Puma Cup
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS
There's still time to get on board as a volunteer for the Puma Cup! It’s lots of fun, and very, very helpful to the Dynamos in staging this big tournament. Please use the SignUp Genius link below to join Sue Easley's Volunteer Corps, the folks who make sure this special event (Feb. 10-11) runs smoothly. Older teams not participating in the tournament are encouraged to have their players volunteer, and siblings are also welcome to volunteer. A good weekend for players to collect service hours! Although this schedule of venues is subject to change it is likely all games will be played at Dyess Park, Zube Park, and/or the Barcelona Soccer Complex (at 19220 Cedar Lane in Tomball). "All three fields are very close to one another," points out Sue, "which makes it great if you are volunteering at a park different from where your child is playing." Here's a look at how the age groups are tentatively scheduled:
U9 / U10 Boys--Dyess
U11 Boys--Dyess
U12 Boys--Barcelona
U13 Boys--Dyess, Barcelona
U14 Boys--Zube
U15 Boys--Dyess
U9 / U10 Girls--Dyess
U11 Girls--Dyess
U12 Girls--Barcelona
U13 Girls--Barcelona
U14 Girls--Zube
U15 Girls--Dyess, Zube
BYOK Workshop
FREE CLINIC FOR KEEPERS, COACHES, AND PARENTS
There’s still time for coaches and parents to sign up for this Sunday’s free clinic and bring their favorite goalkeeper for tips on this specialized position. The BYOK (Bring Your Own Keeper) workshop will be January 28, at 3:30pm at Dyess Park, am hour-and-a-half of interactive exercises and discussion that will help keepers prepare for games and training. It’s free, but please email JWalker332@aol.com if you plan to attend, with names and ages of keepers you will bring. Note: for information on the Dynamos’ ongoing weekly goalkeeper training, please check out “Programs” and “Keeper Club” elsewhere on this website.
LOOKING FOR WORDS
This is the semi-annual appeal for help by the Coaches Memo to bring game action news to its readers. We know that as coaches and managers you have taken on giant tasks, but could you spare a few more minutes a week? Or, ask a parent to handle this request for the reporting of your team’s activities? After your weekly game or tournament, send a short message tojwalker332@aol.com with the results and a few highlights, perhaps even the names of all the players who participated. It can go something like this: "On Saturday, the under-12 Dynamos girls (or boys) stopped the Sealy Steamrollers, 3-2. Dynamos goals were scored by Christen Press, Taylor Swift, and Hope Solo, who also played a half in goal. Outstanding on defense were Olivia Finidori and Victoria Ruiz. Others contributing to the victory were. . ." Or it may be a loss. Doesn't matter, win or lose, report on your team and get players' names in the Memo. Or it can be a summary of your team’s season. Add any positive details you like, but one warning: the editor’s knife sometimes is sharp due to space limitations. We welcome reports (deadline isWednesday midnight) from all teams in the Cy-Fair Youth Soccer Club and Dynamos Select. If you have questions, email the above address or call 281-217-1612. Thanks.--Jim Walker
Commentary
SPRINGTIME IN JANUARY
Visiting a virtually-empty beautiful downtown Dyess Park on a cool, but sunny January mid-day, the oldtimer spots the familiar guard goats near the entrance from Kitzman Road and a few hearty souls trying out the softball fields on the left. The double stop signs stand like sentries near the rangers' office, and the ol' gazebo, with its refurbished roof, stands tall and proud. On the corner of Happy and Healthy (where there is no Walgreen's) the bright green rye grass of field number one greets you (with memories of it icing over only days before). But wait, is that a cow, a pregnant cow, standing like a statue in the middle of field number three, grazing on rye?!? Next to the sign reading "Fields Closed, Please Keep Off."? Back swiftly to the rangers' hut for clarification and Ranger Mike immediately hops on his trusty four-wheeler and motors at top speed to corral that darned bovine, who has once again trespassed by finding a hole from its pasture enclosure. Hearing the rapid putt-putt coming its way, the cow, already named Bossy by an unidentified observer, turns and lumbers directly toward the hole in the fence from whence she came. Not the first time Bossy has found a new gap in the barbed wire to taste fresh rye. Fence newly repaired, hopefully she won't return, at least before the Puma Cup. Those fields need to be pristine for the big event. Bossy can watch Dynamos vs. Albion Hurricanes from her side of the fence!—Jim Walker
"They say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Well, in this case it sure is."--Olivier Finidori
LOOKING BACK
1991--"A laptop computer is needed for use at the Special E tryouts on Jan. 11 and possibly Jan. 12. If any coach has one, or knows of someone who would loan it or be available to operate it, please call 894-1742.".
2015--“It was soooo nasty, Messi would have been jealous!. . .Oliver Finidori, responding to a highlight in the Challenge Warm-up Cup. Holding the ball in the left corner, the Dynamos’ Juanita Plata drew a defender out to her one-on-one, made a move and megged her, and as the opponent dropped to the ground, scored on a clinical far-post shot.
THE BUZZ
The Dynamos’ elite training staff is rested and ready to go for the Spring season, facing more than 30 matches this weekend after a strong week of training, great preparation for the Puma Cup, which pops up Feb. 10-11. . .Good news that former Dynamos player Juanita Plata is headed for Lamar University in the fall. Lamar had a sensational season last year, finishing with a record of 18-4-1 and the Southland Conference championship. The Cardinals lost a tightly-played 1-0 decision to Texas A&M in the first round of the NCAA national playoffs. . .Caleb Shiery got in another strong training session as a Junior Keeper on Monday, and trainer Roli the Goalie noted that Caleb was excited to start Academy training this week. . .A pair of goals by Mallory Pugh in the second half led the U.S. women’s national team to a 5-1 triumph over Denmark in San Diego last Sunday. Also scoring were Alex Morgan, Julie Ertz and Crystal Dunn as the top-ranked defending world champion Americans opened 2018. . .Glenn Davis discusses the game at the local, national, and international levels every Wednesday, and some Thursdays, on “Soccer Matters” (ESPN 97.5FM at 7pm). Listeners can join the soccer talk by calling 713-212-5790. . .If you have items for The Buzz or the Coaches Memo, email to jwalker@dynamossoccer.com.
QUOTABLE
“Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss”--Coach F. Scott Fitzgerald.
“Failure happens all the time. It happens every day in practice. What makes you better is how you react to it.”—Hall of Famer Mia Hamm
THOUGHT ON COACHING
“I don’t know whether yours is a good idea or a bad idea, but I am sure it is not a new idea. This doesn’t mean it can’t be successful. Recycling an old idea with a new twist, and managing it better than the last guy did, is one of the best ways I know to be successful.”—Coach Harvey Mackay
ANOTHER THOUGHT
World Cup opener in Russia is June 14 in Moscow between the lowest-ranked teams in the 32-team field, Russia and Saudi Arabia. Of course, there is no United States in this world event this time around, but then Italy, Holland, Chile, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, Scotland, Chile, Ghana, and Cameroon also are on the outside looking in. The final is July 15, also in Moscow, but there are 10 other Russian cities for matches in between the opener and closer. Not interested because the U. S. isn't playing? Aw, c'mon, it's the World Cup!
IT’S ONLY FAIR
His tendency to retell the same stories over and over, Coach Cy Fair insists, is reviewing, not repeating. Over-prepare, Coach Flo advises her players, then go with the Flo.