Very good week of soccer...

My daughter's new team (Sting needs to update these web-sites, BAAAD...) has been going through two-a-days for the last week and we just had our first scrimmage on Saturday. The team is coming along nicely and the girls are working hard with little complaint, other than the aches and pains associated with a lot of physical work. This week we prepare for the Puma Cup tournament. Then the real work begins as we look to qualify for LHGCL... that's when the real season starts!

One of the things you should look for in a team is parental commitment and involvement. As girls get older, you should also look at accountability and level of commitment from the child. This team has demonstrated that the families and the girls are all very committed and that's refreshing. Our last team had commitment, but only to a certain degree... in other words, as long as it didn't interfere with this family/social activity or that family/social activity it was ok. I realize we all have obligations and lives outside of soccer, but if you're paying for the "privilege" to play select soccer, you better realize there are some of us who are, relatively speaking, "paying" more than you. We want to get the most out of the time that we can.

Although we didn't "win" our scrimmage, I think we surprised the opponent because our talent level has increased dramatically from the last time they saw this team. Actually, a lot of our girls, including my daughter had worked with that team earlier this summer. As I mentioned then, they turned away a ton of talent and a lot of it ended up on our new team. Funny how things tend to work out. I think I've said that before...

Superstar! UT-ex Young loosening up Titans

A star in the making... no, wait a SUPERSTAR in the making. Vince (heh, like I know him...) has what it takes to be the next superstar in the NFL. Move over LT, step aside Payton Manning... there's a new sheriff in town.













Now if they could just get him some more help... but that's a different story!

UT-ex Young loosening up Titans | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | SportsDay: Colleges: Texas

5, no wait, 6 things to do or be aware of on your new team

Well, you've made the big switch and your child is on a new soccer team. Now what?

If you've been following my blog, you know I have been chronicling our decision to find a new home for my DD (darling daughter, in turfmonster.com speak) here, here, here, again here... And finally here... I started this series of somewhat related articles with this article on decisions to make about leaving a team and looking for a new team. And you know we now have a new home with Sting West 94. The search is over, but the journey is just beginning.

I would like to continue this series with list of things to do and look out for once your child and you are settled in to your new team and you can be ready for the "Now what?"

Keep in mind these should apply, for the most part, to both you and your child. So here goes:

1. Be prepared for anything.
   By this I mean, you and your child should be prepared for any and all requests that come your way. Whether the request is to do extra fitness work or volunteering, be prepared.
2. No cliques
   If your child is joining a team with other players from a previous team, make sure that he or she understands that there can be no "us and them" mentality. This is especially true with girls. Make sure that the friendships are spread amongst old and new players. It's also very incumbent on the old players to make the new players feel welcome. Whatever happens, in the end it's still a team and it will live and die by being a "TEAM".
3. Be flexible and open-minded
   Your child may be a stellar forward, but the needs of the team are at midfield. Be prepared to make that change in position because different coaches see different talents in players. Oftentimes the needs of the team will outweigh the needs of the individual. Also, keep in mind that a versatile player can be more valuable than a player that is "tied" to a position.
4. Be fit
   This should go without saying, but if your looking to qualify for the top league, in our case Lake Highlands Girls Classic League, the season starts very quickly. If your not committed by now to being in shape and ready to start a season, then it may be too late to help your team.
5. Be focused
   We all want lives and soccer should only be a part of it, but during training times, soccer should be the ONLY focus. There's a time and a place for everything else. Use the practice time wisely and efficiently. As parents, it is your duty to remind your child to stay focused and in tune with the coach and team during practices. Try to keep distractions to a minimum.
6. Finally, have fun!
   If you can't have some fun, then it's probably not worth doing. Parents have a tendency to take the fun out of things and soccer parents are no different. Ask your child if they are having fun. If the answer is no, maybe it's you. Don't be too proud. I see it everyday, you probably have, too. The overbearing parent can be a detriment to the child AND the team. Don't let it be you!

