Things That Make a Club

Thanks SO MUCH to those of you who came out to Newport Hills Community Park to shovel snow yesterday so that we could finish our Boys U16-U18 tryouts plus play a couple of games.  You know who you are.  Very much appreciated.....

Website Changes

You may have noticed our website http://www.eastsidefc.org/ has changed.  We're in the process of migrating our online presence to Korrio, a new sport automation platform.  We're investing in enhanced communication infrastructure for the club and believe Korrio will help us achieve this.

For the next several months, the site will continue to grow and evolve.  If you have any questions/comments/concerns, please contact us at execdirector@eastsidefc.org.

Chance's Video Picks - Did I Just See That?

In soccer, some players are known to take dives and simulate fouls. This is frowned upon and in recent years, steps have been taken to end this type of play because it takes away from the game.

In today’s video pick, a Chilean U20 player, Brian Carrasco, demonstrates how far an actor can go when trying to play soccer.

Crazy!

For those receiving our blog via email, you can view the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUJSJI1MPqE

Winter Tryouts

Photo:  Ksenia Tutttle

Photo: Ksenia Tutttle

Photo: Ksenia Tutttle

Photo: Ksenia Tutttle

Photo: Ksenia Tutttle

Check out these photos sent to us by Ksenia Tuttle, a local photographer who captured these images at Robinswood Park during the older boys' tryouts on Tuesday.

Eastside FC in Ethiopia

Giuliana Sercu, a player on Coach Turner's GU13W team, recently made a trip to Ethiopia.  With the help of her team and the Passback program operated jointly by US Soccer Foundation and Eurosport, she was able to deliver a little soccer joy to some deserving kids. 

Well done, Giuliana and team!

Here's the report she sent to me and Steve Fear, the Passback program manager at Eurosport......

=================

Dear Mr. Racine and Mr. Fear,

I just wanted to thank you for helping me reach my goal of delivering 30 soccer balls and 5 pumps to kids in Ethiopia.  Thanks to my U-13 soccer team and to EuroSport I brought over 60 soccer balls with me to Ethiopia. We delivered balls to 3 different schools and 1 village. All of the kids and adults were overjoyed!

The schools did not have any soccer balls before we came, and now they have lots! I attached some pictures of me delivering soccer balls in Ethiopia. Once again, thanks so much for your support!

Sincerely,

Giuliana Sercu



Chance's Video Picks - Love Your Keeper

It is widely known that to be a goalkeeper you have to have a unique personality. You can go for long stretches without being heavily involved and then in a split section are called into action. Here are some of the world’s best putting their bodies on the line to keep the ball out.

Enjoy this and then give your goalkeeper a pat on the back at your next practice!

If you receive our blog via email, you can watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsJn8h_8PDw

Coaches Corner - The Value of Hard Work

Here's a quote from Diego Forlan, Golden Ball Winner at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

It was first published in FourFourTwo magazine - a great soccer magazine/website for international football fans.  They have a nice section on technique here.

       

“I work hard on all sorts of things – physical, mental, or technical.  I work on my finishing.  I play against a wall, striking the ball for half an hour intensely.  I do that at home on my own.  I always do some extra work.  I’m committed, disciplined – and a little obsessive!”

Submitted by Coach Ryan Dortch

Chance's Video Picks - Dutch Delight

Wednesday Feb 9 was a day for international teams to play and there were some great goals scored but none better than Wesley Sneijder from Holland against Austria. In this clip, it shows the incredible strike from multiple angles.  Great foot skills.  Great teamwork.  Great sense of space and timing.

Enjoy!

For those of you receiving our blog in email, you can view the video here: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPbJ4Z5D-n4

Coaches Corner - Coach Van Gaver's Juggling Challenge

Here's a 10 minute daily exercise from Coach Kevin Van Gaver designed to improve your ability to juggle and control the ball.

Juggling Challenge - Bounce Kick

10 minutes everyday

Level 1

Using only your strong foot, and allowing the ball to bounce only once in between touches/kicks, keep the ball up 50 times or more. If the ball bounces twice or hits any other part of your body you must start over. If you go over 50 that’s great, what is your personal record? How high can you go?

Using only your weak foot, and allowing the ball to bounce only once in between touches, keep the ball up for a count of 50 touches. If the ball bounces twice or hits any other part of your body you must start over.

Level 2

Using any body part (except hands and arms) two touches per one bounce, get to 50. Each time you touch the ball it counts as one. Again, what is your personal record?

