Cordova Bay Storm

Storm Clearing

2009-04-07T00:43:00.001-07:00

For most of us, we started this journey a couple of years back with August kick-arounds at Lochside Park. We started the season off with victory at the Labour Day Tourney on the Turf where we battled against Lakehill, but I suppose our first official game as the Storm was a 1-1 draw against Gorge at Bullen Park.

I remember getting to the park late from Erin's game to find out we were already down 1-0 to the bad guys. Soon enough Olivia evened the scoring with a free kick and our first points were won. That season we enjoyed more success on the field than I imagined we would, but in hindsight given how well we've played this year I suppose it shouldn't have been a surprise after all. We had some ups and downs but we earned a reputation as a team who could pass the ball and was tough to beat.

This season was also a huge success, despite results not going our way the way we would have liked. There wasn't a single game in which we were comprehensively outplayed by the opposition. In fact some of the games we lost (JDF 0-2, PSC 2-3, Bays 0-1) I think it's fair to say we were the better team. Luck just didnt seem to smile on us this season. In between we finally got one over on Lakehill (5-0) and Peninsula (3-0), two teams that seemed to have the hex over us. Both were sweet, but I'll probably remember the latter longer because it confirmed that on our day we could beat anyone. Now, if only the crossbars were round instead of square at JDF, we would have got the win against them too :-)

We also had the privilege of playing on the nicest turf field in the city. Spoiled doesn't begin to describe what we've become after practicing and playing games on that since November. Did any parents actually have to wash tehir daughter's jersey? I guess the downside was everyone had puddles of back rubber on their linoleum!

It's been a lot of fun for me coaching and getting to know each of you. I hope you enjoyed yourself and learned something along the way. Some of you will be off to pastures new next season and I wish you the best of luck on your ventures. I'm sure our paths will cross again on the field somewhere soon enough. To Lily and Olivia best of luck on your travels with the Super Y team.

A big thanks to Rob and Willie for all your help and laughs we shared, and to Derek and Josh for running the lines during many of our games. Much appreciated.

Thanks also to parents for their support for me and their child's soccer development. Attendance at practices and games was always excellent and the girls behaviour was good from start to finish.

Take care and enjoy your spring and summer!

Gordon Head Jamboree Wrap-Up

2009-04-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

After a bit of confusion Friday as we got to know how each other played, we hit our stride Saturday with two wins and then dominated Vancouver Dunbar on Sunday to win the Recreational "A" Championship at the Gordon Head Jamboree. Unfortunately no trophy to parade, but then I think quite a few players were probably too tired to stand at the end anyway.

Our final was played on a lumpy, bumpy, cow pasture of a field, which made passing the ball difficult and controlling it next to impossible. So it was important that we got to the ball first, and you didnt let yourselves down there. It seemed to me we got to almost every ball first, and if we didn't we got stuck-in and didn't let them turn with the ball. Our midfielders did a great job in the trenches (Maddie, Marissa, Olivia and Emma in particular) and our defenders (Lily, Margaret, Annabel, Katherine) dealt with everything they threw at us. Didn't matter if it was in the air or on the ground, you beat them like rented mules!

It was zeroes at half, but that's only because Olivia kept hitting the blasted crossbar! Ping! Ping! Their keeper was probably tone def after twenty minutes! We also had a couple of other efforts fizz just wide from Bri and Marissa, and there was a couple of times their keeper spilled our cross but no one could get position on the ball to shoot.

Pretty much the same story in the second half as the field tilted towards their goal. Chloe seemed to get more space and service out wide and we won several corners which came to nothing. And then out of nothing Emma connects with the ball from twenty yards and it nestles into the bottom-right corner. Shortly after Maddie wins the ball in midfield, passes wide to Chloe who then finds Kyra streaking in on goal. Kyra slips the ball under their keeper with a calm finish and it's game over. We even had time to enjoy a third after Emma connected with an up and under which their defender and goalie combined to deflect into their goal. Then it's officially game over.

To be fair to our opponents I guess I should add that Dunbar did have a scoring opportunity when it was one-bagel, but the girl rang it off the upright. Anyway, Cassie had it covered ;-)

Some highlights from earlier games include Annabel's goal and Cassie's phenomonal saves (including a penalty shot)to get us a share of the points against a determined Gordon Head; Olivia's deft flick past the keeper from Annabel's cross and then Sydney's top corner shot in our win against Kerrisdale; and Bri then getting the final touch to a cross from Sydney/Marissa (???) to dispatch Dunbar on Lochside Turf.

On behalf of the Storm, my thanks to Bri, Cassie, Katherine, Kyra, Maddie, Marissa and Sydney for joining our team for this tournament. It was a pleasure coaching each of you this weekend and I hope you enjoyed wearing the Maroon and Black. Despite what Coach Jay said, I think it suited you!

Best of luck to the Super Y girls on their travels this spring. I look forward to hearing from Lily and Olivia about all of your hotel pillow fights and bus adventures. And my best wishes to Kyra and Katherine - hopefully I see you both playing Bays Gold come this September.

For the rest of the Storm, hopefully we see you at player assessments over the next couple of weeks.

PS Sorry about the blurry picture. I'm a soccer coach not a photographer.

Jamboree Finals

2009-04-04T20:54:00.000-07:00

Our game tomorrow is 12:15pm at Lambrick Park Field Hockey Field.

Please be there a half-hour early.

Updated Player Assessment Schedule

2009-04-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

A third player assessment for U14 (1996) girls has been added to the schedule. The extra assessment is next Thursday (April 9), 7-8pm at Lochside Park Turf.

Welcome to the Storm!

2009-03-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

A couple of our recruits for the weekend jamboree may be at practice Tuesday. So please remember to give Katherine and Kyra a warm welcome when you see them. Katherine and Kyra play with the Bays Silver team that defeated Gordon Head in the District Cup and subsequently gave Juan de Fuca a hard game in the semi-finals.

Speaking of Juan de Fuca, a couple of the Warriors will be joining us for the tourney as well. We've had excellent battles against JDF this season, so it will be nice to have Bri, Cassie, Jessica, Maddie and Marissa on our side for a change! They have their District Cup Final in Sooke early Saturday afternoon, so hopefully they can make the other three tournament games.

We're also being joined by Sydney from Gorge. Sydney is an all-action player who always impressed me when she played against us. Sydney also goes to Royal Oak and attends DDC so she shouldn't need much introduction to several Storm players.

A warm welcome and thanks to all our recruits - I hope you enjoy your weekend of soccer with us!

More Changes to Jamboree Schedule

2009-03-30T23:07:00.000-07:00

Here is our new game schedule:

Friday - Gordon Head @ UVic, 7:35pm
Saturday - Coquitlam @ Torquay School, 11am
Saturday - Dunbar @ Lochside, 5:15pm
Sunday - TBA @ 12:15pm, either Lambrick Park or Reynolds Field

Reminder to everyone to bring their $25 to practice tomorrow or to our game on Friday night.

What a game!

2009-03-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

I think everyone would agree today's game against Bays United just about sums up our season. Once again we out-play our opposition, dominate possession, do everything but score, but end up losing to a single goal. And in this case, it sounds like the goal should have been called back. Marissa apparently had both hands on the ball but the Bays player kicked it in anyway. When I asked the ref at the end of the game what he saw he said he didn't see anything. Funnily enough, that was the answer I was expecting!

As Rob said to me after the game, why would we expect anything to change now? We've had so little luck this season it's not even funny.

Bays didn't know what hit them in the first half. Right from the kick-off we swarmed all over them and they never got into their stride. What I really liked was how high up the field we played. As a result we won many second balls and intercepted many of Bays defensive clearances. We had some good looks at goal but their goalie gobbled everything up when she had to.

In the second-half we were doing fine until their goal. The wheels fell-off for a while as we struggled with positional play, but we found our rythym again and had some pretty good chances late on. I know Olivia would probably like a do-over for that free kick, but we had chances after that we just couldn't squeeze-in. At the final whistle you were still running and competing hard. You left absolutely everything on the field today and that's all any coach can ask. So if one can be happy with a loss, then that's how I feel right now.

Next up is the Gordon Head Jamboree with a game against Lakehill on Friday at UVic. But first a practice Tuesday at Lochside at 6pm.

