After-break training...

First, I hope the holiday break is treating everyone well thus far! It was good seeing a number of you out for the 5 v. 5 soccer tournament today. Keep taking any opportunity to simply play! And have fun doing it.

Regarding training (skill work AND conditioning) for after our break, please stay tuned for a SPECIFIC announcement on this site regarding the times and places. Coach Malefyt is checking on the exact availability of the middle school upper balcony for January on, so nothing is official at this point.

Tentatively plan on the following weekly schedule though:

**Mondays and Wednesdays: conditioning at the middle school from 3 to 4 PM (for anyone interested, no matter the number of players)

**Tuesdays and Thursdays: small group skill work at the middle school from 3 to 4 PM (for sign-ups only)

**Fridays = off

More later!

Take care, everyone.

Small-group training for next week...

...Dec. 14-18. MONDAY and THURSDAY

3:00-3:30: Sydney Grady, Joslyn Blood, Sarah Baker, Jenna Brunger

3:30-4:00: Aaron Polet, Dylan Guillozet, Chelsea Adkins, Kassi Aalderink

4:00-4:30: Emily Grady, Shelby Reaume, Tyler Immink, Deban Scholten

4:30-5:00: Niki Deneef, Carley Geurink, Dani Klein, Travis Williams (?)

We'll meet in my room. Be warmed up, stretched, and ready to hop right into skill work training!

Please see me with questions/concerns.

4-person skill training...

...for next week (Dec. 7-11)

Monday and Thursday:

*250-330 PM = Sydney Grady, Joslyn Blood, Sarah Baker, Jenna Brunger

*330-4 PM = Aaron Polet, Dylan Guillozet, Chelsea Adkins, Kassi Aalderink

*4-430 PM = Shelby Reaume, Emily Grady...??

We'll meet in the carpeted area just above the cafeteria. Have indoor wear on...and be on time! Also, the latter two groups should be warmed up, stretched, and ready to jump right into training at the scheduled times above.

See you soon!

OFF SEASON TRAINING

Gentlemen, anyone who's interested in a bit of off season (non-summer), small group ball work and training, please let me know when you get a chance. I will be coaching JV girls soccer come early March so any time you'd like to schedule something beforehand, i'm here to help.

Also, don't forget to sign up for the winter break 5 v. 5 tournament if you're interested.

Get a hold of me! And remember: the off season is when real players are made.

Good luck to all of you playing a winter (and/or spring) sport!

Congrats to the SENIORS!

JACOB SWARTZ: Academic All-State, winner of the Travis Hulsman Character Award

HUNTER TOWNSEND: All-Conference (OK Green), All-District

MICHEAL PANDO: Honorable Mention All-Conference

MITCH GAGE: for a GREAT performance as the lead in the school "Fools" production!

Way to go, guys! The hard work definitely paid off.

Program-wide BANQUET

On Monday, Nov. 2 at 7 P.M. in the high school cafeteria, we'll honor the J.V. and Varsity players and their families.

Please bring a dessert to share with the whole group as well as personal beverages and utensils for your families. DINNER IS NOT PROVIDED.

Dress for players is "business casual"; that is, no jeans or t-shirts!

See Coach Stieper or Coach Robinson with questions and/or concerns.

"Soccer Cleat" WINNER

Congratulations to Dylan Guillozet for the "new beginning" he exemplified in the past few weeks. His inspired play out of the back earned him a narrow victory over newcomer Aaron Polet in a team vote.

No Regrets

Gentlemen, you should feel no regrets this morning as you reflect on yesterday's District effort. I know it's not the result we were looking for, but we as coaches are very proud of the overall effort you displayed...and (it may take time) you should too.

Overall, a job well done this season, guys. We really came on at the end of the season. Plus, all you can ask for is improvement (team and individual) over the course of a given season, and I think we can all agree that said improvement took place.

Keep your heads up! Now, the most important part of next season begins today: THE OFF SEASON...WHEN INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT MUST TAKE PLACE FOR US TO HAVE SUCCESS NEXT SEASON! Thank you to the 3 seniors who battled for us and represented us well all season.

We'll be in touch.

Reminder: We have a meeting in my classroom right after school tomorrow (Thursday). Please bring all of your soccer items to turn in--warm-ups, backpacks, white/black shorts and jerseys...don't forget!

LAST TEAM DINNER:

...at the Townsend's on Monday, Oct. 19 (7 P.M.)

**Freshman/Sophomores: fruit and veggies
**Juniors (minus Zach and Cam): main course
**Seniors (plus Zach and Cam): bread and beverages

DISTRICT reminder:

1st round of Districts: Home on Tuesday, Oct. 20 vs. Zeeland West at 5 P.M.

The winner moves on to play the winner of the Byron Center vs. Zeeland East match in the lower half of the bracket. The other side of the bracket includes Middleville vs. Wayland and Holland Christian vs. Unity Christian.

