On to the next one...

Ladies, I hope you're enjoying the weekend...good weather finally!

Regarding yesterday's 4-1 win vs. Wayland, another job well done. One thing we should definitely take from the match is the fact that a team can dominate a soccer game, but all it takes is one or two brief let-downs to let a team back in it. In other words, it's got to be 100% focus for the entire match! Let's take that mentality into our 3 matches next week.

Some reminders:

1.) We'll wear white jerseys in school on Monday.

2.) We'll meet outside at 3 PM for a 4 PM home game vs. Allendale

3.) Ball girls for the varsity game, be ready!

4.) It's supposed to be low 60's and rain that day.

5.) We play AT HOME vs. Wyoming Park on Wednesday at 4 PM...Thursday is AT Freedom Baptist and the bus leaves right after school (JV only that day).

See you soon, girls! Enjoy the weekend.

Takin' Care of Business...

Girls, I really liked how we "handled success" yesterday with a business-like win vs. Rogers (8-0)...especially with quality contributions from a variety of players. Keep that up.

And remember, keep up with the good habits and the POSITIVE VISUALIZATION. If we do, chances are success will continue to come to you.

Great Summer Soccer Camp Opportunity...

...brought to the Holland area by Demarcus Beasley, US national team player.

Go to the following site for more info:

http//www.beasleynationalsoccerschool.com/

Reminders

First, check the post below regarding the previous Park game if you want.

Second, a few reminders/updates:

1.) We will wear anything Hamilton soccer-related or black jerseys in school tomorrow.

2.) The bus leaves right after school...be ready!

3.) We will still have our get-together at my house on Thursday at 7/730 P.M. Let's just plan on having each of you who are attending bring a snack, beverage, and/or dessert to pass. Sound good?

4.) Time to take care of business and HANDLE Rogers tomorrow.

See you soon!

2-0 Win vs. Wyoming Park

Ladies, it was our third win a row last night...nicely done. How do we handle a bit of SUCCESS though at this point? Handling SUCCESS in a mature, productive way is just as important as handling adversity. Do we keep battling or do we become complacent?

It'll be interesting to see how we respond vs. Rogers and Wayland in the next couple of days!

Let's keep the positive momentum going, girls.

PS. Check the "recap" link if desired.

Mother's Day...

Tell your mom you love her today! And be nice!

Then, see below if you haven't already...

Weekend Update...

Hey, girls.

First, nice work today at practice today. I know it can be a bit boring to have to sit in desks and write after a day of classes, so I appreciate the attention and participation. And the physical part of practice was well done...bravo.

Reminders:

1.) We meet on Monday at 3 P.M. in my room...bus leaves at 3:30-3:45 P.M. that day.

2.) We wear anything Hamilton soccer-related to school on Monday.

3.) Feel free to bring food and beverages to my classroom on Monday...let's make sure we follow health/nutrition pre-game principles!

4.) The weather on Monday calls for a high of 60 and partly cloudy...think colder since we play later in the day (5 PM).

Congrats to Morgan Stillson for her captain nod. I agreed with each and every one of the nominees/reasoning today. It's great that so many girls on our team are that well-thought-of!

Finally, regarding perhaps one more team get-together, the wife and I (and baby Quinn) are offering another team dinner night at our house this next Thursday evening, the 13th, if you guys are interested. Thoughts? If not, we totally understand...just thought we'd offer and give you a chance to hang out and meet the babe finally. Let me know ASAP!

Take care, girls...have a good weekend...eat and drink right...:)

Check out...

...the new photos under the "photos" link to the left. Thanks, Rae!

Reminder: We will meet in my room after school tomorrow (Friday) at 3:00 P.M. dressed and ready to go for indoor practice.

Belding rout...

Girls, overall today, the 8-0 win should be viewed as a LEARNING EXPERIENCE rather than a success. Here's what I mean: just as much as we need to learn to stay positive and fearless when we are the lesser skilled team in a given game, we also need to learn how to stick to sound defensive, offensive, team, and individual principles when we are the MORE skilled team.

I thought today we were a bit sloppy and inconsistent with the latter scenario. Agreed?

Either way, we are now 5-4-1 overall, and THAT'S something to celebrate due to one of our stated team goals to the left.

See you tomorrow, girls!

OVERACHIEVERS

You ladies should be proud of yourselves after today's win 1-0 vs. East. You certainly earned a quality victory and it was because you kept a positive attitude, displayed toughness, and worked together...a total team effort.

In addition, I hope you understand that what I said in our pre-game talk was completely sincere. I'm proud of who you guys are and you should be too. Plus, I didn't mean to scare you with next season's prospects. Just work hard, stay positive, and you should be fine!

Now, let's keep the ball rolling and beat a non-conference Belding team on Wednesday!

Weekend Items...

Hi, girls. I hope the weekend's treating you well. Once again, girls who are going to Prom tonight, have fun and be safe! I'll be watching....:)

Reminders for Monday:

1.) We'll wear white jerseys in school.

2.) We meet dressed and ready to go at 3 PM on the game field.

3.) Ball girls for the varsity game, be ready!

4.) Always strive to maintain a POSITIVE ATTITUDE no matter the circumstances on Monday and beyond. Congrats to Jess on her captain vote! To me, it was great to hear so many girls nominated at the end of practice yesterday because that means that this trait is on display often on our team!

