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.