Last Practice before the Season!

Tomorrow will be the last practice before the season starts next week! Tonight I will be going to the manager's meeting and getting our schedule for the games and I will post it here tonight. I will also make a few copies before practice tomorrow so i can bring those with.

Remember that we are changing fields for this practice and per Brea's helpful comment I have included the second parking area option in the updated map below.

At this practice we also need to finalize a few admin things. I have 7 people who have not picked up their jerseys. And also we need to decide and finalze on where and when we are practicing once the season starts.

So far our team/numbers are (if no one has it i am putting the size next to it so you can call dibs):

 1 -  Small
 2 -  Jennifer
 3 -  Small
 4 -  Small
 5 -  Breanne
 6 -  Nancy
 7 -  Sam
 8 -  Olivia
 9 -  Ambur
10 - Nate
11 - Medium
12 - Daniel
13 - Mark
14 - Medium
15 - Scott
16 - Large
17 - Large
18 - David
19 - Todd
20 - Ian

Parking options in red, field in yellow

Fall Non-Officiated Co-Ed team openings!!!

An opportunity has come up for anyone who wanted to play but couldn't or just wants to play more to join a non-officiated co-ed rec team. Games are Friday nights at 7pm.  If you are interested please respond ASAP as games start next week. At this point depending on how many people respond the cost should be between 22-26 dollars. Please let me know if you or anyone you know are interested.

Sunday, Next week, and we are getting close!

Thursday practice was hot, and kudos to those troopers who made it out and ran in the sauna with me! Also those lucky few got their uniforms. This practice was a bit out of the ordinary as a pee wee football team had taken over the turf. So we went back to good old tried and true grass. Man, I forgot how the ball rolls so much smaller on the grass and running is harder (or wait that could have been the heat and humidity)

So Sunday we are gonna meet at the same field as usual and hopefully we can have the turf. But otherwise we will play out in the grass again. Once again come out and get your uniforms if you haven't gotten them already and if you have then come out and show them off!

For next Thursday we are going to meet at the field by VRC (map below). Also I will have copies of our game schedules to pass out. 

Finally I decided that we are not going to have practice the Sunday of Labor Day weekend as most people will be out of town. Besides that will be the last weekend before games start. 

Oh and remember to accept or decline your invite to the BBQ.

Yellow is the parking, red area is the field. 

Uniforms and BBQ

The uniforms have arrived! They look pretty spiffy and I am excited to dole them out! Remember to come Thursday so you can get your uniform and duke it out with those of your size for numbers!

Also by an overwhelming majority it looks like the BBQ will be on Saturday the 17th. Hopefully by then we will have some awesome team victories to celebrate! I will send out more info on that later

See you all on Thrusday for practice, our usual spot at 6:15p.

Stretching - Frog Pose

Frog pose from the side

So in the last few practices I have noticed that a few players have pulled or otherwise tweaked their groin/inner thigh muscles. I think this in all likelihood has to do with the act of kicking and for those who are not used to it, it is activating some deep inner thigh and adductor muscles. Below is a yoga pose that I have found and often use that I would suggest as a possible remedy/preventive exercise in regards to this. If anyone else has suggestions for other helpful stretches please share! 

(I tried to find a video that wasn't horrible awkward or odd or boring and well couldn't really find a great one. There are quite a few when you google it, so if you want to give it a go!)

The Frog Pose is an intermediate-level yoga posture. It provides a very deep stretch for the inner thighs and hips. If your knees are sensitive, have a couple of blankets or a thick yoga mat available to place under your knees for cushioning. If you have any back sensitivities, be sure to keep the abdominal muscles contracted and do not over-arch the lower back. Move slowly in and out of this posture.

Frog Pose from the front 

Instructions

1. • 1
     Get on the floor on your hands and knees. Start to walk your knees out to the side and away from one another.
   • 2
     Keep your ankles and feet in line. The knees should be bent at a 90-degree angle, with the ankles straight below. The feet should not kick in or out.
   • 3
     Come down onto your forearms. Start to gently rock the body forward and backward, bringing the hips between the feet and then back to the starting position.
   • 4

     

     Frog pose from a back/top view

     The closer your knees are to your elbows, and the farther the knees are apart, the deeper this stretch becomes.
   • 5
     After rocking forward and backward a few times, slowly rock back and bring the buttocks as close to the heels as you can. Keep the hips down and the back flat. Hold for five to 10 deep breaths.
   • 6
     Release slowly. Bring your hips forward; come back up to your hands first, then bring the knees slowly together.

Official Team Practice #3

This practice was marked by the welcome return of Brea and Tyler who we had not seen since the first official practice. Welcome back guys!

Josh's awesome little boy once again made an appearance and also brought along a friend so that each side got to have a pint size Pele to call their own.

I announced that our uniforms are to arrive by next Monday (UPS says the shipment is 15 lbs!) So extra incentive to make it to next Thursday's practice! Remember numbers are first come first serve within your size. I am so excited for us to get these!

Also I announced that I am going to have practice this Sunday (21st) and next Sunday (28th) for sure as turn out has been pretty good on those practices and they are appreciated by those who can't make the Thursday practices. As for labor day weekend, I for one don't have plans so if enough people are in town (at least 5 lets say?) then I am totally down for practicing on the 3rd. 

Also we discussed the idea of continuing to offer a weekly practice once the season starts. Ian has pointed out that the fields at U of O should be open during the fall. Tentatively fall practices is looking like Sundays again, at U of O at 3 or 4pm (on account of it getting darker earlier).

