Tuesday, January 27, 2004

BECAUSE IT IS THERE

This is one of those "I’m writing because I haven’t in a while", rather than the preferred "I can’t wait to sit down and peck" thing. Here goes anyway:

Practice has been pretty fun and it has been pretty fun to just have practice with it still January and all. We have a fairly smooth schedule at CSU, which actually allows us 6 opportunities per week to run as a pack somewhere on campus. Right now we are outside 3 days a week and inside for three nights, which helps to accommodate different kinds of class and work schedules.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU (said by many people)

I have a new approach to our seventy-something year-old field house with it’s cute little Post-Victorian style, resplendent with more panes of glass than a greenhouse. I have put great effort into trying to make a practice that is basically inside a gym, and has too many people for the place, into something that can work. I feel that I have evolved as a field house coach. Unfortunately I don’t always remember to be grateful for the things that I have because I am always so busy thinking about the things that I would rather have. I can honestly say now that I am more than grateful to have the use of that decrepit old facility three nights a week.

Our number one goal as a team is to be a little (or a lot, like Jennie from the block) better off than we were the day before. We must create situations where everyone can improve a little every practice and every day. We must be able to create these atmospheres on a beach in California, in a Northwestern rain forest, or even in a parking lot in Ann Arbor if we have to.

Last night we had about 40 at practice, almost the entire team. It went well in my humble opinion. It’s hard to play in there, and no one bitched an inch about any of it. We broke no windows.

GOALIES ARE GOD’S FREAKS

We already have a couple of injuries, most notably our new goalie and workout ninja, Pete. I think he pressed til he popped. He works out a lot. When Pete gets scored on it amps his determination. Then, later he probably goes home and does 100 penalty push-ups for every goal he gave up in practice, which he counted. Talk about taking on the responsibilities of leadership….. Then, I am sure he bangs his head on a brick wall once or twice just to give himself an anchor and enough punishment.

I really do love watching him, and young goalies in general, progress. This one has the tools. At times I feel like my greatest challenge will be to convince Petey that there really can be joy within the process of personal progress, and that everything is not an A or an F.

TEMPE ON MY MIND

I am becoming more comfortable as we get each practice under our belt. We are a far cry from anywhere, but I already feel like we are capable of going into a game and playing well. I’m not clear on how deep we are and that will be the task, building depth.

I know the Laxcats of Arizona are going to be real ready for us a week from Friday night, with traps in place and all, but I’m beginning to think, "Ditto, Dude. Let’s get it on".

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