Bays United Game Location

2009-03-26T21:33:00.000-07:00

Our game this weekend is at Glenlyon-Norfolk Turf Field, 12:30pm. We have received very specific instructions as to where we can park:

All parking, drop-off and pick-up must take place at the schools Maddison Street parking lot as shown on the attached sketch map. DO NOT use the following neighborhood streets - Somenos, Bank, Maddison and Laurentian to parking, drop-off or pick-up.

I will send out an email with an illustration of where we can park.

Hope to see everyone there around Noon. We will be wearing our maroon uniforms.

World Cups Festival Reminder

2009-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

Reminder of the World Cups Festival Apirl 10-11-12 at Lochside Park. Online registration is available here http://worldcups.cordovabaysoccer.org/index.php?fuseaction=league.form&league=World%20Cups

2009-10 Player Assessments Schedule

2009-03-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Listed below are the dates for 1996 (U14) and 1997 (U13) player assessments in preparation for the 2009-10 season and playing under the name of the newly-formed Saanich East Soccer Club. Existing players from both Cordova Bay and Gordon Head soccer clubs are invited to attend these assessments.

Players must register prior to attending registrations. I will post a link to online registration once registration is open (hopefully late this month or early April).

Girls U14 (1996) - April 15 @ Tyndall Turf, 6-7pm and April 20 @ Lochside Turf, 6-7pm
Girls U13 (1997) - April 6 @ Tyndall Turf, 6-7pm and April 8 @ Lochside Turf, 6-7pm

Let me know if you have any questions.

Gordon Head Jamboree Game Schedule

2009-03-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

Here is our game schedule for the Jamboree April 3-4-5.

April 3 - 7:35pm vs. Lakehill @ UVic Turf 2A
April 4 - 9:45am vs. Gordon Head @ Lambrick Park High School
April 4 - 1:30pm vs. Dunbar Tigers @ Upper Lambrick
April 5 - 8:30am vs. Coquitlam NCUS @ Lochside Park

Cost is $25 per player.

No Game Saturday

2009-03-11T22:47:00.000-07:00

Our game against Peninsula set for this Saturday has been cancelled.

I hope everyone enjoys their Spring Break and we'll see you back on the turf March 24.

District Cup Draw

2009-03-10T15:57:00.000-07:00

We received the first round bye so our first game will be March 28 away at the winner of the Gorge vs. Bays United game.

The other side of the draw sees Lakehill host Juan de Fuca and Gordon Head host Bays Utd K-os (the latter are the Silver Division Champions). The Lakehill vs. Juan de Fuca game appears the pick of the first round games, especially as both teams have ended the league season on winning runs. Should be a good battle at Beckwith Park.

Tuesday Practice Cancelled

2009-03-10T15:05:00.001-07:00

Tonight's practice is cancelled due to cold - both of them.

It's expected to get as cold as -6 this evening and, combined with several players feeling a bit under the weather, I think it's wise if we cancel.

Hopefully it warms-up and everyone is feeling better on Thursday.

A Day at The Beach

2009-03-07T21:08:00.000-08:00

I was very pleased with your performance today. Once again, you did everything but score. You battled well, passed the ball well (that is when we could get control of the ball on that potato patch of a field), shot well (nice 40 yarder Lily) and we threatened their goal on numerous occasions (by the way, how is that stomach of your's Kristina?). Everyone competed well.

Unfortunately we ran into a goalkeeper that made saves when she needed to and dealt with all of our crosses very well. I felt she was the difference in the game, as she was in our previous 1-0 loss at Claremont. Obviously they took their chance and we missed on ours, that's also a good reason we lost! No complaints from me. However it would have been nice to have played Juan de Fuca this season on a better playing surface, one that suited our passing game such as turf, but such was not our fortune.

We've had very little luck in our last two games, perhaps it will return in our district cup game. I will find out Tuesday afternoon who/when/where we play. What I do know is several Storm (Marissa, Holly, Annabel - am I missing anyone?) will be off on Spring Break holidays, so hopefully we have enough to field a team.

Makes no sense to me why they didn't schedule cup game before Spring Break. After all, today was a meaningless exhibition game. No, that would make too much sense. Far better to play cup games when most everyone is off on holiday. Rant over.

Have a great weekend everyone. Wax your cross-country skis (if you've got 'em)!

Juan de Fuca Reminders

2009-03-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

Please remember to check the club website for field updates. They are calling for snow overnight so there is a small chance our game might be cancelled.

Also, please bring both the maroon and white jerseys to the game. We will decide which jersey we're wearing just before game time.

2009-10 Player Assessments Update

2009-02-28T15:19:00.001-08:00

As some of you are aware, from next season Cordova Bay and Gordon Head U13-U18 players will be merging to play under a new banner. Names and colours have yet to be confirmed, but whatever they are the plan is for there to be no individual GHSA or CBSC full field teams from next season. Both clubs minis (U5-U12) will run autonomously and both clubs will retain their adult men's and women's programs.

The intent and hope is that current Cordova Bay and Gordon Head players will wish to stay within this new, larger club. However I appreciate some Storm players have eyes for Metro while others have already signalled their intent to move to a new club once this season is over.

For those of you interested in sticking around, the new club will be running joint player assessments in early April. Here are the tentative dates:

1996 (next years U14) scheduled for April 6 and 8
1997 (next years U13) scheduled for April 7 and 9

I expect that the location for these sessions will alternate between Lochside and Tyndall turfs. I will confirm locations within the next week or so.

If you have any question about these assessments or the plans for the new soccer club please feel free to call, email or speak with me at an upcoming practice.

No Game :-(

2009-02-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

I never did hear back from Bays United, so there will be no game on Saturday.

Hope everyone has a nice, warm weekend and we'll see you next Tuesday on Turf.

Thursday Practice

2009-02-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

We will practice tomorrow at 7pm as usual, but we will be on Field 2 (grass) instead of turf. So wear your multi-studs and not your turf shoes (for those of you with both).

Please check the blog or club website for field conditions before you leave for practice tomorrow afternoon. They're predicting some white stuff tomorrow so the grass field might be closed if field conditions worsen.

Update!

2009-02-24T14:10:00.001-08:00

I just received the game schedule for this weekend and I can confirm we don't have a league game.

BUT I have contacted a GU14 team from Bays United about a possible exhibition match 12:30pm Saturday at Lochside Park. Hopefully they want to play so stay tuned!

I can also confirm that we've been bumped from the Turf for our Thursday practice. We can still practice at 7pm on Field 2 (the grass field) so send me an email to let me know if you want to have a practice.

Game this weekend?

2009-02-23T22:31:00.000-08:00

I should know for sure tomorrow, but odds are we do not have a league game this weekend.

I'm basing this on the fact that Gorge and Juan de Fuca are playing their outstanding league game and both Gordon Head and Lakehill have had a bye in the past two weeks. So it makes some sense that if an exhibition game is scheduled, it won't involve the Storm.

Stay tuned!

PS. I should also know tomorrow if our turf time has been pre-empted this Thursday.

Good Experience

2009-02-23T18:41:00.000-08:00

From the post-match chatter it was clear not everyone enjoyed our game against the U13 Boys, but I believe it was good experience for you all. I also think it might just make a difference in an upcoming game where we're first to the ball and stronger in the tackle.

Good points first. Our first 10-15 minutes was good and we had good energy. We kept our shape and competed very well for the ball. There were some crunching tackles and good, measured aggression. We even managed to foul them a couple of times, which was what I hoped might happen :-) We tried to play the way we were facing and tried to keep it simple, but this was made much harder by a team that was overall quicker in their anticipation of the ball and their decisions when they had it.

After their first goal was when some of our bad habits started making a re-appearance. We made some poor decisions - passing when we had time to dribble, turning with the ball when we needed a knock-down - and many of their goals came from an inability to clear the ball or anticipate the shot or rebound. None of their goals were very special and on most they came as a direct result of us losing possession too easily, then failing to defend properly. I expected them to score goals, just not quite in the manner they did. Late on in the game we resorted to boot-ball, which was never going to work against a faster, bigger team, but this was understandable given your desire not to give-up any more goals. One final thing was our communication - or lack of it. Did you notice how much they talked too each other?

I hope the boys don't give you much ribbing at school. A rematch is not entirely out of the question, and if we do play I think one of our strategies should be to keep a low profile and learn from our mistakes. So don't whine or make excuses, just focus on what you need to do as an individual to complete with them for 60-minutes, not just here or there.

