5 v. 5 Hamilton Holiday Co-ed Indoor Soccer Tourney 2016!

If any current male or female Hamilton student is interested in Hamilton soccer program's annual 5 v. 5 Co-ed Indoor Soccer Tourney, please see either Mr. Robinson or Mrs. Robinson asap for registration forms. You can also visit the main office for copies. Registration is due no later than Wednesday, Dec. 7. Non-soccer players are welcome and encouraged as well!

3-1 Loss to Gull Lake...and More!

Ladies,

Please keep heads up tonight and for the future! Proud of you for going toe-to-toe with the defending champs. And overall, we have much to be proud of (and much to improve on!) regarding the body of work this season!

At this point, please plan on the following in the near future:

**This Thursday, June 2: team meeting in my room at 3 PM (until roughly 3:45/4) to turn in uniform items, chat, reflect, etc.

**Next Monday, June 6: program-wide Dessert Banquet at 6:30 PM in the HS Forum Room. Dress up, bring a dessert to pass, bring your own beverages/utensils, celebrate the season, etc.!

THANKS FOR A GREAT SEASON, GIRLS SOCCER FAM! THE FUTURE IS BRIGHTER THAN EVER! :)

This Week: A CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK!

Hello, everyone! Hope the holiday weekend is treating you all well???

This a special, history-making week coming up here for Hamilton Girls Soccer:

**Monday (Memorial Day): 4-530 PM practice on the game field...wear gray...vote on alternate team captain... POTLUCK DINNER TO FOLLOW IN THE HS CAFE. Done by 6 pm-ish.
**Tuesday: home game vs. Gull Lake (5 PM). Meet in my classroom by 2:45 PM. What to wear in school = TBD. What to eat for team meal = TBD. WIN!
**Wednesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.
**Thursday: 3 PM game vs. Wayland/Hastings winner (at Mattawan). Details TBD. WIN!
**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...wear gray.
**Saturday: 2 PM District Championship game @ Mattawan. WIN!
**Monday, June 6: Dessert Banquet @ 6:30 PM (HS Forum Room) 

Note: I sincerely hope Friday's practice was somehow fruitful for all...all things considering. Always remember: WE CAN DO THIS...TOGETHER!

See you all soon!

4-1 Win vs. Comstock Park

As was mentioned after the game today, ladies, no matter the final score, I was simply impressed by our overall ball movement, possession, mature/safe defending, and overall play! It was an overall impressive performance by our team and a positive dose of confidence to end the regular season.

And now...

...the stakes are higher, the opponent is greater...blah blah blah...and we handle it all!

Time for Districts, Gull Lake, Wayland/Hastings winner, etc., etc. LET'S DO THIS!

See you tomorrow for 3-4 PM practice...wear gray. AND HAPPY GRADUATION DAY, SENIORS! :)

Upcoming Week...and a Bit Beyond!

Hello, all! What a beautiful weekend already! Hope all is well with all of you.

Thanks for making the end of this past week a positive one, girls. Please remember the helpful, insightful words of wisdom mentioned by many of you during our impromptu outdoor team meeting this past Thursday. Friendly reminder of the theme of that convo: HOW DO WE KEEP OUR RESOLVE, STAY MOTIVATED, AND KEEP THIS THING GOING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION! :)

Important times are upon us...for many reasons. What can you specifically and we as a team do to FINISH STRONG?!

Here's the tentative schedule for this upcoming week and a bit beyond...our last regular season week of the season:

**Monday: practice 3-5 PM...wear gray...vote on alternative team captain for the week (any "theme" will do).
**Tuesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.
**Wednesday: home game vs. Comstock Park at 5 PM (no JV game)...PARENT NIGHT (ALL PARENTS)...announcements/introductions occur at halftime of the game...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my room by 245 PM...FOOD/BEVERAGES = BRING YOUR OWN UNLESS SOMEONE WANTS TO STEP UP TO PROVIDE (IN THAT CASE, LET ME KNOW ASAP!)! WIN!
**Thursday: practice 3-4 PM...wear gray.
**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.
**Weekend: Team Sleepover??? 
**Monday (MEMORIAL DAY): 4-530 PM practice...wear gray...Team Pot-luck Dinner in the HS cafe at 530 PM.
**Tuesday: home District game vs. Gull Lake at 5 PM. More details to come! WIN!

Once again, LET'S FINISH STRONG, LADIES! MUCH LEFT TO WORK FOR...INCLUDING 4 OF 5 TEAM GOALS: ACADEMICS, HALFTIME LEADS, WIN A DISTRICT GAME...AND STAY TOGETHER!!!