Well, I hope this was insightful and you find it helpful and useful. Please feel free to comment!

As usual, GL&HF!

And so it ends... finally... and the rain has NOT stopped!

My daughter finally came to a decision yesterday, and we have decided that Sting West 94G is the team of her choice. Wow, this has been an experience. Often disappointing, but inevitably rewarding as she made some new friends and is going to play with some new and old friends. So it's been a positive experience for her. Although, I felt that either club was a good choice, I was leaning more towards FT. Worth FC Red for various reasons. But it was her decision and I have tried to make things like that for her.

I want her to be responsible and accountable for the decisions she makes for herself. All I did was provide her with information and guidance. I truly believe that the problems we have with kids these days is that we don't let them make real decisions and we don't hold them accountable for those decisions they do make. We have made it too easy for them to fail and no consequences for failing. All too often I see parents blame the schools, the teachers, the coaches, the team, the whatever and never hold their own accountable for their actions. I have always tried to see it the other way around with my kids and I think it has worked... Not always to my liking, but at least the kids know that mommy and daddy won't clean up their messes!

Good luck to all you family's still seeking a team for your kids... things have a way of workiing out for the best!

(and don't forget to have fun!)

The search continues - End of Week 4

Well folks the end of open skills practices is upon us. The next phase of choosing a new team is the "actual" tryouts. I put that word, tryouts, in quotes because tryouts began a while ago, these are the "formal" tryouts, which is just a formality. If you don't have an offer from a team that is going to make, it's a mad scramble from this point forward. Fortunately, we have two firm offers and we are weighing the options carefully. We may still look at one more team in the morning...

Honestly, we were spoiled to work with Solar White first. First of all, the level of talent that team is attracting is phenomenal; secondly, the style of practice was hard, up-tempo and very beneficial, especially for my daughter. Unfortunately, no other team has been able to fully match each of those. Sting West 94 has size and talent, but our only practice experience with them was a little too laid back for my liking. Ft. Worth FC has a little less talent, but the practices are tough and a very good workout. There are other factors to consider such as club history, facilities, and future opportunities.

At least we have more concrete opportunities at this time in the process and that is a huge relief after things didn't pan out with our first two choices. I can understand Solar White but Texans West White is still a huge disappointment because of the way it was handled. It will leave a bad taste in my mouth for a while. But like anything, if the right opportunity comes along in the future I'm sure we can find a way to get past it. That's just life...

Here's the rundown for this week:

1. FWFC Red (still looking like a solid choice, FWU D3 core mostly intact; coach is inexperienced, but practices are tough)
   
2. Sting West (history with players, nice mix of size and talent; some former players are going to FWFC)
3. DFW Tornados Blue (former D2 FCD team; NO practices, that I am aware of, since return from Europe, will they even make a team?)
4. Odyssey Gold (history with the coach and a few players; new team with no LHGCL core)
5. Tejanos Premier (D2 core, been together a while; daughter not too interested, some snotty/snobby attitudes from previous experience)

Tomorrow is a big day; wish us luck!

The Search Continues... End of Week 3, Beginning of Week 4

Wish I could say all was bright and cheery in Royboy81 household, but it's not... However, it's not all bad, as I've said before every closed door opens a new one. The soccer family circle is big and sometimes that works to your benefit. As we were attending our final practice/scrimmage with Solar White, I ran into an old workmate back from my first job out of college. I knew her daughter played soccer, but I had not run into her since we played in different leagues and on different clubs. The wife had run into her at a couple of tournaments, but I hadn't. As it turns out, they were heading over to this club for another scrimmage. So we tagged along, knowing that our time with Solar was done.