Level 3

You guessed right, 3 touches per one bounce.  Get the touch count up to 50.

Level 4

You’re ready. Juggle with no bounces. How high can you go?

A few other ball work exercises that you can work on during your 10 minutes a day.

Head-thigh-thigh-kick. Take a bounce if you need one. Repeat. (5 minutes)

Wall drills - simply knock the ball against the wall when it returns- settle it quickly and hammer it again. It helps if you have a second person that way you can switch each time. Set up boundaries, limit the touches, limit how close you can get to the wall or make up a game of your own- be creative.

If you got a good game let me know – I’ll play ya.

Coach K- Kevin Van Gaver

BU11 BLUE and BU14 BLUE

Chance's Video Picks - Celebration Icelandic Style

Check out Stjarnan FC from Iceland as they celebrate a goal. With the long, cold winters in Iceland, they have time to think up these wacky celebrations.  In Iceland, here's how they reel in a goal....

Enjoy!

For those of you receiving our blog in email, you can view the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QieyCqOVb-M

What a Weekend!

This weekend saw the culmination of the season's Washington Youth Soccer major tournaments for older boys.  Semi-finals and finals in both the US Youth Soccer Washington State Championship and the Washington Youth Soccer Challenge Cup were played for boys ages U15 - U18.  A total of 8 championships were up for grabs.

Eastside FC's boys teams represented the club extraordinarily well.  We sent 4 teams into the weekend's competition and 3 emerged as champions.  3 outa 8.  Not bad at all.

The four teams and results are:

BU15W.  Coaches Fernando Barros & Anderson "Xinho" Prestes . 
Washington Youth Soccer Challenge Cup U15 Champions
Despite losing one player to a broken foot and another to a broken collarbone prior to the final games, the 15's just kept grinding away and emerged champions.  They won their semi-final match in some of the most miserable conditions of rain and wind that I've ever seen and came back the next day to win in penalty kicks after a tough battle with a solid Wenatchee team.

 2011 Washington Youth Soccer Challenge Cup U15 Champions

BU15W.  Oh the joy!

BU16R.  Coach Dan Strom.  US Youth Soccer Washington State U16 Champions
What can you say?  This ain't their first rodeo.  They're currently ranked #2 in the nation.  It's their 5th straight trip to the state championship game.  They've taken the trophy 4 out of 5 times.  They won the US Youth Soccer Far West Regional League in 2010.  They're headed to regionals yet again and are serious contenders for the national championship.  A special group of players and a pleasure to watch.  The final match against Westsound was a showcase of skill and composure on the ball that speaks volumes about the quality of the coach and the young men on the team.

BU17W.  Coach Mike Williams.  Washington Youth Soccer Challenge Cup U17 Semi-Finalists
Battled in a tough match that went through double overtime and ultimately lost their semi-final match in PK's.  This is the team's fifth year in a row making it to the Challenge Cup semifinal/final rounds.  In the last three years under Coach Williams, they took home the championship trophy in 2009 and 2010.  Another great season for Mike and the 17's.

BU17W.  Another great season!

BU17R.  Coach Mark Kovats.  US Youth Soccer Washington State U17 Champions
These young men came back from a 0-2 deficit to win the championship match 3-2.  They have scrapped their way through the entire season.  Fantastic outcome in taking home the championship.  Congratulations to Mark and the young men of BU17R.  Good luck in the US Youth Soccer Region IV championship tournament.

BU17R.  We did it!

BU17R.  Happiness

BU17R.  2011 US Youth Soccer Washington State U17 Champions

Chance's Video Picks - You Can't Play Soccer If You're Dead

This is a powerful video.  With an important message for all of us, but particularly our older athletes who are at the beginning of their driving careers.  The dangers of texting and driving seem obvious. The temptation to text while driving is real.

We all think it won't happen in our family.  Until it does.  Don't let this happen to you.

For those of you receiving our blog via email, you can watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebhWD6ljZs

Chance's Video Picks - Goal of the Year

Today’s video pick is arguably the best goal that will be scored in the English Premier League this season. When 2 teams from the same city play, it is called a “Derby”. Emotions always run high and the supporters of each club look forward to the match with great anticipation.

One of the most intense rivalries is that of Manchester United and Manchester City and Saturday the fans of both were treated to a winning goal by Wayne Rooney that he is calling his best ever. I’m not going to lie….I wept with joy when I saw this highlight….it is that special.  It is moments like these that fans of all sports live for..….moments when top class athletes rise to the occasion and execute astonishing feats in high level games.

