September 2016

GK TRAINING IN SEPTEMBER
September calendar for goalkeeper training at Dyess Park:
Please note: NO training on September 5 in observance of Labor Day
6—Intermediates (see below), 6:30pm
8—Seniors (see below), 6:30pm
12—Junior Keepers (see below) 5:30pm
13—Intermediates, 6:30pm
15—Seniors, 6:30pm
19—Junior Keepers, 5:30pm
20—Intermediates, 6:30pm
22—Seniors, 6:30pm
26—Junior Keepers, 5:30pm
27—Intermediates, 6:30pm
29—Seniors, 6:30pm
About the Keeper Club
Junior Keepers (Mondays, 5:30pm)—Beginners, under-10 competitive and rec team keepers
Intermediates (Tuesdays, 6:30pm)—U11, U12, U13 competitive keepers
Seniors (Thursdays, 6:30pm)—U14 and older competitive players
Goalkeeper training is open to boys and girls nine years old thru 18 with weekly sessions throughout the Fall season until December 15. Jim Walker conducts training on Mondays, Eddie Bloise on Tuesdays and Roland Sikinger on Thursdays. Fee for regular training: $100 for the fall season, ending the week of Dec. 15; $200 if not playing for the Cy-Fair Youth Soccer Club or the Dynamos. The fall package includes the annual Christmas party, tentatively scheduled for Dec. 15. To join, please send goalkeeper’s name, birthdate, email address and phone number, along with check payable to "Keeper Club" and mail to Dynamos Keeper Club, attn: DeNiece Herrod, 5827 Pinellas PK, Spring TX 77379. For more information, email jwalker@dynamossoccer.com or phone 281-217-1612.
Keeper Trainers
JIM WALKER: Founder and director of Keeper Club, former Dynamos Director of Training; former general manager for pro soccer clubs, has worked with goalkeepers since 1978.
ROLAND SIKINGER: U. S. National Youth Team keeper, 1979 PanAmerican Games and 1980 Olympics, high school All-American, pro keeper with Houston Hurricane (NASL), Houston Summit and Wichita Wings (MISL); USSF 'B' license; currently Dynamos staff trainer.
EDDIE BLOISE, professional goalkeeper with Racing De Cordoba (Argentina). USSF 'B' License. USYSA National License. NSCAA Goalkeeping License-Level I and Level II; currently Dynamos staff trainer and boys soccer coach at Katy High School.

SUMMER GOALKEEPER CAMP
Sometimes--well okay, often, well okay again, almost always--trainers and coaches create artificial obstacles for goalkeepers to overcome in training so the real thing seems easier. This year, the Keeper Club’s Summer Goalkeeper Camp instructors weren’t required to dream up obstacles preliminary to making a save. Nature provided plenty--a steady, sometimes light and sometimes semi-heavy, rain throughout the three hours on Wednesday, a cancellation due to heavy rain on Thursday, soggy areas to traverse on Friday and cramped indoor quarters and wet grounds for parts of Monday’s makeup session. The trainers—Kacie Paine, Brandon Renken, Briddy Velasco, and Heather Koudelka—adjusted brilliantly to the changes of weather, and venue, as the camp progressed. Those who attended at least one day of the camp were: Holden Calder, Andrew Lindle, Emery Gutierrez, Daniel Bridges, Zac Cannon, Andrew Nelson, Robert Steadman, John Steadman, Grace Ehrenfeld, Carson Tinley, Claire Juenke, Samantha Nichols, Amber Zlatich, Ben Jones, Tony Robia, Audrey Faucher, Victoria Martin, Emma Sterne, Ethan Rimbey, Sam Dominguez, David Graham, Jose Larios, and Preston Howe. “This was an opportunity keepers don’t often get,” said Brandon, a former Dynamos, Cy-Creek HS, and Harvard University keeper who still plays in the Houston Football Association. “Training in the rain presents another difficulty that a goalkeeper must overcome and prepares them to play better in good weather and bad.”

