2010 Reunion

It is probably a waste of time to update this, what with Facebook and all, but I have this vision that in 10 years, one of the players will stumble on this, somehow, and it will all be in one place.

Anyway, yesterday, we had a wonderful team reunion. Most of the team was there--Sarah F. had to leave early, Layla came a bit late, and Sara R., Kayla and Geena were not able to make it. But it was great seeing everyone again, and watching them reconnect on a beautiful evening, with great food. Even for the girls who see each other every day at school, the dynamic of just being with the team, and no distractions, was different.

Lots has changed in two years--the girls have grown up, and a bunch of them are going to college in the fall. I hope that they can keep this connection as they get older and move on with their lives, and keep the happy memories of a great trip and experience.

Yes, this took a long time to finish (but finishing was never our strong point.....)

I think that I’m finally ready to sum up the trip. What made the Hawaii trip special was the fact that all of us—players, coaches and chaperones—were focused on one thing—enjoying the National Games experience—and that we did it together. What makes team sports great is when the individuals give all that they can toward a collective goal. We knew going in that we would have a tough time competing against the California and Hawaii teams, so we focused our efforts on being the best that we could, on keeping positive, and on having fun. And that is exactly what happened.

If we were to do this again, and maybe we will, my expectation is that all of us would take the preparation more seriously. As a coach, I would demand more regular attendance at practices, more conditioning work, and I would try to make sure we played more games. I expect that the players would take training more seriously, and try to attend more sessions so that we could work on both skills and team play. And I certainly believe that the players would take conditioning more seriously, after seeing what the National Games did to their bodies.

While we did begin to seem like a team before we left—I’d say that the first half of our second game against Greenburgh was a turning point—the trip itself fostered the team spirit beyond anything that happened in Westchester. I credit the girls for buying into the team concept, the family concept, that I preached. The fact that we had so few adults in Hawaii required us to do pretty much everything as a team. From the beginning of this effort, I tried to treat the players as the young women that they are. I always wanted them to have input into our decisions, even if what they wanted wasn’t always what happened, although we did modify our plans regularly based on what the players wanted. And I always explained to them the reasons for the decisions that were ultimately made. I think that this method resulted in a mutual respect that kept our relationship so generally positive.

So, after we had the scrimmage with the two Hawaii teams, I didn’t have to tell the players that they could play better, or that they needed to play better (although I did—but I knew that they knew it, too). Which is why no one complained about the 7:00 a.m. practice on Sunday, even if they were a bit late, or why the team practiced harder, better and smarter than they ever had before. And why the Tuesday practice was just as good.

The girls also realized pretty quickly that the only people that they could rely on were each other, and the few adults who were with them. I think that they also realized that the adults’ focus was on making sure that they had a good time. Every morning, the girls were told what the plan was for the day, including situations where there would be individual or team options, and every evening, the next day’s schedule was discussed, and at bed check, I would go over the important issues for the next day, take comments and answer questions.

Our forced time together, in the vans, on the field, at meals, etc., caused all sorts of groupings to form, and to some extent broke down the pre-existing cliques. We encouraged the girls to have fun, and to appreciate the opportunity that they had in front of them. So, while the 5 games in competition were important, they never were the only thing that we were striving for.

Nevertheless, as I have gone over the trip in my head, I keep coming back to one moment as a favorite. Not the picnic with the Hawaii teams, or the feeling after we tied Diamond Head. Not receiving the Sportsmanship Award or snorkeling. Not swimming at the beautiful beaches or being at Pearl Harbor. Instead, I keep coming back to right before our first game. I knew the girls were excited, not only because the games were finally about to start, and because we were playing Diamond Head, who we had become friendly with, and because we thought we had a chance to win. I sat the girls down, and for probably the first time, they just listened to me. And I told them how proud I was of them, and how this was the moment that we had worked for. And I made it clear that while I wanted to win, that I would not be disappointed if they lost, but only if they didn’t play hard, and play smart.

