I spent over twenty-five years in the United States Navy. It was with disgust and disappointment that I watched some women dubbed “US Women’s Soccer Team” disrespect the country’s anthem and flag. The worst image during the post-game celebration was a player intentionally dropping the flag to the ground. But it impressed me that a midfielder stepped forward to raise it from the ground and carry it away.

Then, I remember my oath and accepted their right to their opinion. I wish, though, my tax dollars had not gone to paying their travel, training, salaries, or bonuses.

I am putting this behind and will show my freedom, freedom to never watch the team play again. Unfortunately, I cannot withhold my tax dollars, else I would.

Now to happier thoughts.

I have blogged about our recreational vehicle. We intended to have a concrete pad poured beside the house when we bought it. Two years later, the RV sits on a six-inch concrete pad.

And we had the annual maintenance performed today. It stands ready for an excursion to where ever we take it.

Is there a novel?

There is a novel, and I am working it. I recently completed a rewrite run-through of all chapters looking for plot issues. I noted plot holes, and this run-through will address those and flesh out locations with detailed descriptions.

The novel is alive and growing stronger.

A moment, please.

I appreciate every one of you who take a few moments of your time to read my mutterings. I hope you will continue to visit, and when the urge occurs-leave a comment. I provide the attached form for when those urges rise.

Team at Region 1

The final match for the fourteen girls was their last EDP match blogged here. Ten of them played at the President’s Cup Region 1 tournament. The ten were: Sadie, Madelyn (Mattie), Manahil, Iranie, Emma, Camryn, Lacey, Ashley, Isabel, and Ellis. Lilly from the Pipeline 2008 Girls Red team augmented the ten.

The girls lost their first game to Empire FC (WV) by a score of four-one. They rebounded to win their games against GPS NJ South 07 Girls (NJ) two to nil, and against Beadling North (PA-W) three-nil.

The two wins put them into the semi-finals. Tied with Empire for wins but the Pipeline team was second because of goal difference.

The semi-final game was against another Maryland team. Premier Soccer Club 12U Girls Gold (MD) won the game three-one. The girls had their opportunities but couldn’t put them into the goal. They missed a chance on a penalty kick, hit the crossbar with one, and another hit a corner post.

A new 2007 Girls Black team

A new group of girls will be the 2007 Girls Black team in August. Players selected in the May tryouts.

The fourteen girls who formed this year’s team have moved on to different challenges in the fall.

In no particular order: Ellis, Iranie, Emma, Camryn, Lacey, Sadie, Madelyn (Mattie), and Manahil will play for the Pipeline 2007 Pre Academy team.

Pipeline Soccer Club is expanding its offerings into Harford County. Isabel will play for the Pipeline 2007 Girls team there.

Emily will play for the Premier Soccer Club. Sarah and Ashley will play for the Baltimore Union Soccer Club.

Kiera and Gabriella are taking a break from club soccer.

This post is bittersweet since I have coached my final practice and last game with these talented girls. It is also the end of my career with the Pipeline Club. So ends four years, which started with the 2008 Boys Gold team and ends with this team.

Commiserate with via the comment form! Look forward to hearing from you.

History

The team began training in August 2018. It was a meld of members from the previous 2007 Black team, the 2007 Red team, and new club members.

The coach’s dilemma was building them into a team that could compete with top level teams. The way to do this was with quality training and competition. The girls received the training and had their mettle tested in top level tournaments and league play.

Their rawness showed at Spirit and Keystone where they drew one game in each.  They won and lost one game in the EDP South Atlantic Premier II bracket of league play before the Columbus Day Explorer tournament.

Explorer saw some of their best play of the fall. They won two games to earn them the status of finalists. The euphoria passed quickly as the team won one more EDP game along with one draw. EDP season ended with the team’s record two wins, one draw, and six losses. They finished eighth in their division.

The December APC tournament was a cold, miserable affair. The team won one game but lost two. Defeated by the second team in the nation and a top level New Jersey team. This was another lesson for the team as they saw how elite teams compete.

The girls took this lesson to heart.

Since, the team was a semifinalist at the January APC tournament and won their bracket at President’s Cup.

Last Game

For the respect, I previously alluded. The girls played their strongest game of the season in the win over Central Carroll SC WildFire 07 to gain them a tie for second place in the Premier II division. Their record: five wins, two draws, and two losses. From eighth to tied for second in just a few months.

