Wednesday, October 19, 2016

End-of-Season Soccer Dessert Banquet

It's official!

You and your family are cordially invited to the annual JV/Varsity boys soccer dessert banquet:

**Why: to celebrate a successful season together
**When: Tuesday, Nov. 1 at 6:30 PM
**Where: high school cafeteria
**Who: all JV and Varsity players and families
**What to bring: a dessert to pass, utensils, and your own beverages
**What to wear: for players, look sharp! :)

Hope you can make it, and thanks for all you've done to make this a great season, everyone!

PS. Friendly reminder to all Varsity players that we'll meet in my classroom immediately after school tomorrow (Thursday) for our last team meeting for about 45 minutes. PLEASE BRING ALL CLEAN HAMILTON SOCCER ITEMS TO TURN IN!

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

2-0 Loss at Plainwell

No love lost, boys! Super proud of you for this season's body of work.

You all have MUCH to be proud of. Thank you for your overall collective efforts, everyone!

The future of Hamilton boys soccer is BRIGHT largely thanks to all of you! :)

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Playoff Time!

An exciting time for the Hamilton soccer program is upon us!

It's post-season time, and I truly believe we are READY for this. We've been on a bit of a positive roll as a team as of late, and I am really liking the narrative that we've created for ourselves on the doorstep of Districts.

We've got quite the chance to make some continued noise, Hawkeyes! Believe it and then do it!

Here's the tentative schedule for this upcoming weekend/week:

**Sunday: optional, informal training (family/friends are welcome!) at Hope from noon to 3 PM. 
**Monday: meet in my classroom at 4 PM for a team meeting...caravan to Hope for 5-7 training (wear gray)...7-8 PM team dinner at Carino's ( each player, please bring $13 cash).
 **Tuesday: game at Plainwell (5:30 PM)...meet in my classroom directly after school...George = team meal at 2:45 PM...bus leaves at 3:30 PM. What to wear in school = TBD...wear black for game.
**Wednesday: to be determined
**Thursday: District Semi @ Otsego vs. ??? (7 PM).
**Friday: to be determined
**Saturday: District Final @ Otsego vs. ??? (5 PM). 

Notes: (1) Congrats to Jared as his teammates chose him as this coming week's alternate captain! (2) Please take note of your newest "soccer responsibilities" for this upcoming week! (3) Keep in mind that one of our team goals is to make it as far if not farther in the post-season than last season! :)

SPECIAL NOTE: DO YOUR VERY BEST TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALLY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE THIS WEEKEND: NUTRITION, FITNESS, HUDL, EMAILED SCOUTING REPORT, ETC. THE PROGRAM IS COUNTING ON YOU!

Can't wait....:)  GO HAWKEYES!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

1-0 Win vs. Z. East

WE "WON OUT"!!!

Super proud of you, boys...job well done.

But we are NOT done...

Plainwell and beyond...:)

Monday, October 10, 2016

1-0 Win @ Z. West

2 down, 1 to go.   WIN OUT!!

Zeeland East is next. FINISH STRONG!

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Upcoming Week and a Half!

Greetings, all! What a beautiful fall weekend already. Enjoy!

The last week of the regular season and Districts are upon us. My, how time flies. It seems like just yesterday we were all climbing up and running down sand dunes at Lake Michigan. :)

Simply put, FINISH STRONG, BOYS! In all facets...

Here goes with the upcoming schedule:

**Sunday: optional, informal training??
**Monday: game @ Zeeland West..."dress up" in school...black training top otherwise...meet in my room after school...Mikah = team meal/vid...bus leaves at 4 PM.
**Tuesday: 3-5 PM training...wear gray...TEAM DINNER AT NICO'S AT 5:30 PM.
**Wednesday: home game vs. Zeeland East (PARENT NIGHT...PARENTS, PLEASE SHOW UP AT ABOUT 5:20 PM)...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my room after school...Bryce = food/vid...Noah/Dylan = ball boys...wear black.
**Thursday: 4:30-6:30 PM training AT HOPE...wear gray.
**Friday: 3-4:45 PM training AT HAMILTON...wear black.
____________
**Sunday, Oct. 16: optional team training AT HOPE from noon-3 PM.
**Monday, Oct. 17: 5-7 PM training AT HOPE...wear gray...TEAM DINNER AT CARINO'S TO FOLLOW!
**Tuesday, Oct. 18: District game at Plainwell (5:30 PM)......meet in my room after school...George = team meal...bus leaves at 3:30 PM. More details to come!

