3-2 Loss at H.C.

Gentlemen,

I loved the overall effort from the squad today vs. a talented H.C. team...on enemy soil at that. You should be proud of the play on the field, the support from the sidelines, and the step forward we just took as a program...never mind the scoreboard.

At this point, how can we NOT believe that we can hang with anyone...and beat anyone?!

BELIEVE IT! VISUALIZE IT!

See you tomorrow for practice...and then for the team dinner at the Pax household (630 PM)!

Upcoming Weekly Schedule.....

Hey, guys.....

First, I hope you enjoy your weekend...rest, heal, relax, get school work done, etc.

Second, congrats to Aaron Smit for his peers today voting him as the individual to have made the most "positive" impressions from today and this past week.

Now, please check out the schedule below regarding the upcoming schedule for the week:

**Monday...game @ H.Christian...wear black jerseys in school....meet in my room directly after school...bus leaves at 430 PM...food/beverages on the bus when we arrive at H.C.

**Tuesday...practice 3-5 PM...team dinner at the Pax household at 630 PM.

**Wednesday...last home game vs. Z.West....meet in my room after school...all Varsity parents invited to walk out/be introduced with players just before the start of our game.

**Thursday...practice 3-5 pm

**Friday...no practice(??)...participate in the Homecoming parade (??)

Miscellaneous: Our team theme will continue to be "positive contributions" on the field and/or off. I hope EVERYONE is striving for that each and every day...and striving to be that next team captain as well!

H.C., here we come!

5-1 Win vs. Otsego...

Hey, boys.....

Here's what I told the press today after the game...can't say it any better at this point:

Coach Comments: "As I told the team after the game, the final score was as misleading as I can remember as a coach. Now, we had multiple chances on net throughout the game, and we hung tough physically. We simply weren't sharp overall. A win's a win, but we'll have to be much better in a huge conference game vs. Holland Christian this coming Monday at their place."

See you tomorrow for a hugely important pre-game practice!

Wear black team shirts...

4-1 Win vs. Byron Center...

Gentlemen,

Kudos to ALL 18 of you for your collective positive contributions on the game field tonight! I'm proud as a coach to see you all leave a lasting imprint in an important "team goal" game. Let's keep this ball rolling in the right direction tomorrow vs. a game Otsego squad!

7-3 Loss to Holland....

Guys,

Here's what I told the press regarding tonight vs. Holland:

Coach Comments: "We certainly did not play up to our potential overall today-- from the back end, to the midfield, and up to forward. Despite going up 1-0 early on, we simply were a step behind and lacked inspiration as a team for much of the match. Hamilton is trying to take that next step as a boys soccer program no matter the opponent, and we're confident we'll get there despite this outing."

Enough said? Bounce back time...

See you tomorrow for practice! Still believe in you all WHOLE HEARTEDLY!

Schedule for this upcoming week...

Hey, all!

First, congrats to Adam Immink for his upcoming alternating captain role as decided by his peers today for his "clutch" play overall.

Please make note of the schedule below for the upcoming week:

**Monday: home game vs. Holland...wear white jerseys in school...meet in my room at 245 for team meeting/food and beverages...Dayton, be ready for vid for the JV game.

**Tuesday: practice from 3-5 PM

**Wednesday: home game vs. Byron Center...meet in my room at 245 for food/beverages/talk...more details to come.

**Thursday: home game vs. non-conference Otsego...meet in my room at 245 for food/beverages/talk...more details to come.

**Friday: practice 3-5 PM

Miscellaneous: Our team THEME for the remaining weeks of the season will simply involve your guys' nominations for individuals who simply do something/anything positive at some point during that respective week...on the field or off!

Looking forward to a great week coming up here of TAKING THAT NEXT STEP AS A TEAM! Remember to continue VISUALIZING SUCCESS in all aspects of your life.

"Your life will go the way your thoughts go."

4-0 Loss vs. Unity...

Guys,

You should be overall very proud of your effort today...ESPECIALLY that first half. From here on out, visualize that type of success--playing together, playing physically tough, communicating, making "clutch" plays, etc. If we replicate that first half effort again and again vs. other teams (including Unity again), we will have much success from this point on!

I'm proud of you guys....and know we will continue to get better.

See you for practice at 310 PM tomorrow...soccer order people, will see you in my room directly after school!

3-0 Win at Zeeland West...

Boys,

As I mentioned after the game tonight, I thought it was a solid win with positive contributions from A LOT of folks...job well done! Feels good to get back in the win column, huh? I feel like it's been a while....too long!!