Take care, and see you all on Monday ready to work and get better in practice.

1-0 Double OT Loss at H.C.

Keep those collective heads up, girls! Tough one last night, but again, it was mostly an effort to be proud of vs. a tough team on a challenging field. Let's take some positives out of it, and learn from the rest!

Now, we move on, welcome with open arms Maddie, Morgan, and Shania to the team, get better at practice (practice field today...wear gray), and keep smilin'!

Two guaranteed games left in the season....FINISH STRONG! 

3-1 Win vs. Byron Center...and Updates

First, the updates, all:

**Next Wednesday's Parent Night home game is TENTATIVELY now set for a 5 PM start...with halftime now reserved for the introductions of respective families (approx. 5:40 PM).  Hope that will allow for as many parents as possible to be a part of the special day! Please be near the scoreboard with roughly 5 mins. left in the first half!

**We will have a (near) end-of-season program-wide Dessert Banquet on Monday, June 6 at 6:30 P.M. in the high school Forum Room. Girls, please "dress up", bring a dessert to pass for the whole group as well as personal beverages and utensils. Now, I say "near end-of-season" since I fully plan on us still playing a REGIONAL GAME on that following Tuesday! :)  Just have to get the Banquet in before the end of the school year is all. :)

Ok, the rest...

Nice job last night overall, girls! Especially after an extra challenging past week. Loved how you responded immediately after going down a goal early on and then holding a halftime lead (team goal), taking care of business, and getting back in the win column...and on a Monday!  wink wink....

Now, as mentioned today in practice, we have a TREMENDOUS opportunity tomorrow in our last conference game at Holland Christian:  a.) become the first Hamilton team (male/female) EVER to win a game on H.C.'s home turf and b.) probably jump Z. West in the final conference standings to finish alone in 3rd place in the league. WE CAN DO THIS!!!  Believe it, first and foremost.

FINISH STRONG!

Current Challenging Week...and a BETTER Week Ahead!

Stating the obvious, ladies, the week hasn't gone quite as planned, but such is life! Handling "challenges" and subsequently growing in positive directions as a result is KEY! And that's just what we need to do (and WILL do) starting at practice today, heading into the weekend, and facing another set of conference opponents next week.

We can do this!

Speaking of next week:

**Sunday: optional/informal team training!
**Monday: home game vs. B. Center...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my room by 2:45 PM...Katyln = food/vid...Kirby/Jos = ball girls. WIN!
**Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black. TEAM DINNER AT KORA'S AT 5:30 PM.
**Wednesday: game at H.C. (both teams = 4 PM...our game is on their normal turf field!)...bus leaves at 245 PM...what to wear in school = TBD...Syd = food (lighter meal on the bus, please!)...WIN FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER ON THEIR FIELD!
**Thursday: 3-5 PM practice... wear gray.
**Friday: 3-4:30 PM practice WITH 7TH/8TH GRADE/JV TEAMS...WEAR OFFICIAL BLACK ADIDAS TEAM SHIRTS!

Prepare for success next week, ladies. Positive thoughts, positive words, and positive actions!

5-4 Loss at Holland

A challenging week continues, ladies! But luckily for us, we LOVE challenges, right?!

Keep those collective heads up, and please continue to realize that your life will go the way your thoughts and words go! Focus always on the positives...on improvements...on encouragement.

And BEAT WAYLAND! :)

2-0 Loss at Unity

Tough one last night, ladies. As mentioned after the game, from my standpoint, it seemed as though we played a bit scared as a team--quiet, lack of aggression at times, bunker mentality. That's no way to win a game...especially against a good team like Unity. Now mind you, Unity was good last night. Don't get me wrong. BUT we had something to do with that in my opinion. In other words, we made them look better than we should have. Live in learn!

It's a new day, and we get better today! Revenge/Rematch game at Holland tomorrow!

See you outside in the rain. :)

Upcoming Week

Hey hey, soccer fam!

Huge week coming up here with a handful of away matches and a gigantic rematch with Unity on Monday! Prepare, prepare, prepare! :)

Here is the week's tentative schedule:

**Monday: game at Unity (530 PM Varsity start)...what to wear in school = TBD...Taryn = vid/food...bus leaves at 245 PM...will eat on the bus...no need to be changed before then. WIN!
**Tuesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear gray
**Wednesday: game at Holland...what to wear in school = TBD...Kora = food/vid...bus leaves at 4 PM...meet in my room by 3 PM...1/2 day in school. WIN!
**Thursday: game at Wayland...what to wear in school = TBD...Nena = food/vid...bus leaves at 3:30 PM...meet in my room by 245 PM. WIN!
**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black.

