4th Grade Boys Game Going Forward

Off again then on again. We're going forward with the 4th Grade Boys game at 1:00PM, and I'm recruiting different players from different places to take on our team. Lots of communication, and I'll try to do better.

Always remember to check the Johns Creek UMC website for information regarding weather and games. Assume we will play unless the website says games are canceled or if we've communicated that the game is rained out. I'll update this blog, and we'll send out an email if a game is canceled.

Schedule Out

We just received the schedule for the first two games of the season. Emails have been sent out with the roster of each game. Just in case you missed it, here is the schedule (with initials of players). Please use the lineups emailed as the final approved roster. Boys should be at the game twenty minutes prior to kickoff for proper warm-up and to ensure we're ready.

17 March

• 1:ooPM, 4th grade squad GREEN UNIFORMS
• Roster: AT, CS, DP, HR, JR, JC, MC, MR, RV, SP, WC, YB
  
• 2:15PM, 3rd grade squad BLUE UNIFORMS
• Roster: AC, DJ, ER, GM, JN, KM, MK, MD, NW, RC, RK, RC, YL, TS
  

24 March

• 3:3oPM, 3rd grade squad GREEN UNIFORMS
• Roster: CS, GM, HR, MK, MR, MD, NW, RC, RK, RC, WP, TS, WC, YB
  
• 4:45PM, 4th grade squad GREEN UNIFORMS
• Roster: AC, AT, DP, DJ, ER, JR, JN, JC, KM, MC, RV, YL

Snack schedule will be emailed later. We only have a schedule for the first two games and will forward the remaining schedule once it is completed.

A Great Practice!

Terrific practice this week! Thanks to Coaches Scott, Greg, Brad, and Angie for helping throughout. It is truly going to take a team effort to maximize our time together each week.

Our schedules are out. Look for an email with the rosters and times for each game this Saturday and next. Our goals for each game:

• Zero goals allowed (strong defense); this will always be our #1

• Passing
  
  • Into space (meaning forward of a player if possible)
  • Giving the ball up when under defensive pressure vs dribbling through players
  • Crosses from the wings toward a striker ready to score
  • Good decisions (not putting our defense at risk with dangerous passes)
  • Into space (meaning forward of a player if possible)
• Position
  
  • Being in the proper position vs chasing the ball
  • Advancing to being more flexible in positions, moving into space without the ball, finding open areas to receive passes
  • Getting back on defense in position when we're under pressure
  
  
• Being in the proper position vs chasing the ball
• Energy
  
  • Hustling whenever on the field
  • Aggression
  • Attacking the ball
  • Taking on offensive players coming down the field
  • Attacking defenders to steal the ball or force poor decisions
  
  
• Scoring
  
  • Taking a shot on goal with accuracy and power
  • Understanding your power and taking a shot with high likelihood of reaching the back of the net

I will keep this blog updated with current information regarding the team, as well as additional input. I won't be posting the names of our boys due to security concerns nor will I post their photos. Additionally, we won't be giving this URL out to anyone except the parents of our players. We're excited about the new season and hope you are too. Have a great week, and see you Friday.

Boot Camp and Next Practice

Great job by all the Champions today. We had 20 boys turn out for the Boot Camp, and it was a great time to work out some of the kinks. Great effort, and terrific listening by the boys. A couple of small tactical changes to practice this season:

• We will put our water bottles on the far benches to keep the distraction at a minimum during breaks. We'll also start and finish practice over there.
• Balls will be put next to that area on the open area behind the benches. This is primarily to keep our boys from losing soccer balls and to prevent horseplay. As different drills require a different number of balls, this will keep things a bit more organized for us.
• Some of the boys had #5 balls. If they do not have a #4, they should bring the #5 with them. We will have them use one of our #4's during drills unless we run out.
• We will have a similar structure during practices, with some warm-ups, individual drills, 4v4 scrimmage, and then full field scrimmage.

Thanks to Coach Brad and Coach Jason for joining in. Friday's, we will need additional coaches, so please feel free to come to me. I'll give you a schedule and put you to work. I'd prefer to float more between stations, so if we can have a couple more coaches I can do that. Please work on the following items this week with your son:

• Throw-in's: please emphasize proper technique (two hands over your head in a throwing motion, no feet to leave the ground). We were very poor in this area this week.
• Juggling: we're going to introduce this Friday. We'll start juggling the ball with your thigh/knee. Goal is to get players into double digits by the end of the season.
• Heading and chesting the ball: We need to be transitioning into these skill areas. Please work with your son on proper heading technique as well as starting to chest the ball to trap it.
• Catching/stopping ball with feet: from five-eight yards away, start throwing the ball to your son waist high and below. Work with him on stopping the ball with one of his feet or part of his leg.

If you did not pick up your uniform, please be sure to do that Friday. Thanks again, and have a great week.

Uniforms and Sunday Boot Camp

We will have a voluntary practice this Sunday 4 March at the Seven Oaks field 2:30-4:00. This a one-time only weekend practice but will help us work out the logistics of the expanded number of players as well as become introduced to the new boys on the team. As we had 18 players last year, the increased number in practice should be manageable.

I was given uniform items ordered by your players. I will have them with me at Sunday as well as Friday. This is both complete uniforms as well as any individual replacement items.

Welcome Seven Oaks Champions!

We're in for a big, big soccer season this spring with 25 players on our team. We'll use this blog to post information on a regular basis in addition to emails. First, a few details about our upcoming season.

• Practices will be held at the Seven Oaks field Fridays 4:30-6:00. Our first regularly scheduled practice will be held on 9 March. Players should wear shin guards but no cleats for practice.
• Players are expected to have shin guards and cleats for their games, as well as the corresponding uniform for the scheduled game. Players should be at the field no later than 15 minutes before the start of the game. Please let me know if your son cannot make the game.
• We do not have a schedule for games, but the first two games will be held on 17 & 24 March. The season will stop for two weeks for spring break then resume for six weeks on 14 April. All of these dates are tentative, but I'm pretty sure they are correct.
  
• Our team will be split into two squads for games. More than likely, we will have an additional evaluation practice in the next two weeks to further assist us in dividing the teams. The 3rd-4th Boys league has been split into a 4th grade and a 3rd grade schedule, so one of our squads will play a 4th grade schedule and one will play a 3rd grade schedule.
  
• Due to the large number of boys as well as the logistics surrounding the split squads, communication and punctuality will be even more important for us this season.
  
• The league is encouraging us to set our rosters as much as possible. Our hope is to do this by the Spring Break to assist everyone with schedules. Our indication is that we will have back-to-back games each Saturday, but we won't know this until we receive our final schedules.
• In the event of inclimate weather, the league posts information at the Johns Creek UMC Recreation website. We will always call only if a game or practice is canceled, so assume we are proceeding unless you hear otherwise.

You may leave comments here or email me at craig.cunningham@customeris.net. Contact information:

Craig Cunningham
(770) 664-5777 home
(973) 727-0065 cell
(770) 674-0005 work