5.) BEAT EAST!

Take care, everyone.

5-0 Unity Loss...

Girls, I thought today's first half was up to our potential...the second half? Not so much...

We need to realize that we CAN hang with the upper echelon teams...and we should EXPECT to do well against them...no questions asked!

We've now got a few solid days of practice ahead before another challenging week of matches next week.

Time to re-focus!

We'll see you outside for practice tomorrow at 3 PM sharp.

Medical update...

Hey, girls. Thanks for the work with Coach Ayres today, once again.

My "procedure" in Detroit went fairly well today despite a few complications. I'm actually writing you from Detroit right now as I (and my still-recovering wife) am not fit to drive anywhere after the day. Soooooooo, it looks like I will be absent from school tomorrow (Wednesday) again, and i'm still up in the air for the game at Unity depending on the on-going circumstances.

Of course, I hope to be back on time!

If not though, GO GET 'EM TOMORROW!! You guys looked solid and confident overall yesterday vs. a talented West squad...keep up that momentum!

Hopefully, we're all wearing something similar to school tomorrow? Captains? Also, are we all set for a Thursday evening get-together? Please keep me updated.

BEAT UNITY!! IT'S A TEAM GOAL!

PS. Check out the game recap from yesterday down below.

RAINY weekend update...:(

Mornin', girls.

First, check out the post below regarding the game last night as well as the "recap" link to the left.

Second, check out the newly added "photos" link to the left as well. It's got our team photo. And remember, whatever pictures you guys might want posted, just send them to me electronically or put them onto a disk for me, and i'll post them.

Third, captains, what are we thinking for a team get-together this coming week? Is Thursday evening still a possibility? Let's get this thing planned ASAP!

Finally, our theme for the upcoming week is MENTAL TOUGHNESS and all that that idea entails (composure, letting go of mistakes, playing tough through elements such as weather, fatigue, pain, etc.). We are certainly going to need MENTAL TOUGHNESS in our upcoming slate of games! We'll vote on an alternate captain before our game on Monday, so be thinking about who displays these qualities the best.

Have a good weekend, girls!

Allegan WIN...

Girls, nicely done today...a good bounce-back effort after this past Wednesday. I thought the second half of today's game (despite the numerous missed chances) was one of your best efforts of the season. Way to keep pluggin' away! And like i've said before ANY goal--ugly, pretty, lucky--is a GOOD goal.

Now it's back to our conference with a big road game vs. Zeeland West on Monday!

Remember, our bus leaves at 3:45 Monday and we'll wear anything Hamilton soccer related to school that day.

Enjoy the rainy weekend!

H. C. Loss...

Ladies, upon further reflection on today's 4-0 loss, I still don't think we played to our potential. Never mind the "loss" part of it, I just want to see us, win or lose, truly play to our potential, back down to NO ONE, and play with confidence and the capability that I KNOW we have...EVERY TIME.

It's time to bounce back with a solid practice tomorrow and then a great game vs. Allegan on Friday....

Keep your heads up, girls!

Remember the DETAILS, because collectively as a team, we didn't today...it's got to be ALL 18 players on board...not 12 or 13, etc.

Beat Allegan!

Game Change...

The game at Freedom Baptist previously scheduled for Friday, April 30 has now been rescheduled for Thursday, May 20 at 4 P.M. (away). We will now have practice on Friday, April 30 instead.

Practice (Friday)

Once again, ladies, thanks for the hard work with Coach Ayres today...she filled me in on the details of your workout. I hope you enjoyed the "slot" drill...:)

Have a great weekend...remember, we'll meet on Monday on the practice field at 3 P.M. for an important start to Holland Christian preparation.

An early heads-up regarding our team THEME for next week: DETAILS. Think about what that might entail...

See you soon, girls!

Practice (Thursday)...

Ladies, thanks for working hard with Coach Ayres today at practice. She filled me in on the details and was impressed with your work ethic and attitude. Nice work!

It looks like i'll be away from school and practice tomorrow (Friday) as well since we're still in the hospital for the time being (we're still doing fine...the wife is still a bit under the weather). Sorry! Coach Ayres will take care of business again tomorrow. As for Monday, plan on meeting me outside at 3 PM sharp for a quality practice (and again on Tuesday) in preparation for a BIG game vs. Holland Christian on Wednesday.

Have a good day at school tomorrow, a quality practice, and a refreshing weekend, girls!

1-1 Middleville TIE

Hi, from the hospital, ladies. I just got off the phone with Coach Malefyt, and he filled me in on the highlights of the game today.

First, congrats on what Malefyt described as a hard-fought game...especially defensively. It sounded like we didn't yield too many dangerous opportunities for Middleville and that we had an organized effort for the most part. Unlucky to give up a goal in the last few minutes, though!

All in all, job well done today...this puts us at a 2-1-1 overall record thus far this season and headed swiftly toward two of our TEAM GOALS: achieve an overall winning record and beat H.C.!

Guess who we play next, girls? Yep, H.C. next Wednesday :)

Have fun and work hard with Coach Ayres tomorrow!

Take care...all is well at the hospital for the Robinsons.

PS: Check out the "recaps" link to the left if you care to.