And based on their bracket win at President’ Cup, the team is competing in the Regionals this weekend.

The coach and the girls deserve praise for suffering a hard start to the fall season but turning it around to end competing at the President’s Cup Regionals.

Look forward to hearing from you via the attached comment form.

This tournament was the next to last of this season for the team. The team will be at the President’s Cup Regional tournament in a couple weeks. They won their bracket and played in the Maryland President’s Cup semi-final. They lost but received a spot in the Regional when a team withdrew.

The girls were placed in the Premier Tier Bracket A, a five team bracket, at DELCO.

FC DELCO Saturday’s Games

The first game on Saturday was against MATCH FIT MONTCLAIR UNITED 2007 GIRLS (NJ). It was an 8 am start. Everyone drove up that morning and play reflected it. The girls started slow and scored one goal in the first half. The second half saw them score four times while allowing one goal. Final was five for, one against.

The second game was played in the early afternoon. There was time for a late breakfast, early lunch between games. The game against MANHATTAN SC LYON (NYE) saw the girls start fast. A foul gave them a penalty kick goal in the first minute. A second goal followed a minute later. The third came before five minutes elapsed. The final for this game was six for Pipeline, one for Manhattan.

These results were with a shorted crew. One player was on vacation, and another had a hamstring pull keeping her out. The fourteen person roster reduced to twelve present. Sunday’s games saw a roster of eleven as another girl had conflicting obligations.

Sunday’s Games

The first game on Sunday was against SCS UNITED BLACK (PAW). This team challenged the girls and the final was Pipeline one, SCS nil on a sunny, warmer day. The pipeline had three wins, zero losses, and zero ties. Would the team continue to win?

Sunday’s second game against CT RUSH SW 07 GIRLS (CT) ended the team’s dream of making the finals. Rush scored quickly and continued to demonstrate their technical and tactical excellence. The Pipeline girls often challenged the Rush goalie but weren’t able to score. The game was called in the second half when lightning was spotted. The game’s final was Rush four, Pipeline one.

I would be remiss if I didn’t note the shortage of substitutes didn’t help against Rush. The absence of three girls limited the coach’s ability to rest girls during this warm, muggy game. Though, it likely wouldn’t have made a difference in the result based on how Rush played.

Tryout Results

So, the team has the Regional and one EDP game before there will be a serious change in the fall team. The May tryouts saw seven girls selected for promotion to the Pipeline 2007 Girls Pre-Academy team. Five girls opted to go to other clubs, and two will leave club soccer entirely.

Having worked with the girls since the spring 2018 season, I am saddened that the team is fractured. I am happy for the girls moving up, and wish those leaving the best for them. It has been a pleasure working with them.

Season’s End

There is still an EDP game and a tournament to play. The next time I blog about them will be the last for this team of young ladies.

Wish the girls success in the tournament using the comment form. I look forward to hearing from you.

The Pipeline 2007 Girls Black are having a good year.

They were finalists at the February APC Premier Cup Girls 2019 Spring Showcase with wins over NJ STALLIONS WAYNE UTD 07 NPL and STA 2007G.

The team started the Spring EDP with two-one wins over BETHESDA SC ACADEMY WHITE 07 and OLD LINE FC 07 PRIDE BLACK on consecutive weekends.

President’s Cup

These performances foreshadowed the Maryland President’s Cup.

The first week-end the Pipeline team defeated SAC PREMIER WHITE 07 two-one on Saturday and drew BALTIMORE UNION SC GIRLS ELITE 07 nil-nil on Sunday.

The second weekend the girls defeated Maryland United Red II by a score of one-nil on Saturday. This victory placed them atop their bracket and into the semifinals on Sunday.

The girls lost to LTSC 2007 (PURPLE) in a hard-fought game one-two in the semifinals.

This game also served as an EDP game. The loss left Pipeline and LTSC tied atop their EDP bracket with two wins and one loss.

Back to EDP Play

Yesterday May 4^th, Pipeline girls defeated TRI-COUNTY SC TRIUMPH 2007 by a score of two-nil.  They stayed tied atop their bracket with three wins and one loss.

The fall 2018 EDP season saw the Pipeline girls winning two, drawing one, and losing six games. Already the girls have bested the fall record.