Oh yeah... well, this was a couple of days after the mad caper that became of our time with the Dallas Texans West. That's a story that is not even as positive as NOT making Solar. We were looking at the #2 team in that division and they were very interested in the daughter... lo and behold, we show up for a practice and they have relegated her to the "new" third team. Now, mind you, we didn't make the Solar team, which I predict will be a force soon in Lake Highlands Classic League, but we didn't miss out by much. The injury really set her back and there were TOO many options for the coach for my daughter to overcome. Plain and simple, he could not go wrong with any of the choices, even if it wasn't my daughter. But this Texans #2 team is nowhere close to the Solar team and now they are telling us that a player they had pursued was now no longer good enough????? Come on, people. Thanks, but no thanks... Movin' on...

This new club looks like it might be a keeper as it's basis is a disbanded D3 Ft. Worth United team. Although the coach is inexperienced, the girls look good. There are some that we know so that's good. I think the coach is a bit inexperienced with respect to North Texas soccer and especially LHGCL, but he is definitely qualified from a pure soccer perspective. We will see how the practices go.

We have not ruled out a couple of other clubs. So here's the rundown:

1. FWFC Red (looking like the likely choice, FWU D3 core; coach is inexperienced, part-time goalie situation)
   
2. DFW Tornados Blue (former D2 FCD team; NO practices since return from Europe, will they make?)
3. Sting West (history with players; some former players are going to FWFC)
   
4. Odyssey Gold (history with the coach and a few players; new team with no LHGCL core)
5. Tejanos Premier (D2 core, been together a while; daughter not too interested, some snotty/snobby attitudes from previous experience)

Wow, still some decent choices. Not where we would have wanted to be at this time, but at least some doors are still open.

The search continues - Start of Week 3

The weather has not been kind to our quest to find a new team for our daughter. First the injury, then camp, and the weather has been a factor throughout. In case you didn't know, after months of drought, we are smack dab in the middle of North Texas monsoon season. Now normally, we expect rain from March to June, but this year has seen the rainiest season in a LOOOONG time. May alone only had NINE days without rain... practically unheard of... Yesterday's practice with the Texans was canceled because a facility could not be found. The practice is rescheduled for Wednesday.

We had a scrimmage with Solar on Saturday in which she did well and played a good bit at multiple positions. I think the issue with Solar is finding her a position; the coach's comments to her were that he was comfortable with his center-mids and was trying to find a place for her. He likes her ability to get to tackles and win most balls. He likes her aggressiveness and toughness. He wants her to play quicker and smarter, which was interesting because I've always considered her a "heady" player but I'm sure he has his reasons. The last few positions on the team are up for grabs and the competition is tough... really tough. Honestly, whatever his decision is, he cannot go wrong based on the talent I have seen out there the last few practices. Even if he doesn't pick my daughter for the team, I can't say it was a bad decision for him and his team. Bad for us, but every closed door opens another.

Also, the list of possible teams is dwindling because my daughter does NOT want to play with one of the teams. So here is the updated list:

1. Solar White (holding out hope; down to last 3-4 positions)
   
2. Dallas Texans West White (closing the gap, nice additions are making them more attractive; down to the last few spots; now, if they would just have a practice...)
   
3. Dallas Texans Black (mainly because they are a Texans team; totally new team)
   
4. DFW Tornados Blue (making their first appearance; may move higher; going BACK to a different Tornados team would be weird)
5. Odyssey 94 Gold (also making their first appearance, previous experience with coach; a new team)

The search continues - Week 2

My daughter just got back from church camp and she seems to be walking and running much better on her injured ankle. So I am hoping she can start making all the practices with the teams we are interested in joining. There are some very interesting developments with teams folding and new teams forming. Some of the developments are very surprising, but that's the nature of the beast, or so I am finding. This is the first time since our daughter started playing club soccer, that we are having to do the whole recruitment process to find her a team. The first time around, we were complete newbs and we just kind of "fell" into the opportunity. I honestly had no reason to believe that my daughter would even make a team, much less get calls from coaches asking her to come out. So it was a pleasant and no-stress experience - then. Now - not so much... This age group is VERY talented and there seems to be no end to the number of girls still playing club soccer. Usually, the numbers start to dwindle as other interests begin to demand time from the girls. It does seem liker there are fewer teams and the same amount of girls - or close too - vying for those few positions.