Finally as previously mentioned I am offering to throw a BBQ for the team and the first step for that is for you all to answer the survey I sent out so we can pick a day. Please fill that out asap, preferably by no later than Sunday so that we can all plan (especially me...)

I am happy to offer the opinion that I think we are all getting much better due to the practices. Especially for those who had not previously played soccer, I think its been really cool to see how much more comfortable they have become and the growth in confidence!

Reminder on Practices

Practice Tonight 6:15pm

Remember we have practice very Thursday 6:15pm. Also try to remember to bring a white shirt and a dark shirt in case we split up for skirmishes to make it easier to form teams.

Also until further notice I am going to hold practice on Sundays also for anyone who wants to come.

Come to practice, meet your teammates and bring anyone who wants to play, the more the merrier!

Calling out during play

This is for those who are newer to the game.

As Josh had mentioned during last Thursday's practice it is important when you have the ball and running to keep your head and eyes up so you be aware of where both your teammates are and where the opposing team is. Along the line of keeping appraised of what is going on in the field during game play it is important to call out for your team mates so that they can know what is going on. So in that spirit below are some calls that you can utilize to help out your team.

In regards to the opposition - These calls tell your teammate who has the ball where the other players are

"Man On"/ "(number) on"  - This call lets your teammate know when an opposing player is closing in on them

" (you) got time" - This lets your teammate know that they literally have time to work with and that no one is closing in yet.

Positional Calls - These calls let your teammate who has the ball know where you are in relation to them so they can pass the ball to you. Hopefully when you call out you are also open.

"line (with a direction)" - This lets your teammate know you are off to either the left or the right side line

"center" - This lets your teammate know you are in the center/middle area of the field

"drop" - This lets your teammate know that you are behind them (meaning they are forward ahead of you  advancing towards the goal)

"square" - This lets you teammate know that you are next to them to the left or the right (closer than line)

Well those are the only ones I can think of right now, if anyone with more experience has calls to add to this list please let me know. If any of this is wrong or doesn't make sense again holler at me and I will fix it.

So hopefully on Thursday we can practice doing this and working on our team work!

Thinking about indoor

So i was thinking that maybe on top of the fall outdoor league I would maybe see if I can get on an indoor team too. I like the idea of playing twice a week.

So I looked at Kick City and here is what I found.

They have a fall season that starts week of September 25th. They do house teams that you can sign up for as an individual. Its a bit more spendy than the city league at $66 for the season and an annual $20 "membership" fee for Kick City. I know their co-ed is 7 a side for the main field. They also have men's and women's leagues. Indoor is 24 min halves with 1-2 min half time.

I am going to go sometime in September to sign up. Just letting anyone interested know.

Jerseys are Ordered!

In case you all forgot what it looks like below is a picture. We decided to go with Maroon and Black.

They will have your number printed in on the back. As I explained before, due to us going the cheap route and using the free backprinting option, I did not have the ability to arrange sizes to numbers, they all print in one big batch. However they print in order of size so you can fight it out with others of your size for the numbers:

Size Small - Numbers 1-5
Size Medium - Numbers 6-14
Size Large - Numbers 15-20

Another great sunday

Great practice! First appearance of Daniel, Andrea, Scott and Josh's amazing soccer star child Allejo. Overall a good practice, though for next round of Sunday practice we are thinking of moving it to South Eugene High School. I will scout the location prior to Sunday practice and text everyone if we are moving over there for that day.

Overall no injuries, though Ian perhaps is a bit worse for wear and Daniel in his enthusiasm took a few spills. But so far everyone seems intact!

Hope to see you all Thursday! Just a reminder to feel free to bring a friend to the practices, the more the merrier! also if you know anyone who feels they might like soccer but doesn't want to commit to playing this is a great way to get their feet wet!

Josh in the front, Daniel behind him, the amazing soccer whiz Allejo and Ian looking on in amazement!

Daniel with Cesar and Josh in the far back and Scott our very tall friend that can easily jump fences when retrieving lost balls

Josh about to score a goal, Cesar also moving in. The red speck in the back is Nate who doesn't like his picture taken ;) 

Everyone take care, rest up, heal up (i myself have taken a few ib profens to ward off tomorrow's soreness) and lets kick some grass!

Pick up and Play Sunday!

7pm, ATY fields!

come meet Andrea our new teammate!

Let me know if you want to come.

BTW if anyone wants to be able to make posts to this blog about the team or soccer let me know and i can add you!

Official Practice #2

Practice went well, no injuries no major falls.

I think everyone had a great time and "at least got their foot on it"!

I have officially registered us with the City of Eugene and I have deposited everyone's checks today (should clear tomorrow). We have 2 girls who might be joining us, I hope to have all that finalized and locked down by the end of the weekend. I will order our uniforms on Sunday so we have plenty of time.

In the mean time, I am thinking about practice Sunday like 6:30 or 7:00pm? let me know if anyone is interested. Either way next practice, thursday 6:15ish same place!


And now to put some faces to the names!

David and his lovely wife Oliva, Ian's head is peaking out behind her and rocking those sunglasses is Ambur

Starting on the left is Olivia, in the middle is Ambur and on the right is Jennifer

Myeshia showing us some love with David on the right

Yeah apparently I have too much time on my hands...

I decided that if The Grass Kickers are going to play the whole year through then a blog might be a great way for us to both stay connected, updated and also perhaps queue up people for the team as the seasons go.

Right now we are all set and ready to go for our debut season for Fall 2011!

I will post any team updates or changes or any important stuff here which might be less annoying than me sending out a gazillion emails.

Also once we make it past Fall, for those who want to play on the hat draw season we can also keep in touch this way.

Finally, this would be a great place to put people in contact if they are interested in Spring.