And after that, the girls went out and played the soccer of their lives. Tying Diamond Head, and improving each game (whether the results showed that or not), playing hurt and stepping up to cover for each other, while staying positive enough to win the Sportsmanship Award is a credit to the character of the young women on the team. Seeing these kids get bandaged before games so that they could play, tossing away crutches and showing me that they could run, icing themselves on the sidelines and playing unfamiliar positions when their teammates were unable to play was really an inspiration.

Most of you probably know that I spent a lot of time trying to figure out lineups in advance so that I could maximize our chances to compete, while making sure that everyone played as much as possible, and that substitutions would go relatively smoothly. However, as a result of injuries, illness, and talents that had previously been hidden, after the first quarter of game 1, this all went by the boards, and we had to improvise. From the 2 sweepers, 3 backs, 4 midfielders and one striker lineup we tried in one game, to having to play our third goalkeeper, to having Geena play “random offense” when we were desperate to score, and numerous other experiments and lineups by necessity, the team, for the most part, did what I asked, when I asked, and rose to the occasion.

After every game, the players walked, limped or were carried off the field with heads held high, proud of their efforts and, I believe, reveling in the realization that they could achieve more than they ever thought.

At our team’s closing dinner, I said that what made this special for me, initially, was that I was able to do it with my daughter, but that I now felt that I had 15 daughters, and I still feel that way. I hope that they all know that I am there for them if they need me, and I would expect that I could rely on them if I needed help.

So, I hope this isn’t the end of this adventure. I expect we will have some team reunions. And while I know that not everyone is playing AYSO this season, I hope that the core of the team will be able to do something as a team again—we will see. I would also hope that you tentatively block out July 4, 2010, and the week after, in case we get a U19G invitation to the National Games in Palm Beach, Florida (at the International Polo Club, no less).

Finally, I wanted to thank all of the parents who made it possible for this special group of girls to become a team, and an ohana, and go on the trip. I want to thank Kate Wall for dealing with the money, a truly thankless job, and to Eugenie Allen, for organizing our team’s concession sales. I want to thank Jim Huvane for his help and counsel, Hossein Fassa for all of the hard work he did as Regional Commissioner to make this happen (much more than I ever did for National Games teams when I was RC) and Peter and Beth Van der Heijden for all that they did to organize things. I’d like to thank my captains, Sarah and Sara (and the rest of you who were team leaders—you know who you are) for helping to keep order, harmony and organization. I want to thank Adam Becker, not only for his astute soccer insights and for helping with the heavy lifting (even with only one good hand), but also for being the team “big brother.” I want to thank Ginger Curran for all that she did to help prepare the team to compete, for her questioning of my strategic decisions, which forced me to really understand what I was trying to do, and especially for dealing with our injured and sick players at the tournament. And finally, I need to thank Katharine, for doing everything that otherwise would have fallen through the cracks, for caring about the girls as much as she did, and for just being her usual amazing self.

Hudson Independent Article

Here is a link to the article about our team in the Hudson Independent:

http://hudsonindy.typepad.com/blog/2008/08/finding-the-alo.html

Katharine's Photographs

More than 400 of Katharine's photos are up on Flickr at:
http://flickr.com/photos/69333708@N00/sets/72157606254763036/

Catch Phrases

Here are a few from the trip--let me know if you have any more:

Shawlett
Hiroooooooooooshi
Alooooooooooooooha
Bust it
Jailbreak
Good job, good job
They have that here?
In the morning?
I'll really miss palm trees
Drop, drop, drop
We play as a team and we lei as a team
We drew hearts on our hands to remember to be compassionate to others
Pull down your shirt
I can play, coach
Have it
Team Silvervan
Switch it
What are we doing for lunch?
What are we doing for dinner?
Where's [Player]? Aimee/Geena is braiding her hair.
A very capable waiter
Magic Japanese pain medication
Don't you know me well enough by now?
Put the B's on their A's
Are the boys coming?
POG
FROM THE WHISTLE GIRLS
c-o-b-r-a-s, c-o-b-r-a-s, c-o-b-r-a-s, We're not the cobras!/gooooooo Shooting Stars!
Breaking the rules again? Sigh.
I'm crying because it hurts, but I'm also crying because I love you guys.
Do you have your breakfast ticket?
Can we go to the ABC store?
I need to go to the first aid tent.
I need to get our ID cards because I forgot to get them yesterday.
Off the balcony
I can say that because we already won the Sportsmanship Award
We out.

