TRAINING SCHEDULE
November calendar for goalkeeper training at Dyess Park:
1—Intermediates, 6:30pm
3—Seniors, 6:30pm
7—Juniors, 5:30pm
8—Intermediates, 6:30pm
10—Seniors, 6:30pm
14—Juniors, 5:30pm
15—Intermediates, 6:30pm
17—Seniors, 6:30pm
21—Juniors, 5:30pm
22—Intermediates, 6:30pm
24—No training, Thanksgiving Day
28—Juniors, 5:30pm
29—Intermediates, 6:30pm
About the Keeper Club
Junior Keepers (Mondays, 5:30pm)—Beginners, 9 and 10 boys and girls; Intermediates (Tuesdays, 6:30pm)—U11, U12, U13 competitive boys and girls; Seniors (Thursdays, 6:30pm)—U14 and older competitive boys and girls. Email jwalker@dynamosoccer.com or dherrod@me.com for more information.
PARTY TIME COMING UP
The Keeper Club's annual Christmas party will be held Thursday, December 15, at the Far Pavilion, located at the north end of beautiful downtown Dyess Park. All Keepers are invited to attend a 5pm training session, adjourning at 6pm for Pizza and Powerade. Admission for each keeper is a wrapped gift purchased for less than $10, or it can be something found around the house that no one wants anymore. Otherwise, it’s free. Donations of cookies, cake or other Christmas treats will be welcomed. Activities include attendance awards and the annual "Krazy Keeper" gift exchange (during which treasure and trash come in gift-wrapped packages), guessing contests, and other surprises.
BADGE OF COURAGE
Junior Keeper Sophia Wilkinson arrived early for keeper training with a "looth tooth." She giggled, and jiggled the tooth, which wiggled and wobbled, but wouldn't let looth. Suddenly just before warmups, the tiniest Junior Keeper of all triumphantly held up the stubborn pearly white, flashing a smile that featured a new wide-open space. But she didn’t miss a beat during training, even making an ahh-inspiring save in a reaction game!—Reprinted from the Coaches Memo
NEVER SAY NEVER
Did you know that the Keeper! Club imposes a curb on freedom of speech while training? It’s a little known fact outside of keeper circles, but the word “can’t” is prohibited, unless accompanied by “yet.” Also on the forbidden list: “never” and “impossible.” On the other hand, “Keeper!” and “Away!” can be shouted loud enough to draw complaints from nearby trailer park residents.
REACHING FOR THE HIGH ONE
Catching the ball at its highest point requires perfect harmony of eyes (seeing the ball), feet (footwork), legs (takeoff), arms (stretch), and hands and fingers (contact with the ball). This is why repetition is so important at this stage of development. After learning techniques in Keeper! sessions, practicing over and over on your own helps bring increased coordination to subsequent sessions, where the trainer can provide tips, cues, directions, and corrections to bring your timing to its fullest development.--Jim Walker
KeeperTalk
Daylight Saving Time ends Sun., Nov. 6. Get ready to Fall back an hour!. . .NO goalkeeper training on Thurs., Nov. 24 in observance of Thanksgfiving Day. . .Keeper Club Christmas party takes place Thurs., Dec. 15. . .Roli the Goalie and his wife, Niki, celebrated their 28thwedding anniversary on October 31. Said Roli, “I never forget my Anniversary, it’s on Halloween!”. . .Glenn Davis and Olivier Finidori jointly announced that this year’s Kick Cancer Camp at Dyess Park will be held Sat., Dec. 17, 1:30pm until 4pm. Glenn, nationally-known soccer broadcaster and the voice of the Houston Dynamo, praised the Dynamos for their annual “seriousness and commitment” to raising awareness and funds for research in the battle against pediatric cancer. . .Junior Keeper regular Ashley Kimassi is the sister of Marco Kimassi, who played for the Dynamos and attended Keeper Club training more than 10 years ago. . .Halloween didn’t mean holiday time to the keepers of all ages who showed up for Monday night’s session at an almost vacant Dyess Park. Getting many extra touches were Ethan Baylis, Ashley Kimassi, Payton Salinas, Samantha Nichols, special guest star Steven Franke, and even Victoria Finidori, who was injured, but helped out