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PLAN OF THE WEEK

Wednesday, October 3, 2007: Soccer Practice at 5:30 p.m. (Please note no Tuesday practice.)

Thursday, October 4, 2007: Soccer Practice at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 6, 2007: LSU v. Florida (Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.) Kickoff is scheduled for 7:28 p.m. CST. No game for Firebirds.

Tuesday, October 9, 2007: Soccer Practice at 5:30 p.m.

No Sunday Soccer Game.

Jan just called, the Sunday Game has been canceled.

USA send England out of World Cup

US 3, ENGIRLAND Eagles O




England were knocked out of the Women's World Cup after a 3-0 defeat by the United States in the quarter-finals.

England had held their own in the first half but a 48th-minute far-post Abby Wambach header put the USA ahead. There had been little between the sides at the start as both sides nullified each other early on.

The pace picked up after the initial sparring and it was England who started to seize the initiative as some neat passing and clever movement saw them create two chances in quick succession.

The first saw striker Eniola Aluko found in space with the chance of a clear run on goal but her hesitancy allowed the American defence to clear the threat. An angled Karen Carney cross caused concern in the US area and, although Jill Scott got a high boot to the ball, her effort was blocked and she was penalised for dangerous play. It was an encouraging start from England, who had showed tremendous resilience in holding Germany to a 0-0 draw in the group stages. And the US did not begin to assert their dominance until just before the break when they created their first significant opening.

England breathed a sigh of relief when Wambach shot over from six yards after meeting a Stephanie Lopez cross. Lilly's fierce angled strike was then produced a fine save from keeper Brown, who palmed the ball over as the half ended on even terms. But the US sustained the pressure in the second half and were rewarded with a goal when Wambach headed home to mark her 100th international appearance.

England responded by pressing for an equaliser - only to continue to come up against a resolute US defence. The creative Kelly Smith shouldered England's main hope of somehow equalising but she was marked out of the game by a US side recognising the threat she posed. A precise 20-yard shot from Boxx extended the US lead and, before manager Hope Powell's side had a chance to regroup, Brown's error let in Lilly to score and end England's challenge.

Turbo Twin Power is not just for Football!

Jimmy Gegko asked for some baseball photos on the blog he never reads.

The brother of the Firebird's Goal Scoring Machine

Robert, the brother of John the goal kicking machine.

Girls Rock!

United States Beats Sweden on Two Goals by Wambach

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 15, 2007

CHENGDU, China, Sept. 14 (AP) — Kristine Lilly glanced up, caught sight of Abby Wambach 25 yards ahead racing down the left side toward Sweden’s goal, and lofted a soaring ball for Wambach to run under. Wambach did just that, settling the pass off her chest and lashing a left-footed half-volley from 15 yards that ripped into the net in the 58th minute.

“If you like football, you like to see a goal like Abby Wambach’s goal today,” Sweden Coach Thomas Dennerby said. “But for us, it was in the wrong match.”

It was Wambach’s second of the game — she also converted a penalty kick in the 34th minute — and it gave the United States a 2-0 victory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The victory moved the Americans into position to qualify for the quarterfinals. “You have to know with Kristine,” Wambach said. “Sometimes in the course of a game she can get pretty much inside herself. When she gets inside herself, I know something good is about to happen.”

Wambach played with 11 stitches in her head, picked up in a 2-2 tie against North Korea.

The victory gave the United States 4 points in Group B, the same as North Korea. The Americans’ final group game is Tuesday against Nigeria, which lost, 2-1, to North Korea yesterday.

A draw will be enough to get the United States to the quarterfinals, although a victory may guarantee first place and a quarterfinal against Japan or England. If the United States finishes second in the group, it will probably have a tougher game, against Germany, the defending champion.

In Group A yesterday, Germany and England tied, 0-0, and Japan defeated Argentina, 1-0.

Paula's Home for Imaginary Kids

The Tripod (Before they smashed it)

 

Cooking over an open fire.

Building go Boom!

Arron's Soccer Move

Zinedine Zidane's Classic Soccer Move

Posted Jul 02, 2006

The pirouette is classic Zidane. He turns the attack forward at speed, hauls it to a stop, freezing defenders, then accelerates past. His control of the game led France to a 2006 quarterfinal victory over Brazil in the rematch of 1998's World Cup final.

After watching Zidane, get ready for a full week of soccer action. Practice Tuesday at 5:45, and then again on Wednesday. On Saturday, we will have our first game. Kickoff is at 10:30, so the players should be at the field and ready to play at 10:00!

We play Divine Mercy.

What the heck are you doing, Coach?

This year's coaching is based on the “Dutch Vision” method of soccer instruction. Dutch Vision is based on the revolutionary idea that soccer is a child’s game that should be fun.

