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