Pictures from July 14

Charlotte, Anna, our capable waitress, and Adam at Eggs 'n Things.

July 14-15--It Is All A Blur

It has been a blur. I know that most of the girls are back home, or with their parents, but knowing the girls, I figure it doesn't hurt for me to give some details of our last couple of days.

Our last day in Hawaii started early for some of us. Susie and Hannah were off to Australia, with Susie's family, and they were leaving for the airport at 6:30 am. Most of the girls hadn't slept much, as they tried to keep the bonding going, so we bid farewell to two Shooting Stars. At 9, we said goodbye to Zoe, who was leaving for the airport at 9:15 with her family for a tour of Asia. Then, we went for breakfast at Eggs 'n Things, where our capable waitress, Anna, took great care of us. Breakfast was delicious and filling.

The team then returned to the hotel for final packing and room cleaning (don't ask). Our luggage was picked up at 11:45 and we checked out of the hotel. We loaded up 2 of the vans, without Kayla, whose family was checking out of our hotel and moving to another one for a few more days in Hawaii, and went to Hilo Hattie's, a famous Hawaiian souvenir shop. After buying a bunch of things, we moved to the Ala Moana Mall for more shopping and lunch. Since we had no hotel to return to, we figured that this was the thing to do, rather than get messy at the beach.

We shopped as long as we could, then returned to the hotel, where all of our luggage, and most of the other Tarrytown players, were waiting. We stuffed our new things into our bags and waited for the luggage truck and then the bus (but not TheBus) that took us to the airport. It is fair to say that no one was happy at this point, as our Hawaiian adventure was nearing an end.

The airport checkin went smoothly, and our flight to LA was quiet--I think most of us slept some during the flight. There was a short layover in the LAX, where we said goodbye to Sara Rod., who was staying in LA with her aunt. So we were down to 10 girls, me, Katharine and Adam. The flight to Newark was crowded, and again, I think most people slept. There were some bumps before we landed, but when we finally did, our luggage came pretty fast, and the buses arrived not long after. As most of you know, we got to John Paulding at about 5:30, where we said our last goodbyes, and headed home.

I'm still not ready to sum this trip up. but I will say one thing--this team is not done.

Pictures from July 13

A few of our places

The Hotel--The Doubletree Alana

The Cheeseburger Place: Fort DeRussy Military Recreation Area--The Crucible Where Our Team Was Forged:

The ABC Store--for everything Eggs 'n Things--for Eggs and Things

Fifth Floor Hallway--strangely without soccer players sitting in it

At Hanauma Bay

Don't we look debonaire?

The Bay
At the Pool

Meg Waits To Receive the Sportsmanship Award


We receive our awards, with people in cow suits:

Representing New York

We ate well at Maple Gardens


Coach makes allegedly touching and humorous remarks

The Captains think of stuff to say

A better picture of the Captains:
Group Hug. In accordance with Safe Haven.

July 13-All Good Things Must Come To An End

It is hard to believe that this is likely my last post from Hawaii. I will probably have a few follow ups after we get back, but eventually, the barrage of emails will slow, then cease. Probably, much to your relief.

We got up a little bit earlier than the girls wanted to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, a nature preserve that is the place to go snorkeling around here. Only 9 of the girls wanted to go, so we loaded up 2 vans and headed east. The bay is incredibly beautiful, and we watched a brief educational video before walking down the hill to the water. We rented our gear and without waiting, waded into the water. There is a huge area that never gets more than chest deep (at least on me), and much of it is waist deep. Once we all got comfortable with the gear, it was off to see fish. We floated around for about an hour and a half and saw abundant sea life. Lots of big and little fish (that is their scientific name), all over the place. No one really wanted to leave, but we had to, so we grabbed some food and ate in the vans on the way back to the hotel.

