Here is who I have out for tomorrow.  Please comment if your daughter won't be at tomorrows game and she isn't on this list.

OUT FOR SATURDAY INDOOR:
1. Molly
2. Morgan
3. Sheena
4. Jenna (?)

Thanks--please let me know so I can get a sub if needed.

Brian

This Weekend

For the game this weekend please wear red bring white.

Parents, please see me before or after the game or at practice on Sunday. I need a parent for each player to sign the Liability Release Forms for our first two tournaments.

Gary

3 Agenda Items

3 Important Items need your attention.

1. Good news--all the dates with an * next to it, are confirmed.  So, we have the Tower Park Turf Field on all the dates listed.  Based on the weather, we will see if it makes sense to use the field as each of those days approach.  And if it doesn't, I will send out instructions from this Site--If needed, I might switch locations to WieFit only hours before practice, so please have email access on your phone if possible.  

2. VERY IMPORTANT-- I understand that over 1/2 the stuff we send is not seen by the girls.  In fact, half the stuff I send out for the girls, I forget to show Molly.  We need to address this.  Ideas are welcome, but it seems that almost all the girls have phones.  I know these phones can be set up that emails are sent straight to their phone so they can now be 100% responsible for checking.  For those that don't have phones, I am sure they have their own email address.  I think it's time to make these girls 100% responsible for checking and reviewing the material we send out.  With that said, there will NEVER be anything that goes out to ONLY the girls and not the parents.  But this will take a lot of responsibility off your shoulders to make sure they are watching the video's and reading the practice/game notes, without you having to remember to show them.

To make this work, we need:

• 1.  The girls to enter their email address in this website, just as each parent did.  It's in the bottom right hand corner where it says "FOLLOW BY EMAIL".  (preferably the email that is connected to their phone and automatically notifies them when an email is sent). 
• 2. I am asking that You as the parent, have to put immediate high priority on this and make sure it gets done (making sure their emial is set up on their phone and they enter their address in the "Follow by Email" on this blog/website).  Remember, every android has a free gmail email address, and every Iphone has a free .me email.  Take the few minutes to help them set it up if you have not.  PLEASE!
• 3. If they don't have phone, please set them up with a free gmail address, and ask that they check it on their computer each night.  Every time we update this blog, it will automatically send them an email with a link to the update for them to review.

3.  Lastly, as I watch the US men's national Soccer team, I continue to get frustrated by how "robotic" they play.  The lack technical skill badly.  In this article, it really makes me feel good the direction we have taken this team over the years.  We have continued to put Technical Skill/development WELL ABOVE winning.  We have seen this pay off over the years (ok, please discount this indoor session.  We are competing, but playing u14 VERY TOP LEVEL teams and are missing 1/4th of our girls every game).

Anyway, as you will see, the man at the VERY TOP of US Youth  (u-17 and below) talks very openly about the need for all clubs and coach's to take on this approach.  I hope this article makes you continually support the efforts of the direction we continue to take this team.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7790903/us-soccer-claudio-reyna-vision-fixing-us-youth-soccer-arch-bell 

Thanks all--please take care of Number 2 above as soon as you can!

Brian

Parents,

I understand girls are still playing basketball, dance, dive, etc.  As always, I want to offer our team the training that top Elite Club teams are getting.  The winter training for the club teams right now is about 2 days per week with 1 scrimmage every couple weeks.

I have a schedule below.  If there is a * next to the date, then it is tentative. I am waiting for a confirmation for these dates.

Remember, these are not mandatory.  Mandatory begins with Spring Training which begins March 1st.  I understand that many of you are getting anxious to know what days we will be practicing.  Remember, I cannot determine that for sure right now.  There are two reasons for this.  First, I have to wait for the field draw which isn't for a few weeks.  Second, since we are CUSL Div 1, we get to self schedule our games.  A lot of this depends on the other teams schedules and their tournaments. Please also understand, that for me to even ask what days work best for everyone is really not even feasible.  With 15 girls, along with us having to wait for the field draw... We are going to have to take the nights we can get.

