March 31, 2007  ~  Volume 1, Issue 2

Welcome to iNEWS, the official monthly newsletter of the Internationals Girls Soccer Club!

The weather is here… soccer is moving outdoors… life is good!

Club Happenings ~ March 2007

• Indoor II Leagues at Pinnacle – Final Results
• U10 in U9/10 Girls - FIRST PLACE
• U10 in U10 Boys SL - Third Place
• U11 in U11/12 Boys SL - Third Place
• U12 in U12/13 Boys SL- FIRST PLACE
• U13 Red in U12/13 Boys SL - FIRST PLACE
• U13 Blue in U13/14 Girls SL - FIST PLACE
• U13 Red in U14 Boys SL - Fourth Place
• U14 in U14 Boys SL - Third Place
• U14 in Girls HS B - FIRST Place
• U15 in Girls HS SL - Third Place
• U16 in Girls HS SL - FIRST PLACE

Congratulations to all teams on another fantastic indoor season!!

• Las Vegas College Showcase, March 16-18: For three days, the very best of youth soccer gathered in the entertainment capital of the world to participate in the Las Vegas College Showcase, the “Soccer March Madness”.   Our U16s were exposed to hundreds of college coaches from around the county.  They also had the opportunity to compete against some of the nation’s best talent.
• Last month, Keri Sarver (Internationals Staff Coach) was awarded a United States Soccer Federation National B Coaching License.  This is a great accomplishment as it only one level away from the highest license awarded by the USSF.  Internationals Soccer DOC, Zdravko Popovic states: “Obtaining this license demonstrates Sarver’s dedication to her own coaching education as well as the development of our club players.  She has a passion for the game and the culture of soccer and is committed to pass that on to our youth.”
• Paige Maxwell (U17) recently traveled to Brazil with the USYSA Region II Team.  She led the way by scoring a hat trick in their first game.  Read more at Region2.com.
• On the recruiting trail… many of our U17 players have made verbal commitments to some of the best athletic and academic institutions in the country.  See the list below for the players who have committed so far.  We have a few more that are in the process of making a decision… stay tuned.
  
  
  • Kay Young - Verbal Ball State
  • Taylor Moront - Verbal Texas
  • Lauren Burke - Verbal Ohio University
  • Brittany Contacos - Verbal Ohio State
  • Paige Maxwell - Verbal Ohio State
  • Courtney Mercier - Verbal University of Michigan
  • Kerri Krawczak - Verbal Indiana University
  • Brooke Taylor - Verbal Ohio State
  • Alison Ramsey - Verbal Ball State
  • Kelsey Kovacs - Verbal Bowling Green

Congratulations, girls! We are proud of you all!!  

Featured Article

Soccer Fitness & Nutrition Guide

"Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do."
~ Pele ~

While people are born with talent, and a passion for soccer can be discovered in just an instant, becoming a champion doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years of practice, conditioning, and perseverance to turn your body into a goal-scoring and game-winning phenomenon. But it’s worth it.

Read the entire series at www.soccer-training-info.com:  Soccer Fitness & Nutrition

Goalkeeping Article

Goalkeeping: Distribution
When a keeper first receives a ball, there should be a quick progression they follow to determine where they should look to distribute the ball.

Too often, keepers distribute without much thought to where they are distributing to, or where they should look first.

Click to read the entire article: Goalkeeper Distribution [PDF]

Welcome New Members
We would like to recognize and welcome the following new players and their families.  Many of them have been with us during the winter session but they will see their first outdoor action with our club this spring. 

U10 Additions
Ellie Cain, Wadsworth; Gabrielle Kouzelos, Fairlawn; Taylor Otto, Twinsburg; Acadia Palacko, Brecksville

U11 Additions
Rachel Zaluski, Chagrin Falls

U12 Additions
Nicoel Rincella, Chagrin Falls

U13 Additions
Meghan Franczek, Broadview Hts; Kristine Garcia, Brunswick; Rebecca Krajewski, Copley; Abby Napoli, Shaker Hts; Reagan Robishaw, Perry; Ayako Tanaka, Pepper Pike

U14 Additions
Andrea Akromas, Solon ; Vickie Havas, Stow; Briana Kottler, Solon; Emily Raies, Jackson; Hannah Tate, Copley;

U15 Additions
Jessica Corey, Chagrin Falls; Michael Kisha, Fairlawn; Claire Kreft, Chagrin Falls; Maggie Rusnak, Canton

U16 Additions
Lee Bachouros, Westlake; Merrill Bachouros , Westlake; Molly Buynak, Strongsville; Jordan Finch, Akron; Elizabeth Moyer, Copley; Sarah Zawie, North Royalton

U17 Additions
Brittany Contacos, Pittsburgh, PA; Brittany Cruz, Amherst; Alexandria Languzad, Seven Hills; Adrianna Long, Solon

Player Spotlight ~ March 2007
The U10 Internationals Girls Team - U10 Roster

This month, we would like to recognize the entire U10 Girls team for the passion, commitment, and dedication they have shown at such a young age.  They come to training and games with a smile on their face and always have a story or two to tell, but once the game or training begins they are focused on the task at hand and they almost never complain!!  They frequently plauy in boys divisions and each time, they have risen to the challenge.  Keep it up girls… your future is bright!!

Reminder
Are you getting your touches in?  Practice, games and footskills are all great venues for improvement but in order to be the best you must put in extra time with the ball on your own.  Our Juggle Club is a great was to get your touches in AND get recognized/rewarded for it!!

Read more about the importance of getting touches on the ball…. Touches, Touches, Touches!

Upcoming Events ~ April 2007
These are just highlights – check with your managers for full schedule.

• CHAMPIONS CUP:  Disney’s Wide World of Sports, Orlando, Florida; April 5-8; U13, U15, U17
  "Camaraderie - n. Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends." That one word infuses US Club Soccer's Champions Cup with a deeper purpose than your average holiday-weekend tournament. Over Easter weekend, eight of the country's best boys' clubs and eight of the nation's elite girls' clubs will travel to Orlando, Fla. not only for four days of high-quality competition to determine a true national club champion, but also to enhance the bonds between their players, coaches, teams and parents.
  
  Each participating club will field a U13, U15 and U17/U18 (maximum of five U18 players) team at the 2007 Champions Cup April 5-8 at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex. While individual teams will be recognized for winning their age group, the winner of the Champions Cup will be the club who accumulates the most placement points over all three age groups.

  • All About the Cup
  • 2007 Champions Cup Primer
  • Follow the action here!
    
    
• AKRON UNIVERSITY INVITATIONAL: Akron, Ohio; April 7; UI6
  
• TOLEDO FUTBAL CLUB FRIENDLIES: Toledo, Ohio; April 7; U10, U11, U12, U13/14
  
• BLUE CHIP COLLEGE SHOWCASE: Cincinnati, Ohio; April 21-22;  U16 & U17
  As the adidas Blue Chip Showcase Tournament enters its eigth year for women, it has grown into one of the truly exclusive showcases of U16 and U17 talent. Last year, it attracted in excess of 265 college coaches from throughout the country.
• MRL, State League, & GAASA: league play begin in April

Inspiration

"Defeat is not the worst of failures. Not to have tried is the true failure."
George E. Woodberry, Writer

www.internationalssoccer.com