I have attached 2 links for this one……check out 2 things on the second link….first watch the players on the bench… their reactions and pure astonishment give you an idea that what they saw does not happen every day……second…listen to the stadium singing and the energy that is coming out of Old Trafford. I have been fortunate to see a Champions League game in this stadium and it amazing when 76,000 voices become one….it’s no wonder its nickname is the “Theatre of Dreams”.
Enjoy!

VIDEO #1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAHgSrCy10Y

VIDEO #2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqCi4NWp4lw

Farewell to a Great Team

Time flies...

On Sunday, February 6, Coach Mark Kovats and the boys (now men) of Eastside FC 92 Red (BU18R) played their last game at Eastside FC during the state Cup quarterfinals.  It was the culmination of many years and adventures spent together.  This team is somewhat “historic” as it was the last EFC team to start out as “blue” and “navy” and the last team year to play in the old WYS Premier Division 1 rather than PDL or RCL – maybe even the last age group to go to LPT’s.

Coach Kovats reflected on the team...  "After coaching these young men for the last year and a half, we've come a long way and turned into a very competitive team.  We faced tough competition along the way and they never backed down from anyone.  They will do well."

Gentlemen we wish you well and the very best and brightest of futures.  Thank you and your parents for all the effort and commitment expended over the years.

Soccer Goals - Free to a Good Home

We are surplusing the old little kid goals.  Free to a good home.  We have two remaining.  They're easy to

disassemble.  Email me if you're interested.  First come first serve.

Eastside Girls Get a Gold Star from the Issaquah Press

Coach Dan Bubar's G97B team

Below is a recent article from the Issaquah Press about our G97B girls team.  Nice job ladies!

"The girls playing for the Eastside Premier Soccer Club joined forces for a Halloween food drive, challenging their rival teams to see who had the most giving spirit. Coach Dan Bubar’s G’97 Blue girls team won the challenge for the second year in a row. Coach Tom Turner’s G’97 White team took second place.

Hopelink has reported it is serving 14 percent more people this year, equating to 18,383 individuals who need a helping hand. The Eastside FC teams collected and donated more than 1,400 pounds of food to local area food banks after their drives.

“It was great to see our soccer club rally together for a good cause. There’s a feeling here of commitment to one another and to the community,” Blue Team manager Susan McGinnis said.

The Blue team girls include Coach Bubar, Riley Dean, Jessica Freeman, Kelsey Yin, Anna McGinnis, Kendall Zack, Hanna Lund, Meredith Troy, Taylor Martinez, Abby Olson, Brianna Gergen, Jenna Weber, Joselyn Heffron and Pawehi Cloutier."

Washington Youth Soccer's Partnership with the Sounders FC

I had the opportunity to talk with Terry Fisher about Washington Youth Soccer's relationship with Sounders FC.  I learned a few things that I didn't know before, and thought I would pass them along to you.  This relationship is a model for Major League Soccer's integration with the youth system. It is a work in progress and continues to evolve for the benefit of youth soccer in Washington State.


Did you know....

Washington Youth Soccer receives 1.25% of the gross gate receipts from most international games that are played here as a result of Sounders. Last year, the Celtic, Barcelona, Manchester United matches produced nearly $100,000 in revenue for Washington Youth Soccer.  These funds contribute to the operating programs in benefit for all levels of soccer in the state.

Washington Youth Soccer is one of five community charity partners that last year received a check for $20,000 from Sounders.  These funds are focused on WYS's TOP Soccer program which provides soccer opportunities for disabled youth.

Washington Youth Soccer created three commercials that utilized Sounder broadcasts as a platform for youth soccer outreach on their televised matches over the past two years.

Washington Youth Soccer occasionally has the opportunity to sell Sounders tickets on its web site, raising incremental operating funds for all programs.

Washington Youth Soccer created Regional Training Centers for 700 athletes to be trained and evaluated with a 50% of cost contribution from Sounders, allowing improved selection of Washington's regional and national competition teams.

Washington Youth Soccer ODP teams proudly wear Sounders FC match kit at regional competitions.

Washington Youth Soccer has exposure to marketing opportunities at multiple levels on an on-going basis that have income potential.

Washington Youth Soccer has complete access to Sounders coaching staff and players at times during the year for added value.

RCL Player Movement Guidelines

Here are the official guidelines from the Regional Club Subcommittee for non-EFC players who may be interested in attending the training sessions of an Eastside FC team prior to the upcoming tryouts.