anyway. . . .Answer to the Keeper! quiz question for October was “Longwood Golf Course,” which hosted the successful Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf Tournament Oct. 28, and the winner is: Isobel Herrod! The longtime Keeper Club member will be happy to win the $25 gift certificate as the drawing winner, but even happier when she comes off the injured list in a few weeks. To register for the November quiz, answer this: What are two words goalkeepers should shout out loud and clear? (answer elsewhere in this newsletter). Send an email with those two words tojwalker@dynamossoccer.com to be entered for a $25 gift certificate. . . .If you have news items, photos, anecdotes, or tips on goalkeeping, please send to jwalker@dynamossoccer.com
3—Ally Livingston. Ashley Kimassi, Victoria Finidori, Sophia Wilkinson, Nigel Smith, Ethan Baylis, Johan Martinez Assisting: Payton Salinas; Second session: Samantha Nichols
4-Andy Garcia, Samantha Nichols, Samantha Yeager, Amber Zlatich, Montse Mendez, Robbie Steadman, John Steadman, Daniel Bridges, Noah Bar, Andrew Nelson, Grace Ehrenfeld, Alli Thompson, Alex Wangen, Zac Cannon, David Graham
6—Elizabeth Corkin, Victoria Martin, Emma Sterne, Audrey Faucher, Ethan Rimbey, Kaeden Johnson, Payton Salinas, Piper Stone, Ethan Urrutia, Mia Posey, Maddie Saucedo
10—Ethan Baylis, Ashley Kimassi, Victorie Finidori, Sophia Wilkinson. Assisting: Payton Salinas. Guests: Stuart Barton and daughters Lauren and Emma from Edinburgh, Scotland; Second session: Samantha Nichols.
11—Alli Thompson, Samantha Nichols, Samantha Yeager, Amber Zlatich, Grace Ehrenfeld, Andrew Nelson, Noah Bar, Daniel Bridges, Zac Cannon, Montse Mendez, Claire Juenke, John Steadman, Robbie Steadman
13--Audrey Faucher, Elizabeth Corkin, Ethan Urrutia, Ethan Rimbey, Kaeden Johnson, Maddie Saucedo, Payton Salinas
17—Ashley Kimassi, Johan Martinez, Victoria Finidori, Sophia Wilkinson, Ethan Baylis; Assisting: Payton Salinas, Isobel Herrod; Guests: Lauren and Emma Barton. Second session: Samantha Nichols, Ethan Baylis.
18--John Steadman, Robbie Steadman, Kaitlyn Burrell, Claire Juenke, Samantha Nichols, Samantha Yeager, Grace Ehrenfeld, Amber Zlatich, Alli Thompson, Andy Garcia, David Graham, Andrew Nelson, Daniel Bridges, Ben Jones, Noah Bar, Alex Wangen, Zac Cannon.
20--Ethan Urrutia, Emma Barton, Audrey Faucher, Mia Posey, Payton Salina, Maddie Saucedo.
24—Ethan Baylis, Victoria Finidori, Sophia Wilkinson. Assistiing: Samantha Nichols, Payton Salinas.
25--John Steadman, Robbie Steadman, Kaitlyn Burrell, Claire Juenke, Samantha Nichols, Samantha Yeager, Grace Ehrenfeld, Amber Zlatich, Alli Thompson, Andy Garcia, David Graham, Andrew Nelson, Daniel Bridges, Ben Jones, Noah Bar, Alex Wangen, Zac Cannon
27--Kaeden Johnson. Ethan Urrutia, Elizabeth Corken, Audrey Faucher, Emma Sterne, Payton Salinas, Maddie Saucedo
31—Ethan Baylis, Ashley Kimassi, Victoria Finidori (injured); Assisting: Payton Salinas, Samantha Nichols. Guest: Steven Franke
The call “Keeper!” is not a suggestion, but a command. It’s not a maybe, but a demand. It sends a message that the ball belongs to the keeper and teammates need to clear the area. It’s important that the keeper make the call early and loud, leaving no doubt. When a keeper calls too late or too softly, the result often is confusion and it reveals a lack of confidence by the keeper.
Most mistakes I see with keepers on breakaway (1v.1) saves is their last step to the ball, which is usually too close, and then they are leading with their head instead of their hands, putting the head at risk of injury. The last step should be a good distance from the ball to allow the hands to lead, and the body to get on its side to create the barrier wall between the ball and the goal, making sure the head is behind the ball, and protected with the forearms. The driving leg should be bent, knee caps showing to the striker, protecting the mid-section. Avoid sticking the leg up and out resulting in tripping the striker and getting penalties called, red cards, etc.—Roli the Goalie