Notes: (1) Congrats to Logan Hilldore for again having been voted by his peers as this coming week's alternate captain. (2) Be prepared for your new set of "soccer responsibilities" this coming week, boys! (3) Zeeland West Sept. 14 footage is available on Hudl for you to view and learn from...as is Plainwell vs. Edwardsburg from last week! (4) Thanks for being flexible with the change in training schedule for Districts prep, everyone!

LET'S DO THIS, ALL! :)

Thursday, October 6, 2016

3-0 Loss @ H.C./2-0 Win vs. Hopkins

Finish strong, boys!

Unofficial team goal with one week of the regular season remaining: WIN OUT!

One down, two to go...

We can do it! :)

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Upcoming Week

Hello, all!

Whew, what a week this past one has been. It was a great one overall nonetheless! As a team, I truly believe that we took a couple more steps forward, and that's a great thing to observe. We are NOT done building though, guys! More to come....:)

Here's the tentative schedule for the week:

**Monday: game @ H.Christian...meet in my room by 3 PM...bus leaves at 4:45 PM (5:30 PM JV start...Varsity at 7:15 PM)...wear black training top...Logan = meal/vid.
**Tuesday: 3-5 practice...wear gray.
**Wednesday: NIGHT OF NETS home game vs. Hopkins (5 PM...Varsity only)...wear Night of Nets shirts in school/for warm-ups...meet in my classroom directly after school...Ryan = team meal.
**Thursday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Friday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray.

Notes: (1) Congrats to Nolan Dowker for having been named by his peers as this coming week's alternate team captain! (2) Please prepare accordingly for your next "soccer responsibilities" for this coming week. (3) We have one puzzle piece on the line this coming week! (4) Check out Sept. 8 hudl footage of our first battle with H.C.! (5) Our first GRADE CHECK will occur this coming Monday! Take care of the classroom(s)! :)

Friday, September 30, 2016

5-2 Win vs. Otsego

Boys,

You've now equaled last year's win total, surpassed last year's total goals scored, and achieved a .500 overall record what with this last victory over Otsego. Kudos!

But there needs to be more where that came from, yes?!

Keep building! :)

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

3-1 Win vs. Byron Center

JOB WELL DONE, ALL!

And we keep building...

On to Otsego! :)

Monday, September 26, 2016

6-0 Loss to Holland

Keep fightin' the good fight, boys!

And keep building....:)

We CAN and WILL continue to get better!

Saturday, September 24, 2016

Upcoming Week

Weekend greetings, all! Hope it's a great one for you and yours!

What a jam-packed, exciting week we have coming up here; continued chances to showcase our program's core values--"student" before athlete, character, hard work, and mental/physical toughness. I'm really excited to be a part of the special something we've got going here, and I can't wait to see handle successfully the challenges of this upcoming week and beyond!

So here goes with the tentative schedule for Homecoming week:

**Sunday: optional team training??
**Monday: home game vs. Holland..."Crayon Day" in the HS...meet in my room by 3 PM...wear gray...Will = team meal/video...Henry/Ross = ball boys. Weather is looking to be windy, rainy, and mid-60's! FYI! :)
**Tuesday: "Twin Day" in the HS...3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Wednesday; home game vs. Byron Center..."'Merica Day" in the HS...meet in my room by 3 PM...wear gray...Jacob M. = team meal/video...Jared/Jacob S. = ball boys.
**Thursday: (Varsity only) home game vs. Otsego (at 5 PM)..."Tacky Tourist Day" in the HS...meet in my room by 2:45 PM...wear black...Nolan = team meal.
**Friday: no practice...what to wear in school = TBD...Homecoming parade/team float...more details to come!

Notes: (1) Congrats to Mikah for having been named by his peers as this upcoming week's alternate captain! (2) This week's team theme is "class" in that we take care of ourselves in the classroom, handle overall distractions, and showcase true character throughout! (3) We have two puzzle pieces on the line this week, gents! (4) Be aware of your newest set of "soccer responsibilities" coming up for this week. (5) Spend some time on hudl viewing footage and learning from it regarding our last game at Holland. An email message was sent from me not too long ago about such footage as well as Holland insights!

Ok, all! What a great week this is going to be. We can do it...all of it. :)




Thursday, September 22, 2016

3-1 Loss @ Unity

Despite the final scoreboard, it was another overall step in the right direction last night at Unity, guys!

Keep building...:)

Monday, September 19, 2016

2-1 Win @ Z. East

And we keep building......:)

Job well done today, all!