This year, we will play 1/2 of our games at home.  Our "official" field is at Pendery Park fields.  But, there is good conversation that I may get the field Saturday evenings for all our home games.  That would be great!

Beginning in March, we will have 2 weekly mandatory practices, and 1 optional.  The optional will be mostly skill training--S4.  The mandatory's are very important that everyone shows up.  These girls are getting older now, and Tactics play a HUGE role (just like running plays in basketball).  They will get more tactical training this spring season than they've gotten the last 6 years combined.  Please don't discount the skill training.  For these tactics to work, our skill has to be MUCH greater.  We learned last night at WieFit, as we focused solely on first touch and Accurate passing, that the girls really lack this...

Below are dates to mark for now in your calendar.  This is basically me being able to utilize Tower Park Field and Wiefit/S4, along with our indoor games and March tournament.

All dates below that are March 1st and after begins Spring Training.  Again, when the field draw comes out and CUSL has their self scheduling meeting, we will complete this schedule for the remainder of the season.

Saturday Feb 16th 1:00 (Indoor Game)
Town and Country

*Sunday Feb 17th - 4:30-6:00 (practice)
Tower Park Field

Saturday Feb 23rd - 6:10pm (Indoor Game)
Town and Country

*Sunday Feb 24th - 4:30-6:00 (possible Scrimmage, but if not, we will  practice)
Tower Park Field
Note: If weather is bad, we will have training at WieFit from 4:30-6:00

*Friday March 1st - 5:30-7:00 (possible Scrimmage, but if not, we will practice)
Tower Park Field

Saturday March 2nd - 1:50 (Indoor Game)
Town and Country

Sunday, March 3rd - 6:00-7:30 (S4/Athletic Training, Films)
WieFit

*Monday March 11th - 6:00 - 7:30 (possible Scrimmage, but if not, we will practice)
Tower Park Field

Saturday March 16th - 8:40am (Indoor Game)
Town and Country

Sunday March 17th 6:00-7:30 (S4/Athletic Training, Films)
WieFit

Friday March 22nd: Time TBD (King's Turf Classic)
Saturday March 23rd: Time TBD (King's Turf Classic)
Sunday March 24th: Time TBD (King's Turf Classic)

*Saturday March 30th, 5 - 7:30 (possible Scrimmage, practice, or even game)

Sleep Walk Game Saturday 7:00AM.

 Be there 6:50 ready to go we can the floor for warm-up.
Wear red and bring white. 

Girls,

Great effort today.  I'm not going to even discuss the areas we need to improve on.  I am just happy you competed.  I know you all want to win, and aren't satisfied with losses--and you shouldn't be.  Just understand that we are playing in a U14 Division 1 league, with 3 Divisions lower than us.  We competed today against a very good team.  Next week will be even tougher, as we play the top undefeated team.  And I have not doubt you girls will compete again.  Girls, we are also missing two of our defenders (Hannah and hope, and our full time goalie!).  Seriously, if we have our full time goalie, and we finish on a few missed opportunities today, it's a whole different ball game!  Great second half by the way.

Girls, earlier today, before our game, I watched my oldest daughter's team play in the lowest division of the U16 league.  Yes, they are winning all their games, and they won today 7-5 today; BUT most of them gave about 50% effort.  It was very ugly soccer.  Trust me, when these girls play outdoor, they won't be used to the faster competition.  They are creating bad habits playing against weaker competition.   Madalyn even said after watching our team play today--"You guys play so much better and harder than my team".

When we play outdoor, I truly believe the game will seem so much slower.  First, because it's outdoor, and outdoor is a little slower than indoor.  But most importantly, you girls will be conditioned to playing against top u14 teams.  We will be well prepared at the U13 level.

This email is not intended to give excuses for our loss.  I just want you to know I know you are working hard.  So, keep your heads up, ENJOY THE GAME, and ENJOY THE COMPETITION!  Thanks for working so hard today.

Brian

Next S4 Routine!

In case you guys want to get a heads up on our next S4 Routine!

1. Touch Forward
2. Box (bish bash)
3. Cryff Turn
4. Touch
5. Box Turn
6. Double Shoulder Feint

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gjMjnTpMSk

See you all tomorrow!

Brian