Today, the girls met BALTIMORE UNION SC GIRLS ELITE 07 in an EDP match. The teams met in President’s Cup three weeks ago, and I am confident each wanted more than a nil-nil result.

It drizzled during pregame warmup but stopped as the game began. Union scored first on a high shot that bounced into a corner. Pipeline evened the score with a shot that caught the goalkeeper leaning the wrong way.

The girls scored again on a set piece. Pipeline’s Eight volleyed a corner kick passed Union’s goalkeeper as the half ended.

The second half saw a flurry of scoring. Union scored their second goal to even the score when Pipeline’s goalkeeper mishandled a high shot. Union followed with another shot to the near post that scooted by our goalie. Union led three-two.

Five minutes to go, the coach asked his starters to get two goals. Moments later the forward slammed a corner kick into the goal bringing the score to three-all. Less than a minute to go, the forward found a crease in Union’s defense to score seconds before the final whistle. Final score: Pipeline four, Union three.

Bracket standings

The team sits atop the bracket with twelve points with five of nine games completed. Regardless of how the next games go, the team has shown tremendous growth since only drawing one game in each of the fall tournaments, the Spirit United Kickoff Classic and the Keystone Cup 2018.

Tryouts

Tryouts are this month. Players will be competing for roster places on Pipeline’s teams. Check the Pipeline’s website for dates and times.

Wish Good Luck

The 2007 girls are playing hard and showing improvement with each game. Use the attached comment form to wish them good luck as they finish the EDP season and prepare for the FC DELCO Players Cup.

August 2016, I joined my son-in-law coaching the Pipeline 2008 Boys Gold team. Since I have assisted him with the Pipeline 2008 Boys Red, 2007 Girls Red, and the 2007 Girls Black. But, my mentor is taking a hiatus, and I will take one also.

I agreed to assist Coach Brad because I was looking for an activity to fill my retirement years. I haven’t regretted accepting his offer.

Mentoring a novice coach

A novice coach should have a knowledgeable mentor to guide him/her. I feel I had one of the best. I have learned about developing young players, ages 8-12, and building a team.

The Pipeline Soccer Club conducts tryouts in May. The coaches test players and make offers. Players end up on teams reflective of their skills shown. Then, the club places the teams into leagues and tournaments based on their tier within the club.

Training requirements

Regardless of the tier, players have similar training requirements. They need to increase their technical skills and to understand positional and game play. Players need fitness. They need the confidence to compete at a high level. The coach should address these needs through training and game management.

I feel my mentor works to meet these needs for every team he coached. Some coaches develop fitness by having the players run laps or sprints. His philosophy is fitness will improve as the player works with the ball. Using precious training time to run players is unnecessary with designed drills. Dribbling, 1v1, 1v2, 2v2, 3v3 drills, and scrimmages build technical skills while contributing to fitness.

Training game play

Positional play is key to game play. Teaching positional play requires more than technical drills. The coach must place players in game-like situations. Scrimmages are a great skill builder as players can exercise skills in a competitive environment. Divide the players into groups, give them a ball, give them a goal (score, consecutive number of passes, etc.), and let them play. Address skill, positional, and team play during the scrimmage. I understand the value of ending training sessions with a scrimmage.

Confidence

Confidence is something that a coach can assist with but not instill. A good coach will be quick to compliment good technical play in training and games. He/she will be as quick to point out how a player could do it better.

Playing in quality tournaments can affect confidence. Success is good for confidence while losing can be bad. Bad if the coach allows it to get hold of the players and team. The Pipeline 2008 Boys Gold team’s Labor Day tournament saw them on the wrong side of a 10-43 goal differential. However, the coach kept the things they did well at the tournament before them as they trained twice a week. The team competed hard and was a finalist at the Columbus Day tournament. Boys lacking confidence would never have seen such growth.

Communicating

A coach must be a communicator. Good communications with players and parents are as important as good training. The coach should preface the drills with explanations of what the player must do and its value. Then he reinforces with timely corrections.

Aside from the coach, the people who most affect a player’s confidence are their parents and grandparents. They can remind the player of things they are doing well or they can keep the player’s shortcomings foremost in the child’s mind. The coach should keep parents aware of their child’s progress. Winning games is the goal, but the emphasis should be on player development.

