Written and edited by Jim Walker
-- December 2013
A publication of the Keeper! Club
Written and edited by Jim Walker
DECEMBER TRAINING
at Dyess Park, with Roland Sikinger and Jim Walker
Training this month continues through December 19. Please note that on December 19 training for all keepers will begin at 5 o’clock, followed at 6pm by the annual Keeper Club Christmas party.
Mondays: Senior Keepers at 5:30pm and Junior Keepers at 6:45pm
Thursdays: Senior Keepers at 8pm
Training at Dyess Park in December:
2-Senior keepers, 5:30pm; Juniors, 6:45pm
5—Seniors, 8pm
9—Seniors 5:30pm; Juniors, 6:45pm
12—Seniors 8pm
16—Seniors, 5:30pm; Juniors 6:45pm
19—All Keepers (including Junior Keepers), 5pm, followed at 6pm by Christmas party
NO TRAINING AFTER DEC. 19 IN OBSERVANCE OF CHRISTMAS ANDNEW YEAR’S
Training resumes Monday, January 7, 2014
KICK CANCER CAMP
Sign up NOW for the Kick Cancer Camp held at Dyess Park Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15, 4-6pm each day. There’s training and fun for boys and girls ages five through 18 for $55, with all proceeds going to Curing Childrens Cancer Fund, earmarked for pediatric cancer research. Founded by Houston soccer television and radio personality Glenn Davis, similar camps are held at the same time throughout South Texas. This is the fourth year for the camp at Dyess Park and once again will be attended by an all-star cast of trainers with visits from leading soccer personalities, including pros from the Houston Dynamo and Houston Aces, and high school and college coaches. Each camper receives a t-shirt and bracelet. You can register elsewhere on this website.
PARTY TIME FOR KEEPERS!
What: Keeper! Club’s annual Christmas party
When: Thursday, December 19, training at 5pm, party at 6 o’clock
Where: Dyess Park, Far Pavilion (north concession stand). If weather intrudes, the softball building at the double stop signs.
Who: All goalkeepers, present and past, of all ages, are invited to enjoy training games, pizza, drinks, and drawings.
Cost: Except for a wrapped gift costing no more than $10 for the gift exchange, there is no charge.
Donations: Dessert plates will be welcome.
R.S.V.P.: email jwalker332@aol.com
A Little Party History. . .
For years it was called the “White Elephant” gift exchange, hoping to attract nice elephants to our party. We tried everything--held it outside, inside, in the rain, in the cold--but the pachyderms, white, gray, black, or blue, never showed. To make matters worse, the elephants advised through attorneys they no longer wanted their name associated with this event. So several years ago, we changed it to the “Krazy Keeper” gift exchange, and you know what? The white elephants continued to stay away and lots of keepers, but no crazy ones, show up. Keepers, crazy or no, are so much more fun than elephants, anyway
We Get Questions
“Is the party at 6 o’clock in the morning?” one maybe-crazy keeper asked. Answer: No, it is an evening event.
“What if I’m not crazy?” inquired another worried keeper, “can I still attend?” A: Certainly, we can use a little sanity around here anyway.
“Do I have to bring something?” was another question. A: Glad you asked! The only requirement for admission is something wrapped, a useless item you would prefer to be in somebody else’s possession by party’s end, or a thing purchased for less than $10.
This is where “krazy” comes in and these “gifts” will be distributed randomly and are subject to negotiation. Also, keepers and/or their parents are welcome (read that “urged”) to bring desserts to top off the food table.
MANN ‘DA MAN’ FOR CY-FAIR
An 18-yard field goal by sophomore Braden (Striker) Mann was the difference on November 29 as Cy-Fair HS prevailed over NorthShore, 9-7, to earn a spot in the high school football Class 5A Region 3 title game. Striker, goalkeeper for the U17 Dynamos and longtime Keeper Club member, came through in the fourth quarter with the Bobcats trailing, 7-6. Cy-Fair’s defense thwarted two subsequent NorthShore possessions to preserve the victory. In earlier playoff wins, Braden booted three-pointers of 38 yards, against Cinco Ranch, and 34 yards, against Hastings. Cy-Fair plays Pearland for the regional title Dec. 7.