Can't wait to keep getting better in all that we do!

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Upcoming Week

We've reached the halfway point of the regular season already, soccer fam! Time flies!

As a coach, I'm really looking forward to an even more fruitful latter half of the season for all involved--on and off the field.

Let's keep improving, supporting each other, focusing on success, and making it happen with our actions and words!

Here's the tentative schedule for this upcoming week:

Sunday: optional, informal team training??
Monday: game @ Zeeland East..."dress up" in school...meet in my room by 3 PM...Christian = team meal...wear black team shirts, etc.  Bus leaves at 4 PM.
Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray...TEAM DINNER AT HUKILL'S AT 5:30 PM.
Wednesday: game @ Unity...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my room by 3 PM...Noah = team meal...wear black...bus leaves at 3:45 PM.
Thursday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray.
Friday: 3-430 PM practice with MS teams...WEAR THIS YEAR'S BLACK TEAM SHIRTS.

Notes: (1) Congrats to Bryce DeVries for having been named by his peers to be this coming week's alternate team captain due to his "physical toughness" as of late. (2) Night of Nets shirts will be available to players this coming Monday. More details at our team meeting in my classroom. (3) Hudl footage of Zeeland East is available online. Check out this season's Sept. 3 match between Z.E. and H.C. (4) Pay special attention to your newest "soccer responsibilities" for this upcoming week! (5) This week's team theme is "ENERGY": bring it each and every day in everything you do!

Big week ahead of us for a variety of reasons!

Let's do it!

Thursday, September 15, 2016

5-1 Win vs. Z.West

Feels good to accomplish a team goal, doesn't it???

Let's keep truckin' and all the while avoid COMPLACENCY at all costs! 


Sunday, September 11, 2016

Upcoming Week

Greetings, soccer fam! Hope all is well?

Lookin' forward to another great week of school and soccer...and our first full week of the school year! Excited?! :)  Make sure we're taking care of business in the classroom!

This week on the soccer field takes on a bit of extra special meaning as we have a chance to accomplish one of our three team goals revolving around our home match vs. Z. West on Wednesday: improving on our conference record from last season. Can't wait to see you guys do your very best to meet this challenge--on the practice field, on the game field, and in every other context imaginable! Keep training those minds and bodies for SUCCESS.

Here goes with the upcoming tentative schedule for the week:

**Monday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray.
**Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Wednesday: home game vs. Z. West...wear gray...what to wear in school = TBD...Dylan = food/video...Bryce/George = ball boys...meet in my classroom by 3 PM.
**Thursday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Friday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray.

Notes: (1) Congrats to Logan Hilldore for again being selected by his peers as this coming week's alternative captain for his mental toughness and communication skills. (2) After the boys voted on Friday to decide that we earned two "puzzle pieces" as a team, another two are on the line this coming week--one of them being a "re-do" from two weeks back! (3) Please constantly keep in mind that this week's team theme is PHYSICAL TOUGHNESS! (4) Stay tuned for another email with further explanation of our "Night of Nets" charity event slated for our home game vs. Hopkins on Oct. 5. (5) Boys! Soccer responsibilities on point this coming week! Plan ahead and get 'er done. :)

Let's take another few steps forward this week in all that we do, everyone! 

Thursday, September 8, 2016

1-0 Loss to Holland Christian

Boys,

We're getting closer. Let's work even harder! "Success" takes time and a whole lot of hard work. And I KNOW we have it in us.

See you tomorrow for practice!

4-4 Tie @ Byron Center

Way to fight back in the face of adversity, boys! Proud of that mentality. And yet let's not get in holes in the first place, yes??

On to the next one...

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Last Week and This Upcoming Week!

Holiday weekend greetings, all! It's a beautiful day, and I hope you and yours are living it up. :)

Hey, a bit of a tough week for us this past week with a pair of defeats and a tie, but next week is a new week...and as always, we continue to move forward and re-focus on our personal/team goals!

Here's the tentative schedule for this coming week:

**Monday (Labor Day): 5-7 PM required practice...wear black.
**Tuesday (first day of school!): game @ Byron Center...what to wear in school = TBD...Caden = meal/video...meet in my classroom by 3 PM for team meal, etc. Wear gray. Bus leaves at 3:45 PM.
**Wednesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.
**Thursday: home game vs. Holland Christian...what to wear in school = TBD...Ryan/Mikah = ball boys...Riley = team meal/video...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...wear gray.
**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.