Now comes the heart of a tough conference schedule. Get up for Unity!

See you all tomorrow at 3, wear black, done at 5.

Keep taking steps forward....and be "clutch"!

PS. Schedule change = Sept. 23 is now HOME vs. Holland and Oct. 9 is now AWAY vs. Holland.

Next Week...

Hey, all!

Hope the weekend's treating you well?

Here's the lineup for this coming week...a VERY important week, in my opinion...as in "crossroads"/what path do we take from here???

**Monday...game at Zeeland West (team goal game)...wear black jersey in school...meet in my room after school at 245...gold shirts for warmups...bus leaves at 4 PM...food/beverages on bus upon arrival.

**Tuesday...practice from 3-5 pm.

**Wednesday...home game vs. Unity...meet in my room for food/beverages and team talk.

**Thursday...practice 3-5 pm.

**Friday...practice 3-5 pm....GK training with MS players for initial portion.

Miscellaneous: Congrats to Luke for his alternate team captain pick for being a consistent "student" of the game.

Theme for next week: "Clutch"...as in who makes winning plays in crunch time/high pressure situations. Let's all strive for it!

Reminder: I will be checking grades at the end of this coming week...take care of business in the classroom, guys!

Take care, all...please let me know if you need anything at all! Time to move forward...and forward...and forward.

2-0 H.C. Loss...

Boys,

Although I loved the overall effort for the last 50 minutes of today's contest, it's very disappointing that we came out so flat...for a long period of time...against a rival...and against a "team goal" opponent. The good thing though is that, knowing your guys' overall character, this will be a lesson learned as we move forward to our next conference opponent (Zeeland West) on Monday! It's GOT to be a full 80 minutes EVERY CONTEST!!

See you tomorrow for practice from 3-5 PM...wear gold...7 PM Hope vs. Grace game afterward!

2-2 Double OT Tie vs. B.Center....

Guys,

I thought we fought hard today overall....a fittingly tough conference opening game. In my opinion, we had the run of play for most of the second half and both overtime sessions, and that's a tribute to you guys! A "tie" isn't as good as a win, but...better than a loss...and we move on...and keep building.

Time for HC in the very near future! Another team goal........:)

See you guys soon!

Next Week: When Boys Become Men...

Guys,

It's time to decide exactly what we are as a team: the kind that resorts to past habits and gives in to traditionally better programs??....or the kind that shocks the world and blazes a new path for Hamilton Boys Soccer from here on out?? I don't know about you, but I passionately vote for the latter! Let's take this team from "good" to "great"! But it's up to you guys essentially....every day...no matter the endeavor...on the field and off.  Get 'er done!

Here's the schedule for next week:

**Monday: game at Byron Center (team goal)...wear black team shirts to school and for warm-ups...all black uniforms for the game...meet in my room at 245 PM for team talk/vid...board the bus at 345...food/beverages on the bus once we arrive at BC.

**Tuesday: practice 3-5 PM...team dinner at 630 PM at the Walker household...make every effort to attend on the eve of a big game!

**Wednesday: home game. vs. Holland Christian (team goal)...meet in my room at 245 for food/beverages/team time...ball boys/vid, be ready.

**Thursday: practice 3-5 PM...attend (for free) 7 PM Hope vs. Grace game in Holland...more details to come.

**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...with 7th/8th graders...more details to come.

Miscellaneous: Congrats to Scott Scholten for being named by his peers as the alternate captain for next week's games due to his "mental toughness"!

Theme for next week = "student" of the game

Take care, all!

8-0 Mercy Win vs. Wayland...

Gentlemen,

As I mentioned after the shortened game today, I/we cannot complain at all with an 8-0 shutout. We "took care of business" and moved another step forward with our team goals. Job well done. Now it's time to put in some more hard work in practice tomorrow, keep getting better, and take yet another step vs. Byron Center and the start of conference play this coming Monday!

Mental toughness....from here on out.

Big 3-2 Win vs. Hudsonville....

Boys,

Congrats again on an overall job well done today! I truly mean it when I say that we've got a chance this season to convert from "good" to "great"...and today was a step in the right direction for sure. Please remember though that our progress as a team gets erased if we get complacent/satisfied in these next two games vs. teams that you guys voted on as opponents we should always beat: Wayland and Byron Center. Now, let's keep working...and working...and working.

Please remember the current weekly theme: mental toughness. You, as a team, certainly showcased that trait today! Keep that up.

See you tomorrow for important training...3-5 PM...wear gold shirts.

