Dynamos Soccer - KEEPER! Vol. 17, No. 2

Monday, 01 February, 2010 (1929 reads)

A Publication of Keeper! Club

Written and edited by Jim Walker

February 2010

A publication of the Keeper Club

Written and edited by Jim Walker

"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size."--Gertrude S. Wister

FEBRUARY TRAINING Training continues in February on Mondays (5:30pm) with Roland Sikinger and Thursdays (5:30pm) with Jim Walker. Fee for regular training in 2010 remains at $50 ($100 if not playing for Cy-Fair Youth Soccer Club or Dynamos) for 10 weeks of sessions. Please make check payable to Keeper Club and mail to Dynamos, attn: Loree, 10924 Grant Rd. #224, Houston77070. For more information, email JWalker332@aol.com or phone 281-217-1612.

SPRING BREAK CAMPThe Keeper Club will offer a two-day Spring Break goalkeeper mini-campMarch 19-20 at DyessPark. Camp hours will be 1-4pm on Friday and 9am-noon Saturday. Included will be two groups of instruction: Fledgling--for 8-12 years old and FlightSchool for 13-18 years old. In addition to fun games, curriculum will include: for the younger group--catching, diving without fear, positioning, and high ones; for the older group: catching and holding, flying without fear, managing the goal box, and disposing of the uncatchable. Cost of the camp will be $30 per day, or both days for $50, which includes a Pizza and Powerade lunch at noon Saturday. Please make checks payable to Keeper Camp and remit to: Dynamos Keeper Camp, 10924 Grant Rd #224, Houston77070. If you have questions about the camp, email JWalker332@aol.com or call 281-217-1612.

SPECIAL NOTE Beginning with the March issue, the Keeper! newsletter will be emailed only to those who request it. It will continue to be posted at www.dynamossoccer.com (click Keeper Club and “Here” for the newsletter) and emailed to those who send an email to jwalker332@aol.com with the word “Continue.” It still will be free either way. Benefits of reading it online include occasional photos and it provides an opportunity to view other important information and news about the Dynamos, as well as the Keeper Club. Please do whatever is more convenient and desirable to you. Keeper Club updates will continue to be emailed to those who opt to read the newsletter online.

REWARDS FOR FOCUSED TRAINING By Veronica PierceGoalkeeper, Cy-RanchHigh SchoolLongtime member of the Keeper! ClubHow much time is left? Two minutes? Five minutes? Ten minutes? The only thing that you actually do know is that you’re exhausted. Your team is winning 1-0 and you’ve been working hard to keep a shutout. One shot after another keeps coming and you’re making save after save. Finally the referee blows the whistle. The endless barrage of shots is over; you have accomplished the shutout you needed for your team to win. Everyone congratulates you; they tell you what a good game you had. But you’re not thinking about the game. You’re thinking about that last keeper practice where you worked extremely hard because you knew you had a big game that weekend. You’re thinking about how Mr. Walker is right, that working hard at training pays off in the end. You’re thinking that, yes, there definitely are rewards for training hard.

HIGH SCHOOL KEEPERSCy-Fair--Mallory Majewski, Francesco LoSauroCy-Ranch--Veronica PierceCy-Woods--Patty Walrath, Kelsey CottrellJersey Village--Caitlin Farmer

Langham Creek--Jonathan NassirianMorton Ranch--Danielle Benoit

HIGH FIVETo Trevor Gibson, who reported for Monday (Jan. 18) keeper training, a day after finishing the Houston Half-Marathon. That’s “finishing” as in totally completing the grueling 13.1 mile journey through downtown Houston! Trainer Roland Sikinger bestowed kudos on Trevor for not only showing up at training despite his soreness, but training hard. “But he gave us some great facial expressions whenever he hit the ground!” declared Roly. Trevor ran with his Mom, Dynamos’ Volunteer Coordinator Julie, and they crossed the finish line together. “Trevor ran slower than his usual pace to support his momma,” said Julie. “He’s already talking about racing again next year.” Supporting the Mom-Son duo was another keeper, sister Kelsi, dressed in her Dynamos’ warmup blues.

MILITARY REPORTFormer longtime Keeper Club member Jacob Fowler has joined the Army Reserves and reports March 1 for basic training at FortJackson, S. C., where incidentally, Coach Walker underwent basic training 52 years ago! Jacob will be assigned to Army Intelligence school following basic. It’s unlikely any of his drill sergeants will still be there, Jacob, which is good news for you. . .elsewhere in the U. S. Army: Lieutenant Mya Morrison, who is stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, sent along a splendid collection of mint-condition 10-year-old soccer player cards to be distributed to Keeper Club trainees. “Thought the keepers would like these,” said Mya, who trained with the Keeper Club as a high school and collegiate player. Note to Jacob: Please don‘t forget to salute if you happen to cross Mya‘s path. Although she probably would accept a keeper's high five without retaliation for insubordination. To both Jacob and Mya, know that Keeper Club members are proud of you for your military service.