OVERACHIEVERS

Gentlemen, doesn't it feel good to raise standards and expectations and strive to meet them...SUCCESSFULLY? Tonight, you guys did exactly that. Job well done vs. Park.

Once again, it matters more how we end the season than anything before. Today (and vs. B.C.), we really did have a "new beginning" of sorts...let's keep up this momentum!

Wednesday...CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT:

Our game tomorrow (Wednesday) is at 5 P.M. (JV) and 6:45 P.M. (Varsity). The bus will leave at 3:45 P.M. Food and beverages are currently being arranged by parents for the varsity team.

Wear your warm-ups to school and dress warmly for the game!

POTENTIAL

That's the one word that comes to mind as I reflect on the 3-1 win tonight vs. Byron Center. I loved that everyone, even our new arrivals, played a part in the win despite the fact we were missing a key starter.

It was a job well done, guys, but an even bigger challenge awaits on a tough field vs. an opponent who took it to us not too long ago.

Let's keep it up!

Last Team Dinner:

Gentlemen, the last scheduled team dinner at the Townsend's has been changed from this Sunday, Oct. 18 to the following evening (Monday, the 19th) at 7 P.M. (still at the Townsend's). We play in our home district game the next day.

Here are the dinner responsibilities:

**Freshman and Sophomores: fruit and veggies
**Juniors (minus Cam and Zach): main course
**Seniors (plus Cam and Zach): bread and beverages

Monday:

Gentlemen, a few items:

*We will be a bit short-handed up front for the game (and most likely beyond) what with Pando's dislocated shoulder in the football game last night. It's time for some guys to step in and step up (including the new guys). Turn a new leaf!

*We will "dress up" in school.

*We will meet in my room at 3:30 P.M. for a quick snack and meeting.

*Ball boys for the J.V. game are A.K., Julio, and Polet.

*Check the weather tomorrow, but right now it's calling for chance of rain and low 50's...dress accordingly.

*Yet again, it's a NEW BEGINNING on Monday and a chance to prove that our previous B.C. win was no fluke!

*Have a good weekend and enjoy what little sun we have!

2nd round Conference Game:

Monday, Oct. 12...#6 seed Hamilton vs. #7 seed Byron Center...at Hamilton...JV at 4 P.M./Varsity at 5:30-ish.

Zeeland East thoughts...

Guys, yet again, it was another hard-fought effort on your part. That characteristic has never been doubted in your play. Now, what continues to bite us is our inability to make plays in clutch situations...on offense, on defense, and in the net. We need to change that quickly...a new beginning once again...before this season ends! No regrets, guys.

It's time for a Byron Center rematch!

This Wednesday vs. Z.E.

The game is at Zeeland East...J.V. will start at 5:00 P.M....varsity follows at 6:45 P.M....bus will leave at 3:45 P.M....stay tuned for food details for that game.

Go State!

Go State!

Theme and Quotation of the upcoming week:

Guys, tomorrow (Monday) truly marks a NEW BEGINNING for us as a team; that is, 'tis the (post) season! It's time to forget about all of the mistakes--physical and mental--of the recent and more distant past, re-energize ourselves, and look ahead at the great potential for team and individual success. As far as we should be concerned, our team record right now is 0-0...clean slate. Now, let's do our best (in practice, warm-ups, and games) to re-invent ourselves in a way and truly make every effort to play to our potential!

In honor of this theme ("new beginning"), here is a quotation from then-prominent author Anais Nin that you should respond to with thoughtful words by this Wednesday at 7:30 A.M.

"Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death."

Wayland

Gentlemen, we all need to take a bit of the blame for yesterday's defeat--offense, defense, and coaches. It simply wasn't a good enough effort to win, especially in the mental department. We need to eliminate the sloppiness out of the back and start finishing more of our chances.

Let's put this behind us, and look ahead positively to our "new" season...time for post-season success!

"Soccer Cleats" WINNER

Congrats to Hunter Townsend for being the most CLUTCH PERFORMER in matches this week. It's certainly a well-deserved honor.

Now, we need every single player on the team to step up in his own way (i.e. remember the soccer guides from our team meeting the other day!) for our remaining regular season game vs. Wayland on Saturday and then into our post-season matches.

Team Dinner...

...and the Swartz's on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7 P.M.:

Sophomores: beverages
Juniors: bread, fruit, veggies
Seniors (plus Cam and Zach): main course

Districts

This just in:

1st round of Districts: Home on Tuesday, Oct. 20 vs. Zeeland West at 5 P.M.

The winner moves on to play the winner of the Byron Center vs. Zeeland East match in the lower half of the bracket. The other side of the bracket includes Middleville vs. Wayland and Holland Christian vs. Unity Christian.

More details to come....

Rogers

Gentlemen, it certainly was a tale of two halves today vs. Rogers. The first half was forgettable in every sense of the word. The second half? An inspiring, character-driven, gritty effort....but we need that from the start every time!