Tell me what you think makes a good coach. I look forward to learning your thoughts.

Saturday’s game was Pipeline 2007 Girls Black’s first game since finishing as a finalist in the APC Premier Cup Girls 2019 Spring Showcase.

These two teams played twice in the fall, but only one result counted.

The game that wasn’t

They played the first game on a day of torrential rain. The pitch was grass, wet, slick grass. The referee warned each team’s coach he would call the game if the girls slipped because of the wetness.

Pipeline girls jumped to a quick three-nil lead in the first fifteen minutes. However, two girls had slipped and fallen. The referee gave his warning again. He would call the game if another player fell. Two minutes later, a Pipeline girl slid while attempting to change direction. The game called with thirteen minutes to half time. Thirteen minutes to the game becoming a game of record. They would play the game when made up in entirety.

They meet again

The second game was played at Pipeline on grass late in the fall. The pitch had seen many games during the fall and was in fair, not good shape. The day was warm and dry. Pipeline jumped to a two-nil lead in the first half. Bethesda came back in the second half with two goals for a well-earned draw.

Deja Vu

Saturday’s game was scarily like the second game in the fall. Pipeline got a goal and led one-nil at half time. They scored again early in the second half to lead two-nil.

Undeterred, Bethesda girls refused to go away. Time after time, Pipeline’s defense was scrambling to turn their opponent’s attack. And Pipeline’s goalkeeper challenged to smother shots, or to leave her line to reach the ball before Bethesda’s forwards could shoot.

Bethesda’s aggressive play paid off with a goal with less than five minutes to play. Encouraged by the score, Bethesda continued to pressure Pipeline up to the final whistle to lose this game one-two.

Will they meet again?

The coaches are hoping the teams will meet again during President’s Cup. Pipeline and Bethesda are in different brackets meaning they need to win their bracket to play each other again. Here’s hoping they are successful in the competition and meet again this fall.

Do you have a soccer game you would like to discuss? Or, perhaps a different sport? The comment form is available for anything you find interesting.

The Saturday game was against the A3 Royals. Pipeline played A3 to a nil-nil draw on a cold, windy night. This was a good result against the A3 team which won the fall EDP game one-nil.

The Sunday game was a warm afternoon game against SAC United Blue. Pipeline scored a one-nil victory. Pipeline lost their last two games against SAC, a one-nil loss in the Columbus Fall Classic and a two-nil loss in the Fall EDP. Bragging rights for my granddaughter Elizabeth who scored the assist for the goal in the win.

Congratulations to the team for the fine results against quality competition. Good luck with the rest of the season’s games.

Pipeline has announced the schedule for tryouts. The 2012-2006 group will tryout May 13-16. The 2005-2001 group tryouts are May 28-31. Register to save a spot and to get important information as the dates draw near. Registration and information at the club’s website.

The Pipeline 2007 Girls Black team starts its EDP 2019 spring schedule 30 March against Bethesda SC Academy White. The girls are training hard to prepare for the start of another challenging season against the team they tied two-two in the fall.

News from Lacrosse. Recently my grandson Leo was accepted for the True Lacrosse National Atlantic 2023 Program. This is a national level program with teams based on high school graduation year. The team will compete against other national level teams in elite tournaments. Good job, Leo!

I would enjoy hearing what is happening with you via the comment form.

Pipeline EDP Results

The team finished their EDP winter season with a record of two wins, one draw, and six losses. The two wins were shutouts, and the losses were all close contests except for one, the only game Pipeline was shutout. Considering the team played several club’s first teams and played them to one goal losses was encouraging. So much for the league results.

Fall tournaments

Let’s recap fall tournaments. The team came together in August 2018. Girls who transferred from local clubs joined several girls from the Pipeline Red team and the previous year’ Black team. The girls had a few training sessions together before beginning tournament play. Their results reflected this ambitious start.

As the club’s second team in the age group and a top ten team in Maryland, they played in the top bracket of the Spirit United Kickoff Classic. Pipeline came up short with two-one goal losses but drew a game.

Keystone Cup was another tournament where they played in the top bracket. The team drew one game, was shutout in one and suffered a one-goal loss. Two tournaments without a win while playing top competition.

Things went better in the 7th Annual Columbus Day Explorer Day Cup. Again top bracket, the Pipeline girls drew the tournament champion, lost to the finalist, and won the third game. Finally, a tournament win for the team.