I do feel badly for her old team, as it seems that many more have left the team. We certainly never wanted to feel like we abandoned them, but we had to do what was best for our daughter. I think they are down to five players give or take two or three. I really hope things work out for them.

Unfortunately, there never seems to be end to the rumors and innuendo. A couple of girls on the team are telling my daughter that when they left and informed the coach, that he was very rude to them and told them that the reason we left was because of them. That is so far from the truth... We never blamed any of the players for our exit and we would have NEVER blamed them, in particular. My daughter "loved" them, in her words and really clicked with them on the pitch. I understand egos and hurt and resentment, and I still respect her old coach for his knowledge and for what he did for our daughter, but for him to say that to them was really not cool - at all. I made sure to keep our decision above board and to not place blame, and we would have never blamed the two girls, NEVER. In the end, it was a feeling that our goals did not match the direction of the team, and that was it. A difference in perspective and objectives. Oh well... My daughter has let the girls know that in no way, shape, form or fashion were they the reason we left. I need to speak to their parents... I don't know if I will speak to the coach; he probably doesn't want to speak to me...

So, these are the teams we are still looking at (with links, if available):

1. Solar White (still on top; down to last 5 spots and it will be very competitive)
   
2. Dallas Texans West White (closing the gap, nice additions are making them more attractive; down to the last few spots)
   
3. Dallas Texans Black (mainly because they are a Texans team; totally new team)
   
4. DFW Tornados Blue (making their first appearance; may move higher; going BACK to a Tornados team would be weird)
5. Odyssey 94 Gold (also making their first appearance previous experience with coach; a new team)
6. DFW Tejanos Premier (relegated down on our list due to no real history or contact, although a contender because they were a LHGCL team)
   

Well, I think that's enough of an update for this week; more to follow in the quest for the new team...

Getting ready for tryouts...

I was thinking of some things to consider as we get ready for soccer tryouts in North Texas. As you may recall we are looking for a new team and, to make matters a little more stressful, my daughter has also suffered an ankle injury.

Just a few tidbits of information that I will or have imparted on my daughter. I'm not perfect or all-knowing but this is a good starting point. The actual tryout period here lasts about a week and, this year, starts on July 1. Open practices began on June 1 and last the whole month of June. To that end, Open practices, also serve as a tryout period, so now is also a time to consider this list.

Here's a list of things to keep in mind:

1. Have fun!
   Fairly simple, but often forgotten in our haste to impress and earn a hard-sought position on a top-flight team. If you are struggling to get ready for practice, it will show in practice. Save yourself and your parent's some grief. If you are not having fun then it's not worth doing.
2. Be in shape.
   Open practices and tryouts are grueling. If you are not prepared for the physical work, then you will fall behind the other girls who are. If you are injured, you will have to work a little harder to get back in shape. Whatever it takes, be prepared to do it.
   
3. Skills - practice them and show them
   Remember all that time and effort learning skills? For some of you, the additional costs? Well now's the time for the payoff. Put those moves and ball handling skills to work! Keep it in context, however. No one likes a show-off, but everyone loves the player who shows a move in a proper moment of the game. Even in practice, there are times when a skill will show the coach that you know when and how to use it. It will also show him/her that you are thinking.
   
4. Be prepared
   That means have ALL of your equipment at ALL times. It's a given to have ball, shin guards, cleats, water, etc. But what if you are coming off an injury? Get the protective braces/wraps you need and USE them. There is no shame in wearing protective gear; absolutely none. However, nothing is worse than re-injuring an already injured part of your body. At some point, you will probably want to consider wrapping ankles as both a precaution and a necessity for a previously injured ankle. My daughter has rolled both ankles in the last year - from now on both will be taped and she will wear ankle braces.
   
