer.com/ for more information.