After a quick change, and a reunion with the rest of the team, we "busted it" out to the fields, where the playoff rounds were still going on. It was much quieter there then it was during pool play. We received our Sportsmanship medals on a podium, with a couple of people in cow suits (Meadow Gold Dairy is the main sponsor of the National Games) and received the adoration of the crowd for our remarkable sportsmanshipness.

Then, back to the hotel for relaxation, packing, the pool, or whatever, until dinner time.

We had reserved a private room at a local Chinese Restaurant, Maple Gardens (which still sounds to me like a hockey arena). The food was plentiful and delicious, and we had very capable waiters. After we ate, I took my last opportunity to address the whole team, and make a few remarks. I handed out gifts to all from the coaches, Katharine and AYSO, some serious, some not. Then, our captains addressed the team, and after making some poignant general remarks, they made positive and funny comments about all of their teammates, chaperones and coaches. Their good humor and grace reminded me of why I enjoy their company so much.

After dinner, it was back to the hotel. The kids are hanging in the hallway, socializing and enjoying themselves, although, I am about to do bed check and send them to bed.

Hannah and Susie leave early tomorrow for Australia, and Zoe leaves a couple of hours later for Tokyo. So, the 2008 Shooting Stars will be breaking up. The rest of us will have the big breakfast from Eggs n' Things, check out of the hotel and spend the rest of the day shopping until we are picked up at 5:45 pm for the trip to the airport, without Kayla and Ginger, who will be staying a few extra days. Sara Rod. leaves us in LA, so our diminished band will return on Tuesday.

I don't think I want to sum up the trip now. It is too soon, and I need a bit of time to get perspective. This trip has been everything that I was told it would be, and, at the same time, totally different. And if that makes sense to you, then maybe you were here.

Lots of pix will be up on the blog at some point.

Mahalo

Captain's Post 3

Aloha everyone!
It is 10 pm on our last night in Hawaii and I think it is safe to say that nobody is ready to leave. This has been an amazing experience for everyone involved, despite the many ups and downs. There was definitely some fighting and some crazy stuff going on, but it's all part of becoming an ohana and we know we are stronger for it. Our team has come such a long way since we all first got together last fall. We obviously had some difficult times and disappointment on the field, but we pushed through it and grew a lot as a team.

Life is not going to be the same after this trip. Some of us were talking in our room last night about how we don't think we are going to be able to function without each other. Every single person on this team has become a part of one another and we share so many memories and good times.

Today was our last full day and we had a blast. About half of the team went snorkeling this morning at Hanauma Bay and it was incredible. We saw so many beautiful fish and coral and everyone who went had so much fun. We had lunch at an awesome salad and hamburger place and then returned to the fields one last time to pick up our sportsmanship awards. We got nice shiny medals and some other cool gizmos from the sponsors.

We then came back to our hotel and rested for a while and then went out to our last team dinner. Jordan gave us each individual gifts which were both funny and meaningful and a few of the girls were even crying. Then us two captains talked for a while and said something about every girl (and adam). We ended with a huge group hug and a lot of tears.

Everyone on the team deserves to be so proud of themselves because we have all come so far. We will never forget the Shooting Stars.

We out.
Sarah and Sara

Pictures from July 12

Our regular hangout at the fields

View of Diamond Head from the beach

At the Old Spaghetti Factory

Coach and Mrs. Coach

Placemat Art

Goofing around

July 12-We Will Be Bringing Home Hardware

So, the National Games are essentially over for us. Hard to believe. We made it out to the fields and set up. It became kind of routine. 14 of the girls were able to play in the last game--unfortunately, Meg's ankle was too sore to play. We knew that North Hawaii was a strong team, and I told the girls that this was their last chance to win and to score a goal. Also, I knew going in that we were leading in sportsmanship points, and made it clear that we needed to be positive and sportsmanlike in order to win that award.

I spent countless hours over the past month working out lineups and rotations, but between injuries, and things that I saw here, the lineup that took the field was nothing like the ones I thought I would use.