Note: Congrats to Ana Lopez for being selected by her peers recently as "alternate captain" for this upcoming week due to her "mental toughness"! On a side note, hudl footage/notes can/will certainly help you prepare for success this coming Monday and beyond!

Our team goals are in reach, ladies! Keep pushin' and finish strong!

And on Monday, you'll become the first Hamilton soccer team ever to beat Unity on their home field. Win the battle in your mind first and get it done! :)

NEW TEAM GOAL!

The girls decided on a new, worthy team goal today as a group:

WE WILL EARN A TEAM ACADEMIC ALL-STATE (3.3 TEAM GPA OR HIGHER) AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS SEASON!

Awesome idea as "student" always comes before "athlete". :)

2-1 Win vs. Zeeland West

Proud of you for fighting through many daunting factors last night in our huge game vs. Zeeland West, girls!

And to reverse our fortunes regarding Monday's H.C. game and ourselves punch one in the net with little time remaining was extra fitting and special.

Now it's time to recover, reflect, get better, and keep this thing going!

See you in my classroom with indoor gear, writing utensils, and reflective thoughts no later than 3 PM today!

Note: PLEASE BE REMINDED THAT OUR GAME AT UNITY THIS COMING MONDAY BEGINS AT 5:30 PM (JV = 4). BUS WILL LEAVE IMMEDIATELY AFTER SCHOOL, AND WE CAN HOPEFULLY DINE ON PRE-PACKAGED TEAM MEALS ON THE BUS RIDE!

1-0 Loss vs. H.C.

Hang in there, ladies!

Ya know what tonight meant??? We lost a soccer game...that's it. Nothing more, nothing less. We take it in stride, stay positive, and realize that there is a TON left to play for...including 1st place in the league!

Round two of OK Green conference matches begins Wednesday as we welcome Z. West to our place for a revenge game. Let's go!!

See ya tomorrow for practice (wear black) and another valuable opportunity to GET BETTER!

4-1 Win vs. Black River...and more!

Weekend greetings, all!

Was great to get the weekend started right with a business-like win vs. Black River last night, especially heading into a huge conference week for us coming up here! Nice overall job, girls.

So here goes with the tentative weekly schedule for said "huge" week:

**Monday: home game vs. Holland Christian...wear warmups in school...be in my room (BEFORE DRESSING) by 245 PM. Summer = food/vid...Noelle/Melinda = ball girls. WIN!
**Tuesday: practice 3-5...wear black
**Wednesday: home game vs. Z. West...what to wear in school = TBD...be in my room by 245 PM...Ana = food/vid...Dani/Frannie = ball girls...WIN!
**Thursday: practice 3-5...wear gray
**Friday: dressed and ready for practice by 3 PM in my room for a team meeting...will head out to practice field by 4 PM to help with Formidable Feet...WEAR OFFICIAL BLACK ADIDAS TEAM SHIRTS.

Notes: Congrats to Kirby for being chosen by her peers as an "alternate captain" for this upcoming week due to her physical toughness! Please be aware of your newest set of "soccer responsibilities" for this next week's activities on and off the field. And please note that we do NOT play at Wayland this coming Thursday but NEXT Thursday, May 12 instead!

Take care, all, and let's keep DREAMIN' and BELIEVIN'!

3-1 Win at Byron Center

Nice job last night, ladies, of keeping the confidence high, battling through it, and prevailing, especially after a somewhat frustrating halftime tie! Was proud to see you handle things maturely and take care of business in the end against a conference opponent that we should beat.

Can't wait to see us work hard in practice today, stay focused, get better, and prepare to BEAT BLACK RIVER tomorrow at our place! Let's keep climbin' that ladder.

Take care! :)

1-1 OT Tie vs. Holland

Ladies! Hope you are keeping your collective heads up today?? Hang in there and keep that confidence.

Let's also be honest with ourselves again though and acknowledge a partial opportunity lost last night against a team that we should beat. Right? In a way, I was glad to see the frustration on all of your faces after the game, because that means that you WANT to win every game and that you EXPECT to win every game as well. We need to continue to COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL DAY IN AND DAY OUT! Today's a new day, so put those smiles back on your faces. :)

Let's get better at practice today and be ready to battle (and BEAT) Byron Center at their place tomorrow!

6-1 Win @ Hopkins...and More!

Ladies!

Way to take care of business and handle success at Hopkins last night. It was impressive as a coach to observe! Bottle that up, prepare this weekend individually, and come out swinging once again this Monday as we dive back into the conference season!

