Lac Philippe Trip
Not a cloud in the sky all day. Lots of soccer and other activities, and even an encounter with the monster of Lac Phillippe.
Caveman Finds His Home
After 22 years looking for these caves, it took 2 kids to push me to run 7.5Km uphill, through rocks and steep slopes and hundreds of steps, to finally find the Lusk Caves. It was well worth it.
The kids were flying on the way back, it was tough to keep up with them.
Lac Philippe
It seems it will be a beautiful day tomorrow for an outing to Lac Philippe.
We will leave around 9AM. Feel free to meet us there or drop your son off anytime after 8AM. We will arrive back sometime between 3 and 4PM.
Things to bring:
- lots of water,
- lunch (picnic),
- snacks,
- towel,
- change of clothes,
- running shoes for whose who wish to run with me, others can for a a walk in the morning when we arrive as it will be chilly.
Feel free to bring food to share if you wish.
Big Party Practice
A great day for soccer today. 13 players, no rain, overlaps, lots of shots on goal. The U15 team also showed up and our boys beat them 3x1, scoring 3 after being down 1x0. The U15 is definitely much faster and has very nice ball control, but our boys play like a team.
Great work!
The party at the clubhouse went on till almost 9:30. Cake, drinks, magic, and gaming :-)
Stefano did great as gk. Would this be him? That's the ball going through.
Ricochet!
Dylan and his counterpart, about the same height? Oh My! Is it cold up there?
Off to the races!
Stefano and Adamo are the foosball pros, but coach was unbeaten :-)
Gustavo's magic:
Video 1:
MVPs And Special Awards: Your Voice, Your Vote
Players are asked to submit their choice for MVPs, as well as choose a player for a special award for something special that he does, your choice of what it is. You may choose up to two MVPs. Think about why, in your opinion, they are the players that were most valuable to the team.
Kindly use this form. After submission, there is a link to a player survey as well.
Deadline: Wednesday August 29.
Time Lapse Videos
Check out Gustavo's time lapse videos. To do this he replaced the firmware (software) on his Canon camera, putting in an open source version that allows him to fully control the camera, automate the camera with scripts, do motion detection, and quite a few other things. He also made a few mechanical gadgets himself like a smooth camera slider and the camera spinner.
This one, SunRise, was shot in Ottawa and Bangor, Maine:
His latest invention allows for a full 360 degree smooth sutomated turn:
Cow Move Today
A cow feint by Sao Paulo's Luis Fabiano on the goal keeper. Watch around 4:40 mins. into the video. Watch also the various replays and check out how
1. the striker waits till the exact moment so as not be offside,
2. then does an amazing sprint forward,
3. does a great cow move.
4. why offside traps are way too dangerous. Smart players will beat them.
This is a Pele move, the move he tried in WC 1970 but failed.
Sao Paulo and Corinthians are arch-enemies in Brazil.
Was that Luis Fabiano or Usain Bolt?
Offside? Nope! See also the perfect positioning of the assistant referee.
Pele's 'almost' three goals:
The greatest player ever!
7K Running Club
A really nice 7k group run today, in '10-1' mode.
(forgot to stop the GPS at the end!)
12-y old's HR:
A 12-y old's resting HR:
Late August Saturday Practice
Late, but great :-)
We had great 1v1 and 3v2 drills today, plus some fancy Fury moves.
Video:
Felix
Félix Miéle Venerando, 1937-2012
Brazil's 1970 WC Champion goal keeper, the team of Gerson, Tostao, Rivelino, and Pele.
Charity Garage Sale - Brazilian Food
If you enjoy great food, you will love the Charity garage sale put on by the Brazilians 2x year. It's a big party, and the food cannot be beaten.
This Saturday at
- 191 Bridlewood Dr - Kanata
- 8am - 1pm
- Pastel fritinho na hora,
- coxinhas,
- empadinhas,
- churros,
- docinhos,
- quindins,
- bolos brasileiros,
- paes...
All proceeds go to charity. It';s a big party. Ask for Rosana.
LTPD Update
As you know I am big and active supporter of LTPD. here is an update from Alex Cheit, CTO OSA. This is all good news. The structure of competitive soccer in Canada, which focuses young kids on winning , is all wrong. LTPD is fixing all this, slowly but surely, or so we hope. Here is a summary of Alex' latest update.
What LTPD really means
It’s perhaps important to re-state a few things about LTPD. We are
absolutely focused on, in conjunction with our Clubs, doing a better job
of developing our young players—whether they want to play strictly “for
fun” or have aspirations to achieve a future in soccer at a high
level. Clubs have done many good things over the years, but it has
become clear that the “winning” mentality had to shift at the early
ages. Far too many Clubs, along with their coaches and some parents,
were driven by game results at the ages of 7, 8, 9 and 10. This has led
to not only poor player development outcomes, but also thousands of
youngsters unnecessarily leaving soccer because they were anxious,
unhappy or simply didn’t have the skills to be able to continue playing
the game comfortably.