Remember, the scoreline is irrelevant. Instead, what's important is what you learned about yourself and how you apply that in your next game.

Soccer This Week

2009-02-22T21:41:00.000-08:00

Here is our practice and game schedule this week:

Monday - 5pm vs U13 Boys Gold
Tuesday - NO PRACTICE
Thursday - There is a possibility our practice may be pre-empted by a cup game. I should know for sure late Monday.
Saturday - still unsure whether we have a game. Again, I should know for sure Tuesday.

Bays 1 Storm 0

2009-02-21T22:31:00.000-08:00

An improved second half saw us threaten to score, but in the end Bays ran out deserved 1-0 victors and the rights to play Peninsula in a one-game, winner-take-all final next week. The winner goes to the Island Championships.

On balance I think Bays is the stronger of the two teams. They certainly play to their strengths and utilize strong kicks from their central defender and very aggressive play from their midfielders. I think they ended up as leading scorers in the league and allowed the fewest goals, but I don't rate their strikers or keeper very highly. So for me it's toss up whether they beat Peninsula. The two teams play very similar styles (moving the ball quickly up field with long kicks) so it might come down to who can grind out a goal or who capitalizes on the others mistake.

We came out very flat today and Bays took full advantage of our early inability to a) get to the ball b) clear the ball or c) find our check. It wasn't pretty to watch and we had some world-class mis-kicks out there. After about twenty-five minutes we found something of our passing game, but overall Bays was the hungrier team and did a better job of doing the things we couldn't (or wouldn't).

The second half, particularly the first fifteen minutes, was much improved. Your showed a lot of character standing up to Bays and we dictated the play for long stretches. We did this because we started winning the ball higher up the field. And when you won the ball your passing got better. And we had scoring chances. And their parents and coaches got nervous.

We also gave their defenders far less time on the ball and caused them to lose possession just by hustling and closing them down. We might even have snuck a tying goal as twice Emma was denied from close-in and then Paige had a chance with virtually the final kick of the game. Bays seemed relieves at the end of the game, which is testimony to hwo well you battled in the second half. As I have said to you time and time again, if you can match other teams for desire, then you possess the skill to beat them.

Our trouble today was we only did this for 35 minutes.

Have a good weekend ladies and rest up for the BOYS!

White Jerseys Tomorrow

2009-02-20T21:00:00.000-08:00

A gentle reminder that we're wearing our white jerseys tomorrow against Bays Utd.

Parking at Henderson Park

2009-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

Bays United has asked that I pass on a message to Storm parents that they should park at either Henderson Park Recreation Centre or Uplands School and not on the side streets around Henderson Park.

Apparently area residents purchased their houses in the summer when no one was playing on the fields so they get a tad upset when someone actually uses it.

Hope to see you all there around Noon.

District Cup Game on March 14

2009-02-18T21:18:00.000-08:00

I have received information regarding the U13 Gold Girls District Cup. Our first round game is March 14, opponent and location TBA.

As this is the first weekend of Spring Break (for public schools anyway) I need to get an idea as to whether we will have enough players. We cannot use Silver or underage players in the cup so we will need to win it with the thirteen we have! The semi-finals are on March 28 and the final is April 4 in Sooke.

Please complete the poll on the blog ASAP.

Also, I am hearing that LISA has scheduled exhibition games for us the weeks of February 28 and March 7. I suspect Juan de Fuca and Gorge will be our opponents. I will confirm this as soon as possible.

Boys U13 Game Confirmed

2009-02-14T21:58:00.000-08:00

When: Monday February 23, 5-6pm
Where: Lochside Park
What to Wear: White "Storm" Jerseys
What to Bring: Attitude

Anyone not able to play should let me know ASAP. This is meant to be a fun run-around, but we should view this as a good warm-up for our upcoming cup games.

Storm 3 Gordon Head 0

2009-02-14T19:49:00.000-08:00

My correspondent at the game tells me it was a very solid effort from the Storm in a 3-0 victory against Gordon Head. This was confirmed by several GHSA parents I spoke with this evening who assure me it wasn't all one-way traffic and that our defenders and goalkeepers had strong games and played a big roll in the victory.

I was also pleased to hear (through mostly crackly cellular waves - Salt Spring might as well be near Pluto!) that Kristina joined the list of 2008-09 goalscorers with a good finish from close-in. Equally, I understand Brooke' s was a howitzer from twelve yards that threatend to tear the net off the goal posts and that Chloe's was a boomer from all of 80 yards! Excellent stuff, just what we practiced on Thursday night ;-)

So it sounds like we put that loss against Lakehill behind us. Congratulations to Coach Rob! Now we need to finish the league season on a high with a win against Bays. It's a huge game for Bays as they are tied with Peninsula for first place going into the last weekend of the season. Should be interesting.

Hope to see you all at practice Tuesday.

U13 Boy's Exhibition Game

2009-02-10T13:03:00.000-08:00

Not quite sure how a team with thirteen players can cast eighteen votes, but the majority appears to want a game against the Boys U13 Gold. I will speak with their coach this week but my guess is we're probably looking at two Monday's from now - February 23rd. I will provide an update next week.

Tuesday Practrice Cancelled

2009-02-10T13:02:00.000-08:00

Check the blog for updates on Thursday's practice.

World Cups 2009 Registration Open

2009-02-09T15:42:00.001-08:00

Registration for this year's World Cups Festival is now open. This year's event runs from Friday April 10 through Sunday April 12th.

Link to online registration is here http://worldcups.cordovabaysoccer.org/index.php?fuseaction=league.form&league=World%20Cups

Lakehill Reminders

2009-02-05T21:48:00.000-08:00

Game time is 11am at Braefoot #2 and we are wearing our maroon jerseys. Get a good rest Friday night and please be at the park for 10:30am.

Hard Luck

2009-01-31T14:32:00.000-08:00

Once again we leave Blue Heron Park with a narrow loss to show for a battling performance. I can't help but be frustrated when we lose the way we did and to their only shot of the game. But that's why they're in first place - they take their chances. We worked hard today, but we didn't work very smart. I also thought our passing and movement was the perhaps worst it's been all season. I'll put that down to the awful playing surface (concrete) and the fact we just couldn't control the ball quick enough before a Peninsula player was in our face.

Rob and Willie will be taking the reigns for the next couple of games and hopefully Brett or Steph will be available to help out with practices. See you all in February!

White Jerseys

2009-01-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

A friendly reminder that we're wearing our white "Storm" jerseys tomorrow against Peninsula.

Battling Victory for the Storm

2009-01-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

Well, that was a bruiser! All the better that we won then because anything less would have made the nicks and bruises we suffered hurt just that little bit more. It was nice to finally score a goal on Gorge because we had a stinker the first time we played them and the last match at Hampton Park was frustrating after dominating possession. That was a hard-fought win ladies, a real battle from start to finish.

Positives first. We played with a lot of intensity and energy and more than matched Gorge's commitment to winning the ball. We scored two very different goals, but both came as a result of winning the ball and making quick, smart decisions after gaining possession. Our defence was excellent, particularly Lily and Holly, and our fullbacks (Margaret, Marissa, Mia and Annabel) supported the forwards with nice through balls and good defensive positioning. I also liked how our attacking midfielders (Emma especially) got forward to get some shots on goal. Our goals were excellent, especially Chloe's well executed left-foot shot from Paige's fast low centreing pass. Not sure who got the final touch to the second but either Olivia or Brooke would be deserving after strong outings. And, not to be missed, Mia made a great face-save in the first-half after we gifted Gorge possession in our eighteen. Guts. Mara showed what a tough cookie she is after taking a high-tackle to the knee.

Areas needing improvement. Our free kicks didnt have the loft or distance to get past the first defender and we gave possession away as a result. Communication. Too often we had two players converging on the ball and getting in each others way. Remember, one player must always take command of the situation. Usually this is the player closest to the ball or, when players are equally close, the player who is moving toward the opposition goal, not going back toward's ours. Heading. Our defensive headers were good, attacking headers not so good. If our forwards can learn to use their heads we will score more goals. Simple as that.

So now we recuperate and prepare for what will be a very tough match against Peninsula. We will definately need to have a full compliment of players and be fully fit to take on the league leaders. As a result so you can expect a different sort of practice Tuesday :-)

Enjoy your weekend!