5. Don't worry about positions
   The goal is to MAKE a team; positions should be secondary. My daughter is an excellent mid-fielder; she has vision, makes nice passes and can shoot and score when the opportunity arises. So far, she is not playing much in mid and she has been injured. If she works at defender, then that is where she needs to work. Coaches will put a player where they think they best fit on their team. End of story... Unless your child is the second coming of (insert favorite soccer star here), then it doesn't matter where they play, as long as they play and show progress.
   
6. Be confident
   Don't be afraid to make mistakes; learn from them and move on. Don't be afraid to show a skill or a move; sometimes the effort or thought process is noticed more than the actual execution. Don't be afraid to take some risks. Without risks there are no rewards.
7. Be prepared to accept rejection
   It will happen and when it does embrace it as an opportunity. As I explained to my daughter that that every closed door opens another... her reply was "maybe two!"... Damn near shed a tear over that one!
   

As usual, GL&HF!

The search begins... and ends with an injury - Week 1

As noted previously, my daughter is looking for a new soccer club and we would like her to play for one of the two top clubs in the DFW area.

Generally, the Dallas Texans club is one of the best in the nation, actually they were recently ranked the #2 club for girls in the nation by SoccerAmerica. On the other hand, Solar is a great club that consistently has teams battling for league championships and state and regional titles. All Solar teams are in one of the Classic leagues - Lake Highlands, for girls, or Chamber, for boys. And the team we hope to make is already in Lake Highlands Girls Classic League, having played well enough last year to move into D2. The Texans team we are looking at will try to play in to D3 via the qualifying tournament - never a sure thing...

For the sake of this article and a with a nod to Turf Monster, I will refer to my daughter as DD. If she were a boy, she would be my BB. As in, somewhat facetiously, I assume, "darling daughter" and "baby boy". Obviously, the bulk of the membership Turf Monster, are parents. LOL

Anyway, so we also signed up our DD up for the local high school soccer camp. We figure it would be good for her to lay a little ground-work with the high school coach, even though that's over a year away. Monday morning was pretty tough, but she enjoyed the session. Tuesday morning I get a call from her... she had rolled her ankle when she slipped in mud!

We have had a really rainy May and start of June. This is following a prolonged drought. I think for the month of May, we had only 9 days WITHOUT rain. I don't think that's ever happened in my lifetime... but that's another story.

I guess, I am most upset that the high school coach and host of the camp, has not even bothered to call to check on her after four days. Most clubs canceled their open practices on Monday and Tuesday due to the rain. Most of them were only too happy to finally get them back on track on Wednesday. Of course, we did pay for the camp, and I'm sure there was some sense of obligation to have the sessions come hell or high water (damn near!), but still I think safety is a much bigger concern, especially right now as players look to make moves to new teams and are at a very unsure and unsettled time. But anyway, the point is that I would have expected him to at least called to check on her and he has not. I really don't know this fella, so I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but still... it is not right.

We went to the ortho this morning and she is doing much better. He said she could probably start doing some light running and try to get out on the field, errr pitch, a little. We will need to tape her ankle and she should have a brace on at all times. So that was a setback for this week, but fortunately, the cancellations helped a little. We are still at square one - looking for a team. At least the Texan and Solar coaches have been more than understanding, and so far, have not asked us to move on...

Oh, did I forget to mention she goes to church camp next week? So no soccer for another week. Hopefully, she will heal and be ready to go the following week. She will need to have a good showing as we enter July. That's when clubs can actually start handing out contracts to players. Oh, that's another good subject for an article.

Well, till next time... GL&HF!

When it's time to move on...

As I wrote previously, the end of the spring season comes the time to start evaluating and preparing for any changes. Sadly, we reached the conclusion that our daughter must move on from her current team to one that is more competitive and like-minded. That's not a knock on her current team. It's just that we have different goals and there is more urgency in our decision making based on the decisions we made for our son when he was this age. You learn from your mistakes or you are doomed to repeat them and we cannot afford to do that...