STATISTICS MEAN LITTLE
When it comes to goalkeepers, it is difficult to find meaningful statistics. Shots saved vs. shots on goal is an obvious one, but it doesn’t always tell how effective a goalkeeper really is. The best keepers keep their defense in shape and are well positioned themselves, so the opportunity for a shot never even presents itself.—Goalkeeper guru Tony DiCicco

KeeperTalk
Thanks to Alejandra “Briddy” Velasco-Martin, former goalkeeper for the Colombian Women’s National Team and Boston Breakers of the Women’s Professional League, for her two appearances, and hands-on instruction, at the Keeper Club’s Summer Goalkeeper Camp. Briddy has joined the Dynamos Future Stars training staff. . .Thanks, too, to Victoria Martin’s Mom and Dad, for going above and beyond to deliver Locutelli’s pizza for the camp’s Friday night party. Victoria was unable to attend that day due to illness, but Tim and Tamara picked up the Locutelli’s anyway and won the camp’s MVP (Most Valuable Pizza-deliverers) award. . .Regular keeper training resumed August 23 with good turnouts for the sessions of Eddie Bloise on Tuesday (10) and Roland Sikinger on Thursday (14). Jim Walker’s Monday sessions for Junior Keepers resumed August 29, delayed because of the August 22 makeup of Goalkeeper Camp. . .Zac Cannon’s hard work this summer (Summer Fitness and Goalkeeper Camp) paid off with key saves in the under-11 Dynamos Gold’s battle into the finals of the opening weekend’s Rush Cup. In the title game, he helped his team to a 0-0 deadlock, then he made two penalty saves despite the team going down in the deciding shootout. . .Under-15 keeper Casey Jones was a workhorse in the season’s opening weekend, tending the nets in seven games for both his own tournament team and the under-17s (National Premier League). . . With 35-year-old goalkeeper Hope Solo leaving the United States women's national team scene--the U. S. doesn’t have another major competition until the 2019 World Cup--it appears Chicago’s Alyssa Naeher and Orlando’s Ashlyn Harris, backups at the World Cup and Olympics, are top candidates to inherit the starting role. . .The Jacksonville Armada ended Hall of Fame goalkeeper Tony Meola's first professional head coaching stint after only nine months, during which the North American Soccer League team had just two wins in 18 games. Under Meola, who was the USA's goalkeeper at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, the Armada was winless in six consecutive games. . .Answer to the Keeper! quiz question for August was “Eddie Bloise” as the newest goalkeeper trainer for the Keeper Club! Winner of the drawing for a $25 gift certificate from those who replied with the correct answer is Will Rossiter, who was eligible as a field player attending the Summer Fitness Program. Keeper Club members only are eligible for the September quiz drawing. Registrants simply need to answer this question (answer available elsewhere in this newsletter): What is the cool nickname of Alejandra Velasco-Martin, the former Colombian national women’s and Boston Breakers goalkeeper now a member of the Dynamos’ Future Stars staff?. Send your answer to jwalker@dynamossoccer.com for entry in the September drawing for a $25 gift card. . .If you have news items, photos, anecdotes, or tips on goalkeeping, please send to jwalker@dynamossoccer.com

Photo by VictoryRising Photography
Zac Cannon distributes to start the attack for his under-11 Dynamos team