Gordon Head Jamboree April 3-4-5

2009-01-18T17:58:00.000-08:00

Looks like a very competitive group of teams that have registered for this year's Gordon Head Jamboree. The Jamboree is scheduled for April 3-5 and some games may be played at Lochside Park.

So far there our competition comes from Vancouver (Dunbar Tigers and Dunbar Jabbawockies), Coquitlam Tornado, Comox Valley Salsa, West Vancouver Xtreme, Port Coquitlam Strikers and our local rivals Lakehill Reds. Not sure how many teams they're accepting but I noticed the Girls U13 Recreational Division "A" filled up faster than any other.

I'm assuming everyone is available to play that weekend (Spring Break for public schools is Mar 16-20) but if you're not then let me know as soon as possible.

Excellent Effort Today!

2009-01-17T15:22:00.000-08:00

You should be very pleased with your performance today. I thought everyone worked exceptionally hard today and kept a high tempo for almost 70 minutes.

We controlled much of the possession and certainly had the ball in their end more often than they did in ours. But the one thing you can never control is luck, and we definitely didn't have any of that in the second half. First Marissa's shot cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and down and then Brooke G's quick turn and shot was cleared off the goal line. In between we had the ball in their penalty area 4-5 times without getting a good look at goal or a decent shot, but there was plenty of pressure. They say luck even's itself out over the course of the season, so let's hope we get a deposit next weekend against Gorge.

I was really pleased with our defensive play where we were first to the ball quicker than we've have done in recent games. More of that again next week please!

Practice is Tuesday as usual and we will continue to work on explosive and reactive foot speed.

Frank Leversedge

2009-01-11T22:55:00.000-08:00

It is with extreme sadness that I note the passing of Frank Leversedge. Frank collapsed at Lochside Park Saturday morning doing what he did on thousands of ocassions - giving his time, energy and expertise for the "little soccer club that could". I offer my sincere condolences to Peggy, Fraser, Renton and their families on their loss.

Over the course of thirty years Frank nurtured and sustained Cordova Bay Soccer Club and it is not an overstatement to say the club would not exist without him as his contributions to the club are legendary. They include serving on almost every position on the Board at one time or another, including President; overseeing the expansion of the park by three acres to also include softball and converted the soccer fields to a sand-based operation, developed a partnership with the Community Badminton Hall so that youth soccer players could practice indoors in the winter season and for mini-tournaments; founding and nurturing the World Cups Festival, and most recently, the vision, planning and construction of our new turf field. Truly, a staggering legacy that is surely unparralled in local soccer circles.

Frank spoke often about the affection he felt for the "jewel" that is Cordova Bay Soccer Club. It is a measure of the man that he never once asked for any credit, despite the fact he largely made the club what it is today.

I consider it a privilege to have known and worked alongside Frank and hope and trust his legacy is never forgotten. He truly was one-of-a-kind and I am humbled by his grace, humour and passion for life and the goodwill of others.

Storm 4 Gordon Head 0

2009-01-10T21:10:00.000-08:00

Some pictures of our game courtesy of Lakehill's Chief Scout! Judging by the subjects of the pictures I'm pretty sure Lakehill will be receiving a dossier full of intelligence reports about Paige's two goals, Chloe's set-up play and Olivia's fine finishing! We won't be seeing Lakehill again until February but I'm sure they'll be ready for us!

Overall we had a strong game from several different players. Once again we were very solid at the back only suffering a couple moments of panic and one strange penalty decision which gratefully went high and wide! In the first half when the score was tight I thought our defence - lead by Lily and Holly - did a great job handling the threat of Dallas and Bri. Both are very good players who can cause any team trouble. On a slick pitch a goalie's handling becomes critical and I thought Marissa's goalkeeping in the first half was excellent. Mia was less-tested in the second-half but her kicking was superb.

We played with a couple of different midfield combinations and with the exception of a ten-minute period in the first-half, I thought we got to grips pretty well. Our midfield seemed a little confused about our checking assignments when we didnt have the ball, but we got forward as a group better than some previous games. On our first goal it was a midfielder (Emma) who got to Olivia's cross first and caused the confusion which allowed Paige to slot home from close range. In the second half Lily, Chloe and Olivia all saw plenty of possession and contributed some good passes and support. Brooke E also had one great burst into the penalty area, only to be thwarted at the last moment.

When you score four goals it's pretty clear your forwards had a good-day at the office. Our second and third goals were the result of sustained pressure in the GH penalty area. Brooke G's shot had the good fortune of a wicked deflection before it crossed the goal line, but it was deserved given all of her hard work on the left side. Paige's second came from a poorly cleared ball from the GH defence, but the finish was top-notch - giving their keeper no chance with a shot high to the goalie's right. Olivia's was a highlight reel goal - good movement across the field from left-to-right, with Kristina's final killer pass allowing Olivia to blast home from a slight-angle. Perhaps we should have scored a couple more, but we scored the goals needed to win and that's what you aim for.

Next up is Juan de Fuca. Both contests earlier in the season were close affairs and I dont expect much difference this weekend. I expect I'll know game location by practice time Thursday.

Bottle Drive on Saturday

2009-01-06T17:06:00.001-08:00

The club is holding a bottle drive this Saturday to raise funds for the Turf. Very few of you are likely aware because someone forgot to let everyone know in December. Looks bad on the Club President that his team(s) aren't involved, but there you go!

Anyway, Storm players can still participate by dropping off any bottles and cans they may have hanging around the house at the field before our game Saturday. Your parents may even have some full bottles they might consider emptying before Saturday ;-).

The bottle drop will be located in the parking lot at Lochside Park from around 10am onwards.

Tuesday Practice Cancelled

2009-01-06T16:57:00.000-08:00

The field is far too wet from the melted snow and current downpour.

Hope to see everyone on Thursday at 7pm.

Bring It Indoors Champions!

2009-01-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Chloe, Olivia, Paige, Lily, Emma and Monique on their dominating performance this weekend at the Bays Indoor Tournament. The girls went undefeated, winning all five games including the final in a rough and tumble contest against Gorge.

Thanks to Bob Hegland for entering a team and asking me to coach - it was a pleasure coaching the girls this weekend.

And final thanks to Rob Kobenter for the team photos (in case you're interested Rob the Storm has an opening for team phgotographer :-). I'm sure we'll see some other photos soon.

Exhibition Game Cancelled

2009-01-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately Peninsula U14 has advised that they cannot field a team for tomorrow so the game is off. Hopefully we'll get another opportunity to play them later in the season.

We will practice at 6pm instead.

Oak Bay Turf Update

2008-12-18T21:27:00.000-08:00

Looks like Friday night could end up being a mini-tournament including players from Gordon Head and Lakehill. So far we have six from the Storm, six from Gordon Head and seven from lakehill.

Those of you that are planning on attending should bring your white Storm jersey, but we may just split all the girls into three teams as we really want this to be fun event.

Let's hope the snow holds until at least Saturday! If in doubt please give me a call.

Ho Ho Ho!

Indoors at Oak Bay Recreation Centre

2008-12-14T15:14:00.001-08:00

Thanks to Olivia's Dad, the Storm has access to two hours of indoor turf time this Friday (Dec 19) at Oak Bay Recreation Centre. I believe Rob has booked it for 6-8pm.

Please let Drew or Rob know ASAP if you can make it by way of the poll.

Team Photos

2008-12-08T20:27:00.000-08:00

The team and individual photos have arrived and look very nice. If you would like to pick your package up I will have them with me at Lochside Park this Thursday at 7pm. Otherwise you can stop my house and pick them up. Just give me a call first to make sure someone will be home.

No Game Next Week

2008-12-06T18:08:00.000-08:00

Our friendly game next Thursday against the Pumas has been cancelled. This means there is no schedule practices next week.

*** Reminder that our first game back is January 10 against Gordon Head. Please let me know if you are unable to attend so that I can pull-up some players from the Pumas or Chaos.

We may also have an exhibition game on January 6, but this game is not yet confirmed. Please keep checking the blog over the Christmas break for updates.

Please have a safe and Merry Christmas and New Years and we'll see you in 2009.

Winter Break

2008-12-02T10:23:00.001-08:00

A quick note about the winter break. Our last game before Christmas is Dec 6th, but I am planning a scrimmage game vs. Pumas for Thursday Dec 11 . I will have more details by Thursday practice.