Regardless, way to bounce back from a dose of adversity, guys, and end the conference regular season on a high note.

Time for Wayland!

TIME CHANGE FOR SATURDAY:

Each game (JV and Varsity) has been moved up an hour for Saturday's game at Wayland. The bus now leaves promptly at 7:45 A.M. that morning. Be on time!

Team meeting tomorrow:

Be there by 3:00 P.M. and PLEASE BRING YOUR SOCCER GUIDE FROM EARLIER IN THE SEASON.

Wyoming Park

Gentlemen, let's be honest and admit that it was a sloppy (and not just because of the rain and wind) effort all around tonight in an important, performance-necessary game. Simply put, it's GOT to be better...and the good thing is, we have two quick chances to do just that on Wed. and Sat.

Let's get back to work!

Weather Forecast

The weather for Monday calls for rain, wind, and mid-50's temperatures. Dress accordingly for the game!

Theme and Quotation of the upcoming week:

This week (Sept. 28-Oct. 3) is a HUGE ONE, guys: our last two regular season conference games and a big Saturday non-conference game vs. a team that ended our season this past year in Districts. Simply put, each and every one of us needs to STEP UP to the plate and help us continue this positive momentum that we have going at this point of the season.

Therefore, the theme for this week is PERFORMANCE. In other words, there are no more excuses at this point of the season, and we all simply have to suck it up and PERFORM IN THE CLUTCH. Recall the 4 stages of the team process: forming, storming, norming, and performing. At this point of the season, we need to be (and i'd argue we have been lately) in the final stage; that is, it's time to PERFORM WHEN IT COUNTS THE MOST! The question remains: who will step up in crunch time? Ok, enough sports cliches...

Here is a quotation I want you to respond to by Wednesday morning regarding PERFORMANCE. It's a German Proverb (wise words)...oh, those Germans are so smart, aren't they Frau Stieper? Here goes:

"To aim is not enough; you must hit!"

New Photo

Check out the recently added official TEAM PHOTO from the beginning of the season by clicking the link below and to the left. Some interesting faces in there....

"Soccer Cleats" WINNER

Congratulations to GK Josh Brigham for being voted by his teammates as the player who has recently exhibited the most PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS and FEARLESSNESS on the playing field.

We ALL made strides in that department this past week, fellas, and that's what led to team success!

Bus times for next week:

**Monday, Sept. 28 (at Wyo. Park): 3:45 P.M.

**Wednesday, Sept. 30 (at Wyo. Rogers): 4:15 P.M. (no J.V.)

**Saturday, Oct. 3 (at Wayland): 8:45 A.M. (as of now)...AND NO RETURN BUS.

Please remember away game food items! Check the list...and don't be confused by the "Rogers" repeat on the list that was given to you. The second "Rogers" should read "Wayland".

Byron Center aftermath:

Gentlemen, a JOB WELL DONE is in order for tonight's win. I thought we really gutted out a great effort tonight, even with the sloppy play at times. You and I both know though that soccer is often won in the trenches; that is, scrappy, tough play minus the pure skill can often win games. That's what we got a lot of today, and it led to success.

It feels good to win! Enjoy this and let's move on to bigger and better things coming up shortly!

Moral Victories:

There are none at this point of the season, gentlemen. Simply put, it's time to put up or shut up. SOMEONE (or two) needs to step up...SOMEONE (or two) needs to take the reins...SOMEONE (or two) needs to be the spark...offensively or defensively.

Today vs. Zeeland East was another game that we should have had...but it's getting kind of old saying that. We need to be careful because before we know it, losing may become a habit...and a hard one to break.

Someone (or two or three) step up! Time to think about B.C.

Theme and quotation of the week:

Gentlemen, one area in which I think we can do a better job as a team regards PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS (as opposed to mental) and FEARLESSNESS (one of our team goals/principles).

In other words, we can all improve upon going our HARDEST INTO EVERY TACKLE, CHALLENGING EVERY 50/50 BALL, STEPPING UP TO BIGGER OPPONENTS, LAYING YOUR BODY/HEALTH ON THE LINE FOR THE GOOD OF THE TEAM, AND SIMPLY THROWING OUR WEIGHT AROUND (LEGALLY AND NOT RECKLESSLY, OF COURSE) ON THE FIELD.

We need to pride ourselves in "out-toughing" opponents, and we've been inconsistent with that. Let's step it up!

Here is a quotation regarding toughness/fearlessness that I want you to respond to by Weds. morning at 7:30 AM. On your post, please include the full names of parents who plan on attending "parent night" this Wednesday.

"...the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt (1932 presidential inauguration speech)

Reminder...

On Monday, we'll "dress up" for school, wear black shirts to warm-ups, and meet in Coach Robinson's room at 3:30 P.M.

Ball boys for the week: Scholten and Cam for Z.E....Pando and Jake for B.C.

