Soccer, soccer, and more soccer....

Okay, so about my crazy and demanding soccer schedule...

Many of you know that i'm coaching both the boys and the girls varsity soccer teams at the high school i'm working at. At the beginning of the boys season (starts in August, ends in October), it was pretty stressful because everything was in such disarray. I was unable to even get the boys together until the 3rd day of school. At this point, you might be thinking...."what's wrong with that?"...well, the first game was scheduled for a week later. I had no clue how many guys i would have, would i have enough for a JV team...or even a Varsity?? Once I met all the guys, I determined that I only had enough to carry a LARGE varsity, we started with 26, ended the season with 21 (due to grades and quitters). After that, I discovered that i only had enough uniforms to suit 15 players...b/c the seniors from last year were allowed to keep their uniforms....why on earth this was allowed, i have no idea. So, I now have 1 week to get 10 uniforms ordered, numbered, and delivered in order for us to play our first game. Well, i got so far as to get them ordered. Our first 2 games were scrimmages, so it really didn't matter about their uniforms. SO, i scrounged up 26 uniforms of mix-n-match jerseys and shorts and handed them out. I had to tape 1 to many of them so they wouldn't have duplicate numbers. so i had a 61, 71, even a 161. It was quite entertaining to us and we even had running bets as to whose numbers would stay on the longest (hey...it's vegas...you can gamble on anything). Well, i finally got the uniforms in just in time for our 2nd district game. Oh, and the socks...they had to wear their own at first, then i got a really good deal on some Adidas copa game socks. $7.50 a pair (they are normally $10). So i made the guys buy their socks...they got 2 pair (green and white) for 10 bucks...and they get to keep them. So we finally look like a real unified team just in time to tie our first game. That was the first time they hadn't LOST a game in 3 years. They were super excited. After having to purchase uniforms and socks...the budget was almost gone. I had yet to buy new balls or any other equipment that was needed...so i started trying to hustle equipment from the other sports. The athletic director got wind of this and he decided to help me out. He decided to give me some more money (for balls, cones, and water jugs) and also bought me 2 new nets (because i was having to tape holes up in the ones i had). this all came in for our last game...we finished the season in 6th place, 3-11-2. That is 3 wins and 2 ties better than previous years. It turned out to be a great season, had lots of fun, and learned quite a bit.

So, on to the girls season.... I got exactly 2 weeks of nothing to do (that's only because we didn't make play-offs). so, try outs were yesterday and today. I had 45 show up, had to cut 2, and 8 are ineligible because of grades. Good numbers....but not so good players. I've got my work cut out for me with this team. Also, the uniform situation...I thought i had it bad with the boys uniforms...well....the girls don't have any. they wore the boy's uniforms along with mix-n-match with the other jerseys. So, i decided i HAVE to order them new uniforms. But i only have enough money in my budget to order enough for only the Varsity. I only had $1000. Somehow, i talked my way into 22 sets (1 white and 1 green jersey, and 1 pair of green shorts) of Nike Women uniforms for $1078!! They also gave me the same deal on the socks (but for Nike) and i'm doing the same thing with them that i did with the guys. So, they should have thier new uniforms by their first game on Dec. 9th. (wish us luck). The JV, unfortunetly are wearing the boys set of uniforms and are getting cheap-o socks that they gotta buy too. I have yet to decide whose on Varsity and whose on JV, but I have to do this by next friday. So, that's where i'm at with my high school teams...

As for me...i'm playing as well. I'm playing on a Co-ed 11v11 team on Wednesday nights (we made it to playoffs), a Co-ed 8v8 on friday nights, and a womens team on sundays mornings. So once again...my life is fully consumed with soccer BUT i'm loving (mostly) every minute of it.

I'll let you know how i'm feeling about it once the girls season get going....

toodles.