As such, we will have a busy month as we go to different open practices so she can get acclimated to the different teams and coaches. Should be fun and stressful. We are leaving a comfort zone of sure playing time and leadership to one of probable bench time and who knows what. In addition we are looking for a team playing in Lake Highlands Girls Classic League, probably the best girls soccer league in the country. Although I doubt we will find a team in the highest division, D1, I have no doubts she is ready for a team in D2 or D3 and work her way up from there. Her goal is beyond high school, although she wants to play in high school, she wants to be prepared to play in college.

Anyway, busy schedule for the month of June and the first week of July...

Why the NFL is the"No FUN League": Reason #69 - NFL bans booze from team functions, flights

Ok, I know what the league is trying to do here. I know there is an image to maintain, or in this case to clean up after the train-wrecks that are players like Tank Johnson, PacMan Jones, et. al. But really, is this a solution? Or is this the tail wagging the dog? When will adults begin acting like adults? Oh, yeah, right... how can we expect these young men who, except for a few, have had little to no male role-models to guide them into manhood? This might help, but that's it. It is no solution to the bigger problem and I think the NO FUN LEAGUE is just hiding their heads in the sand with knee-jerk reactions like this. I think by making it a very public announcement, that is all they are doing. It is very much "Look at me! Look what I'm doing..."

All flash; no substance...

FOX Sports on MSN - - NFL bans booze from team functions, flights

Half of Big 12 makes NCAA baseball field

Probably should have had a seventh team, but the Sooners were not good enough in the eyes of the NCAA gods... Not sure if they were better compared to teams from the SEC, PAC 10 or even Big 10, but I'm fairly sure they were better than some of the lesser conference champions that do get in... But that's the nature of the beast when you get automatic bids for conference champs. The 'Horns will host a regional, but at Dell Diamond in Round Rock, which is actually a closer drive for me, if my daughter doesn't play in a tournament in Houston this coming weekend. Texas will also host a Super Regional in Corpus Christi if they win the regional.

Go 'Horns!

Half of Big 12 makes NCAA field | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | SportsDay: Colleges: Texas

Over and over, insanity wins out...

One of my favorite truisms is Einstein's definition of insanity, which goes something like this:

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

I wasn't aware that it was Einstein who coined it, but I do remember where I heard it that it stuck and I have used it since whether I applied to my own "insanity", or applying to what other's might be doing. It has been an endless source of humor for me...

Here is an application as it applies to my local sports teams... Enjoy!

Over and over, insanity wins out | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Latest News

As usual, GL&HF!!!

Longhorns Taken in the 2007 NFL Draft

	MICHAEL GRIFFIN First Round · #19 Overall · Tennessee Titans · Griffin selected 19th overall by Tennessee Titans · Titansonline.com coverage · What they're saying: Michael Griffin · Draft Day Q&A: Michael Griffin
	AARON ROSS First Round · #20 Overall · New York Giants · Ross selected 20th overall by New York Giants · Giants.com coverage · What they're saying: Aaron Ross · Draft Day Q&A: Aaron Ross
	JUSTIN BLALOCK Second Round · #39 Overall · Atlanta Falcons · Blalock chosen 39th overall by Atlanta Falcons · AtlantaFalcons.com coverage
	TIM CROWDER Second Round · #56 Overall · Denver Broncos · Crowder chosen 56th overall by Denver Broncos · DenverBroncos.com coverage · Draft Day teleconference: Tim Crowder · Crowder press conference quotes and photos
	BRIAN ROBISON Fourth Round · #102 Overall · Minnesota Vikings · Robison chosen 102nd overall by Minnesota Vikings · Vikings.com coverage · Draft Day Q&A: Brian Robison
	TARELL BROWN Fifth Round · #147 Overall · San Francisco 49ers · Brown chosen 147th overall by San Francisco 49ers · SF49ers.com coverage · Draft Day Q&A: Tarell Brown
	KASEY STUDDARD Sixth Round · #183 Overall · Houston Texans · Studdard chosen 183rd overall by Houston Texans · HoustonTexans.com coverage · Draft Day Q&A: Kasey Studdard

Great weekend of soccer...