Photos...

Check out the new additions (Rescue Mission day, Camp Geneva day, team dinner at the Robinson's) to the team photos page! Thanks, Coach Ayres!

"Soccer Cleats" WINNER

Congrats to Matt Rouwhorst for being voted by the team as the player MOST ATTUNED to DETAILS...on and off the field. Keep up the good work, Matt! Let's ALL keep striving for improvement in this area.

It's got to be a 100% buy-in by the players regarding this theme in order for us to have success...we are still lacking a bit in that area!

Unity...

Gentlemen, we need to strive for our BEST EFFORT EVERY TIME we step on the field...for practice, for warm-ups, for matches. Last night, simply put, was an effort that NO ONE should be proud of...not in the least. It's time to move forward!

Zeeland West match

Gentlemen, it was a solid overall effort last night vs. Z.W. We probably deserved a better fate but keep in mind that the attention to DETAILS (every 50/50 ball, every tackle, every run, every pass) needs to be more consistent for us to have ultimate success.

We did a lot of that last night but obviously not enough. Nonetheless, it was an effort to build upon!

Theme and Quotation of the upcoming week:

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS!

We HAVE to become a team more in tune with "little things" on the soccer field and off. I can ASSURE you that doing so and developing those good habits will lead to good things on the soccer field (and off). After all, soccer (like many other sports) is a game of inches and without that attention to detail--finishing that through ball run IN PRACTICE or IN WARM-UPS, running through the ball during a tackle IN PRACTICE or IN WARM-UPS, showing up to play and learn EARLY and EAGER for PRACTICE, MEETINGS, etc.--negative consequences are (and have been thus far this season) the result.

In honor of this theme, I want you to respond with your own thoughts or as a reaction to a teammate's sentiments to this quotation from Michigan's very own Henry Ford by Wednesday morning of this week at 7:30:

"Paying attention to simple little things that most men neglect makes a few men rich."


Reminders: We are "dressing up" in school for tomorrow's game vs. Zeeland West. That means NO JEANS. Also, WEAR YOUR WHITE SHIRTS FOR WARM-UPS. The bus leaves at 4 P.M.

TEAM Dinner...

...at Dylan's on Tuesday, Sept. 15 (7 P.M.)

**Sophomores (plus R.J. and Scholten): main course
**Juniors: beverages and bread
**Seniors: fruits and veggies

Note: Dylan's house is across the street from Pando's

Hudsonville AFTERMATH

Guys, all we can do is look to bounce back with two important conference contests this next week...at Zeeland West and at Unity. But first, we need to get in a brisk, spirited practice tomorrow (Friday) and get rid of the bad aftertaste of today.

Rest up and do your homework!

News Items...

1.) Our bus on Monday, Sept. 14 to Zeeland West leaves at 4 P.M.

2.) Our bus on Wednesday, Sept. 16 to Unity leaves at 3:45 P.M.

3.) "Parent night" (where parents of ALL players will be introduced along with players) will be held on the night of our last home game vs. Byron Center: Wednesday, Sept. 23. Please share this with your parents!

Holland Christian RECAP

Gentlemen, there certainly were some positive signs tonight despite the loss. I thought we moved the ball around relatively well, stayed composed, and didn't quit as a team.

Was it a performance we (myself included) could all be proud of at the end of the day? That's the question we all need to answer for ourselves.

Time for Hudsonville! Let's gear back up.

CONCENTRATION Quotation...theme of the week:

"99% concentration = 100% failure."

Gentlemen, please respond ASAP (no later than Friday morning at 7:30 A.M.) to the above words. We're interested in how you can apply these thoughts to any or all of the above: the team, the season, the games this week, school, your life, etc.

All you need to do is sign in below and to the left as a "follower" and leave a comment. The comment will be sent to my email address first, and then I will post it myself. If you have computer difficulties, simply handwrite your response, and i'll post it myself.

Let's take care of business tomorrow and TRULY play to our POTENTIAL! What a week this is to apply the stated theme.

Rec. Referees

To those who said they were interested in refereeing youth soccer games this fall on Saturdays, here's the latest info:

**Sat., Sept. 12 at 8 A.M. = one hour training near the "fire barn" off of M-40...Heath Township building just south of Hamilton Elementary. At 9 A.M. that same day, you will be given your personal refereeing schedule and games will begin. $$ will be provided. Wear a GOLD shirt, if you can.

Please let either myself or Mr. Mousel know if you have any questions and/or concerns. This is a great way to get out in the community and let the up and coming young kids see the "faces" of Hamilton High School Soccer!

PHOTOS

Check out the newly posted soccer photos by clicking on the link on the tool bar to the left. Thanks, Beyers!

Practice on Tuesday, Sept. 8

Reminder: We will practice at 3 PM next Tuesday and meet directly on the field. Please wear white t-shirts that day as well. Don't forget about the optional Labor Day practice at 6 PM. Enjoy the weekend, guys!

