NEW PRACITCE LOCATION. COMING SOON

Although Granite Park use to be a great place to practice, recently it has gone down hill. Not only are the fields in rough condition. We also have to put up with other teams from who knows where. We are currently in the processess of getting a new practice location. Right now it looks like we will be practing at Selma Lane Park (Shepard and Maple) starting in July. Until then we are trying to acquire the rights at Robinson Park (Fresno between Bullard and Barstow). Both these fields will be better places to practice. Info coming soon

NEW WEBSITE IS UP AND RUNNING

The website address is www.cyclonesoccer.org This is going to be a great resource for our team. Monthly calender for families to plan ahead. Schedules for league games and tournaments. Links to mapquest to any unknown area. Record area to see our progress during the season and even an Album area for us to upload pictures so every family can share in on the memories. Go check it out. If anyone is interested in keeping this website updated, let me know. I will do it if I have to, but would rather someone else take the responsibility. Oh yeah, on the website if you click the team photo it will take you to this blog site. It is here that I will give my weekly comments on the team.

CAPTAINS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

Our first captains of the season have been chosen. Captains will be chosen on a weekly basis. They will be chosen from the girls performance from the previous week. Whoever is chosen for the week will be captain at all practices for that week and any tournaments on the weekend. The following week there will be two new captains chosen . Sometimes, the same girl or girls may be chosen . Coaches will evaluate weekly and make that decision.

Our first captain is Cassidy Crouch. I've never seen Cassidy so focused at practice. She's pushing herself on every drill and working hard on the 1v1 games. After the first week of practice, Cassidy has me thinking that she has more to her game than just defense. Can't wait to see what she brings to the Manteca Tournament. She is maturing very nicely into a leader on this team.

Our second captain is Isabella Naranjo. Isabella has always been a hard worker. Although last week she showed the coaches that she is ready to learn more. Every technical drill we do, I see Isabella pushing herself to do it right. Rarely talking during practice, shows me she is trying to get everything out of practice. I've been talking about Isabella lately to people. I keep telling them, I can't wait to see what kind of player she is in three months. Isabella is like a slab of marble if I can work on it very carefully, I feel that at the end she will be a work of art, with soccer.

AWESOME FIRST WEEK OF PRACTICE

I couldn't be happier about our first week of practice. I felt as a team we worked on the things that will benefit us in the long run. Right now, my main concern is building a good foundation for the rest of the year, and it starts with technical skills. Some of our girls do very well with the technical part of soccer. Although most of the girls struggle with feints and moves. These things could give them such an advantage against the opponent. Think about it, Paulene has such good size and speed. Put with that some moves and feints and she would be unstoppable. I look at a player like Isabella, who might not have all the speed in the world, but who is very smart on the field. Give her some moves and feints and just think how her game would open up. I have thoughts about all the girls and how this technical training is going to benefit them so much. On that note, if there is any player that feels they need a little more work on these things, I will always be at practice 1/2 early to work with any players. I am very proud of how hard all the girls are working.

STANFORD CUP 4v4 TEAMS:

I am very excited about the Stanford Cup. We had such a great time last year, this year will be even more fun. I split the girls up into two teams. I feel the teams are equally as strong. Here are the rosters for the Stanford Cup. Our age group will be U10 girls. Sunday May 4, 2008

BLACK TEAM

Ryan Uribe
Paulene Scanlan
Gabriela Watson
Mary Hang
Bethany Lucio
Morgan Cruce
Danielle Rodriguez

RED TEAM

Emiko Kubose
Chisom Okereke
Katrina Thompson
Cassidy Crouch
Jurnee Fernandez
Isabella Naranjo

READY OR NOT, HERE WE GO.

With the team in place we are ready to start practice. Exciting news about the first two weeks of practice. We will be joined by Sandy Sinner, a former Pacific player who will help us get this season off on the right note. She comes highly recommended, I'm sure the girls will enjoy her. Our website is almost finished and it's looking great. Don't worry there will be a link to this blog. This is where I will keep you updated on the most current info and just my thoughts on weekly things going on with our team. The website is more for schedule of practices, tournament schedules and maps, League schedules, and a calendar so you can plan stuff months ahead of time. We have registered for the Manteca Tournament so we should get a reply on that shortly. Next week will will register for the Stanford Cup 4v4. In Stanford we will split up into two teams. I will split the teams up as evenly as possible. I will post the teams and the players on them on this blog. See you Monday at 5:30 GOOOOOOOOOOOO CYCLONES