We Wanted The Ball

Behold our Mighty and Ferocious U10 Shockers Nation! I feel so good after the match this past weekend (I told Jason Dell, Dennis Covington and Joanne that I felt like we had just won World Cup). Most of the families have athletic histories with siblings. So, you understand what it means when a team like [...]

the give-and-go

Last night at my U10 Shockers soccer practice I had a small turn-out. Tuesdays are “extra” practice for the little ones. This gave me an option to work very closely with the team and I decided to try and work on some fairly advanced “give-and-go” drills. “Think simple about giving the ball to a teammate [...]

coaching and daddying

Haley Anne wandered into my home office a short while ago. She’s been down with flu. She has been invited to play indoor soccer for JBS. She wanted to let me know she would do it even though it might interfere with getting ready for her first big eighth grade dance. She leaned against a [...]

I can’t bare saying goodbye, so, I’ll bid you all, collectively, adieu.

Shockers Nation: I’ve been quiet. And, that’s obviously unusual for me. I’ve simply been thinking. Considering options. In any event, I’ll offer a short overview of the Fall season for both the U16 and U14 Shockers, and move on. U16 Shockers: Our U16 Shockers had a successful Fall campaign by any measure with rare defeats [...]

long live the shockers says my broken heart

this post was been updated on january 21, 2011 to include a music file. “ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END” – There is an end to everything, to good things as well. The proverb dates back to about 1374 (Chaucer). First attested in the United States around 1680. The word ‘good’ was added [...]

the virtuous shockers Mom

The telling of the tale will be fodder, not doubt, for the robust legacy of our Shockers Nation. So… I’ll likely send out a more detailed email tomorrow morning summarizing the ferocious match schedule we have this weekend (five matches across both days between the two squads). But, in the mean time, I need to [...]

little things with big impact

The great stories from the Athens Finale tournament are numerous. And, they will be chronicled, as best I am able here, over time – and, elsewhere. I’ve coached Michelle Higgins since she was eleven. She was on my first Shocker team and created a lot of learning opportunities for me as a coach. I think [...]

Tuesday’s Practice

Shockers Nation: Last nights practice was one of those times that makes being a coach extra fun and interesting. It was like a family reunion. The girls had not been together en masse for almost two weeks. And, they were clearly delighted to be together. There was a great deal of laughter, and catching up. The [...]

2009 ASA Cup Summary: Proving our fortitude and demonstrating our nerve

Much of this story, of course, began last Fall. Christy, Haley Anne, and Hannah E. were coming off an undefeated U12 season at ASA. Christy and Haley Anne were invited to play-up for the struggling U14 Blast in the ASA Cup. This gave Christy and Haley Anne an opportunity to rejoin Shockers alum AC with [...]

being pleased or being satisfied

Wednesday night at practice, with some ill-advised shenanigans afoot, I found myself relating a story to our Shockers about “being pleased or being satisfied”. I think most of them will remember the moment. If not the words, well, perhaps the catch in my voice – hopefully my heart, certainly. We have a lot of soccer [...]

leadership

Because the message clearly speaks for itself, I’ll add naught to this post but the original email from AC’s (our U14 Captain) Mom: “Coach Brian, I will not be at the game tomorrow because I am going to Alabama for a HUGE Event that we have in our hometown each year. I wanted you to [...]

to shocker Parents

Consider ourselves Shocker Nation. Some say this is not Georgia’s finest team. Bernards, each and every one, I say! They, yes, our Shockers, I tell you truly, put forward one or another pathetic rival.  I confound them with my praise!  Yes, let me go further!  Let me say that this is not only the best [...]

character defined

So… Winning is great. Shockers tend to do that. We call it Shocker Ball. Before the match I advised this hearty and ferocious U16 crew that certainly Shockers have a legacy and a history of U12 and U14 winning. But this was their team, and a chapter in the history book was for their own [...]

not just words… or deeds

Emma, One of our players, hurt her arm during practice over a week ago. I think about her each day and look forward to when she can rejoin the team. I exchanged emails with her mother this afternoon and wrapped that up with something I believe we, as Shocker Nation, understand in terms of what [...]

our daughters our Shockers

What is it about our daughters? We look at them in all their varying shapes, sizes and attitudes – and, see princesses. Mixed with that is the uneasy realization that we have to prepare them for a world that will often hurt them while they work tirelessly (we expect) to help make it a better [...]

coaching citizens

Hannah is probably aware that she has a family at large in Shocker Nation. In fact, in so many ways, she represents and reflects the core philosophy of why I coach, and what we have accomplished as a team over the past three years. The truth is Hannah is often silly and goofy. But, we [...]

Shocker Nation Notes

Shocker Nation: Please consider showing the video below to your daughters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6MhAwQ64c0 I know the people at GrassHopper. They tell me that much of the video was inspired by many elements of my own background. I honestly think the future of this nation will be in the hands of entrepreneurs. This is how I want [...]

Match #9: Lessons Learned

I can begin this post regarding yesterday’s match against NSA Magic with some highlights… Our defensive unit was solid. AC Anderson had a brilliant fast break the entire length of the pitch – and, darn near scored. Ironically our Strykers were off-sides and diffused the play. But, that was a ‘shocking’ reminder of AC’s blistering [...]

CRCT and Soccer Forge Character

I believe come mid-May we have scholastic CRCT testing afoot. I have made some inquiries. It would take a herculean, and possibly unreasonable effort to coordinate RILS, other teams, refs and fields at this point to try and effect rescheduling those matches. And, we just flat-out run out of room going into tournament season. Just [...]

…sad little Kittens

I had some sad little kittens (decidedly not mighty tigers) on my hands this evening after practice and a short scrimmage. We did pretty good with some drills early on.  But, we had a tough time holding our ground against a sister Fusion squad in a scrimmage. Afterwards I told them the only way they [...]

the Difference

Thinking through the tournament this past weekend, it struck me that every player made a difference. They – each one of them, are unique, and bring something special to our team. For me, perhaps the most gratifying part of being a coach amongst young citizens is having a small part in realizing something of their [...]