"Soccer Cleats" WINNER

Congratulations to Jake Swartz, voted by teammates as the best "communicator" thus far this season.

Keep talking in a constructive way, everyone!

Hopkins RECAP

Guys, nice job of putting an all around solid effort into the game today. The second half was easily the best half of soccer we've played all year and should really give us some confidence heading into a key game vs. Holland Christian next Wednesday. Playing fast, moving the ball around, making the simple passes, BUILDING, staying patient and disciplined on defense...

Let's keep building on this effort!

Otsego Aftermath...

Gentlemen, we all need to look deeply within ourselves to help come up with a solution at this point of the season. After another disappointing loss tonight, please don't get too discouraged but know that we've all got A LOT of work to do presently--physically and mentally--in order to right this ship.

Let's get back to work tomorrow vs. Hopkins! Keep your collected heads up, guys.

Labor Day Practice

Guys, if you can make it, we'll hold an optional practice on Monday evening (Labor Day) at the practice field AT 6 P.M. in order to prepare a bit more for our game vs. Holland Christian on that Wednesday (the first day of school).

We'll run around a bit and do a bunch of scrimmaging, just to work the kinks out and such.

Please make every effort to make it if you can!

Wednesday UPDATE

There WILL be a JV game on Wednesday now... at home vs. Black River at 4 P.M. That means the Varsity game will still be played at 5:30 P.M. and that Adam and Caleb should be ready to be ball boys.

"Soccer Cleats" WINNER

Congrats to Zach Beyer after the team elected him today as the player who has shown the most MENTAL TOUGHNESS over the course of the last week. Keep it up, Zach!

We can all improve in this category on a daily basis. Handle the constant soccer stresses!

Allegan

Gentlemen, it was a valiant overall effort tonight with many positives, but these are games we simply HAVE to have....no doubt about it. The offensive chances need to be cashed in and our back line has got to be a bit more organized. Overall, that's a winnable game, and we ultimately need to learn from it.

It's back to the drawing board now...keep visualizing success!

Team Dinner...

...at the Pando's: Monday, Aug. 31 at 7 P.M.

Here are the food responsibilities:
*Sophomores: bread
*Juniors (minus Mitch and Adam): fruits/veggies/beverages
*Seniors (plus Mitch and Adam): main course

Maps will be handed out soon!

The KEY Question....

....after another tough loss, this time to Grandville, remains: HOW LONG WILL WE "STORM"?

Let's right this ship, gentlemen.

Opening weekend REVIEW

Gentlemen, upon further reflection regarding our opening slate of matches, you should be congratulated on an overall job well done yesterday. In my view, we learned a bit more about ourselves as a result:

1.) We CAN (and NEED to more) play possession soccer where we successfully switch fields, play to space, and avoid playing the ball straight ahead all the time. I think the Allendale effort was prime evidence of the fact that we CAN play that positive style of soccer. Let's keep building good habits in that regard!

2.) At this point, we are weak on 50/50 balls--especially in our own box--and a high level of FEARLESSNESS needs to be displayed on a much more consistent basis. Our effort in this area cost us many opportunities to attack and also led to a few debilitating goals against.

3.) We need to keep our COMPOSURE--in regard to referees, opponents, game conditions, etc. For the most part, I think we did a nice job in this department, but certainly not so much in the Hastings game. Let's keep our heads!

4.) There were a lot of positive signs from the day--from great individual efforts to an overall positive team attitude--in which to build on as we proceed into the bulk of the season. Now it's time to re-focus and set our sights on a tough, vengeful GRANDVILLE team on Tuesday!

I'm looking forward to having another great week of soccer with you guys. Come tomorrow (930 AM in my room) ready to focus and work!

"Soccer Cleats" WINNER

Congrats to Connor Hagen for earning the first official "soccer cleat" award of the season! After a team discussion and silent vote, Connor was chosen as the player who has most consistently demonstrated and encouraged "team cohesion" thus far in the season. And despite his apparent difficulty with stair steps, it's still a well-deserved honor. Way to go, Connor! In addition, he will be recognized as one of the team captains for our opening home tournament.

We can ALL keep striving to unite this team in every possible way that we can.

Shin guard UPDATE

To all players, be advised that not only should your shin guards be NOCSAE certified according to appropriate personal height and weight (see page 46 of our soccer guides), but A TAG/EMBOSSED SYMBOL IS REQUIRED TO BE DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO THE SHIN GUARDS AS WELL. In other words, do NOT rip or cut off the tag!

Congrats...

...to the team-chosen captains for the upcoming 2009 season:

JV: Tyler Immink, Aaron Polet
Varsity: Hunter Townsend, Jake Swartz

Way to go, guys! Let's ALL strive to be positive leaders on a daily basis!

Ball Boys...