Understanding soccer is a breeze when compared to understanding the children that are playing it. Each age brings unique problems. Cognitive, emotional, physical and social development will vary a great deal within the group. There is one factor that will bring all of the children together. One element that will reach everyone. They want to have fun.

Enjoyment is the unifying motive of the Dutch Vision method. Some children don't want to learn. Some don't care about winning. A few have no interest in hard work and one or two can't remember which goal they're attacking. In spite of all of their different agendas they all want to have fun and play a game, that is what brings them here.

Children also want to be children. Too often we coaches sees children as an extension of his vision and they become puppets to it. The time spent at practice and at the games is a part of their childhood. It should not reflect the adult world. Some adults forget this and their expectations take the fun out of the experience.

Growth in the learning process can be measured by the child's contribution to the game in the four main moments. The greater the contribution that the child makes the farther his learning process has developed. A child with a strong internal desire to master the game will succeed to the best of their abilities. A child that needs constant external support will not. He will only grow as far as he can be carried. Their level of motivation is one of their most important limiting factors.

In order to make a contribution it's important for them to learn how the game unfolds and to have an impact on it. Soccer is a dynamic and fluid game. Pictures and decisions change in a second. This active element creates situations that drills do not adequately address. It involves the child in reading situations, analyzing them, making predictions, arriving at decisions and finally acting on them.

OK, so you have a theory, why do you keep score, can’t kids just play? You are concentrating too much on keeping score. Why?
Fear of failure. The biggest fear of failure is the fear of losing the game. "What if I make THE mistake?" When winning and losing is restricted to game day it takes on even greater significance. There is no middle ground. Practice is meant to prepare the players for the match. When winning and losing has no place in training then arguably the most important element of the game is being neglected, the result. Children need to learn how to deal with both sides of this. That winning or losing today doesn't mean much tomorrow, that both are necessary for growth. Small sided games end with a result and with several small sided games in any practice every player will have several opportunities to experience both sides. This helps children to lower their fear of failure and leads to a more stable appreciation of what the results really mean.

Our goal: better soccer, more fun!

Here be ye feather list.

Hey, Jimmy Gecko,

If you'd just sack up and admit you are a 'Gator fan, your Creek tribe could win some coup. Even I think it's great to be a Florida 'Gator.

Love,


Bobby Bowden.



As usual, click to enlarge.

The Green Feather

            The Green Feather represents the Warrior that walks the forest and stares up at the great trees in wonder. The color of green represents life on Mother Earth. This garden of green will give him many things to sustain his life. It will give him the tools and weapons to make his life easer on earth. It will give him shelter in the harsh winters and cool shade from the hot summer sun. The trees will bare fruit to fill his belly and give his body nourishment. The Warrior will walk in the beauty and respect the thing that the Great Spirit has made. His ears will listen to The Great Spirit voice in the wind.

            The Green Feather is said to be the hardest feather for a brave to earn. The Green Feather is earned by brave’s demonstrating his knowledge and stating from memory, a brief history of the Indian Guides, the Story of the Headband and the National Emblem.

A BRIEF HISTORY

            "The Indian father raises his son. He teaches his son to hunt, to track, to fish, to walk softly and silently in the forest, to know the meaning and purpose of life and all that he must know, while the white man allows the mother to raise his son." These chance remarks made in the early 1920s by Ojibway Indian hunting guide Joe Friday to Harold Keltner, a St. Louis YMCA director, struck a responsive chord.

            In 1925 Keltner arranged for Friday to speak before boys and dads in the St. Louis area. One evening after a talk given at a father and son banquet, Friday was so closely surrounded by fathers that the boys could not get near him. This gave Keltner an idea. Perhaps this strong mutual interest in the Indian could be put at the heart of a program aimed at closing the gap that he had seen widening between American fathers and their sons. Keltner designed a father-son program based on the qualities of American Indian culture and life: Dignity, Patience, Endurance, Spirituality, Feeling for the earth, and Concern for the family. From this, Y-Indian Guide programs were born.

THE STORY OF THE HEADBAND

             The central theme of the headband is the Eye of the Great Spirit surrounded by the four winds of heaven. The feathered arrow designs which extend right and left of the central symbol represent the useful services of father and son. The fact that father-and-son achievements are united in the center of the design is interpreted to mean that fathers and sons together, under the eye of the Great Spirit, are seeking to help each other in the services they render.

            To the right is the symbol of the mother and home. A line connects the mother symbol with the tepee, or home symbol. the fact that it is a home symbol is shown by the fire in the tepee. On the left are symbols of father and son. Their relationship again is shown by the line that joins the two symbols. These symbols add to the richness of the central theme, for it is in service to mother and home that many of the more significant achievements of father and son will take place.

            Far to the right are symbols of day and forest. Far to the left are the symbols of mountain, lake, field, and stream, with the moon for night. Here again, these symbols tend to enrich the central theme, giving broader scope to services by centering the efforts of father and son on village and community life, and, as the ritual says, "in forest, field and stream."