Monday/Tuesday...and the rest of the week

Clarifications:

**Monday: optional (suggested) practice at 5 PM...will be done by 7 at the latest! Please make every effort to make it if you can!!

**Tuesday: first day of school (take care of business in the classroom!)...wear white uniform tops, khaki/nice shorts in school...black team shirts for game warm-ups...ball boys (Shi-Wei, Kody) and video guy (Elijah), be ready for JV...meet in my room at 245 for food/beverages...beat Hudsonville!!

**Wednesday: practice from 3-5 PM

**Thursday: first away game vs. Wayland...bus leaves at 345 PM...more details to come.

**Friday: practice from 3-5 PM

Miscellaneous: congrats to Hunter Smith for being awarded by his teammates the alternate captain award for being "physically tough"!!

Have a great weekend, all!

8-2 Bounce-back Win vs. Allegan...

Gentlemen,

Overall job well done in "taking care of business" yesterday vs. a regional rival. And better yet, you partially accomplished one of our team goals!! Bonus. Now it's time to build on that. I really think that this team is on the verge of "good" with the potential to be "great". BUT as I heard a guy I really respect (Gregg Stoel) state today, "the #1 enemy of GREAT...is GOOD". In other words, let's keep moving forward and not simply be satisfied with "good"!

And remember: PHYSICALLY TOUGH at all times (our theme of the week...will vote tomorrow for an alternating team captain).

4-1 Opening Game Loss vs. Grandville

Guys,

Really thought we played mostly solidly all game long today...just couldn't bury the chances we should have at times. Combine that with a couple defensive breakdowns that they capitalized on and bang, there ya go. Again though, the beauty is that we bounce back tomorrow vs. regional rival Allegan!

Overall, please remember: "student" before "athlete", character, hard work, mental/physical toughness (add "communication")...at all times....EVERY member of the team!

See you guys soon...

PS. Check out "game recaps" and "roster" links to the left if/when you get the chance.

7/8 - 0 Win vs. Black River Thoughts...and More

Guys,

Mostly really liked what I saw out of you all with our second exhibition contest of the season yesterday...all things considering (it still being very early in the season, you guys handling business vs. a mostly inferior foe, meeting the challenge of shutting them out, etc.).

Now it's "game time" from here on out...can't wait to see how we respond...and respond...and respond again and again! Each day is a new day to continually prove ourselves...in all phases.

Congratulations to the permanent captain picks officially announced yesterday: Aaron Smit, Kinnon Fast, and Connor Gutuescu. Well deserving....

Congratulations to the alternating captain pick for best representing our first team theme of the season (positive "communication" in all forms): Dayton Pax. Hint hint...next theme = physical toughness!

Here's our tentative schedule for this coming week, gentlemen:

**Monday: practice from 9-noon...wear gold team shirt...bring bathing suit/towel...please be ready and willing to carpool for team building outing at Laketown Beach in Saugatuck! Team dinner at 6 PM at the Smith household...please check email accounts for details.

**Tuesday: first regular season home game vs. Grandville...545 PM (Varsity)...wear black team shirts...meet at 245 PM in my classroom for pre-game meal/talk/video. Ball boys/Video guy, be ready to head out to the field by 345 in time for the JV game!!

**Wednesday: home game vs. Allegan...545 PM (Varsity)...wear gold team shirt...meet at 245 PM in my classroom for pre-game meal/talk/video. Ball boys/Video guy, be ready to head out to the field by 345 in time for the JV game!

**Thursday: practice from 3-5 PM since teaching staff has an all-day meeting in the school.

**Friday: practice 10-noon.....then cheer on the Spartan football team at 8 PM vs. Western Mich.! :)

Miscellaneous: please continue to be looking over "glossary", "team info", "buddy info", "program philosophy" stuff from here on out! Another hint hint.....:)

Take care, all! Let me know if you need anything at all...

Team Goals

Players/Families:

Please see "team goals" below and to the left...decided upon by the team yesterday heading into the regular season!

Always working toward positive things...right, guys??!! Excited to see how you guys respond...

6-1 Scrimmage Win vs. Zeeland East Thoughts....

Gentlemen, you are to be overall commended for the effort last night vs. Zeeland East. Obviously, it was a win on the scoreboard, but there were also several "wins" regarding individual and group play sprinkled throughout the game as well. Now, the perfectionist in me is disappointed that we let in a garbage-time goal near the conclusion and we still certainly need more energy/consistent play throughout, but still...

Let's at this point again remember: COMPLACENCY IS TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL TIMES!!

And we move on...and forward...