Our first game of the New Year is Jan 10 vs Gordon Head @ Lochside Park. In preparation, I am presently trying to arrange an exhibition game for Tuesday Jan 6 at Lochside Park. I hope to confirm our opponents this week.

Gordon Head 0 Storm 1

2008-11-29T22:28:00.000-08:00

Congrats on your hard work today ladies. Of all games the ref decides to play extra time (I think we played 40 minutes in the first half, 35 in the second) he chooses the game where we have a short-bench. Despite the handicap of having only one substitute we came away with the win and plenty of positives to take into our last game before Christmas.

Some of the positives are obvious - Chloe's goal (a bullet from eighteen yards!); our fourth consecutive clean-sheet; our passing and movement (particularly in the first-half); as well as the desire and hustle we showed all game. Other positives were more subtle - getting first to the ball (Holly, Lily and Annabel in particular); players soldiering-on despite suffering cold and flu (Olivia and Kristina); very assured clearances from our keepers (Emma and Leah); and headers (Holly again, along with Kristina). And special mention of the two Chaos kids - Mara and Erin. Both of them had a long, tiring game earlier in the morning and they didn't look out of place amongst all of the "bigger" players.

Hopefully next week we will be back to our full quota of players for the visit of Bays United.

Storm 0 Lakehill 0

2008-11-22T22:30:00.001-08:00

I cant fault your endeavour today - each of you worked very hard and put your self about, but in the end there wasn't much end product to all our huffing and puffing. We got some good looks at goal, hit the upright, shot over from distance, but in-close, we either didnt battle hard enough or anticipate the shot, rebound or pass.

Lakehill came to close us down and they did a good job, particularly their back line who were first to most of the ball played in their end. Our defense wasn't too shabby either, and I thought we looked more assured on the ball today than we have perhaps in any other game so far this season. We fielded several different defensive combinations and each one did their job very effectively. Our goalkeeping was also very good, with excellent handling and distribution from both Marissa and Mia. That's three straight shut-outs and we should be very proud of that achievement.

Going forward we didnt look as good as we did against Peninsula. We had our moments with some good wing-play, but the Lakehill defence did a good job of getting into the passing lanes and just generally disrupting our attacking game. It seemed at times we forgot we had a midfield (or the midfield forgot it's game) and the ball ping-ponged back and forth between opposition defenders. We have to get the ball down and play our way forward to have success and we didnt do enough of this today.

Next up is Gordon Head. We haven't seen them since the Tourney on the Turf, but we will be playing them twice in short order - once this weekend and again January 10th at Lochside Park.

Congratulations to Paige!

2008-11-15T21:37:00.000-08:00

My congrats to Paige on being identified as a player of interest at the recent Whitecaps Prospect Camp at PSIE. Not sure when she registered at Juan de Fuca but she played a stormer for us today against Peninsula so I'll have to thank them for loaning her to us for the day!

I also didn't realize that LISA Metro teams were officially known as "Metro/Selects" - seems a contradiction in terms to me. Oh well, you can add that to a very long list of things about both LISA and Metro that puzzles me!

Click on the linky for the article from the LISA website: http://www.lowerislandsoccer.com/

Storm find their feet on the Turf!

2008-11-15T18:08:00.001-08:00

What a perfect result for our inaugural game on our new turf! In many respects it felt like the start of the new season rather than the middle of November. How can it be the middle of November with weather like what we had today. Amazing!

We challenged you before the game to match your skill with an equal amount of desire and you responded by putting three goals past the current league leaders. If you can consistently find the energy and commitment you showed on the pitch today then you will always win more than you lose. It's really that simple - keep your approach to the game simple, work hard and make quick, smart decisions and the results will follow.

Now the challenge for you is to keep-up that tempo and desire next game, and the game after that, and so on. But first we're back on Turf for more fitness training and ballwork on Tuesday. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and we'll see you at 5:30, sharpish.

Storm Photos

2008-11-12T23:50:00.001-08:00

Storm photos (team and individual players) are scheduled for this Saturday at Lochside Park. Please be there for 11:30am.

Gorge 0 Storm 0

2008-11-08T20:59:00.000-08:00

Frustrated. That's a word I find myself repeating to both myself and others when I analyze our games. Frustrated that we don't turn our chances into goals, frustrated that we "switch-off" on throw-ins and other dead-ball situations, and frustrated that we often seem to play to the level of our opposition. No, I'm not saying Gorge is a bad team. More that they didnt play well either and if we had applied our skills a bit better we could have been celebrating a win instead of a draw.

Unlike last week's game against Juan de Fuca where there was little to choose between the teams, we dominated Saturday's game for long stretches and deserved the win. Put simply, we created more than enough chances to win, but we failed to take them. I dont think Gorge had the ball in our end and under control more than five minutes in the second-half. But despite all of the play being in their end, too often we were late getting into the box for the cross or closing down the defender. Gorge defenders did well clearing the ball, but on many occasions we made it easier for them by not putting any pressure on them.

What's a bit more worrying was that we rarely strung more than one or two passes together all game. One of the hardest things to do against a energetic team like Gorge is to keep your composure and play simple balls. We didnt do enough of either and it seemed we were a tad tired or uninspired. Whatever it was we never reached the tempo at which we are capable of playing. And that's very frustrating as a coach when you dont feel your players left it all on the field. Be very sure that we will spend most of this week practising and re-discovering our passing game.

Next up is Peninsula. The good news is that our first game back at Lochside will be on turf. The flip-side is that we will need a much-improved performance from all players if we hope to take all three points on offer.

See you all at practice on Tuesday.

Game On!

2008-11-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

Gorge has opened Upper Hampton so the game is a go!

Storm 0 JDF 1

2008-11-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

I felt there was very little to choose between the teams today. Neither team created much in the way of good scoring opportunities with defenders dominating the forwards at both ends of the field. I think 0-0 would have been a fairer representation of the play and possession, but a communication breakdown at the wrong time and in the wrong place allowed their forward to steal-in and score the winner. Ouch! One mistake and we get punished for it. These small mistakes are happening less and less as the season progresses, but that doesn't make the loss any harder to swallow. But our luck must surely turn soon so we need to keep our head's up and work harder the next time.

Oct 28 Practice Cancelled

2008-10-28T18:26:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Practice Cancelled.

Where's Margaret Poll Result

2008-10-26T23:19:00.001-07:00

A close return this week with a tie between training with Cirque du Soleil and trapped in the Eiffel Tower. Thanks to everyone for voting. Hopefully we'll find out real soon where Margaret has been these past two months.

Danone Nations Cup Tryouts

2008-10-20T22:11:00.000-07:00

The tryouts for the Danone Nations Cup are being held Saturday November 22. This is an International Tournament open to all soccer players both male and female in the U12 (1997) age group. I recommend that all of the Storm 97's should attend. I've received conflicting information that this years sessions are open to U11's as well, so I will confirm that ASAP.

All training camps and tryouts are FREE all you have to do is register online. The players chosen will play off against Danone provincial teams from across Canada, and the winning team will take an all expenses paid trip to FRANCE to Compete in an International Tournament the following summer. This is a very exciting opportunity that all players should have the chance to attend. The camps are full of fun, prizes, yogurt and lots of soccer. More information is available on the website http://www.coupedanonecup.com/. Be sure to register early as spaces are limited.

Where's Margaret?

2008-10-19T10:53:00.000-07:00

This week's poll asks "Where's Margaret?" Dispatches from foreign correspondents tend to indicate Margaret could just about be anywhere. Which one do you think is correct?

Thanks to everyone for participating in last weeks poll about Olivia's dog. Final tally was a tie between Barbie Accessory and Appetizer.

Bays 1 Storm 1

2008-10-18T18:52:00.001-07:00

A 1-1 draw against the league leaders is never a bad result, but I think we did enough to win the game so it feels like a little bit of a let-down. At 1-0 I thought we had a good chance of scoring the next goal but instead they equalized and we lost momentum.

Our goal today was excellent. Chloe won and kept possession on the far right, played a short ball into space for Annabel who then knocked a low pass/shot across the top of the six yard box that was thumped home from Brooke E near the far post. Brooke's timing running onto the cross was perfect and was great reward for a hustling performance. Way to go to Brooke E! We had a couple of other chances from crooses/shots after strong runs by Chloe and Brooke G, but we didnt connect with our shots when they mattered. I think the long grass had quite a bit to do with our soft shots.