            In summary, the interpretation of the headband can be taken as "Father and son, through friendly service to each other, to our family, to this tribe, and to our community, seek a world pleasing to the eye of the Great Spirit."

ABOUT THE INDIAN GUIDES EMBLEM

            The National Emblem of blue, gold, and red represents some of the main points that are stressed in Y-Guides. The cross section of an ear of corn symbolizes goodness of the Great Spirit in the life of the American Indian. The arrow head is a symbol typical of Indian life. The triangle identifies the organization as an integral part of the YMCA.

The Yellow Feather

The Yellow Feather is the color of the sacred fire that gives life to all. It represents a Warrior decision to begin his journey into life with a noble cause. It is a time for him to reflect back on his life and his accomplishments. He begins to realize that whatever success that he had achieved up until that time, the spiritual essence is missing in his life. The Yellow Feather, the color of the sun represents a new birth and beginning. The Warrior must look to the east and greet the sun and ask God for guidance. It is a time to take charge of his own destiny, to reevaluate and to set new priorities. This new journey will have a profound effect on him and everyone that comes in contact with him. Throughout this new journey the Warrior will acquire knowledge and wisdom so that he can enlighten men along the way. They will come to know that you are a man of honor and integrity. If your heart is good, they will know that they were in the presence of someone who will make a difference.

To earn a yellow feather, a little brave must be able to recite the six aims from memory. They are:

1. To be clean in body and pure in heart.

2. To be “Pals Forever” with my father/son.

3. To love the sacred circle of my family.

4. To be attentive while others speak.

5. To love my neighbor as myself.

6. To seek and preserve the beauty of the Great Spirit’s work in forest, field and stream.

The Red Feather

Red stands for valor and hardiness; red for the blood, that flowed like the river.

The red feather is earned by reciting, from memory, the Indian names of the tribe members and the motto, “Pals forever with my Dad.”

The White Feather

The White feather is earned by the brave when he and his father complete, and display before the tribe, three Indian crafts. The award of the White feather is in recognition of father and son working together and demonstrating their useful services.

The Blue Feather

The Blue Feather represents the Warrior as he looks to the Heavens and gives thanks to The Great Spirit. He has the respect and wisdom to acknowledge the greatness of all the Heavens. He is blessed to have the clear blue sky and deep blue waters to drink from. He is honored just to walk the earth this day and looks forward to tomorrow. Each new day gives the Warrior another chance to redeem himself and if necessary reinvent himself. Forever always changing to improve oneself for the better, yet knowing he will eventually run out of time and will fall short of perfection. Little does he know, but he has set the standards for the ones that follow him. If the Warrior's heart is good, he will leave his mark and make the world a better place. He did not just occupy space while he was here. He was a leader.

The blue feather is earned for good conduct at three consecutive Tribal Meetings. The blue feather is awarded by the the Tribal Chief when he has observed the brave meeting all the other requirements. Interestingly, it is the only feather that may be taken away for not maintaining the standards of good conduct. If the feather is taken away, the brave must again demonstrate his good conduct at three consecutive meetings.

The Brown Feather

The brown feather is earned when a brave demonstrates, before the tribe, an Indian Prayer. The prayer is used in closing the Tribal Counsel. Although originally intended to be a silent prayer the words are said along with the signs to meaning to each gesture.

An Indian Prayer

And now,

(Index finger pointing to the ground)

May the Great Spirit

(all fingers circling up, imitating smoke)

Of all good spirits

(arms outstretched)

Be with

(arms coming in close)

You,

(index finger pointing across circle)

Now

(all fingers pointing down)

And forever more.

(action of shooting bow and arrow)

Of course, now would be a good time to remember that the phrase, “Great Spirit” is just another name for God the Father. Parents should take time to remind their sons of the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 5.

Ego Dominus Deus tuus qui eduxi te de terra Aegypti de domo servitutis.

Non habebis deos alienos in conspectu meo.

Non facies tibi sculptile nec similitudinem omnium quae in caelo sunt desuper et quae in terra deorsum et quae versantur in aquis sub terra.

Non adorabis ea et non coles ego enim sum Dominus Deus tuus Deus aemulator reddens
iniquitatem patrum super filios in tertiam et quartam generationem his qui oderunt me.

I am the Lord thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Thou shalt not have strange gods in my sight.

Thou shalt not make to thy self a graven thing, nor the likeness of any things, that are in heaven
above, or that are in the earth beneath, or that abide in the waters under the earth.

Thou shalt not adore them, and thou shalt not serve them. For I am the Lord thy God, a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon their children unto the third and fourth generation,
to them that hate me.

The Orange Feather

The Orange Feather is earned by the brave for his participation in a Nation campout activity.

The judgment as to whether the brave has earned his feather rests with the Tribal Chief