I was blessed to be the assistant coach for the Pipeline Soccer Club (http://www.pipelinesoccerclub.com/) Boys 2008 Gold team. It has been a pleasure to have coached this team of fine young men.

Labor Day Tournament

The team began practice in August to prepare for the Labor Day tournament.  We played three games and lost each by several goals. The boys played hard, but we were a new team of boys who had met their coaches and each other ten training days before. Performance at the Labor Day tournament showed how rough we were as a team. We lost all games with a goal differential of 33.  10 scored by us across three games against 43 by our opponents.

League Play and Training

The boys showed amazing resilience. Everyone was at the next practice eager to train. The weekend losses were past, and they looked forward to the first league game. Coach Brad adjusted training to address the shortcomings pointed out by the tournament. Two sessions later the team won its first league game 4-3 on a very hot day.

We won two of the next three league games. Team training focused on playing positions and maintaining ‘shape’. We played 7v7. The boys learned positions and the role of each. They learned 4 and 5 back, 7 and 11 wide(!), 6 floating up and back, and 9 attack, 1 in the goal. Coach Brad explained if they kept their shape as they attacked and defended, we would have success. Some of each session focused on reinforcing ‘shape’.

Columbus Day Tournament

We went into the Columbus Day tournament with a record of 2 wins and 4 losses for all games to date.  The boys won both games on Saturday placing us in the finals. We played the Sunday morning game to a tie and lost the finals 2-4 to the Sacred Heart/Glyndon team. Despite the loss, the team showed great progress. The boy’s work ethic and never give up spirit made coaches and parents proud. Second place trophy each received soothed any disappointment the boys might have felt.

The boys continued to show the spirit of winners. They paid attention at practice and worked hard during the games. By the time it came for the end of season tournament, they placed second in their league and put up a 6-7-1 season record for games played.

Brandywine Tournament – End of Fall Season

The Brandywine tournament was the last event of the fall season and was played 19-20 November 2016.  The team played hard and won the two games on Saturday placing them in the finals. There was still a third game to be played on Sunday. They played Saturday’s games in 60 degrees and calm weather.

The Grinch came on Saturday night. He brought 40 degree cold and 40 mph winds gusting to 50 or more. The first game was miserable, and we lost. I couldn’t believe the weather worsened for the second and we lost 1-4.  The boys took both losses with good grace, congratulating and cheering for Delaware Rush when they received the winner’s trophy. They accepted the finalist medals with as much excitement as if they won the tournament.

Brad asked me to assist him in coaching this team and I accepted. I never played but my son had years ago. My wife and I have been seen uncounted games involving my grandchildren. Watching differs from coaching. As the assistant, I supported Brad in set up, tear down and running exercises he set up. It was rewarding seeing the boys execute skills during games that I helped teach. More so was the times that one of them came up and I heard, Coach Dwane would you [open this, tie my shoe, or help me].

Thank you Boys

Thank you Coach Brad for offering the experience and Pipeline Soccer Club Boys 2008 Gold for creating memories during this fall season.  The team members in no specific order: Alex, Tucker, Max, Brian, Shivank, Tekesta, Colin, Myles, Gavin, Carson and Ben.

Those who remain for the winter season will be training in preparation for winning the first tournament in the spring! Go Pipeline Boys 2008 Gold!

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Why I enlisted in the Navy

I enlisted in the US Navy in August 1966 under a deferment program. I had 90 days to make preparations for leaving civilian life. The draft notice Uncle Sam had sent me was voided by the enlistment. I was property of the sea service.

On 29 November, 1966 I arrived at the induction center in Chicago, Illinois at about 6 am. I was very early. Eventually, someone unlocked the center. I was told they were not ready to begin processing new recruits and sent to a waiting area. I was told someone would call me when it was my turn.

Too scared not to, I followed directions verbatim. I sat for several hours waiting. I watched many men my age enter and be taken to other rooms. My patience exhausted,  sore from sitting on an uncomfortable chair, I stopped a passing sailor to explain my concerns. This caused a stir because the processing was nearly complete for the day.

I was hustled to a room where I filled out forms and took tests before undergoing a physical. After getting dressed, I was given a folder with my paperwork. I was taken to a room where recruits were receiving their assignments for boot camp.

Getting to San Diego Navy Recruit Training Center

I entered and placed my folder in the tray on the desk. My folder became the topmost folder. I was the last one through processing but would be the next considered. The sailor picked up my folder and called me to his desk. He reviewed my paperwork and asked me to select San Diego, California or Great Lakes, Illinois for boot camp.  I took the last opening for San Diego Naval Recruit Training Center given that day, 29 November 1966.

I was one of three recruits that boarded a flight to San Diego, California that afternoon. I would spend the winter in balmy California. As it turned out, the recruits at Great Lakes suffered through a very cold snowy winter. I endured rain in San Diego.

No Holiday Break

Boot camp did not break for holidays. I spent Christmas and New Years with my company. The highlight of training came the day my Father, a Senior Chief Petty Officer, came to visit. His ship remained in port long enough for him to attend my graduation. (He deployed to Tonkin Gulf off Viet Nam shortly after I graduated.) If you read my welcome blog, you know he recommended I join the Navy. *He also encouraged my two younger brothers to enlist when they turned 19.*

In retrospect, it is clear these series of events foreshadowed many times during my career when fortune shined on me. I had arrived before anyone and was the last processed.  As a result, I selected the last assignment to San Diego and missed the awful winter experienced by Great Lakes. And had I gone to Great Lakes, my father could not have visited or been present at my graduation. Fortune smiled.

I would enjoy hearing if  fortune or a lucky talisman has shined on you.

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