Blackhawks > HAWKHEAD
St. Paul Blackhawks Soccer Club Newsletter
January, 2009
Offseason
We have been practicing for two months and the beginning of league play still seems far away. It is easy to lose focus in the long season of winter. So what can a player do to enjoy the offseason? Here are few ideas.
Set goals
Set goals to work on during practices. Make sure your goals are reasonable but challenging. They should also be measurable so you can track your progress. Some examples are: I want to be the most fit player on the team by the end of the NSC training, or I want to win 75% of my 1vs1 battles this week. Working hard towards a goal can help make practice even more enjoyable.
Work on your own
Go down to your local gym and work on your individual skills. Most of our teams practice 2-3 times a week during the winter. Learning from a coach is always fun. But it is just as much fun to teach yourself or learn from a peer. So call up your friend and meet at a gym. Be creative when you are playing. There are several games you can play—like one touch with the wall or soccer tennis. But the most fun is when you come up with your own games.
Bring a good attitude
Do you remember that awesome feeling you have after practice? You are tired, perhaps even exhausted from all the running, yet practice was so much fun. There are some factors that will always be the same - your parents will take you to practice, the coach will show up and coach, the winter will be cold. The only thing you can change and have influence over is your attitude and work ethic. If you put the work in, the Game will reward you for it. I hope and wish for a joyous offseason for everyone!
How can I be the best player possible - what is the magic bullet?
Many players want to know the secret to excellence on the soccer field. Well, it starts off the field. It starts with passion! If the smell of freshly cut grass triggers images of stepovers and Maradonnas you just might already have it! If your parents have asked you NOT to accompany them to the grocery store because you can't help but juggle a different fruit each visit, you're on the way! If you find yourself counting down the seconds to your next training—notice I didn't say game—you're definitely feeling it! If all of the characteristics mentioned above are not far from your truth—you've got it—the X-factor!
Ask any star athlete what their secret is, and they will probably say hard work and dedication. What they will often fail to mention is their true secret—their love and passion for their sport. It turns out the secret ingredient is something found inside an athlete that they apply to their sport every day!
What does this mean for you? Take a look at your efforts and ask yourself if your play reflects a passion for the beautiful game of soccer. If you find your participation in soccer needs some magic, not to worry! There is always time to uncover and grow your passion for the game. Keep it simple, build a relationship with your ball, smell the grass, laugh with your teammates, and have fun! Remember first and foremost soccer should be fun for you and something you look forward to. If you love what you're doing, the rest will fall into place!
U12 Girls Got Game
Space. Square. Center. Switch. Corner. Through.
These are well-known commands that the U12 girls use on the field. The U12 age group is a talented group of girls who are dedicated and outgoing. As one of the largest age groups on the girls' side of the Blackhawks, there are approximately 36 players. Although these girls attend thirteen different schools, many are friends on and off the field.
There have been several terrific volunteer parent coaches who have worked to develop the players, to foster team building, and nurture a love for the game of soccer. Recently, three female coaches have been hired to take charge of the three talented U12 teams.
Besides playing in the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association's (MYSA) summer and fall leagues, this age group has taken advantage of some unique opportunities. From the Star of the North Games to the Blaine Breakout, many girls have competed in tournaments throughout the Twin Cities. In addition, players have had the opportunity to serve as ball girls for the Minnesota Thunder and the University of Minnesota Women's Soccer Team. A group of U12 girls also played during half time of the Hispanic All Star Game last summer. For the past couple of years, the U12 Girls Blackhawks have scrimmaged a team from Minneapolis United for a friendly border battle. Learn it. Play it. Love it.
Blackhawks U12B Internationals take league title in summer and fall!
With only three pre-season April practices under their belts, the Blackhawk U-11 C3 team got to work by playing together as a team, embracing diversity and supporting each others efforts with amazing results. Prior to their first game, the boys named the team The Blackhawk Internationals in honor of their heritage which included: USA, Mexico, Columbia, Ethiopia and Somalia. This unity solidified them as a team, allowed players and parents to get to know each other, and created lasting friendship thru shared cultures.
Every single member of the team contributed to the success. They practiced hard and set their own goal of winning the East league title. They called themselves "The Beasts from The East." They displayed sportsmanship, respect for the game and the officials. There were surprises and unlikely heroes every week - game winning goals by first time players, hat tricks by more experienced ones, shut outs by first time goalies, donuts and water wars at practices, and lost soccer shoes at USA Cup! There were last-second double overtime shoot-out losses, offset by last-second game winning goals. They finished their season at 17-6-4
Some of their accomplishments:
- Finalists at the Eagan Future Stars Tournament
- 3rd Place in the Star of the North Tournament
- Semi- Finalists at the USA CUP in "A" bracket
- East League Champions & State Tournament contenders with a 2-1 record
After their successful summer season, the team was promoted to C-2 for the fall. The team played extremely strong defense, limiting their opponents to no shots on goal in two of their games. They experienced more physical play, yellow cards, aggressive opponents, yet finished with a 5-1 record, winning the East league, and advancing to the Fall Harvest Fest. The final weekend at the Fall Harvest Fest they outlasted Minneapolis United in a defensive battle only to lose later that afternoon to eventual State Champion, Owatonna. All was forgotten over pizza, a league trophy, hotel rooms, swimming pool, and a hot tub. They finished their season at 9-3.
It isn't often that a volunteer coach can experience such gifted athletes who embrace diversity and a challenging traveling program with such confidence and determination. The future is so bright for them both on the field and off.