...for the varsity home tournament this Saturday: We need two ball boys for each field (4 total) who'd be willing to work each of the three games. Any age or gender is fine....brothers, sisters, friends, etc.!

Please let Coach Robinson know ASAP of certain availability...even if it's only for one game!

We need your help with this! Thanks ahead of time.

Camp Geneva Update

For ALL players, please review the previous Geneva post below and ALSO remember to bring a TOWEL with you on the trip.

Don't forget your consent forms!

Varsity Team Dinner...

...at the Robinson's (Friday, Aug. 21 @ 6 PM).

Dinner responsibilities:

Sophomores....fruits/veggies
Juniors....main course
Seniors....beverages/bread

PS. Arrange car-pooling as necessary and see your parents (or me) for a map to my house.

Camp Geneva...

....on Wednesday, Aug. 19:

*The bus leaves at 1 PM in front of the high school and will return by about 5:45 PM.

*Wear some sort of Hamilton soccer gear and clothes/flat shoes meant for physical activity...and also bring a swimsuit.

*Bring your consent form, signed and filled out.

This should be a fun time and a great way to do some team building!

Shirts for Monday...

All players should wear WHITE training shirts for practice Monday. We'll rotate back and forth all week...Tuesday/black, Wednesday/white, etc.

A NUMBER OF THINGS...

...after our last day of tryouts today:

1.) Congrats to everyone for a job well done these past three days in the heat and sun. Overall, the work ethic and attitude were great, and that just makes us coaches that more excited to work with all of you this season.

2.) We're looking forward to having some fun at the beach tomorrow. Please be on time! If you're not sure where Tunnel Park is, it's located on Lakeshore in Holland, just south of Lakewood.

3.) Be sure to READ through and STUDY up regarding the boys soccer guides you received today at the conclusion of our practice. A lot of time and effort was put into that, and it's the key to understanding EXACTLY what's expected of a Hamilton Hawkeye male soccer player at any age level. BRING the guide with you to practice on Monday! By the way, the second to last page of that guide provides you with the SHIN GUARD REQUIREMENTS for this season and beyond. Please take notice and make purchases accordingly.

4.) Remember that $25 is due (cash or check made out to Hamilton High School) for each player to next Tuesday for the game socks and training shirts you received today. If any individual simply cannot come up with that amount or needs to exchange sizes of shirts, please see any of the coaches ASAP.

5.) In addition, remember that your "other Hamilton soccer apparel" order forms and $$ are due by next Friday if you choose to partake.

6.) Monday of next week is a busy day for all players with the following items on the agenda: practice from 9-noon (Varsity players should plan on spending the last portion of practice in Coach Robinson's room for a team meeting which may go a bit beyond noon), JV Holland Rescue Mission trip (required...transportation is provided) from 3:30-6-ish PM, and Parent Night for all parents at 7 PM (JV in Coach Stieper's room, Varsity in Coach Robinson's room).

7.) For Varsity players as a future heads-up for next Saturday, the 22nd, here is the game schedule for our QUAD TOURNAMENT that day: Hamilton vs. Kelloggsville @10 A.M. (game field), Hamilton vs. Allendale @ 11:30 A.M. (game field), and Hamilton vs. Hastings @1:00 P.M. (game field). Each team will play 3 games of 30 minute halves with 10 minute halftimes and 20 minutes between games. Any tie will be resolved by a shoot-out. Further details for the JV tournament that day are still pending.

8.) For any other items on the schedule, please refer to the updated schedule you received at the conclusion of practice today.

We're all looking forward to a GREAT start to the official "team" season!

Friday and Saturday Reminder...

Friday: Practice 9-noon...the last portion of practice will be spent picking teams for the sand soccer tourney on sat. After practice, plan on sticking around, heading into the junior hallway of the high school, and waiting a bit for us to call you into my classroom where the coaches will fill you in on your situation with the soccer program. Everyone should be all set and ready to leave by about 1 pm, give or take a few mins.

Saturday: Sand Soccer tourney at Tunnel Park from 9 am to noonish. A picnic lunch in the park will be provided for players after the competitions on the beach....THANK YOU PARTICIPATING PARENTS! Please keep in mind that certain individuals may need help with car-pooling that morning. Of course, friends and family of players are more than welcome to come out to the beach and watch the games!

Congrats...

...to the top 3 Iron Man Contest winners from today: MATT ROUWHORST, R.J. FLOWERS, and CONNOR HAGEN.

Way to set a great example, guys! We look for more great things from you guys in the future.

PS. Don't miss the post just below.

REMINDER!

Please scroll down and remind yourself of the Wed., July 15 post. Add these important dates to your calendar and clue your parents in!

Great job on the first day of tryouts today, guys. There was overall improvement all around as compared to last year.

See you tomorrow by 9 AM sharp!

WATER...

Guys, for the next number of days of training, PLEASE remember to bring PLENTY of extra WATER for yourselves...especially with some of the heat and sun coming our way.