Here goes with the tentative schedule for this coming week:

**Monday: home game vs. Holland...meet in my room by 3 PM..."dress up" in school...Yaz = food/vid...Taryn/Kora = ball girls...WIN!
**Tuesday: 3-5 PM practice...wear black.
**Wednesday: game @ B.Center...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my room by 3 PM...bus leaves at 330 PM...Nicky = food/vid...WIN!
**Thursday: 3-5 PM practice...wear gray.
**Friday: home game vs. Black River...what to wear in school = TBD...meet in my room by 3 PM...Bria = food/vid...Katlyn/Syd = ball girls...WIN!

Note: Congrats to Bria for having been voted by her peers as the alternate captain for this next week's matches and training. And congrats again to all of you for not only currently passing your trimester 3 classes but doing so with impressive overall grades! Keep up the good work in the classroom--your most important role as "student-athletes"!

DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN INDIVIDUALLY TO PREPARE THIS WEEKEND FOR SUCCESS THIS COMING WEEK. WE NEED TO COME OUT FIRING FIRST THING VS. HOLLAND ON MONDAY!

Looking forward to seeing you girls continue to blossom. :)

History-making 1-0 Win vs. Unity

Job well done last night, ladies, BELIEVING we could have success and then going out and actually doing it...with ENERGY! :)  Very proud of you all...no matter the role you played. We ALL helped the winning cause, somehow some way.

Now the ultra challenge is this: HANDLING SUCCESS AND AVOIDING ANY TYPE OF COMPLACENCY. Know you all have it in you.

The next test: Hopkins tomorrow (Friday)!

Looking forward to seeing you all take another positive step on this journey.

1-0 Loss to Z.West

GREAT finish to the game the other night, ladies, but from here on out WE ARE A FULL-GAME/80 MINUTE (OR MORE) TEAM! Let's make it happen.

Believe, stay together, and perform today vs. Unity!

2-1 Win @ Kenowa Hills...and More!

Greetings!

Great job on the first win of the season this past Thursday as it was a well-deserved "W". Feel free to check out the "game recaps" link below and to the left in order to view game specifics.

BUT THE K. HILLS WIN IS JUST THE BEGINNING, RIGHT???!!!

Here's how we're moving forward with a huge week coming up here:

**Monday: game @ Z.West..."dress up" in school...all black/Hail shirts for game...meet in my classroom at 3:15 PM...bus leaves at 4 PM...Frannie = vid/food...Noelle/Melinda = see me for key to shed.
**Tuesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black...Team Dinner at Katlyn's @ 530 PM (bring personal beverage).
**Wednesday: home game vs. Unity...what to wear in school = TBD...Kirsten = vid/food...Nena/Ana = ball girls...pre-game music?
**Thursday: practice 3-5 PM...wear gray.
**Friday: game @ Hopkins...VARSITY PLAYS FIRST AT 4:30 PM...what to wear in school = TBD...bus leaves at 3:15 PM...meet in my room immediately after school (will eat/drink then and there)...Jos = food/vid...Noelle/Melinda = see me for key to shed.

Notes: please note that the May 9 game at Unity will now be played (Varsity) at 5:30 PM...congrats to Yaz for being selected as "alternate team captain" by her peers for this upcoming week...PLEASE BE SURE TO DO ALL THAT YOU CAN THIS WEEKEND TO PREPARE FOR THIS COMING WEEK--HUDL, 4-3-3 TUTORIAL VID., VISUALIZE, POWER POSES, SLEEP, EAT RIGHT, BE ACTIVE, ETC.!

Let's keep this thing rolling forward in a positive direction, ladies!

1-0 Loss to Hudsonville

Keep the faith, girls!

Last night overall (but especially the second half) was a positive step in the right direction for our season...despite the scoreboard at the end.

Please keep in mind that the life cycle of a season is a PROCESS, and we are still in the BEGINNING stages of that process. That said, the sooner we can truly start "performing", the better.

We'll get better--provided that we ALL keep doing the daily things necessary to propel us forward!

5-1 Opening Game T.K. Loss...and More!

Ladies!

Hope you're hanging in there?? Keep those heads up!

Please remember the overall sentiments last night: the season is a PROCESS...and last night's game wasn't going to be the "end all, be all" either way...win, tie, or lose. WE WILL GET BETTER. WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING. WE WILL STAY TOGETHER!

(Check out the "game recaps" link below and to the left for post-game reviews if you so please)

Ok, so here's where we tentatively go from here:

**SPRING BREAK: ENJOY, HAVE FUN, BE SAFE, PLAY SOCCER, STAY IN/GET IN PHYSICAL SHAPE (SPRINTS, LONG DISTANCE, ANAEROBIC, ETC.)!