Their equalizer was frustrating because we failed to put any pressure on the ball carrier higher up the field. This allowed their player to dribble to our penalty area and then lay-off a ball for a good shot to the corner. We had defenders and midfielder on that side of the field at the time but they backed-off the ball too much and invited the Bays player to get closer to our goal. Remember we always need to put pressure on the ball carrier. Their goal changed the game and for a period we lost our shape and possession of the ball. That's what happens - goals change games - and we proceeded to spend too much time on the back foot and this seemed to zap our energy levels going forward. That said, our defending was solid, and all of our defenders did well clearing the ball upfield when we were in trouble. Thanks to Mia it stayed 1-1 as she made two great saves late on - the first off a shot at the near post and another diving low to save a shot to her right corner.

Remember next time we play on a short or narrow field that it's absolutely critical our wide players stay as wide as possible. When we did this today I thought we looked like we could get around their defenders easily. However when play became scrambly our wide players ventured too far into the middle. This resulted in us bunching up, and when we did get possession and made passes out wide often no one was there.

We also need to keep our eyes on the ball when kicking - there were too many soft passes and mis-kicks today from us. Some of this was from mental and physical fatigue of playing six games in one week.

Our next game is Juan de Fuca on our new Turf. For anyone considering turf shoes I recommend the Nike Tiempo. Turf shoes are not required - multi-stud work just fine - but if you have blade-styles cleats you may want to consider a pair of turf shoes instead. All of our practices from November onward will be on turf.

Only 3 days left to vote!

2008-10-17T18:35:00.000-07:00

So far this poll has stimulated more excitement than Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Stefan Dion combined! Although the author of this blog is not surprised in the least, many media pundits were calling for a much tighter race, especially in the northern part of the Storm riding where there appears more sympathy to, well, white fuzzy things.

Presently the poll has Barbie Accessory and Appetizer running neck and neck, but the voters appear very fickle so plenty could change in the next 24 hours.

Stay tuned!

Tomorrow's Game

2008-10-17T18:27:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's game against Bays United is 12:30pm at Pemberton Park. Pemberton Park is located across from Glenlyon-Norfolk School in deepest, darkest Victoria. Here are the instructions from the BUYSA website:

Pemberton Park
Located in south-eastern Victoria at 1800 Richardson Street, which is the intersection of Richardson and Gonzales Avenue. Parking is available on the east side of Gonzales Avenue adjacent to the playing field.

REMINDER: White Jerseys

2008-10-16T22:21:00.000-07:00

Remember that we are wearing our white jerseys for the Bays Game.

Stormy Weather at Lakehill Tournament!

2008-10-13T13:48:00.000-07:00

Goals from Marissa, Paige and Chloe held off a determined Lakehill Reds in the final of the 2008 Lakehill Fall Classic. It looked dicey for a couple of minutes before and after their penalty-kick, but a superb interception and pass from Mara set up Chloe for our insurance goal and victory was ours! Mia was a standout in goal - her handling and distribution were excellent in the slick conditions.

We started the weekend with battling performances against Juan de Fuca and Lakehill. Our performances in these two games set the tone for the weekend and allowed us the comfort of two fairly easy victories on the Sunday. Both of our Sunday games we were expected to win, but Friday and Saturday were games where it could have gone either way. As it was we ground out draws against two very good teams.

So congratulations to all Storm players on their performance this weekend. Five games in three days is a tall order but we still showed plenty of energy and enthusiasm in our last game. As much as everyone contributed to the tournament win, I would like to give special mention to Lily, Brooke G, Paige, Chloe and Olivia for their particularly strong play over the five games. I would also like to thank the Pumas - Sarah, Nicole and Leanne - and of course Mara from the Chaos.

Thanks also to those thoughtful parents that step up and help with running the lines, as Derek and Josh did on Friday and Saturday. I really appreciate your effort on my behalf. Rob Swinton also deserves special mention for purchasing our funky tent.

And final thanks to Rob Kobenter for the pictures.

Positional Play, Playing Time and Patience

2008-10-13T11:40:00.000-07:00

I would like to thank all the parents for their patience as we move players around through different positions. I appreciate every parent has an opinion as to which position their daughter is best suited and that's fine. Sometimes however that won't match up with with the coaches view of that player or the dynamics of that particular game. Please remember this is U13 so is still considered a development year and thus too early (IMHO) to specialize in one position.

I would also like to clarify the issue of playing-time. Each player is guaranteed half a game, but other players may play most or all of the game at the coaches discretion. Playing time is based on attendance and performance at both practices and games.

If you have concerns with how your daughter is being coached or what positions she is or isn't playing please feel free to speak with me. It's better that you address your concerns with me directly. You are also welcome to consult with our Technical Director (Brett Hyslop) about any matter.

And the vote is...

2008-10-13T11:39:00.000-07:00

...no game on October 25th. Thanks to everyone for participating in the vote.

New uniforms have arrived!

2008-10-09T14:14:00.000-07:00

Our change (all white) uniforms have arrived. Cost is $30 and they are yours to keep.

I will bring them Friday evening so perhaps we can wear them for one of our games this weekend.

New Tournament Schedule

2008-10-06T23:34:00.000-07:00

Friday October 10 - 6:45pm vs Juan de Fuca @ Braefoot #1
Saturday October 11 - 5:40pm vs Lakehill @ Braefoot #1
Sunday October 12 - 11:50am vs Port McNeill @ Braefoot #1
Sunday October 12 - 3:20pm vs Juan de Fuca @ TBA

Monday Game would be 9:45am @ Braefoot #1

Lakehill Tournament Schedule

2008-10-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

The tournament schedule is being revised due to some late team cancellations.

The latest draft I viewed showed one game on Friday evening, one on Saturday and two Sunday. And there is the possibility of one further game on Monday morning.

Hopefully I'll have a confirmed schedule by tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Lakehill 0 Storm 5

2008-10-04T21:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations ladies! That was an excellent team performance in some pretty miserable weather. We did many of those things that you need to do to win games - first to the ball, playing the way you're facing and keeping your play simple. When we had the ball I thought some of our approach play was excellent - especially from wide positions where Chloe, Brooke G, Olivia and Krsitina showed some great dribbling and imagination. I think each of our goals came from balls played into the penalty area from wide areas where we were either first to react to the ball or we got away great shots when the ball was only half-cleared. As I recall events Chloe's, Olivia's first and both of Paige's goals came from this situation. It really was a pleasure to watch.

I also thought we defended well. When Lakehill did manage to get the ball through our midfield, I thought our centre-backs and fullbacks dealt with everything very comfortably. Lily, Leah, Holly and Annabel all had especially good games, showing great composure and reading of the game. And in goal both Emma and Marissa's positioning, handling, distribution and confidence was excellent. I'm just as happy we came away with a clean sheet - also a first for this season.

We have four games this weekend in the Lakehill Tourney and our first - noon on Saturday vs. Gordon Head - is a league game. If we show the same energy, enthusiasm and dedication to keeping our play simple then I think we should do fine.

Check the blog for updates on our other three games this coming weekend.

Peninsula 3 Storm 2

2008-09-29T12:00:00.000-07:00

Another good performance and another narrow loss. I thought we were much better this week than we were against Gorge. In our game at Claremont I felt we were a bit flat and lacked some of the zip we had against JDF. However in our game last Saturday we came out flying and were well worth our 2-1 lead at half. It was a pleasure to watch. We won plenty of loose balls in the midfield, our decision making was good and our passing was quick and strong. I was especially pleased how we didnt let their first goal affect our game - we came right back down the field and replied with our second goal. In fact we probably could have and should have had a bigger lead at half, and that would have been nice considering our lack of substitutes.

I thought this was the biggest deciding factor in the outcome of the game. In the second-half our energy sagged and they took full advantage to score two goals to take victory. Even so we had a couple of good chances at 2-2 to score and missed them both, so we will spend some more time on finishing at practice this week.

We have Lakehill next Saturday at Braefoot and I expect another tough opponent. If we can find and keep the same tempo and passing game we had against Peninsula for the first 30 minutes then I think we'll be fine.

Thursday Practice

2008-09-25T14:25:00.000-07:00

We couldn't get the field for 5:30pm tonight so practice is still 7pm.

