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State Tournament

All,
as I alluded to last week when I sent out the updated schedule, its time to organize for the Div. 2 State Tournament. I have to apply our team by Friday, April 6th.

There will tentatively be a regional qualifying tournament on May 5-6 somewhere near Nashville. This regional qualifier will only happen if enough teams apply for the tournament. We have to plan for playing that weekend. The State finals will be May 19-20, two weeks after the qualifier, this is also in Nashville. Again, we have to plan on this weekend. As I said before, normally teams this old go straight to the Finals but I can't be sure about this, nor will Tenn Soccer commit to anything, until the deadline of April 6th passes.

Now some background. Sam can't play in the 91 bracket because she is too old - and the U-16 bracket is the oldest bracket. Also, Julianna has been guest playing as a goalkeeper with the 91 Lady Lobos in their D1 qualifying after the Lobos lost their goalie this past January. The agreement I have with the Lobos coach is that she remains a Cougar for the regular season (and guest plays for the Lobos) and if the Lobos qualify for D1 State, she can play with them. But if they don't qualify, she plays with us at D2 State. Regardless, I have Caroline Higdon, a 92 Lobos goalie, in reserve in case Julianna does not go with us.

It is my intention to take the girls to State. The proviso is, we need to have enough players. I must freeze the roster by April 20th. Therefore, I'm asking you to give me a definite "yes" if your daughter can play both weekends in question. Due to the limits on rostering, I will need an affirmative response by at least 12 girls for both weekends to go forward. If you can play one weekend but not another one, tell me that too. So please respond by email at sonnyb@midsouth.rr.com by April 4th with your "yes or "no."

In case you're wondering, there are other options other than D2 State. D3 State is the weekend of May 12-13, which is Mother's Day weekend. We did this last year and I don't want to have to play again on Mother's Day. Besides, there was no D3 State for U-16 teams last year.

If we can't get enough players for D2 State for whatever reason, we can possibly play in a tournament the weekend of May 5-6. More to come.

Coach Sonny

JAWS Tournament Hotel Information

All,
I have set aside 15 rooms at the La Quinta Inn & Suites in Jackson, TN for the night of April 21st for the JAWS tournament. All rooms have two double beds, so they sleep four. The hotel also offers free continental breakfast in the morning. The plan is to stay just one night in the hotel as Jackson is just a 90 minute drive. I've requested a late morning game to start with on Saturday, and I'm guessing we'll play another game Saturday and at least one Sunday.

To reserve a room, you must call La Quinta 731-664-1800 and give your credit card information to the receptionist. The rooms are blocked under the group: Lady Cougars Soccer, with me (Sonny Beyer) as the contact. YOU MUST RESERVE YOUR ROOM BY MARCH 21st or the room will be released from hold.

I realize some of your parents may not travel with you and you will room with other girls, which is fine of course. Just make sure you talk to your families and teammates about your plans so you won't lose a hotel room. If you have any questions, please call at 412-4717 or email.

Coach Sonny

Game Preparation

Ladies,
a few words after last Thursday...
Preparing to play a game is just as important as actually playing it. Normal team practice and pregame warm-up rituals are part of that preparation. Not only do you have to get "into" the game physically, you have to get into it mentally as well. You can't show up 20 minutes prior to a game in varying stages of undress and think you can just roll right in and play. We got away with it in out first game, but we didn't in our second.

The reason I ask you to be at the field 30 minutes prior fully clothed in your uniform is so we can start our warm-up ritual right away. We seem to have a problem with some of us (and all have been guilty from time to time) either showing up late, not dressed, under-dressed if it is cold out, or missing equipment. If we start the pregame ritual late, we don't stretch correctly, we can't get our heads together mentally and it takes us 15 minutes to figure out what is going on - and we can't waste 15 minutes.

Starting Tuesday, we will meet 45 minutes prior to the start of each game unless I say otherwise. This will give us plenty of time to warm-up, stretch and do the pregame talk with the cones. I know you all are leading complicated lives, especially now that some of you are driving yourselves. That is one of the reasons I'm switching to 45 minutes prior, to allow you to decompress from the drive seeing as now you have to park your car instead of getting dropped off. This is going to require time management on your part - just like you manage time for school. Allow 5 extra minutes for the drive to Mike Rose. Pack your soccer bags the night prior if you have to so you can get right into your homework when you get home from school. Look, showing up on time tells your teammates you are ready for them. If you're not prepared you let them down, not me. But most important of all, I want to see your bright smiling faces and not harried looks as you show up.

I realize some of you are going to be late from time to time due to other things in your life. Just drop me an email or call my cell: 412-4717 so I get warning beforehand, the sooner the better. Then drive slowly and safely to Mike Rose. Another thing, be dressed or show up early enough to dress. If its cold outside, wear a sweatshirt until you start to get overheated from the running - I can't stand seeing some of you ladies shivering with hypothermia when you first get there. OK, off my soapbox.

The week of March 5-9...
Monday, scrimmage with 93 Lady Lobos - be at Progress at 6:45 PM, we will start when we get warmed up, most likely a bit after 7 PM. Wear your blue uniform!!!
Tuesday, game vs. GT United 2 team. Show at Mike Rose field 8 at 5:15 PM, white uniform
Thursday, practice at Johnson Park 7-8:30 PM

Remember, bright, smiling faces!!

Coach Sonny