Notes: (1) Congrats to Caden for having been selected by his peers this past week as our alternate team captain for his "can do" attitude. (2) Check out hudl for last season's Byron Center footage (Sept. 23, 2015). You can also check out H.C./Z.East footage from THIS season that was shared with me recently! (3) Reminder that our team theme for this week is two-fold: COMMUNICATION and MENTAL TOUGHNESS combined. We can all do a better job...and we will! (5) We'll welcome back Ryan Blowers for Monday's practice! (6) Pay particular attention to your newest "soccer responsibility" roles for this coming week (shed, clean-up, etc.).

Let's all have a great end to our summer and an even greater start to a fresh school year. Remember that your role is "student" before "athlete" at all times! Hit the ground running. :)

Saturday, August 27, 2016

Upcoming Week...and More!

Greetings on this stormy Saturday, all! I hope this note finds you all well and that the weekend is great.

We've got quite the monumental week coming up here: first OK Green conference games, three games total, and a chance to make some serious noise. :)

Here is the tentative schedule:

**Sunday: informal/optional team gathering???? Up to you guys...
**Monday: home game vs. Unity...wear gray and all white...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...Jacob Shelton = meal/video...Jacob Merrill/Will = ball boys (find subs!).
**Tuesday: practice 12:30-3:30 PM...wear black.
**Wednesday: game @ Holland...wear gray and all black...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...Seth = meal/video...bus leaves at 4 PM.
**Thursday: home game vs. Wayland Varsity game at 4:45 PM...wear black and all white...meet in my classroom by 2 PM...Brady = meal/video...Nolan/Logan= ball boys (find subs!).
**Friday: 9-noon practice...wear gray.
**The next Monday (LABOR DAY): required 5-7 PM practice...wear black.

Boys, we have a chance to do some things this season. This coming week will be a gauge as to where we're at as a team, with our team goals, with our personal goals, with our direction! Can't wait to see you guys meet challenges head on and proceed up (or down?!) that sand dune! :) DREAM BIG, BELIEVE IT, VISUALIZE IT....DO IT! :)

Notes: pay special attention to your newest "soccer responsibilities" coming up here this week (shed guys, practice set-up, etc.)...congrats to Riley Coffey for having been selected by his peers as this coming week's "alternate team captain"!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

8-0 Win vs. Saugatuck

For the most part, way to take care of business today vs. Saugatuck, boys. Please ALWAYS remember to keep that competitive spirit alive and practice good soccer habits no matter the opponent!

On to the next one....and it's a big one: UNITY.

Let's do this.

1-0 Loss to Allegan

Gentlemen! Despite the "loss" on the scoreboard last evening, I really believe that we took a small step forward as a team and as a program. As you know, our program "mission statement" listed near the top of this page urges all of us to compete with any team on any given night...and to do it was class. I truly believe we accomplished both of those overall goals last night vs. a talented Allegan team. Job well done!

Now, on to our first home game of the season....BEAT SAUGATUCK!

Saturday, August 20, 2016

3-1 Win @ Black River...and More!

Coach checking in and hoping all is well on this crazy Saturday weather day!

Congrats again, boys, on the deserved opening night victory over Black River yesterday. Taking another step forward (and up on that sand dune) as a program, right??? :)

Now, we have our work cut out for us regarding our next opponent: Allegan. They are a pretty talented, athletic, and hard-working bunch that handled us this past season at our place. PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT HUDL (2015-16 SEASON) AS FOOTAGE OF THAT GAME IS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO VIEW.  I chatted with a fellow coach that scrimmaged Allegan a week ago, and here's his breakdown in brief (more from me Monday): diamond back four (with a deep sweeper), diamond in the midfield (?), VERY fast up front, very physical ("dirty"??), suspect defense overall, very solid goalkeeper. Overall, it'll be a dogfight! And we'll be able to handle the challenge, yes??

Random side notes: check out the "game recaps" link below and to the left if you care to review info/thoughts after a given game..."team goals" are updated to the left (already on our way to the first goal listed!)...congrats again to Henry Soerens, Brady Gilbert, and Seth Hukill for being selected by their peers yesterday as permanent team captains for the duration of this season...pay special attention to this coming week's "soccer responsibilities" for each group (shed guys, clean-up guys, "words" guys, etc.)...DO WE DESERVE A PIECE OF THE VISUAL PUZZLE THAT I BRIEFLY INTRODUCED TO YOU IN MY CLASSROOM? YES OR NO AND WHY?! 

