Nice Spring Weather

We cancelled training tonight due to cold temps, wind, and freezing rain/snow. 

I had emailed the Chicago Fire Jrs, the host club for our first weekend of MRL play, to verify that the weekend was still on as planned.  There was a major weather pattern developing over the Midwest and forecast for the weekend wasn't very promising for the Chicago-land area.  

I received a phone call from the Fire around 5PM, informing me that they were bailing on the event this weekend.  Couldn't blame them.  They are looking at the weekend of May 3rd and Memorial Day Weekend as possible re-schedule weekends.  We'll be in Portland for the Nike Manchester Cup over the May holiday weekend, so that's out for sure.

The issue we have with the 3rd is that this is the ODP Festival for my girls' age groups.  ODP always says club soccer comes first, but I know it will be difficult for my girls to miss the weekend and still get consideration.  Not that I don't think the ODP people don't trust my judgement or recommendations on which girls on my team should be given consideration, but they open themselves up for a political battle with others should they allow my girls to participate without attending the evaluation weekend.  With MRL, League play, and MN State Cup, our free weekends for re-scheduled travel are few and far between from here on out.  This one could get a little interesting. 

Training - Wednesday, Apr 9

5v5 to Targets

Repetition Shooting

4v4 to Goal - Defensive Clearances 

Training - Monday, Apr 7

Technical Passing

Speed Work

One Touch Give & Go

Reverse Give & Go

Partner Give & Go

3-Man Combination 

Defensive Clearances

3-Team Finishing 

Let the Postings Begin... Hopefully

So I'm watching Good Morning America, or some show like that, this morning when I'm fixing Emmri (my 18 month old girl) her favorite breakfast of strawberries, bananas, and multi-grain waffles, and I see a piece on people who blog for a living.  They say that these dedicated bloggers are coming down with illnesses due to lack of sleep, exercise, etc.  This poor guy conferenced in via webcam looked like the walking dead, with a wall full of empty Red Bull cans as his back drop.  8 million viewers daily to his site. 

I can relate in a way.  It's tough for me to find time to update this site this year and I know that I won't be able to give the detail I did last year with the girls training sessions as it takes me a lot of time to design the graphics.  I will do my best to once again provide insight though as we look to kick off our spring outdoor soccer season here in MN.

I'd like to welcome our readers from the great state of Washington, from Chicago-land, and from the St Louis area.  I know you've found this site through your own local blogs and coaching websites, and I REALLY, REALLY appreciate the nearly 100 emails submitted in the last few months expressing support for what some of us are trying to do here in MN.  It means a lot to me to hear about the all-too-common battles that parents, coaches, club directors, and state level volunteers deal with when trying to address the development of the higher level athletes.  I know many of you have used this site as a resource and I've done my best to reply to every email submitted.  Trust me when I say the last few months have been a whirlwind in my soccer life, and as I've mentioned to many of you, though I haven't posted into the public domain everything that has been happening, interested readers can buy the book when it comes out :)  I'm not kidding.

Regardless, I'll do my best to keep up with updates this spring/summer.  Wish me luck.