1) During the week between state finals and the start of tryouts, and only during that week, non-EFC players may ask to attend trainings an EFC team may be holding.

2) The practices will not be advertised. There can only be two practices per team.

3) The player *must initiate* interest, and the EFC coach must have an email thread from the player (or parents) expressing their interest. They must have this email in hand prior to a player coming to a practice. A phone call is insufficient.  A player/parent may call the EFC coach, they can talk and agree to them joining a training, but must email them as well.

4) Players cannot be given spots at the practices, although relative levels of interest from both parties can be expressed. The intent is to allow players to be informed of their options so they make a good choice for where to tryout. Hopefully we limit the amount of movement during the season by allowing players to make better choices at the tryouts.

Chance's Video Picks - Never Give Up

Today’s video pick comes from a match in the English Premier League this last weekend between Arsenal and Newcastle. Watch, enjoy and remember……Never give up!!!

Arsenal went into the second half with a four goal lead but Newcastle came back strong and equalized 4-4.

Watch the video here

http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-us&brand=foxsports&from=foxsports_en-us_videocentral&vid=72fac470-7441-4bef-b690-43960c76b663&src=FLCP:sharebar:email


Chance

Chance's Video Picks - Enjoy Your Playing Time

Soccer is a very emotional sport.  One of the reasons is that fortunes can change on the kick of a ball.  Luck goes from good to bad and bad to good in seconds.  If you play long enough, you will find yourself on both ends of that spectrum.

In today’s video pick, a Brazilian striker named Saulo had to put on the keeper's jersey because the starting goalkeeper was injured and the team had already used all of their substitutions (you are allowed 3 in the pros).  In the 90th minute the game was tied 1-1.

Saulo ventured forward for a last minute free kick and scored a great header! JOY! 2-1! Unfortunately, that joy lasted for less than 5 steps.  As he ran to celebrate, he fell behind the goal clutching his knee….in that moment, he tore his ACL and was out for 6 months.
None of us know what the future holds or how quickly things may change. Please enjoy every moment you are on the field.

For those of you receiving our blog via email, you can watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYR-0rvJ0Eg

Chance

Eurosport/adidas footwear promotion

As part of our relationship with Eurosport/soccer.com and Adidas, the club has been offered a great discount on Adidas footwear. 

Use the code 1ADICLA to receive 15% off any Adidas footwear.  The offer is good until April 30, 2011.  We'll get a new code distributed when this one is about to expire in April. 

If you are a SOCCER.COM Goal Club member, the 15% discount is applied after the 10% discount associated with Goal Club membership for nearly a 25% discount.  Great value!

Check out all the great adidas boots at SOCCER.COM

This discount is on adidas footwear only.  Previous purchases, team orders and other pricing programs are not eligible.  The discount is applied before customization, shipping, handling, and taxes.

Chance's Video Picks - George Best

George Best was one of the best soccer players who ever lived. He had fame, fortune and was an international playboy….dubbed “the fifth Beatle”, George was as famous off the field as on, playing the first 10 years of his illustrious career for Manchester United .

Tragically, he died early from complications from alcoholism in 2005 but left behind some amazing moments.

I will have more George Best in the future but this is a great tribute video with good music to boot.

Enjoy!

Sounders FC 2011-2012 Academy Open House and Open Tryout Date

The Sounders FC Academy will host an Open House on February 16th at the Foster High School Performing Arts Center from 7:30pm to 9pm.

The Open House will serve as an informational evening about the U15/U16 and U17/U18 Sounders FC Academy teams as well as the other programs that will be offered to enhance the 2011-2012 Youth System for Sounders FC.

All interested parties are encouraged to attend and ask questions.

Foster Performing Center
4242 South 144th Street
Tukwila, WA

Chance's Video Picks - This is Why We Practice Foot Skills

Here is one of my favorite goals of all time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of Sweden’s best players and currently plays for AC Milan in Italy. Here he is early in his career with Ajax of Holland, showing why it is important to work on foot skills.

Amazing! Enjoy!

If you receive our blog in email, you can watch the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgqsaDnsEq8

Chance's Video Picks - The Scorpion Save

Goalkeepers….   check this out!   Tom Bunnell will be teaching this move in upcoming sessions.  Make sure you do plenty of stretching in preparation.

Enjoy!

For those of you receiving our blog via email, you can watch the video here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a633kGljLnk

Chance