Over the winter John and Mark at CrossFit Prime will be helping the team with sports performance training.
Goals of the program are to improve:
- Cardiovascular/Respiratory Endurance – The ability of body systems to gather, process and deliver oxygen.
- Stamina – The ability of body systems to process, deliver, store and utilize energy.
- Strength – The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply force.
- Flexibility – the ability to maximize the range of motion at a given joint.
- Power – The ability of a muscular unit, or combination of muscular units, to apply maximum force in minimum time.
- Speed – The ability to minimize the time cycle of a repeated movement.
- Coordination – The ability to combine several distinct movement patterns into a singular distinct movement.
- Agility – The ability to minimize transition time from one movement pattern to another.
- Balance – The ability to control the placement of the bodies center of gravity in relation to its support base.
- Accuracy – The ability to control movement in a given direction or at a given intensity.
What a game. After two overtime periods and deep into penalty kicks, the HVAA U13 Thunder prevailed to win the 2009 Schillinger Tournament. The team went 4-0 on the way to the championship. Thank you to our guests from Fox Chase for joining us. I’m happy that in the end the girls were able to win for themselves but I’m more impressed by how they came together as a team, worked hard, supported each other and celebrated a championship on the field as friends.
Once again the HV Thunder are heading to the Schillinger Thanksgiving Weekend Tournament at Parkwood. As has been the case for the last couple of years, the weather forecast is – at least for Friday – cold and miserable with a 100% chance of suffering. What a tradition. Players always have fun once they are able to get moving. Parents on the other hand will merely suffer. The weather will slowly improve through the weekend.
Schedule (all games on Field 4)
Friday 11/27 9:00am vs PYO Eclipse W 1-0
Game Time Forecast: 42 with showers and gusts to 25 mph, feels like 29
Saturday 11/28 2:00pm vs Parkwood Devils W 2-0
Game Time Forecast: 53 and windy, feels like 43
Saturday 11/28 4:30pm vs UGH Devils W 4-1
Game Time Forecast: 51 and breezy
Sunday 11/29 11:45am Championship vs PYO Devils
Game Time Forecast: Let’s try to make it a beautiful day
Directions (from Philmont at Huntingdon Pike)
Field Map – Championship is on Field 1
This weekend marks the end of a tough fall season. Rain over much of the fall caused numerous schedule changes to games and practices and turned our field into nothing but mud. It seems appropriate though that we wallowed in mud as the H1N1 virus (and bouts of the common cold) took a toll on a number of our players. I’m just hoping to have everyone healthy again at this point. Indoor activities will begin in December with soccer on Sundays and crossfit training on Fridays. These activities will keep the girls moving over the winter and should be a lot of fun while increasing their overall fitness.
Who gets to start and in what position depends on many factors. First, I have some idea about most teams we play and I put out the players by position that I believe will be most successful against that particular team. Often it is not the best 11 soccer players.
I am constantly reviewing players in games and practices to see where they are strong or where they may be struggling. The ability and willingness to use both the right and left foot in a game is essential now. Commitment to the team and to learning the game is a factor in overall playing time and we are now at a point where the players who constantly work on improving are the ones who stand out. Attending practices and games and working on skills at home makes a difference as there is an interesting correlation between time spent practicing and overall development as a player.
As for how I decide who to play where, outside forwards usually need to be some of the fastest players on the team. I use them to stretch the defense of the other team but I also need them to be able to control the ball to shoot or cross as needed. Occasionally I will use a player with good skills but not great speed if I think they can beat the defense with their skills and cross the ball.
I play two center midfielders and one may appear to be a center forward but really they share duties and may switch with each other on offense and defense. Those two positions are filled by players who have some of the best ball skills, who have the drive to play offense and defense and who have the stamina to run for most of the game. Outside midfielders are also players who need good stamina and who can transition between offense and defense.
Strong defenders are a rare and under-appreciated breed of player. Not everyone wants to play defense and the best defenders have a combination of toughness and speed. Players willing to make more contact with opponents don’t need as much speed – those with more speed may not have to make as much contact to be successful. Defenders start the offense by distributing the ball forward so that the team retains possession.
If you have any questions regarding your daughter and her play on the team, please contact me.