But we lost in the semi-finals to our arch-rival, the Dallas Texans West White team. A couple of misplays in the first half doomed us, as we were down 3-0. The second half was a different story, but it was too little too late... the final was 3-2. We had a great opportunity in the first half to equalize when we were down 1-0, and putting that one in would have made a BIG difference as anyone who knows a little about competitive soccer will attest. But it wasn't to be...

The Texans were a worthy opponent, as they also defeated the host San Angelo United team in the final later in the day. Interestingly, they had lost to them in their first game of the tournament... further, interestingly, we tied San Angelo United, 1-1, this morning... But that's soccer at this level.

Well, even if we had made the final, I think we would have been down three girls, leaving us with only one sub. My daughter was beat up, from head to toe - literally. She took a shot to the jaw that left it very sore and almost unable to eat, she has huge bruise on her elbow from hitting the ground so hard on a slide-tackle, she has a grass burn on her hip from a slide-tackle, as well as a ton of bruises on her legs, and for some reason, her big toes on both feet were getting rubbed raw... She really left it all on the field and I'm really proud of her efforts. One of our main defenders had taken a kick right below her knee that left a bad bruise, near the bone which makes it even more painful and one of our most versatile players had basically been playing on one ankle since the first game of the tournament. It was the size of a baseball at the end of the last game. We were done, but I'm sure we would have found a way to make a go of it in the final...

Good job, Tornados!

Update from San Angelo...

Aside from this hotel being VASTLY inferior to the Red Rock Casino, this has been a good trip. So far we are 2-0, having defeated both teams we played, rather handily, 9-0 and 4-1. We expected a couple of easier games, but not that easy and actually, the first game was 10-1, as we had three girls get a hat trick and my daughter scored one goal on a very nice run from the mid/right wing, but the official forgot to credit it us with one goal... go figure. Tomorrow's game will be a challenge. The game is 8:00 a.m. so that's already a challenge!

Oh, and on the hotel, it was a dump when I stayed here back in the early '80s and still one when we were here for a baseball tournament some 5 or 6 years ago. Let's just say, that a cot and a wash pan are not much lower on the accommodations scale! But we will push through...

Getting ready to play...















Daughter scores on a very nice run!

Club Soccer Decisions... A (Random) Parent's Guide

First in a series...

Ahhh, spring time... and soccer...

Spring usually means that the league soccer season is winding down and that there is a tournament somewhere every weekend. It is also the time to start making decisions about your child's future. If your child is new to club soccer, or has played on a PAL or Academy team, this will be the first of many more decisions you will make along the way. If your child is currently on a club team, then now is the time to weigh options and opportunities for your child's future.

In this first article, I will concentrate on this last issue, as that is what is currently on my mind. I hope to provide more insight into the mad world of club soccer in future posts, as well as some insight for the first-timers, newbies, if you will, to club soccer. In the mean time, this first article might also offer some insight for the parent new to club soccer.

By now, if your child has played a couple of seasons on the same team, you should be able to determine if your child has made progress, if the team has made progress and if the parents have made progress - and, yes, it is important, after all you spend a lot of time with some of these people and any good coach knows you recruit players AND their families. By progress, I mean commitment, sense of fair play and sense of community. As with all families and social situations, disagreements will occur. It's how those disagreements are handled and how the outcomes affect everyone, that will determine the success or failure of these "families". I won't go into how to handle these issues, but suffice it to say, equitable and fair treatment of all parties goes a long way in ensuring the outcomes meet with the goals of the team.