The Bethesda Premier Cup Girls-2018 saw Pipeline play only one game. It was a single goal loss in the top bracket.

Winter tournament

Now for unreported results. The girls played in the B bracket at the APC Premier Cup 2018- Boys & Girls Winter Showcase along with the nation’s number two team and another top New Jersey team. The team won its second tournament game and suffered two losses.

Most recently. Last weekend, 23-24 February, the team played a five-team bracket at the APC Premier Cup Girls 2019 Spring Showcase. They won two games and finished as a finalist behind the top team in Maryland. Of three teams with two wins, the Pipeline team was the team with a positive goal deferential.

The result for the seventeen tournament games against top competition was four wins, three draws, and ten losses. A less than stellar result but there were games against the second team in the nation, a state cup champion, and top teams from Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

The growth from one draw in each of the first two tournaments to finalist in the last portends good things for the team in the EDP 2019 spring league and spring tournaments.

Upcoming Pipeline Soccer Club Tryouts

The Pipeline 2007 Girls Pre-Academy and Black Team will transition to 11v11 play in the fall. The teams will seek quality players at the tryouts in May. If you are interested in trying out, monitor the Pipeline Soccer Club website for the location and dates.

Do you have a story to share? Ever played soccer? Have an opinion about soccer? I would love to hear it. The comment form is a good way to let me know.

I look forward to anything you want to share.

November is the eleventh month of the year.

November is a month when the clock falls back an hour; the weather portends cold days and snowy days, and we celebrate Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day.

 Everyone, well almost everyone, enjoys the setback of the clock. I am one of the well almost group.

I might enjoy the extra hour of sleep if I didn’t wake up according to my internal clock. Even if I conquered my internal clock, I can’t control my dog’s clock.

On “turn back morning” as I struggle to doze the extra hour, my dogs recognize I am awake. “Feed us,” their whines say. This year, I silenced them with a not yet. Bear and Duke grumbled before settling. An hour later I got up, and feed them according to the clock’s schedule.

Preview of winter days

The changed clock brings cold weather. I am convinced Mother Nature waits until we turn the clock back to drop the temperatures into the ’40s and ’50s, or less on dry days. The early arrival of darkness ensures even colder nighttime temperatures.

I don’t mind the drop in temperature when I sit comfortably in my easy chair. I mind when I am at an outdoor soccer practice, and the sun has been down for two hours. Thermals and the long sleeve shirt and long pants replace the Pipeline training shirt and shorts worn in October. I am less active than the coach and players, so I add a heavy jacket.

Colder temperatures further frustrate me. They bring cold rain, freezing rain, and snow. I tolerate snow easier than any variation of cold rain.

Snow guarantees slick–slick sidewalks and slick streets. In Maryland, drivers understand how dangerous snow is (but don’t drive like it). Many drivers stay home rather than drive in the snow. Rain brings out those drivers without the sense of danger snow gave them.

Brrrr cold, can’t wait for spring and warming temperatures.

Armistice Day was a federal holiday in November until 1954. It marked the end of World War One (WWI). The Armistice went into effect the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.

In 1954, President Dwight D.Eisenhower signed a bill renaming Armistice Day to Veterans Day. Armistice Day recognized the veterans of WWI. Veterans Day recognizes all veterans.

Veterans Day hasn’t always been celebrated on November 11th. The United States celebrated Veterans Day in October for four years in the 1970s. Since on November 11th.

Thanksgiving Day is the second federal holiday in November. Wikipedia notes there were many celebrations of thanksgiving in our country’s founding days. One marked the safe arrival in Virginia of a group of English Settlers. Another a celebration at Plymouth, Massachusetts. 

People in the United States, Canada, and Liberia celebrate Thanksgiving Day, though the celebrations occur on different days.

Our celebration of Thanksgiving included my niece and her family from Washington, Illinois. Their Thanksgiving week memories include more than the turkey dinner at our house.

 They made the trek early and enjoyed time to visit Pittsburg, PA., Washington, DC, Antietam National Battlefield, Baltimore Inner Harbor, and Fort McHenry. I enjoyed hearing they enjoyed their time and look forward to a return visit.

There are thought, feelings, or impressions of the 11^thmonth you could add using the comment form. Don’t be shy, what did November bring to your life.