Tentative schedule for this upcoming week:

**This Weekend: treat your bodies right, gents! Get some fitness in, rehab if needed, eat and drink right, visualize success, power pose it...pre-game practice on Monday!
**Monday: 9-noon training...wear black.
**Tuesday: game @ Allegan...meet in my classroom @ 3 PM...Ross = team meal/JV video...wear gray practice T...all black uniforms...bus leaves at 4 PM. 
**Wednesday: home game vs. Saugatuck...meet in my classroom at 3 PM...Jared = team meal/JV video...Nico/Vasha = JV game ball boys (find a sub for the second half of that game!)...wear black practice T...all white uniforms.
**Thursday: 9-noon training....wear gray.
**Friday: 9-noon training...wear black.

Good start, all, but the BEST IS YET TO COME! Visualize it, power pose it, love it. :)

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Official Varsity Welcome!

Greetings, Hamilton boys varsity soccer fam! 
I hope you're all as excited and ready to rumble as us coaches from here on out!! We've good some great things cookin' this season, and we're pumped. 

Speaking of "cookin'", THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF THOSE WHO MADE TODAY'S SAND SOCCER TOURNAMENT A GREAT SUCCESS! You are SURELY appreciated. :)

Now on to some business matters during this first VERY BUSY and HUGELY IMPORTANT full week of the season. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions at all! 

Here goes:
Monday, Aug. 15...9-noon training. MEET IN MY CLASSROOM (room 111 in the high school) NO LATER THAN 9 AM THAT MORNING FULLY DRESSED EXCEPT FOR CLEATS ON YOUR FEET. Mikah and Bryce = Iron Man matters immediately after training.
Tuesday, Aug. 16...9-noon training (WEAR BLACK TOPS)...3-530 PM = required volunteer work...meet at the lower lot at the high school and wear Hamilton soccer gear and closed toed shoes.
Tuesday, Aug. 16...all fall sports parent meeting (no parent meeting on Monday as was previously scheduled) at Hamilton high school with new Athletic Director at 7 PM and then breakout sessions with specific sports immediately thereafter (JV in Coach L. Robinson's room and Varsity in my classroom).
Wednesday, Aug. 17...9-noon training...wear gray (NO W. Ottawa scrimmages)...TEAM PICS (home white uniforms) at the beginning of the training session. Required online concussion baseline training in the HS library at 1230 PM for JV and Varsity teams...lasting about 45 mins.???
Thursday, Aug. 18...9-noon training...wear black...REQUIRED team dinner at the Robinson household in Holland from 530 PM-7ish?? More details to come...
Friday, Aug. 19...first game of the season AT BLACK RIVER!! Meet in my classroom at 2 PM. Henry = pre-game meal/video of JV game. Bus leaves at 3 PM. JV plays at 4 PM. We play at 5:45 P.M. All players must ride the bus this season to and from away game venues.

Whew. Ok. Sorry, that's a lot. Will leave anything else for later! :)

Looking forward to starting this thing off on the right foot(s)! :)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Greetings to the New Boys Soccer Crop!

Coach T. Robinson checking in with a bunch of helpful info for this coming summer 2016 and beyond.

Thanks for your continued interest in Hamilton soccer!

We continue to be beyond excited to work with all of you. The future is a bright one!

Ok, here goes with some info:

**Check email for electronic versions of all items passed out at the recent soccer meeting.

**Check email also for Holland Summer Scrimmage schedule. You'll notice that the first scheduled Tuesday night contest is coming up quickly: Tuesday, June 14 at 5:30 PM (Holland Soccer Complex). We will NOT have Thursday AM training that week, but will do so the following week per the schedule!

**Free text reminder service for the summer: text "@jvvarsity" to the number 81010, and you're good to go! No need to do this again if you're already done it this past year.

**Important Dates to plan for:

     --July 25-28: Hamilton Soccer Camp
         http://www.hamiltonschools.us/athletics/high-school-athletics/
     --By Tuesday, Aug. 9: athlete physicals, insurance $, and signed code of
         conduct REQUIRED TO BE ON FILE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
        IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN TRYOUTS/SOCCER!
      --Wednesday, Aug. 10: first official day of tryouts/season!


That's it for now, all! Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
And please remember that one year older does not make us one year better. In other words, let's keep improving and hit the ground running this summer!

Friday, January 15, 2016

2016 Season Schedule!

Please check out the link below and to the left in order to peruse the 2016 fall soccer schedule and plan accordingly ahead of time!

And we continue to move forward in ultra positive ways...  :)