**Thursday/Friday (Spring Break Week): optional practice from 2:30-4 at the HS. Wear whatever but be fully dressed for game-like action!

**Monday, April 11: practice 3-5 PM...wear gray...vote on alternate team captain.
**Tuesday: JUNIORS ACE THE S.A.T.!... away game vs. Hudsonville...bus leaves at 4:15...meet in my classroom by 330 PM...Melinda = food/vid...what to wear in school = TBD
**Wednesday: practice 3-5 PM...wear black
**Thursday: away game vs. Kenowa Hills...bus leaves at 3:30...meet in my classroom by 3 PM...Dani= food/vid...what to wear in school = TBD....Quinn's bday! :)
**Friday: practice 3-5 PM...wear gray

Note: please always keep in mind that we need to continually train our minds and bodies in the POSITIVE: visualizing, power posing, mastering non-verbal communication, supporting each other, offering constructive feedback, etc. 

Very much looking forward to seeing you all again, working with you, and continuing our improvement upon this special season! Take care!

Next Week and Beyond

Hello, girls soccer fam! Hope the sun and mild temps are treating everyone well??

Our first game week is upon us (BEAT T.K.!!!), and I couldn't be more excited. :)

Here is the tentative schedule for this abbreviated week coming up here...and beyond:

Homework for the weekend: 1.) memorize/know/understand all "offensive/defensive team agreements" from the previously shared "Hamilton Soccer" document and 2.) view/learn/reflect upon vid footage via hudl of our first opponent T.K. coming up here next Wednesday.

**Monday: outdoor practice 3-5 PM (wear gray)...CHECK UPDATED "SOCCER RESPONSIBILITIES" DOCUMENT REGARDING YOUR RESPECTIVE DUTIES PRE- AND POST-PRACTICE.
**Tuesday: outdoor practice 3-5 PM (wear black)...REQUIRED TEAM DINNER AT THE ROBINSONS' AT 5:30 PM.
**Wednesday: away game vs. T.K. (WIN!)  Meet in my classroom by 3 PM...what to wear in school TBD...Noelle = team meal (to be consumed at the game site)...bus leaves at 3:30 P.M.
**Thursday/Friday: NO PRACTICE...HAPPY SPRING BREAK!

**Thursday/Friday of Spring Break week: OPTIONAL 230-4 PM practice at the HS.
 
Note 1: when in charge of the "team meal", please simply provide a light food/beverage for a total of 16 teenage girls. Healthy food/beverage recommendations include (but not limited to) the following: sandwiches/wraps/subs, fruit, veggies, water, gatorade/powerade, pretzels, granola bars, healthy crackers, healthy snacks, etc. For home games, we'd need the meal ready by 3 PM in my room 111 classroom in the HS. For away games, we'd need the meal somehow packaged and ready to load on the bus upon departure time as we will enjoy the meal shortly after arriving on site. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP IN PROVIDING THE GIRLS WITH A HEALTHY PRE-GAME MEAL THAT WILL HELP US ACHIEVE SUCCESS IN THE SUBSEQUENT MATCH!

Note 2: congrats again to Melinda and Dani for being selected by their peers recently as permanent team captains for the season. Thumbs up!

Take care, all, and let me know if you need anything at all. 

Schedule Changes

Soccer fam,

A schedule change to note: our varsity start vs. Hopkins at their place on Friday, April 22 will now begin at 4:30 PM (with JV to follow at 6 PM).

And another one: our H.C. away game on Wednesday, May 18 will take place at 4 PM (JV also plays at 4 pm at a nearby location). 

Take care!

Opening Week/Weekend and Beyond!

  Hey, all!

Off to a great start here, and I couldn't be more excited. Already great working with you!

The 0-0 tie vs. GR Cath. Central and 3-0 win vs. Cheboygan were positive results for us yesterday, all things considering what with lack of practice time early on here!

And we keep moving forward....:)

Tentative schedule for this coming week:

**Monday: practice 3-5 PM (wear black)...parent meeting at 5:15 in the forum room...$30 due.

**Tuesday: volunteer event/team-building 3-5 PM (wear gray and close toed shoes)...bus to Holland Rescue Mission Restoration Center.

**Wednesday: practice 3-5 PM (wear black)

**Thursday: practice 3-5 PM (wear gray)...team pictures (wear white)

**Friday: practice 3-5 PM (wear black)...celebrate Summer's B-day! :)

Note: Next Tuesday, March 29, the Robinsons will host a required team dinner at our house just after practice that day. We will eat, drink, laugh, and be merry on the eve of our first game of the season!

That's it for now, all! Take care!

PS. Feel free to check out the "team roster" link below and to the left!