Dynamos Soccer - KEEPER! - Vol. 18, No. 1

Friday, 31 December, 2010 (1803 reads)

A publication of the Keeper Club

Written and edited by Jim Walker

January 2011

A publication of the Keeper Club

Written and edited by Jim Walker

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

TRAINING IN JANUARY

Beginning January 10, goalkeeper training (for ages 10-18 years old) in 2011 will be held at Dyess Park on Mondays at 8pm and Thursdays at 5:30pm, continuing on that schedule throughout the spring season. Junior keepers (ages 8-10 years old) meet on Thursdays at 6:30pm. Fee for Keeper Club is $100 for ten weeks of training, with a $50 discount to Cy-Fair Youth Soccer Club and Dynamos members. For Junior Keepers the fee is $25 for 10 weeks. Units of training for Spring, 2011, are: January 10-March 17 and March 21-June 2. Please make checks payable to Keeper Club and mail to: Dynamos, attn: Loree, 10924 Grant Rd. #224, Houston 77070. For more information, email JWalker332@aol.com or phone 281-217-1612.

B. Y. O. K. WORKSHOP

COACHES, PARENTS: JOIN US

Tips on working with your goalkeeper, whether you’re a coach or parent, recreational or competitive, will be the topic of the Keeper Club’s B. Y. O. K. (Bring Your Own Keeper) workshop (it’s free) Sun., Jan. 23, at 3:30pm at Dyess Park. Coaches and parents are invited to bring one or more goalkeepers, and a ball, and join in exercises that will assist you in helping them prepare for games. It’s a great opportunity to learn effective ways to warm up keepers prior to games, and discuss how to deal with keeper successes and failures, and how to help them grow in the position. Please email JWalker332@aol.com if you plan to attend, with names of keepers you will bring.

PARTY SALUTES YEAR’S END

Keeper Club members waved farewell to 2010 in a traditional way, the 17^th annual Christmas party at Dyess Park. On Thursday, December 16, current and past cardholders met for a spot of light training and heavy pizza with all the trimmings--Powerade, popcorn, cupcakes, candy. There was fun conversation, and a dazzling exchange of undazzling gifts, which included a fought-over stuffed monkey, a tool kit for wine and cheese lovers, a miniature skateboard park, a cap boasting “I’m a Keeper” above a smaller line reading “San Diego Zoo,” and a 1998 France World Cup shirt, ownership of which was billed as the best way to get on the right side of Dynamos Director of Training Olivier Finidori. Mallory Majewski hit the nail on the head with her calculation in the Candy Jar guessing game, winning a 2010 South Africa World Cup shirt; runnersup were Kacie Paine and Sammy Frusco. For making the most appearances at fall keeper training, Trevor Gibson and Kevin Hobart earned stylish RSTAR keeper gloves, while Junior Keeper leaders Jorge Toledo and Steven Franke took home new soccer balls. Early arrivals were stretched out by Michael Sicola, Keeper Club alum who graduated from Texas State University and currently the keeper coach at St. Thomas Catholic HS. Participating in all activities, too, were former Keeper clubbers Patty Walrath, a college freshman on the varsity at Houston Baptist University, and Sabrina Pasier, a freshman at St. Edward’s University. The three returnees were lauded for their loyalty and presented RSTAR keeper-glove key chains. Assisting, as they did throughout the fall season, were Coach Aleks Alanis and Dynamos player Bryant Munoz. Pizza was chauffeured from Locatelli’s by Coach Jorge Toledo, and helping out with party details were Mom Julie Schroer and Dynamos player Kacie Cardenas. Attendees included: Kensi Peterson, Kelsi Gibson, Noah Schroer, Jaime Guajardo, Jorge Toledo, Johnny Hughes, Mallory Majewski, Kacie Paine, Patty Walrath, Sabrina Pasier, Michael Sicola, Kevin Hobart, Trevor Gibson, Taylor Elliott, Grant Steppe, Sammy Frusco, Aaron Austin, Nathaniel Austin, Kennedy McGill, Steven Franke, and Bryant Munoz.

After Getting Scored On:

ROLL AROUND IN THE DIRT? NO!

Goalkeepers react in various ways after goals. Some whack the ball in anger. Some fall to their knees, head in hands. Some scream at teammates. And some hang forlornly on the net. Whether they realize it or not, these immediate emotional responses are more than personal reactions. They speak loudly to the keepers’ own teammates and to opponents. So what’s the best way to react? Keep your composure. Your teammates don’t want to see you falling apart. They certainly don’t want berated. If they were at fault, they likely already know it. If they weren’t, they resent being blamed. If something needs to be discussed, it should occur concisely and without drama. What should you do with the ball upon retrieving the ball from the net behind you? Don’t embark on a long sprint, carrying the ball to midfield to speed up the kickoff. That implies panic. Don’t boot the ball like a madman. If there’s no defender around to grab it out of the net, calmly retrieve it yourself and pass or toss it upfield. Body language that conveys a negative frame of mind--such as slouching, or a sulky grimace--sends a depressing message to teammates and an inspiring one to opponents. And such gestures delay the keeper’s own recovery. Keepers need to assume a poker face after conceding a goal--and put the setback out of their mind, whether or not the goal was scored because of their own error. However, the keeper who has given up a goal should not become shy and stop communicating with his teammates to help organize the defense. The team still needs the direction of the keeper. In addition, focusing on the upcoming play will help put the conceded goal out of mind. The time and place to examine and correct errors and to rebuild confidence is in training. Good training instills confidence.--Summarized from The Complete Soccer Goalkeeper, by Tim Mulqueen