Our girls played their hearts out. There is a cliche in sports about leaving everything on the field, and this team really did. The quality of play, the decisionmaking and the courage of this team was unbelievable. However, when faced with a much stronger, battle tested team such as North Hawaii, we had no chance to win. The game ended 5-0, but our girls walked off the field feeling like they had achieved an enormous amount. I think that many of them found things inside them that they didn't know existed.

After the game, we watched our U16B team lose to Ontario, CA, taking them out of any chance to advance to the next round.

And we waited for the sportsmanship results. The team was justifiably proud of their victory. It is easy to be upbeat and positive when you are winning, but how great is it that they could be that way when they were getting pummeled and hurt?

After the boys' game was over, we returned to the hotel, had lunch, and about half the team went to the beach for a while.

Then a dip in the pool.

Then dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory, which was fun and delicious.

Tomorrow is our last full day in Hawaii. We will try to snorkel in the morning. Then, we need to go back to the fields to receive our sportsmanship awards. We are planning a final dinner at a Chinese restaurant, and then, I guess, we need to pack.

By the way, this team wants to stay together and is already planning for West Palm Beach in 2010. Who am I to say that it won't happen.

Pictures from July 11

Mililani Game

Yeah, that's a rainbow.

July 11-Some Trouble In Paradise

This was in many ways a very tough day. Our sidelined players, except for Sarah, were all ready to play, as best they could, when we took the field against a strong Mililani, HI team--from right up the highway from the soccer park. They were as good as advertised, and we had trouble keeping up--although the team never gave anything less than the maximum effort. We even tried a new formation--5-4-1, to protect Geena's sore leg, and to try to keep the game close. It didn't work. We lost 6-0. Despite that, I think that the team continued to improve. Unfortunately, during the game, Geena had to leave and was taken to the hospital for observation. She is OK. Our other players with minor knocks did the best they could.

After the game, we had to wait until 5:15 for the next game, so we tried to take the team to a typical Hawaiian fast food joint--L&L Hawaiian BBQ. They had various varieties of the "plate lunch", usually meat, fish or veggies, with rice and macaroni salad. We saw the local teams eating this every day, and I thought that the kids would find it fun. NOT. Instead all of the traveling party whose name was not Becker or Swibold opted for fast food Chinese at Panda Express--just like the one at the Palisades Mall. Our plate lunches were delicious, and I teased all of the players for being scared. They didn't care.

We returned to the fields to set up our new canopy (the one we originally got when we arrived blew over yesterday and broke) at the field where our second game was to be played. Unfortunately, another player needed to be taken to the hospital (her parents will be called in the morning, so I can't give more info now). She is also OK.

As the afternoon went on, the girls watched our U16B team win a game, and then they relaxed, chatted with, yes, some of the Diamond Head girls, and kicked a ball around. Some iced their sore legs and wrapped their ankles.

I found out that our next opponent, Santa Barbara, had not won a game, so I thought that we had a chance for victory--or at least a goal. Even without Geena and our other missing player, we were dominant in the first quarter, but could not score--but they did, against the run of play. As the game went on, we continued to play well, even when Sarah had to leave the game, yet Santa Barbara kept playing better as we tired and weakened. We lost, 4-0.

After a brief team meeting, we returned to the hotel, to order in Pizza Hut, and went to bed.

Tomorrow, believe it or not, the National Games will be over for us. We play a tough North Hawaii squad at 9:15, and since we have no chance to move on to the next round, we are done playing--soccer that is. More fun is expected to follow, before we leave for home on Monday night. I should also mention that it appeared that, after the first day, we were in a close second place for the sportsmanship award. Not sure where we stand after today, though--it hasn't been posted yet.

I feel like I need to say again that your daughters are remarkable young women in so many ways. I wish you were all here to see how amazing each of them is.

Pictures from July 10

Kayla makes a decision:

Layla makes her move

Tough D

Coaches Jordan and Preston are happy

Friends again

Trying to move upfield

Throw in

Today's pix courtesy of Martin Wilson.