Progress of the player can be measured in many ways, not just goals scored or goals against average. There are all kinds of skills to look out for from dribbling to passing to kicking. In addition, how does your child play? Are they aggressive with the ball? While defending? Are they willing to mix it up and get physical? Do they bounce right back up after taking a fall? Progress of the player can also be measured by how well they take criticism and how well they take to coaching. Coaches, like you and me, have different personalities. Some want to be friends; some just want to coach. However, all of them care about your child and his/her development. Some will not mesh with your child's personality. Be aware that you're child may not be progressing for that very reason. You must find ways to make this work for you, your child and the coach. After all you are spending LOTS of money for this "privilege".

Finally, progress of the team. As with any team dynamic, the team is only as good as the weakest link. However, as a team it may be infinitely better than it's best player. The team dynamic involves commitment and goals. Does the team have goals? If so, have they been expressed to the players? To the parents? Besides practices, how committed are the girls to extra practices? skills practices? tournaments, especially out-of-town? What about the parents? We all have outside interests and soccer may not be the only activity your child is interested in and that's ok. Life does get in the way. But is it a constant source of contention? Some parents are sure their child is a soccer prodigy and soccer is the ONLY important activity. Other's are still discovering their child's strengths and talents. To that degree, latitude is necessary or there will be a lot dissension. There are club teams that are little more relaxed than others. In the end, all teams have fun, but is your CHILD having fun?

As your child gets older, you will want to see how their commitment matches their level of play. It might also be necessary to evaluate how that level of commitment manifests itself across the team. Most children will respond to challenges, especially from their peers. If they see the other team members doing extra work, most will want to also add the extra work to their regimen to get better. Therefore, it is important that team members start to take some responsibility for themselves and the team to get better. Nothing is more satisfying than watching a well-coached team, coach themselves, police themselves and, ultimately, being responsible for themselves. You should definitely be on the lookout for these positive signs.

Finally, as a parent, you need to ask yourself: What is MY level of commitment? How comfortable am I? Is the need to have a close-by practice facility more important than the need to have my child on a team that will push them to the next level? Is the need to stay comfortable greater than the need to get out of that comfort zone? If you are problem with the commitment, you might want to sit down with your child to determine their level of commitment. They may surprise you and you might realize that either you're the problem or the child is not as committed as you thought they were. Either way, you should be able to make a positive decision for both of you.

In addition, the whole issue of staying with a team may be moot, as the coach reserves the right to add and remove players as they see fit. For this reason, it is imperative that you sit down with your coach at the end of the season to get his insight and evaluation of your child. He should also be willing to tell you his plans for the team and if your child is, in fact, part of those plans. Please, and I am begging here, DO NOT take this personally. It is just your first baptism into the world of "select" athletics and throughout the rest of their playing careers, most of them will hear, in some fashion, that they are simply not good enough. That should not mean it's the end of the road. Too many splendid players are left behind at the first sign of rejection. As a parent you should have your child prepared for this inevitability. You are doing them NO favors by shielding them from the realities of "select", and later, the higher levels of sports. It's just part of the game. Along with this comes the politics and the jockeying by parents to get in good favor with coaches. Don't let that get in the way. There will always be someone trying to get in "good" with the coaches. It just happens. Be courteous, pay attention and be supportive. In the end, things usually work out for the best. As an aside, people talk and discuss things. Try to keep your thoughts and words out of reach of your child. Do not disparage another player, parent or coach in front of your child. It will only make a bad situation, worse. And could turn a good situation, bad before you know it. Keep your comments positive and with as much insight as you can muster. Keep your negative comments for your spouse or other trusted team parent. You never know if something said will come back to bite you when you least expect it.

One last thing for this first article... remind your child to always play and act like someone is watching. Someone is always evaluating players at this level...

Until next time, GL&HF!

Sources: UT's Durant will go pro

Well, it's semi-official, but the best basketball player to EVER play at the University is going pro after only one year. However, if not for the NBA's new rule that effectively ended drafting kids right out of high school, we would not have had the privilege to watch this young man play at any college, much less Texas.

Good luck at the next level, Mr. Durant! You will be missed but you will not be forgotten...

Go Horns!

Sources: UT's Durant will go pro | Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | SportsDay: Top Stories