Dynamos Soccer - KEEPER! - Vol. 19, No. 2

Tuesday, 31 January, 2012 (1642 reads)

Written and edited by Jim Walker

February, 2012

A publication of the Keeper Club

Written and edited by Jim Walker

FEBRUARY TRAINING

Calendar for keeper training at DyessPark in February:

2—Regular keeper training, 5:30pm; Junior Keepers, 6:45pm

6—Regular keeper training, 6:45pm

9—Regular keeper training, 5:30pm; Junior Keepers, 6:45pm

13—Regular keeper training, 6:45pm

16—Regular keeper training, 5:30pm; Junior Keepers, 6:45pm

19—Bring Your Own Keeper workshop, 4pm

20—Regular keeper training, 6:45pm

23—Regular keeper training, 5:30pm; Junior Keepers, 6:45PM

27—Regular keeper training, 6:45pm

Regular keeper training is open to boys and girls 10 years and older; Junior Keeper is open to beginning keepers 10 years and younger. Roland Sikinger conducts training on Mondays; Jim Walker on Thursdays. Fee for regular training is $50 per ten-week package ($100 if not playing for the Cy-Fair Youth Soccer Club or the Dynamos). Fee for Junior Keepers is $25 per ten-week package. Spring packages are: Jan. 5 through March 15, and March 19 through May 24. Please make check payable to “Keeper Club” and mail to: Dynamos, attn: Loree, 10924 Grant Rd., #224, Houston77070.

Bring Your Own KeeperCOACHES, PARENTS INVITED TO BYOK

A workshop for recreational and competitive coaches and parents, Bring Your Own Goalkeeper, will be held at DyessPark on Sunday, February 19, at 4pm. Moderated by Dynamos goalkeeper trainer Jim Walker, the session is free and runs about one hour and a half. Each parent and coach who registers may bring a player who plays goalkeeper, or who aspires to be one. Parents and coaches will be asked to join in exercises that will help in game preparation and development of players interested in playing the position. It’s fun, and free, but registration is requested. To sign up, or if you have questions, email JWalker332@aol.com, or call 281-217-1612.

KEEPER KWIZ

Dylan Stonebraker is the winner of last month’s $25 gift card for completing Picasso’s quote: ”I am always doing that which I cannot do” with “in order to learn how to do it.” This month’s puzzler is easy peasy for all who read this newsletter—and you ALL do, right?!!? The easy save of the month is: How many in a keeper’s dozen, and why? All you need to do to be eligible for the drawing is email your answer (located elsewhere in this newsletter) tojwalker332@aol.com. Anyone reading this newsletter is eligible for the drawing.

ALUMNUS COACHING KEEPERS

Former Keeper Club member Michael Sicola has had a long and successful second season as goalkeeper coach for the St. ThomasCatholicHigh School varsity. After playing in the Dr. Pink Invitational Tournament in Frisco, Texas, where they faced top teams from the Dallas area, Michael's Eagles are looking forward to playing in the TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) state playoffs in February. Said Michael: "I was very excited that Davi Perez, our starting keeper, was named to the all-tournament team in Frisco.” Michael also is eager to let coaches and goalkeepers know that St. Thomas will be hosting the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Goalkeeper Level I & II diploma class in March. "I would recommend this course for anyone wanting to pursue further education as a trainer," said Michael, who added that he will be attending this course as well as the Goalkeeping Level III diploma class in May in San Antonio which will be directed by national goalkeeping guru Tony DiCicco. "I am super excited about soaking up valuable coaching knowledge from a world class coach." Michael, a TexasStateUniversity graduate who is still playing as a goalkeeper in a Houston men’s league, said he plans to visit DyessPark soon to train with the Keeper Club.