KEEPERTALK Check out the above information about this year's Spring Break goalkeeper campMarch 19-20. Lots of fun and important keeper work. . .Cy-Wood HS keeper Patty Walrath was sidelined late in January with a shoulder injury. She nevertheless attended training sessions and assisted with other keepers. . .Keeper Club members Kaylee Barrett (Goodson). Alyssa Bradley (Hamilton), and Jordan Fraase (Spillane), teammates on the U13 Dynamos, maintained their fitness levels during the winter break by playing basketball for middle school teams. . .Two Keeper Club trainees who are playing school soccer but not as keepers are Cody Brown with Soccer Start at ArnoldMiddle School, and Tomas Feliciano, with the Cy-Ranch varsity. Cody made the team as a fullback, wearing No. 7 and Tomas is a forward. . .Academy keeper Mary King joined training Jan. 28 and showed definite promise while working with more experienced and older members. . .Houston Dynamo keeper Pat Onstad, oldest player in Major League Soccer at the age of 42, was added to Canada’s national team for its game at Jamaica on Jan. 31. Onstad, a popular and key player for Houston's MLS team, has 56 caps with Canada. "I love being involved," Onstad said when he got the call to train with Canada. . .Please note that Lotta Raines, Swamp Bugge, Morey Raines, Soggy Bottom Boys, and Slippery Fields are not real keepers, but hazy figments of the editor’s overworked mind to describe weather-aborted training sessions. Keepers with more creative minds may suggest alternative names if they like. Look for this group to attend a lot of sessions in April!. . .If you have items for Keeper! or KeeperTalk, please email JWalker332@aol.com or call 281-217-1612.

TRAINING LOG Listing of players who attended training in January: 7--Lotta Raines, Swamp Bugge11--Taylor Elliott, Cameron Rieth, Kennedy McGill, and Madison Brown. 14--Morey Raines, Soggy Bottom Boys, Slippery Fields18--Francesco LoSauro, Patty Walrath, Ronni Pierce, Kennedy McGill, Cameron Rieth, Taylor Elliott, Trevor Gibson, Samantha Adrianson, Madison Brown. 21--Braden Mann, Samantha Adrianson, Ethan Maxson, Kaitrin Miller, Damon Mosher, Grant Steppe, Alyssa Bradley, Kaylee Barrett, Sabrina Pasier, Caitlin Farmer, Patty Walrath Guest instructors: Clayton Harris, John Kowalzyck. Short visit: Ronni Pierce25--Ronni Pierce, Kelsi Gibson, Trevor Gibson, Patty Walrath, Taylor Elliott, Braden Mann, Kaitrin Miller, Sabrina Pasier, Samantha Adrianson. Guest: John Kowalzyck28--Marissa Mills, Sabrina Pasier, Ronni Pierce, Braden Mann, Ethan Maxson, Grant Steppe, Patty Walrath, Mary King, Kaitrin Miller. Assisting: John Kowalzyck

FLYINGFlying is the second greatest thrill known to goalkeepers. Landing is the first.

QUOTABLE“When you train, work hard on everything you do. Don’t let yourself get lackadaisical.”--Brandon Renken, Keeper! Club alumnus.

TIP OF THE MONTHStay focused! Lapses of concentration can cost you dearly. As great a keeper as Joe Corrigan was, ManchesterCity once was scored against by West Ham in top level English league play direct from one of his goal kicks. After knocking a booming kick to midfield, Corrigan was vacantly trudging back to his position in goal when a West Ham player thumped the ball first touch, sending it past Joe into the net. So it can happen to the best of them. But it’s a reminder to Keeper! Club keepers to stay focused and in the game at all times.

KEEPING SECRETS Don’t stand behind the wall when defending direct free kicks within striking distance. Normally, the wall provides coverage of the near post while you position yourself so you can see the ball while covering the far post area. You must indicate the number of players you want in the wall. Now you must be on the alert for a ball chipped over the wall or curving around the wall.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO READERS: If you want to continue receiving this free newsletter via email, please reply to JWalker332@aol.com with the words “Continue.“ You will still be able to read the newsletter at www.dynamossoccer.com. Online, you will simply click on “Keeper Club” and “Here.“ Beginning with the March issue, the newsletter will be posted only on the web site, and emailed only to those who request it.