Season wrapup

What a way to end a wonderful season! Our Cougars played awesomely on the pitch yesterday and deserve a hearty round of congratulations. The moment that seemed to sum up what we accomplished this year was the sequence that began with Jordan stopping a ball on the goal line nd turning it upfield.  By the time the ball went into the back of the net every player on the field had touched it.  It was an incredible sequence to have witnessed.At the beginning of the season I said that my objectives were for the kids to learn some soccer skills, learn teamwork and have fun.  I think we accomplished everything.

It was a joy to coach them and to watch them play and have so much fun.

I just want to take a moment and thank everyone who helped out this season.  Thanks to David for his work as my assistant.  Thanks to Kelli for volunteering to be Team Mom. Thanks to Thann and Tracy for letting us use their house for our party.  Thanks to everyone who brought their kids to practice and to the games.  Thanks to all of our guests who had the pleasure of watching the kids play.  Thanks for the autographed soccer ball.  

And, last but not least, thanks to the kids for going out there and having fun.

Some odds and ends

As the season winds down I would be remiss if I didn't send "shout outs" to a couple of people who have made this season possible.

First, I want to thank Kelly Siblik for being this season's team mom.  Thank you for organizing the snacks and the end of the season party.  I know you have your hands full back at the ranch and I really appreciate your hard work.

A also want to thank David Renshaw for lending a hand as assistant coach.  With the drills we've run during practice this season, it would not have been possible for me to manage it myself. Thanks, David.

I think we all need to send a well-deserved Thank You! to Steve Blair, the outgoing commissioner for St. Mark soccer.  Steve has done an incredible job organizing our teams and making certain the fields are ready for Saturdays.  Steve's e-mail address is steve.blair@fasersolutions.com.  

In addition to coaching a kindergarten team next season, I will be taking over Steve's duties as commissioner.  I have some HUGE shoes to fill.

While this season has been a joy to watch, what makes it even sweeter is remembering how our kids looked at the beginning of last season.  I have had the pleasure of watching them mature not only as soccer players, but also as members of a team.  Words will never be able to express how proud I am to have had the privilege of coaching them and I look forward to seeing them again next year.

I have had a couple of parents ask me about the drills I've used during our practices.  I was inspired by a book the league handed out to the coaches last year.  The name of the book is The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching 6-and-under Soccer by David Williams and Scott Graham. Here is a link if you want to order a copy.

I will bring the banner the kids signed last night to the game on Saturday for team pictures before the game.  Be sure to bring your cameras - because the kids will be running through the banner onto the field for the season finale.  I will need all of our parents and fans to form a tunnel for the kids to run through before the game -- and to hold the banner up.  Saturday will be our Cougars' day to have some fun and enjoy what they have accomplished this year.  I can't wait.

  

Practice - 11/17/08

Here's what we'll be working on Tuesday night...

1. Red Light, Green Light -- time for the kids to try a bit of juggling.

2. Elmer Fudd -- dribbling under control and shooting/passing at a moving target; moving without the ball.

3. Star Wars -- passing with the inside of the foot; trying to hit a stationary target.

4. Crab Soccer -- protecting and controlling the ball while dribbling.

See y'all there!

Game Report 11/15/08

Saturday was a rough day for soccer with the cold temperatures and the bone-chilling winds. While it was the first game this season we didn't spend controlling the ball in the other team's end of the field, there were some fine individual performances from a number of the kids and, most importantly, they never quit playing hard until the final whistle blew.

We had a couple of promising breakaways that didn't result in goals -- but I was very happy with the effort in getting the ball down the field.  Sometimes the results of a play don't tell the whole story.

I thought the kids put up a very valiant effort in the face of the rough conditions - and I think everyone who came out to cheer did the same thing.

As we approach the conclusion of another season I just want to thank everyone who has ferried the kids to practice and to the games as well as those of you who have invited aunts, uncles, grandparents and friend to come and see our kids learn, play and grow.

Game report - 11/8/08

Sorry for the late posting, but it was another wonderful game for our Cougars this past Saturday as they showed that teamwork and hardwork pay off.  I'm seeing more kids each week really getting into the action.  While some of our shots are missing the mark -- at least it shows that we're playing more of the game in the other team's end of the field. 

Our soccer photos are in and I will be picking those up this afternoon and will distribute them on Saturday at the game.

I'm still looking for photos from the game.  If anyone has some, please feel free to e-mail them to me.

Practice - 11/3/08

Here's what we'll be working on Tuesday night...

1. Red Light, Green Light -- more work on trapping the ball and dribbling with control.

2. Aligator Pit -- ball handling (cutting and turning).

3. Star Wars -- passing with the inside of the foot; trying to hit a stationary target.

4. Elmer Fudd -- dribbling under control and shooting/passing at a moving target; moving without the ball.

* NOTE * The votes are in and practices will begin at 5pm for the rest of the season.

See y'all there!

Game Report - 11/1/08

Another fantastic performance by our Cougars on Saturday. After a rather disjointed start - brought about by staying up late and eating candy, I'm sure - the Cougars brought it home in the 3rd quarter. Once again, I'm happy to report, we weren't fighting each other for the ball. I was quite pleased to see players trailing the ball just in case something happened.

I was also quite impressed by some of the defensive plays I saw - especially kicking the ball off the goal line to prevent a goal. I also saw our kids turning the ball and kicking it into space.

There was quite a bit of pushing and shoving from the other team yesterday but I was impressed with the way our kids handled it. Had the game been a closer affair I would have spoken to the other coach about it but I didn't think it would be an issue - and it wasn't. I also don't think it's a bad thing if some of our kids learned to play (a bit) more aggressively. All in all, quite a show.

And, once again, if anyone has any photos from the game you'd like to see posted on the blog, just e-mail them to me and I'll get them up.

A special thanks to Thomas Jackson for the action shots from Saturday's game.  Enjoy.

Practice - 10/27/08

Here's what we'll be working on Tuesday night...

1. Red Light, Green Light -- adding trapping the ball to the mix.

2. Aligator Pit -- ball handling (cutting and turning).

3. Star Wars -- passing with the inside of the foot (I'll even be quacking like a duck).

4. Elmer Fudd -- dribbling under control and shooting/passing at a moving target; moving without the ball.

* NOTE * With the time change just around the corner (November 2) we will need to move practice up to 4:30 starting November 4, 2008.

See y'all there!

Game Report - 10/25/08

It was another excellent all-around effort by our Cougars on Saturday.  We are starting to see some real tenacity out there on the pitch by the kids.  What has really impressed me, however, is to watch how much more organized and focused our kids are than the opposition.  I also like seeing the skills we work on at practice show up on the field during the game -- we saw another pull-turn executed along the sideline on Saturday.  I was also very happy to see we weren't fighting our teammates for the ball on goal-scoring opportunities.

And for those who didn't catch it, we had a new goal scorer on Saturday.  Congratulations!

P.S. if you took pictures at the game, please e-mail them to me and I will update the blog with some action shots.

Practice - 10/20/08

Here's what we'll be working on Tuesday night...

1. Red Light, Green Light -- more work on the "pull-turn".

2. Follow the Leader -- ball handling (cutting and turning) and listening skills.

3. Trash Day -- kicking with the instep/shooting.

4. Elmer Fudd -- dribbling under control and shooting/passing at a moving target; moving without the ball.

See ya'll there!