KEEPERTALK

Former pro and U. S. Olympic goalkeeper Roland Sikinger returns this spring to direct keeper training on Mondays at 8pm. “Rolie the Goalie” missed fall sessions while covering sessions for Dynamos trainer Chris Wells, who was detained in England. . .Gibson family’s Christmas card featured son Trevor and daughter Kelsi attired in their keeper jerseys, standing in front of a goal along with individual photos of the two leaning against a goal post. The greeting: “From our goal to yours!“. . .Kevin Hobart was mystified when Facebook friends, including Coach Jim, began wishing him “Happy Birthday” in early December. His 15^th birthday arrives on January 11. so send him greetings. . .ALUMNI REPORT: Keeper Club alum Grant Hesketh is a junior at Syracuse University, still studying chemical engineering, while younger brother Taylor, who also played Cy-Fair soccer, is a freshman at the University of Maryland studying metallurgy/materials engineering. . .Double high fives to Keeper Club alumnus Kristi Koudelka for her major role in Lee University’s third straight NAIA national championship. KK missed the entire 2009 season after tearing her ACL in the spring, was red-shirted, and returned in great shape to not only lead her team to the title, but win tournament honors as the best defensive player. . .Lt. Mya Morrison, one of the early Keeper Club members, spent Christmas in Afghanistan. Thank you, Mya, for your service and your great attitude toward your job. THE PROS: Longtime Houston Dynamo favorite Pat Onstad has retired as the oldest player in Major League Soccer at age 42 to join D. C. United in an assistant coaching role. Pat left an indelible impression on several Keeper Club members, including Grant Steppe, who has a treasured photo with him. . .Two months after playing for Colombia in a friendly against the U.S. national team, 39-year-old keeper Faryd Mondragonhas signed with the Philadelphia Union in MLS. . .If you have items for Keeper! or KeeperTalk, please email JWalker332@aol.com or call 281-217-1612.

TRAINING LOG

Names of keepers attending training sessions in December:

2--Kenzie Peterson, Aaron Austin, Taylor Elliott, Kennedy McGill, Noah Schroer, Rodrigo Silos, Marissa Mills, Trevor Gibson, Kevin Hobart, Steven Frank, Assisting: Aleks Alanis, Bryant Munoz. Junior Keepers: Steven Franke, Brady Stonebraker, Nathaniel Austin, Jorge Toledo, Jaime Guajardo.

6--Trevor Gibson, Grant Steppe

9--Aaron Austin, Kennedy McGill, Noah Schroer, Kenzie Peterson, Trevor Gibson, Kelsi Gibson, Steven Franke; Junior Keepers: Steven Franke, Nathaniel Austin, Jorge Toledo, Jaime Guajardo, Johnny Marsh

13-Mallory Majewski, Sabrina Pasier, Johnny Marsh, Jorge Toledo

16--Kensi Peterson, Kelsi Gibson, Noah Schroer, Jaime Guajardo, Jorge Toledo, Johnny Hughes, Mallory Majewski, Kacie Paine, Patty Walrath, Sabrina Pasier, Michael Sicola, Kevin Hobart, Trevor Gibson, Taylor Elliott, Johnny Marsh, Grant Steppe, Sammy Frusco, Aaron Austin, Nathaniel Austin, Kennedy McGill, Steven Franke, Bryant Munoz

CHECK OUT RSTAR GLOVES

A Houston-based company called RSTARsoccer is producing moderately-priced goalkeeper gloves that may be a good fit for you as a goalkeeper playing a full season of games. The Keeper Club has been asked to try them out and we have been pleased with experiments. There is information in the accompanying advertisement and you can see more about these gloves at www.rstarsoccer.com.

QUOTABLE

“If you want to learn to dive, don’t take a crash course.”--David Benner

TIP OF THE MONTH

When evaluating goalkeepers, college coaches look at the technical and physical traits, but they are also looking at your presence, identified below as tactical and psychological variables:

How do you communicate in critical moments, not just cheerleading?

How do you organize set pieces?

How do you respond to a mistake?

Can you read the play and control the space behind the defense?

Can you effectively distribute the ball, start counter attacks?

Can you relieve pressure from your back-line and be available for back-passes?

Do you take your own goal kicks?

When coaches are unable to see you play in person, a video may be your next best opportunity. Coaches prefer game footage, but keepers should include training footage, too. Training footage can showcase your technique, footwork, handling, etc. and game footage can illustrate technique in action as well as show decision-making and presence.--Chris Hamblin, director of College Soccer Advantage, a player development, mentoring and collegiate athlete placement organization.

KEEPING SECRETS

Legendary author Ernest Hemingway called courage “grace under pressure,” and it's what keepers draw on to face stressful situations, prepared to do whatever it takes to prevail, but not afraid to fail. Taking center stage on a penalty kick. Being left alone on a breakaway. Flying out, under control, to field a high cross in traffic. And successful or not, quickly regaining composure to face the next critical situation.

JUST SAY 'NO' TO GOALS!