Team,
The Twisters enter our 5th year and 12th season in great shape having added 2 great players (Becky and Cassandra).
Karen and Jack are Cassandra's parents and Bill and Tracy are Becky's parents. Sorry for messing this up the first time.
As is the Twister tradition every girl on the team is completely vested in the team. Every player is at the same level and there is no such thing as new or old players. Commitment and not seniority will drive team rewards.
At U14 the team will continue our process of “growing up” with a new focus on high school preparation. Starting, playing time, captains and position will be determined by commitment; participation, contribution and team need this season more than ever. Starters will play longer and earning that spot will be harder. The girls that are committed to the team and are at the team’s events will get the most back from the team. This season we plan to give the captains much greater field leading responsibilities and only the girls that are at practice will have been given the tools to succeed in this leadership role. Captains for the month of Sept will be selected at the end of mini-camp from and by the group of girls at all the sessions.
If you missed more than 1 game or more than 3 or 4 practices last season please refocus for the fall. Please think about this before double booking your player. As for school ball, we all know it is fun. I hope you realize it is fun because they are so advanced against their piers. That happens here, with the Twisters, and for the team to survive we need commitment from the players. Please keep that in mind as you balance activities. We all may to consider getting the players involved in less if we want to keep this team together for the long-term. The Twisters will keep our practice schedule of Tue/Thurs 7:30 to 9:00 for the fall.
The mini-camp will be 6 to 8ish pm Mon thru Fri starting 8/11. The girls need to come to practice wearing their running shoes to run the mile and bring their spikes. The mile runs will start right at 6. This season we plan to cover a lot of material. The team will get a new style of play and the girls will get their assignments and responsibilities that will help them throughout the season. Temperatures will not affect the mini-camp so please make sure your players prepared with plenty of water. Friday after the last scrimmage the team will be invited over to swim weather permitting.
After mini-camp we will go to Tue/Thurs practice right through to Thanksgiving. Practice times for the last 2 weeks of August are still up in the air depending on lights. I expect to go 6:30 – 8 pm for 2 or 3 weeks after the mini-camp then move to 7:30 -9 for the rest of the season. Please stay tuned.
The Parent Committee is in full swing and everyone is fully responsible for their duties. Please don’t let the team down. Read and reply to your emails promptly. Volunteer to help others and they will do the same. THERE IS NO EXCUSE TO MISS YOUR PARENT DUTIES – YOU MUST GET A SUB AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. Everyone is too busy at work to do their parent duties! Please help other parents when asked.
The big news for the upcoming season is a reengagement of Paul (and now John) as our trainers. Both of them are excellent. Based on the input the parents gave us we have dropped the search for female only trainers. We will have professional trainers both nights. Although I love training the team based on our results last season and constructive comments from some parents I think it is worth trying a new approach and I feel we have found a good one. Under this new regimen the players need to learn a new style of play. PLEASE ALLOW THE GIRLS TIME TO LEARN IT without interference. There will be a learning curve so please be prepared. I still plan to be intimately involved in every accept of training.
We are all very excited about the upcoming season and playing at such a high level. With a solid training program in August I am convinced we can have a productive season in a very competitive flight.
If you have any questions or concerns please contact me ASAP because I leave for vacation 8/2 and return 8/9. Please call Joe or Raul for immediate assistance.
GO TWISTERS! |