See you all soon!

The Official First Day of the Season...

...is on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Here is the schedule for the day:

8 AM-11 AM...meet at the high school track with running shoes and water for the beginning of the Iron Man Contest. We will proceed eventually over to the tennis wall and game field area for the rest of the contest. Please have soccer cleats and indoor soccer shoes in your possession for this part of the contest.

11 AM-1PM...rest and lunch (not provided). Players may choose to hang out in Coach Stieper's classroom inside the high school during this time if they so please.

1 PM-3PM...scrimmage time on the practice and varsity fields between ALL ages.

NOTE: players MUST have physical forms on file in the high school BEFORE Wednesday morning or else they will NOT be able to practice.

Monday (Aug. 10) training...

Anyone who can make our 5-7 PM training, please do. It will be our last unofficial time together (we will take the next day, Tuesday, off to prepare mentally and physically for the Iron Man contest and scrimmaging the next day), and we'll do some last-minute preparation for Wednesday.

Make every effort to be there!

Physicals/Insurance $$

A number of you have yet to get a physical on file in the high school office and/or have yet to pay the $20 insurance money to the office as of Friday, Aug. 7.

Physicals: Austin Dams, Brady Zomer, Tyler Immink, Dillon Guillozet, Justin Volkers, Sam Lohman, Aaron Polet, Zach Beyer, Jacob Swartz, Chase VanWyk, Dominic Morlan, Julio Hernandez, Ty Ralston, Justin Overhiser.

Insurance $$: same individuals as above (excluding Zach), Cody Weber, Kray Freestone, Aaron Kaseumsouk, Travis Williams, Andrew Hulsman, Cam Perkins, Mitch Gage, Hunter Townsend, Trevor Morris, Mitch Ganzon.

BE AWARE that failure to provide proof of BOTH of the above (especially the physical) will result in missed vital tryout time...no exceptions! PLEASE take care of these issues, and if you see some guys on this list that maybe need a reminder or a heads-up, please help out! Also, if you are confused about why your name is on either list, please contact the high school office at 269-751-5185 and have a chat with Connie.

We will see you guys soon enough. So excited to start!

End of Summer Training...

...is near. Guys, as always, please refer to the packet of information I gave you at our original soccer meeting for schedule, Iron Man, etc. updates.

BUT, just as a reminder: next week (Aug. 3-7), we do NOT meet together for training. That week is designed for you to personally keep your fitness up, play on your own if you'd like, and simply get your mind and body ready for the official start to the season (Wed., Aug. 12). Prepare yourselves!

We WILL, however, meet at our regularly scheduled times (5-7 PM) on Monday, Aug. 10 and Tuesday, Aug. 11 for some last minute prep work. Either way, be ready and on time to the Iron Man day (Aug. 12) at the track no later than 8 AM. After the contest, you'll have a lunch break (on your own), and then we'll proceed with our afternoon session at the practice field. Be sure to bring running shoes, water, cleats, shin guards, etc. to each session!

Have a good "week off"! See you all soon enough.

PS. Please do not forget to take care of physicals and insurance $$$.

Shin guards...

Guys, make sure to have proper shin guards for the upcoming season. "Proper" means shin guards that are "age and height appropriate" (check the label) and that literally have a tag on them that says "Meets NOCSAE Specifications"...or something to that regard.

See me if you have questions! The referee checked us a couple of times this past season.

Plan ahead!

Soccer Camp and other items...

THANKS AGAIN to all high school players for your help during the younger kids' camps this week and for your hard work and good attitude during your own evening camp sessions. Coach Malefyt and I REALLY appreciate the overall effort.

Guys, we've got just a few weeks left until the official start to the season (Wed., Aug. 12). At this point, it's very important to review your original schedule I handed to you at our boys meeting in order to check on the following items:

1.) The remaining schedule for the summer....summer training (next week = M-F...week after = off/conditioning only...following week = Mon./Tues. training and Wed. beginning of season) and pre-season both.

2.) Important singular dates: Iron Man, Sand Soccer Tourney, Parent Night, Rescue Mission work and Camp Geneva (from the previous blog entry below), first contests, etc.

3.) Iron Man contest rules and point systems

4.) Soccer Attendance Policy for the season

That's it for now! Please feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments. LET'S CONTINUE TO PREPARE FOR SUCCESS!

PS. Take care of PHYSICALS and INSURANCE $$ at the high school office ASAP!

Important ADDITIONS...

...to the pre-season schedule:

**Monday, Aug. 17 (after regularly scheduled practice) 330-6 PM: JV team will tour the Holland Rescue Mission and serve dinner in the male and female buildings. School transportation is pending upon approval...perhaps plan to carpool just in case.

**Tuesday, Aug. 18 (after regularly scheduled practice) 330-630 PM: Varsity team will tour the Holland Rescue Mission and serve dinner in the male and female buildings. School transportation is pending approval...perhaps plan to carpool just in case.

