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....