KEEPER LOG
Goalkeepers, and field players, who attended the Keeper Club’s Conditioning and Technical training during August:
2—(Summer Fitness) Christian Burke, Sydney Cannon, Zac Cannon, Brooke Hensley, Michelle MacIntyre, Will Rossiter, Reese Schmadeke, Mya Trager, Drew Thetford. Visiting: Cassidy Caroline Graham, David Graham, Camryn Harvey Assisting: Kacie Paine
4—(Summer Fitness) Sydney Cannon, Zac Cannon, Claire Juenke, Michelle MacIntrye, Haelyn Rankin, Will Rossiter, Reese Schmadeke, Drew Thetford, Mya Trager, Brooke Hensley, Visiting: Camryn Harvey, Daniel Bridges, David Graham, Cassidy Caroline Graham. Meghan Hollmann. Assisting: Kacie Paine, Kaitrin Miller. Special Appearance: Joe B. Napier
17—(Summer Camp) Holden Calder, Andrew Lindle, Emery Gutierrez, Daniel Bridges, Zac Cannon, Andrew Nelson, Robert Steadman, John Steadman, Grace Ehrenfeld, Carson Tinley, Claire Juenke, Samantha Nichols, Amber Zlatich, Ben Jones, Tony Robia, Audrey Faucher. Directing: Brandon Renken; Assisting: Kacie Paine, Briddy Velasco-Martin; Special appearances: Joe B. Napier, Heather Koudelka
18—(Summer Camp) Canceled, wet grounds
19—(Summer Camp) Andrew Lindle, Emery Gutierrez, Daniel Bridges, Zac Cannon, Andrew Nelson, Robert Steadman, John Steadman, Grace Ehrenfeld, Claire Juneke, Samantha Nichols, Amber Zlatich, Ben Jones, Tony Robia, Audrey Faucher, Emma Sterne, Sam Dominguez, David Graham, Jose Larios, Ethan Rimbey. Directing: Brandon Renken; Assisting: Briddy Velasco, Kacie Paine.
22—(Summer Camp Makeup) 22 (Camp)--Andrew Lindle, Emery Gutierrez, Zac Cannon, Andrew Nelson, Robert Steadman, John Steadman, Claire Juenke, Samantha Nichols, Amber Zlatich, Audey Faucher, Emma Sterne, Sam Dominguez, Jose Larios, Ethan Rimbey, Preston Howe. Directing: Jim Walker; Assisting: Kacie Paine
23—Andy Garcia, Zac Cannon, John Steadman, Robbie Steadman, Ben Jones, Noah Bar, Daniel Bridges, Montse Mendez, Alli Thompson, Caitlyn Burrell
24—Bryant Brooks, Ethan Rimbey, Preston Howe, Casey Jones, Ethan Urrutia, Elizabeth Corkin, Mia Posey, Payton Salinas, Audrey Faucher, Sam Dominguez, Kaeden Johnson, David Graham, Maddie Saucedo, Isobel Herrod
29—Johan Martinez, Andrew Nelson
30—Andy Garcia, Ben Jones, Alli Thompson, Caitlyn Burrell, Montse Mendez, Amber Zlatich, Samantha Nicols, Zac Cannon, John Steadman, Robbie Steadman, Daniel Bridges, David Graham, Claire Juenke.
31--Ethan Urrutia, Preston Howe, Casey Jones, Mia Posey, Audrey Faucher, Kaeden Johnson, David Grahm, Piper Slone

QUOTABLE
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”— Abraham Lincoln, who would’ve made a good keeper but instead became President of the United States.

TIP OF THE MONTH
Visualization is a technique using the power of the mind to assist you in performing at a higher level. When using visualization, not a substitute for physical practice, start with skills you are trying to refine. To use visualization effectively, practice 10-15 minutes each day while you are in a relaxed state. Visualization can be used for more than physical skills and moves, of course. It has great value in preparing you to handle a specific situation effectively, and develop routines that lead to more consistent, higher quality performances. Some examples:
Before practice: Run through what you want to accomplish; set one or two specific performance goals for yourself. A performance goal is one that is within your control (e.g. “during the scrimmage I will follow my distribution by moving to support.”)
Before games: Develop a pre-game routine preparing you to do your best. Recall some of your best performances. How did you feel before the game? How did you warm up physically? What were you thinking? How excited or relaxed did you feel? Take this information and build a pre-game routine you use before every match.
Corner kicks, goal, kicks, penalty shots: Develop a routine to help you become more consistent and effective.
Bad calls, fouls, etc: To play at your highest level you must be focused on the game, and not allow opposing players or officiating to distract you. To make visualization and mental imagery work for you, it is important to develop the ability to vividly imagine yourself executing the skill or desired response. See yourself executing. Hear the sounds around you. Feel your muscles and body respond. Smell the grass and sweat! Use visualization to practice tough situations where you are fouled, or feel a bad call was made. Visualize yourself handling it well, and getting on with your game.--Former U. S. National Women’s Coach Tony DiCicco, Founder and President of SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School. Originally published in The Keeper’s Line, September 1990. A prolific writer about the art of playing goalkeeper, DiCicco is considered a national guru for goalkeepers.

KEEPING SECRETS
What does the Keeper Club identify as a beginner goalkeeper? Good question!! We dislike calling boys and girls beginner or advanced because they all need to work on the same techniques as well as engage in regular training. However, we feel most keepers under 12, whatever their experience, need the basic package of hand-eye coordination, footwork, learning to catch, learning to dive, having fun, with plenty of repetitions of it all. If there are youngsters in that group who appear more ahead, we will ask them if they would like to train with older, more experienced keepers, who work additionally on making decisions, extending their range, handling high balls, directing play, etc. It is good for all players to have at least a basic knowledge of what keepers do and how they train, and it's good for all keepers 12 and under to get playing time on the field.—Jim Walker