**Wednesday, Aug. 19 (after regularly scheduled practice) 2-5 PM: Both teams will participate in team-building activities at Camp Geneva near the lake shore. School transportation is pending approval...perhaps plan to carpool just in case.

Note: Our parent meeting for ALL parents will still be held on Monday, Aug. 17 at 7 PM in the high school. It's a busy week, we know, but a great way to kick of the official season!

Please let me or Coach Stieper know if you have any questions or concerns.

Training CANCELED...

...on Wednesday morning, July 15 due to weather concerns.

Insurance/Sports Physicals

Guys, please be sure to take care of BOTH within the next month before the official season begins. In both cases, the high school main office is where to seek information and/or turn in the necessary materials.

Failure to have either of the above items on file in the office will result in missed tryout practices until they are turned in!

Coaches are back...

...officially on Wednesday, July 8 for the A.M. training. We're looking forward to working with all of you for the rest of the summer!

Please be on time, dressed, and ready to go for the remaining sessions...and bring plenty of water!

We hope your 4th of July weekend was a good one.

PS. Don't forget that our Hamilton soccer camp begins on Monday, July 20! We'd love for some of you guys to participate in the younger kid sessions that go on earlier on each of those days. The kids LOVE it.

Summer training check-in...

Hello from afar, guys! Coach Stieper and I are having a lot of fun with the students in Germany right now. Coach Stieper will be back into town with the students tomorrow evening (Friday), while I proceed from here to Ireland through the July 4 weekend. I plan on being back to training sometime in the middle of the July 6 week.

I've been checking in a bit with the summer captains, and it sounds like training is going relatively well. Keep up the good work! And do your best to get as many participants out there as possible.

Now's the time to prepare! Enjoy your holiday break.

Coach Robinson

Summer CAPTAINS...

Congrats to the following 3 player-elected summer captains who'll lead the rest of the guys through daily June workouts: Jacob Swartz, Hunter Townsend, and R.J. Flowers.

Please, all of you be ready for the first captain-led workout on Monday, June 8 at 5 P.M. sharp. Arrive a bit early to be sure you're dressed and ready to go with full equipment and water by the time the clock strikes 5. Refer below again to the weekly summer schedule until otherwise notified.

We look forward to seeing you all officially in July! In the meantime, get some fun, competitive, worthwhile soccer training in.

SUMMER TRAINING update...

Guys, starting Monday, June 8, let's plan on the following weekly training schedule:

Monday: 5-7 PM (practice soccer field)
Tuesday: 5-7 PM (practice soccer field)
Wednesday: 9-11 AM (practice soccer field)
Thursday: 5-7 PM (practice soccer field)
Friday: 9-11 AM (track/practice soccer field)

Note: Monday-Thursday, meet directly at the practice soccer field site. Friday, meet initially at the track and then proceed to the soccer field site. STAY TUNED FOR SUMMER CAPTAIN UPDATES, AND REFER TO YOUR SOCCER PACKETS GIVEN AT THE BOYS SOCCER MEETING FOR MORE TRAINING/SCHEDULING SPECIFICS. Remember, weight lifting should be done on your own time if so desired.

We are looking forward to working with you all this summer more closely. The boys season officially begins June 8...let's use this time together to get better and have some fun doing it!

Boys Soccer MEETING...

To all prospective boys soccer players for the 2009 fall season: please meet in Coach Robinson's room (111) by 7 A.M. on Friday, May 8 for an important informational meeting. Plan on making necessary transportation arrangements. Be on time, and spread the word to those who may not know!

2009 Boys Schedule

Check it out by clicking on the link under "Hamilton Boys Soccer Links" to the left. There is a possibility that one more game will be added to the schedule. The official start to the fall soccer season is on Wednesday, August 12 at 8 A.M. Players, stay tuned for a boys soccer meeting in the near future regarding more details for the upcoming summer/fall.

Hamilton Summer Soccer Camp CONFIRMATION

We have finalized the date...the week of July 20-24, 2009 for our annual Hamilton Summer Soccer Camp for boys and girls grades 1-12 (as of next school year). Please feel free to stop by and pick up a camp registration form from either the high school or the middle school main office. The due date for camp registration is June 20, 2009. We hope to see you all there for a great week of soccer!

Coach's heads-up...

Coach Robinson will be heading to Germany from early June (just after the school year ends) to late June as part of the high school's German exchange with Coach Stieper. Captain-led workouts will occur during that time period...details pending. We'll resume coaches-led workouts in early July when Coach Robinson and Coach Stieper return. Prepare, prepare! But, of course, enjoy your summer as well!!

Hamilton summer soccer camp...

Be on the lookout for information regarding the annual Hamilton boys/girls summer soccer camp! We have yet to finalize, but it's looking like the week of July 20-24 might be our camp date. Details pending....