Storm 0 Gorge 1

2008-09-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

Much of what we did well against Juan de Fuca deserted us against Gorge. We just didn't seem to have the zip and confidence we showed against JDF and despite having possession in their end for good stretches of play we didn't once seriously trouble their keeper.

And once again we got punished for one moment of lack of concentration. That's pretty rough-justice considering Gorge didnt get another shot on goal, but luck has a way of evening itself so I'm sure we'll be rewarded for our play soon enough.

I was very pleased with our defense - in particular I thought Lily, Holly and Emma were very strong - but we didn't win enough of the ball in midfield and when we did we didn't make the right pass or decision often enough. We were also slow to close-down their players. On the plus-side I thought we carried most of the play in the second-half, which is amazing considering we had one sub and they had four.

Their goal was a classic example of losing posession of the ball in midfield and five seconds later watching it go into your net. Actually we didn't really have possession, but we should have. Instead our communication was very poor and our indecision allowed a Gorge player to gain possession and put a thru-ball for their forward to run onto. Not sure how the ball managed to squeeze between our defenders and Leah, but that seems to be our luck at the moment. One shot all game and they score - that's hard to stomach! But make no mistake, the actual damage was done when we lost possession. Remember - if we have the ball, the other team cant score.

This Saturday we have Peninsula at Blue Heron Park. Consensus among other U13 coaches suggest they're one of the teams to beat along with Bays United. We did well against Peninsula last season without getting the result our play deserved. Let's make sure we bring our "A" game this weekend and leave Blue Heron happy.

Juan de Fuca 2 Storm 0

2008-09-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

As dissapointed as we might be with the result,

our first game of the season was an excellent performance. Our energy was excellent, our passing was good, and we kept our shape very well. What was needed was the finish to our approach play and I'm quite sure we would have had a different result. On another day against another gaolie I think we would scored easily.

Looking at the goals we conceded I was struck by how simple they were and how each was typical of goals scored at this level.

For the first we failed to deal with a cross from a indirect freekick and from there it was a simple tap-in amid the chaos of a goalmouth scramble. We must become accustomed to dealing with high balls into our penalty area from free-kicks and corners. We do this by ensuring we are always first to the ball, especially in the air where we must be fearless and get our head on the ball. Unless you are under no pressure, defenders or goalkeepers should never wait until the ball hits the ground. Remember, there is nowhere on a soccer field where communication is more important than the penalty area.

Their second goal was a long-ball which we didnt deal with at all. Their player did a good job of guessing our centre-half had misjudged the flight of the ball and ran onto the ball for a breakaway. This wasnt the first time it happened - Mia made some great saves prior to this - so it shouldnt have come as a surprise. Long balls can be combated by putting pressure on the passer and the centre-halves sitting deeper on the field in anticipation of the kick. As with high balls into our penalty area, with more experience it becomes easier to deal with the long-ball game.

In between their goals we played some very nice soccer and I'm sure any neutral would have been surprised we weren't winning. But its goals that win games, and the sooner we learn to take our chances the better.

Gorge Home Game

2008-09-18T23:04:00.000-07:00

This Saturday's game is 12:30pm at Claremont Secondary. Please be there for 11:45am.

Saturday's Game

2008-09-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

Location for our game is Juan de Fuca Field #1. Game time is 12:30pm so please be there for noonish. Here are directions:

Juan de Fuca Fields
Go south on Old Island Highway. Pass McDonald's on your right. Turn left at Ocean Drive (there are lights here) and then turn left again almost immediately. The skating arena should be on your left and you will come to an intersection. Turn right, go down the hill and you are there. Look for our white tent on the first field on your left.

Reminder to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. Saturday is supposed to be a scorcher so we need to ensure we stay hydrated and out of the sun as much as possible.

And get a good night's rest - NO SLEEPOVERS!

Tuesday Practice Time

2008-09-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

Tuesday practice is 5:30pm, and not 7pm as previously shown.

Location remains Cordova Bay School.

Girls U13 Gold Schedule Released

2008-08-29T18:08:00.001-07:00

LISA has released the Girls U13 Gold Schedule. All games are 12:30pm kick-off and halves are thirty-five minutes. Game location is usually confirmed the Thursday prior. Below are our games for the first round.

Sep 6 - no scheduled game
Sep 13 @ Juan de Fuca
Sep 20 vs Gorge
Sep 27 @ Peninsula
Oct 4 @ Lakehill
Oct 11 vs Gordon Head
Oct 18 @ Bays United

Thursday Practice

2008-08-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow's practice is 5pm at Lochside Park.

Tourney on The Turf Schedule

2008-08-26T20:04:00.000-07:00

Once again we play as Argentina. Here are our game times:

Saturday 10am vs. Juan de Fuca and 1pm vs. Gordon Head
Sunday 12pm vs Bays United and 3pm (Final).

The ten players confirmed that have confirmed are:

Annabel, Chloe, Emma, Leah, Lily, Margaret, Marissa, Mia, Olivia and Paige.

Tournament fees are $30/player so please bring your money on Saturday.

PS. I am also putting together a U12 squad for any 1997 girls that might be interested.

Practice Time Changes

2008-08-25T11:12:00.000-07:00

I have soccer-related meetings Tuesday and Thursday so practice times this week need to be moved-up. Tuesday's practice is 5:30pm and Thursday's is 5pm. Both practixes are at Claremont Secondary on the bottom field.

Practices in September might also need to be earlier than usual due to the fact we will have only one lit field until October. This may mean more 5pm practices. We can discuss at practice this week.

Sunday Game Cancelled

2008-08-23T23:27:00.001-07:00

Sunday Exhibiton Game

2008-08-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

Confirmation that our exhibition game this Sunday is 10am at Finlayson Park. Please be there for 9:30am. I will bring uniforms to wear.

Good Workout Ladies!

2008-08-20T00:59:00.001-07:00

Tonight was the best practice so far. Not really be a surprise though as we finally had proper soccer weather!

Thursday we revert back to our usual 6pm practice time. Hope to see you all there.

Practice Time Change

2008-08-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Next Tuesday's practice will be 5:15pm instead of 6pm. The reason for the time change is that I have a President's Meeting to attend at 7pm in Esquimalt. This will be one-time only, Thursday's practice will be 6pm.

Labour Day Tournament

2008-08-10T13:50:00.000-07:00

Who should we be this year? Brazil? Italy? Angola?

Last year we played as Argentina and narrowly defeated Brazil (Lakehill) in an absorbing, action-packed final. Is a repeat final on the cards?

Only five spaces are left for the Tourney on the Turf this coming Labour Day Weekend. Fees are $30 per player, payable in advance to Drew. All players receive a T-shirt of the country our team chooses.

So far I have commitments from the following: Chloe, Emma, Lily, Olivia and Paige.

Practice Reminder

2008-08-01T15:10:00.000-07:00

A quick reminder of our practices next Tuesday and Thursday, 6pm at Lochside Park. All 1996 and 1997 players are welcome to attend next week's practice sessions and should come prepared to do some light running, so bring runners as well as cleats }:)

Busy Week at Lochside

2008-07-26T15:23:00.001-07:00

Another week of progress on the Turf Field. We're pretty much on schedule and still looking good for September 27th kick-off!

Last saturday 25 truckloads of gravel base were delivered and graded and several volunteers hand dug a 75 foot silt-fence running parallel to the creek. After the hard work the volunteers were provided with burgers, drinks and fresh fruit for their efforts. We've also been supplying the truckers with drinks, donuts and burgers. Most of the truck drivers are donating their time so they're appreciative of the club's efforts.

Monday attention tuned toward completion of the concrete retaining wall on the west side of the field. Wednesday saw the removal of topsoil and vegetation from the east and south sides of the field in preparation for the concrete mowing strip and fencing, and on Thursday the south end concrete retaining wall was poured and trees removed that interfered with the western retaining wall and manhole covers.

Thursday also saw a slight change to the field plans, as we decided to keep a shallow triangular piece at the south end for spectators so that they can watch small-sided games (see picture above).

BC Summer Games Team

2008-07-24T21:39:00.000-07:00

Good luck to the Zone 6 U12 Girls in the BC Summer Games being held this weekend in Kelowna.

Zone 6 represents the Island and Central Coast and there are a number of local players including Monique (Lakehill), and Chloe, Sydney and Alynn (Peninsula). Of course our own Paige was one of the alternates and by all accounts was desperately unlucky not to make the final squad.