SPORTSMANSHIP IN ACTION
What's a goalkeeper to do when he has to tie his shoe in the middle of a game--an impossible task with gloves on? It may have been lost on the referee, but the sportsmanship displayed during Al Nahdha-Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia was quite touching. Al Nahdha goalkeeper Taisir Al Antaif noticed he had a loose shoelace and hesitated releasing the ball. Al Ittihad's Brazilian striker Jobson trotted toward the keeper--and fixed the laces. Referee Abdulaziz Al Funaitel responded with a delay-of-game call, but on the ensuing free kick Al Ittihad simply stroked the ball out of bounds.—Soccer America
KEEPERTALK
Welcome to new member Andy Garcia. . .Payton Salinas, a regular attendee to Keeper Club sessions, plays forward for the U14 Dynamos and came through with a game-winning goal in the Nov. 17 match against Albion Hurricanes to clinch second place in their Division One bracket. In the same game, Marissa Mills made key saves to preserve the 2-1 victory. . .Carl Hallgren, a regular at Junior Keepers, missed the Nov. 25 session, and for good reason—he was on a family vacation to Washington, D. C. to see all the greats—Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. . .Keeper Club alum Jeremiah Sutton checked in to say he’s looking forward to graduation from Texas A&M when he will be a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army Reserves. . .Austin Benner, who served as an assistant for several Keeper Club summer camps, earned honorable mention all-American Southwest Conference as a sophomore at University of the Ozarks this year. Austin, who was District Keeper of the Year as a senior at AllenHigh School, posted a 1.50 goals against average and made 90 saves. A teammate at the Arkansas college is Clark Kauffman, a junior midfielder/forward who attended the Keeper Club’s Summer Fitness Program for several years. . .Aly Crouch is winner of this month’s $25 gift card (“for whatever the winner wants!”—Aly opted for Academy) for her answer “Patty Walrath” as the source of the quote “if you are afraid of making a mistake, you make worse mistakes.” Congrats, Aly! For your name to be eligible for the December drawing, enter by replying to this question: All-around athletic star (soccer, football, baseball—you name it, he does it!) Braden Mann picked up a nickname during his early Keeper Club days. . .what is it? Email the answer to jwalker332@aol.com to enter the drawing of those with correct replies to determine the award of a $25 gift card to Soccer-4-All. . .Goalkeepers, coaches, and parents are urged to share photos and items of interest for possible use in Keeper! and KeeperTalk--Simply email to jwalker332@aol.com.
TRAINING LOG
Goalkeepers who attended Keeper Club training sessions in November:
4-Payton Salinas, Mia Posey, Kennedy McGill, Steve Franke, Chance Bullard, Izel Hernandez, Aaron Austin, Ethan Rimbey, Cedric Cooke; Junior Keepers: Bryce Hinze, Carl Hallgren, Elizabeth Corken, Claire Juenke, Megan McAfee, Izzy Tullier, Abbie Bridges. Assisting: John (Stix) Kowalczyk.
7—Chance Bullard, Hunter Weldon, Diego Medina, Kaylee Barrett, Izel Hernandez, Marissa Mills, Payton Salinas, Ashlyn Brewer, Steven Franke, Jason Marsh, Ethan Brasher, Ethan Urrutia, Sam Dominguez.
11—Aly Crouch, Mia Posey, Kennedy McGill, Payton Salinas, Izel Hernandez, Ashlyn Brewer, Ansley Blake, Raul Rosas, Steven Franke, Chance Bullard, Hunter Weldon, Aaron Austin; Junior Keepers: Georgia Williams, Megan McAfee, Izzy Tullier, Elizabeth Corken, Claire Juenke, Bryce Hinze, Maison Bell, Kate Silveira
14--Sam Dominguez, Ethan Urrutia, Ethan Brasher, Kodi Garcia, Steven Franke, Payton Salinas, Marissa Mills, Kaylee Barrett, Diego Medina.
18—Ashlyn Brewer, Raul Rosas, Mia Posey, Payton Salinas, Ansley Blake, Steven Franke, Hunter Weldon, Chance Bullard, Aaron Austin, Cedric Cooke, Sam Dominguez. Junior Keepers: Claire Juenke, Megan McAfee, Izzy Tullier, Bryce Hinze, Carl Hallgren, Elizabeth Corken, Kate Silveira, Maison Bell, Grace Seloover, Georgia Williams, Andy Garcia, Sam Dominguez
25—Lightning Hopkins, Lotta Raines, Soggy Fields
28—Tommy Turkey, Meal Hamm, Sherrie Pye
QUOTABLE
"That's why I love playing goalkeeper. I like those high-intensity moments. Go big or go home."--University of North Carolina’s Anna Sieloff, after she collected her third straight shutout in the NCAA women's soccer championships to eliminate Texas A&M, 2-0, in the Sweet Sixteen November 24. With less than 20 minutes remaining, she charged off her line trying to block a breakaway shot that went wide. She arrived late and was assessed a yellow card for running into the forward. Both players were shaken up, but when action resumed Sieloff picked off a low shot on the free kick. That would prove to be the Aggies' final good look at a goal. Sieloff said she relished those opportunities to prove herself.
TIP OF THE MONTH
Keepers who succeed handle the ball on their own between games and training sessions—for five minutes, fifteen minutes, a half-hour. Take two or three simple handling drills and do them over and over, simple things perfectly every time. Do your best on every touch.
KEEPING SECRETS
On cross taking, I see too many keepers on the near post, when the ball is close to the end line, 25-30 yards from goal. This allows the crosser to put the ball over the keeper’s head and into danger. Keepers should drop back into the center of the goal as the ball is moving to the end line. As long the keeper is still on the ball line, and the ball comes to the near post, the keeper still can attack the ball. It is easier going forward than backwards in the goal mouth. This especially goes for corner kicks. Have a defender cover the near post, keeper in the center of the goal.—Keeper Club trainer Roland Sikinger
Read more http://dynamossoccer.com/KeeperClub/Keeper/tabid/375/newsid744/260/KEEPER--Vol-20-No-12/Default.aspx