Michael Sicola still playing in men's league and coaching

high school goalkeepers

KEEPERTALK

Keeper Club members playing high school varsity soccer: Kelsey Cottrell, Cy-Woods; Kacie Paine, Langham Creek, and Mallory Majewski, Cy-Fair. Kelsey’s team, coached by Dynamos trainer Lauren Prewitt, captured their bracket of the I-!0 shootout, a pre-season high school tournament. . .Welcome to new member Cameron Eldridge and welcome back to Samantha Adrianson, who returns after a hiatus. . .A big high five to Braden (Striker) Mann for again generously donating to the Keeper Club his used outgrown equipment; also to Kaitrin Miller, who contributed keeper gear that was distributed via a drawing to current keepers at the Christmas party. Striker also has served as an assistant and role model for the club’s younger goalkeepers. . .Kacie Paine, keeper for the U16 State Super Two champions and Langham Creek HS, celebrated her 16th birthday Jan. 10 with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. . . Facebook Like: Kenzie Peterson’s post: “If ‘plan A’ doesn’t work, you got 24 more letters(:”. . .Former Dynamos keeper Trevor Gibson is the netminder, and a very busy one, for the new Tomball Memorial HS varsity, composed of freshman and sophomores, but taking on area teams loaded with juniors and seniors. . .Volunteers are needed to help with registration and field control for the Dynamos Puma Cup, Feb. 11-12 at Dyess Park and Zube Park. If you can help, please email Dynamos Volunteer Coordinator Rachel Fritz at gfritz1@comcast.net or call 713-822-8839. . .Recently-retired keeper Kasey Keller will serve as analyst on Seattle Sounders’ television broadcasts this year. Kasey ended 20 years as a pro in 2011 by earning Major League Soccer Goalkeeper of the Year honors after serving as Sounders captain and being named as an MLS all-star selection the past three years. . .Goal in One: In an English Premier League match, American keeper Tim Howard, in goal for Everton, launched a clearance upfield from inside his own penalty area. Windswept, the ball landed 30 years from the opposition goal, and took a freak bounce that carried over the head of Bolton keeper Adam Bogdan, and into the net. “I really feel for Bogdan,” said Howard, “but those things happen and you have to move on from it.” . .Please send items of interest for Keeper! or for KeeperTalk, to jwalker332@aol.com.

TRAINING LOG

Names of keepers who attended training during January:

5—Braden Mann, Allyson Crouch, Mia Posey, Noah Schroer, Rodrigo Silos, Steven Franke, Cameron Eldridge, Brady Stonebraker, Dylan Stonebraker, Samantha Adrianson. Junior Keepers: Isabelle Tullier, Bryce Fredrickson, Wyatt Fredrickson.

9—Lotta Raines, Muddy Waters

12—Allyson Crouch, Ethan Brasher, Aaron Austin, Kennedy McGill, Noah Schroer, Nate Dunkley. Junior Keepers—Wyatt Fredrickson, Bryce Fredrickson, Jason Marsh.

16—Samantha Adrianson, Aaron Austin, Brady Stonebraker, Dylan Stonebraker, Noah Schroer.

19—Kennedy McGill, Mia Posey, Noah Schroer, Steven Franke, Cameron Eldridge, Aaron Austin, Braden Mann;, Samantha Adrianson, Ethan Brasher. Junior Keepers: Wyatt Fredrickson, Bryce Fredrickson, Jason Marsh, Isabelle Tullier.

23—Braden Mann, Noah Schroer, Ethan Brasher, Samantha Adrianson

26—Allyson Crouch, Braden Mann, Isabelle Tullier, Nate Dunkley

30—Kacie Paine, Mallory Majewski, Samantha Adrianson, Ethan Brasher

KEEPER’S DOZEN

The question posed occasionally at training is: What is a Keeper’s Dozen?

Veteran Keeper Club members know, but there are many new upcoming boys and girls training now, so often the question is greeted with puzzled looks or “Huh, a dozen is twelve!” Of course it is. But a baker’s dozen is. . .13! Why?

Well, it's widely believed this number originated in medieval England when bakers tossed in an extra donut or loaf of bread to avoid being penalized for selling short weight. But why 15 for a keeper’s dozen? Well, drum rolls here, because YOU are special and you get 15 services of the ball when you take center stage for the Keeper’s Dozen—five ground-huggers, five flighted, and five shots on goal, the latter five an opportunity for the servers to try to score, and you, of course, just say “No!” to goals. Now, keepers, you can ALL shout “15” when Coach Walker asks the question.

WHY YOU ARE SPECIAL

“Goalkeeping is a culture. It’s a unique position. You don’t spend a lot of time with the ball in a game, but you’re under constant pressure, all the time. It takes a special kind of person to handle that and that’s why training concentrates on things like discipline, setting plans and taking action.” --Goalkeeper guru Tony DiCicco

QUOTABLE

Nothing is so admirable in goalkeeping as a short memory.—With apologies to John Kenneth Galbraith, who was referring to politics.

TIP OF THE MONTH

“Short on time? Don’t skip the warmup! Before a tough game or training session, make sure you give your body the opportunity to stretch. Start with gentle jogging to get your muscles warm and follow by stretching all the major muscle groups. This will help prevent injury and muscle cramping.”-–Advice from goalkeeper Tony Meola, former United States National Team captain who appeared in two World Cups, and a ten-year veteran of Major League Soccer.

KEEPING SECRETS

Sometimes, read that most times, “secrets” to being a goalkeeper are simple reminders of things to do repeatedly. Like the several coordinating factors in catching a one-pound ball, traveling at speeds up to 70 miles an hour, sometimes at close range. One is technique, requiring flexed fingers to catch the shape of the ball and cushion it, wrists cocked forward, arms bent and body relaxed. And respect for the gloves, which provide extended finger length, a large surface, foam cushioning and movement of the glove to accept the ball.