Zone 6 has two games Saturday against Vancouver-Squamish and Fraser River-Delta, followed by one game against the Kootenay representative. The final is played on Monday.

Game results are available here

http://www.kelowna2008.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=49&Itemid=34

Turf Update #3

2008-07-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

As you can see from the first picture, Lochside still resembles a beach.

However plenty of work has been completed and the project remains on-schedule. The topsoil has been removed, new underground drainage has been installed and manhole covers placed just outside the fence-line. In addition, electrical conduits have been built to allow for increased amperage to the existing lights as well as for a new light standard at the southeast corner of the park.

Concrete forms have been prepared for the north side of the field. Forms for the west side will be completed Thursday and then on Saturday comes 250 tonnes of gravel base.

Argentina Coach

2008-07-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

This past week Emma and Erin attended a World Cup Academy Summer Camp where the guest coach was Jorge Raffo, a renowned Argentinian coach who runs a prestigious (and unique) youth soccer academy in Buenos Aires (http://www.cefar.com.ar/en_index.php)

His academy ("CEFAR") is affiliated with Barcelona CF, one of the largest and most succesful soccer clubs in the world. Each year "Barca" (as they are known to their fans) pays Jorge to find and train the best 10-16 year old boys from around South America. Often, they come to live with him at his hotel and training facility (click link for pictures). His teams play friendly matches against the biggest professional club youth teams (e.g. Boca Juniors, River Plate, Independiente) from around Buenos Aires (pop. 13,000,00) and they routinely defeat these teams. Once his boys are old enough to sign professionally, the best go to Barcelona in Spain, while many others continue to play in Argentina professional futbol.

I'm not sure how much the girls soaked in, but I was hugely impressed with Jorge and his passion for futbol, to say nothing of his soccer knowledge and teaching ability. His drills were at once complex and simple, and focused on ball possession, quick passing and movement off the ball. He was a very hard coach with high expectations but I think all 50 or 60 players will long remember his sessions. Hopefully he'll be back next year!

We will see alot of Jorge's drills this fall as Brett and Steph intend on incorporating much of Jorge's Argentinian-style for our club.

Girls Only Soccer Camp - Aug 11-15

2008-07-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

I strongly recommend this camp to any Gold-calibre players who want to get ready for the upcoming season. Consider it a mini boot-camp. I expect there will be a strong fitness component and a lot of ball-work (passing and receiving the ball, movement, quick tempo decision making) so anyone considering registering should be prepared to work hard.

I know 3 or 4 Storm players have already registered but the more the better.

Turf Project - Day 5

2008-07-15T20:54:00.001-07:00

Taking down the fence wasn't as easy as expected. That's me battling the fence - and losing.

Note the guy with the axe. I'm happy to report there were no casualties.

The fencing is down and vegetation removed. Next up - chopping down some trees! But before that someone should really close that gate - we wouldn't want the deer getting in would we?

Wow, people weren't kidding when they referred to Lochside Park as "The Beach"!

We ask strikers to run in "the channels" but this is crazy!

Turf Project - Day 2

2008-07-10T17:11:00.000-07:00

Day 2 and the digging has begun. A grader spent most of this morning removing the top 8 inches of topsoil and this afternoon dump trucks began hauling the dirt off to a construction site. We dont pay for the dirt removal because construction companies need it for projects around Victoria. So we get the labour free, and the companies don't have to pay for topsoil!

This weekend we will start hauling in crushed gravel for the drainage ditches. After all is said and done we'll have raised the base of the far field 4 inches higher than the middle field.

Turf Update

2008-07-07T23:31:00.000-07:00

Work on installation of the new artificial turf field at Lochside Park begins this Wednesday.

The club is looking for adult volunteers to help clear vegetation along the east and south fence lines. If you look hard enough at the picture above you can see the weeds growing through the fence.

So if you have a couple of hours to spare and are looking for a good work-out, bring your weed-whacker, shovel, axe, wheelbarrow or garden shears down to the park Friday July 18, 5-9pm or anytime Saturday July 19 between 9am-6pm.

We'll supply the pizza and refreshments if you can supply the labour!

More information will be posted on the club website or contact Drew.

Summertime!

2008-06-26T09:28:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone has a fantastic summer!

Keep checking the website for updates and we'll see you on the turf in August.

Great Game! Great Party!

2008-06-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

What a great end to our spring league season. A spirited performance against a very talented select team and then a pleasant afternoon on the beach - all under clear skies and warm weather!

After watching the morning game between WCA and Langley I was a little apprehensive about how the girls would respond to Langley's physical play and fitness levels. I was also concerned about numbers, as I knew we would be missing Paige, Mia and Leanne from the regular Monster's line-up. As it was Olivia, Monique, Chloe and Sophie offered to play an extra game Sunday so that eased my concerns about players tiring in the midday sun. We had plenty of subs and I knew we would make use of them.

Then it became a question as to whether the Monster's could compete with our guests for seventy-five minutes. The answer to that was a resounding "yes".

We had a rocky first couple of minutes, but after that I thought we were the better team throughout. Our commitment to getting to the ball first was excellent, our decision making was good, we showed good patience when defending and we kept our shape very well. In fact many of you had your best games of the season against the very best team we played over the twelve games. That speaks volumes about your ability to raise your game - something we'll be looking for more of during fall-winter soccer.

Their two goals were of our own making - classic examples of poor-decision making which is natural for 11 and 12 year old soccer players. But when I look back, they were probably our only two real mistakes over the entire game. Beside their goals I cant remember any shots on our goal and I think the worst was when Margaret and Emma clashing knees and heads in the first-half.

At the other end of the field we definitely out-chanced them and 2-2 was the least we deserved. Both Chloe and Leah hit strong, low shots to the bottom corner that gave their goalie no chance. And in-between our goals, Annabel, Olivia, Marissa and Lily all had efforts saved or blocked where a goal looked likely.

In the midfield trenches I thought Leah and Lily both brought their "A" game. Leah in particular who seemed to be everywhere and thoroughly deserved her game-tying goal.

However being the soccer geek that I am, I was most pleased with one play in the second-half.

Our striker received the ball with her back to goal about half-way up the pitch. They then played the ball the way they were facing to our midfielder, who then passed back to our sweeper, who then controlled, moved the ball across her body and passed to her left defender who then passed upfield to the left forward, who then turned and fed a cross into the striker for a shot on goal. We didn't score a goal, but we kept possession, we kept play simple and kept the ball on the ground. No hit and chase, no panic, just good decision-making and movement off the ball. Awesome stuff!

So well done to the Monster's and a big thank you to Chloe, Monique and Sophie.

Now I hope that everyone gets a good month's rest and comes back raring to go in August. For those of you not quite ready to hang up the boots, WCA has a couple of excellent sessions in July for the very, very motivated. I believe Lily and Emma have already registered for another round of punishment but there's always room for more :)

See everyone in August!

Monster's End

2008-06-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

A 4-1 thrashing of Sky Blue ends the spring league season for another year. Goals from Paige (2), Lily and Annabel seals our fourth win in a row and sixth overall. Overall our league record ends with 6 wins and 4 losses, with 22 goals for and 19 against. Not a bad record considering we were often playing against older players and trying to gel as a team at the same time. Paige takes home the Golden Boot as leading scorer with seven goals.

We certainly came a long way from our first game against Royal's where we looked disjointed and confused. That was probably the only game where we were outplayed and out-thought. Otherwise I felt we dominated most of our games, and our only real struggle was converting chances into goals. I can remember a number of games (Reds, Silver and Black) where we could have easily had 6 or 7 goals, but had to settle for one or two. And many of the games we lost could have easily gone the other way had we scored on even half the chances we had.

Defensively we were pretty solid, especially after the midway point of the season. We shipped 14 goals in our first five games - 5 in the last five. This may have had something to do with players coming to understand the "system" and the fact we became more comfortable playing with each other (that's the "team" part). However I also think each of you became better players individually. In particular I thought you all became more accustomed to the speed and the bounce of the ball on turf, something that should really help when we start playing U13 games on the new turf at Lochside Park.

In fact many of our games next season are going to be turf from as Gordon Head, Lakehill and Prospect lake will all have turf fields for next season. That is going to be way cool!

One more exhibition game to come and then the beach party. See you first at Finlayson Turf on Sunday. Kick-off is 12:30.