Feedback we’ve received
- We’ve had feedback from people saying, “we don’t care what the rest of the soccer world is doing—this is Canada”. But the fact is, we are well behind what most of the best soccer countries are doing, and those countries are all focused on the best ways to develop players. And it is now universally accepted that focusing on winning games at the early ages is not how to do it. Having said that, we are not, as some media outlets keep saying, “killing competition”. In fact, there will be plenty of competition for players at all age groups and all levels of ability. We’re simply shifting the focus, especially at the early agrees.
- We also hear that LTPD is “only about developing elite players”. Let me be clear: LTPD will help us identify more players in every corner of the province who have the passion and ability to advance in soccer. That is indeed one of the objectives behind LTPD. But LTPD is so much more than finding a few more elite players. Our current player pathway has been broken for some time now. It needs to be streamlined so there is an understandable, unified approach to developing our young players. We need to provide the right development environment so youngsters will get comfortable on the ball, enhance their skills and have the comfort and self-assurance to make plays under pressure—so that when winning really does matter, they are ready to play with absolute confidence in games.
Small Clubs need not fear change
- Our job is to assist you, and also help you recognize that if you want to, for example, focus exclusively on recreational soccer, you should do precisely that. As before, strive to take your players as far as you can, and then pass them off to a Club or Academy that can take those players to the next level in their individual development. Feel pride in what you helped to develop, rather than frustration at “losing” a talented and aspiring player. They deserve the opportunity to advance as far as they can. You will ultimately be recognized for your contribution.
- We need to work together—from smaller Clubs to larger Clubs, Academies, all the way up to Toronto FC—so our provincial pathway works for our young players as well as coaches and referees who want a future in the game as well. Just like our school system “hands off” youngsters from elementary to high school and ultimately college or university and the work place, youth soccer Clubs do the same, and should feel pride in their role in the player development process.
- Our Clubs are the hub of Ontario soccer. That will, thankfully, never change. But we can always do things even better. And that now includes working with instead of fighting one another. LTPD will help eliminate player “poaching”. It will take us away from promotion and relegation to instead ensuring that Clubs adhere to high standards, rather than building their teams with the biggest, oldest and fastest players they can get at the early ages to ensure “promotion”. That approach doesn’t help develop players in the least and some of Canada’s best players, including Dwayne De Rosario and Diana Matheson, keep telling us that. They are huge supporters of LTPD.
(Raul's comment: "hear, hear!")
I’m firmly of the belief that, 10 years from now, even critics of LTPD will come to recognize this isn’t just a fuzzy academic exercise or a passing fad but a commitment to actually putting players and their development first. We can always find excuses for wanting to maintain the status quo, but there has been an elephant in the room of Ontario soccer for far too long, and it's time we got rid of it. And that elephant is an approach that makes winning all-important at the early ages and leaves too many youngsters behind in the name of short-term gratification. Some Clubs and coaches (and even some parents) don’t want to let go, and that’s a shame.
Take a moment to visit the LTPD section of our OSA web site and review even one or two of the articles that demonstrate the positive impact of proper youth development. In those articles, you will see why top coaches from so many countries have already moved in this direction, and didn’t let “critics” stop legitimate progress. Tellingly, many “critics” screamed about “small-sided games” 20 years ago, but that is now a standard—and invaluable—element of player development. We can’t stand still.
We will do everything we can as an Association to support you, our Clubs. We hope you will support us, and one another, in the days ahead.
Alex Chiet
OSA Chief Technical Officer
Soccer in Wunderland
Miniatur wunderland, wonderland, wonderful! (Hamburg)
There is soccer in here too!
Match vs Attack
Our players played extremely well and hard today, particularly in the 2nd half. There were several gorgeous plays. Shar scored a goal and was amazing on net in the 2nd half, not being scored on. The ref. allowed a goal that did not exist (also confirmed by an Attack player after the match). Regardless, Gloucester also played well, and fair, and it could have gone either way.
Sometimes refs are not fair or right, neither is life. This was just a mistake and it was not on purpose. There is nothing that can be done. No ref. has ever reverted a call. So we move on.
Remember, we need to score two more than the opponents!
Our players were playing so well and hard at some point in the 2nd half that it made for extremely difficult substitutions as we did not want to sub the players, yet several were waiting and eager to play on the sidelines for nearly 15 minutes. It was a difficult coaching night, sometimes we wish parents would stay on our side of the field to see what goes on.
Congratulations to our boys, you made us proud, win or lose.
Many thanks to Hunter for the free Nestea! Now, he only has about 1,970 cans left.
Sorry, camera was on tungsten mode!
Why iRun
iRun iRun to challenge my mind, body and soul
iRun iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia
iRun iRun because iEat – Sherry Maligaspe, British Columbia
iRun because I can and I’m grateful – Terry SanCartier, Gatineau, QC
iRun iRun because somebody once told me I couldn't – Heidi Abbey-Der, Saskatchewan
iRun because couch potatoes die young – Cathy Andrew, Ontario
iRun because I've lost 80 lbs and running has become fun – Cheryl Kelly, Ontario
iRun to prove to myself I can – Lesley McGougan, Brampton, ON
iRun to my happy place and some days it's very – Doreen May, Alberta
iRun because it makes me whole – Denis Ladouceur, Quebec
iRun iRun because I like to be healthy – Melanie Oickle, New Brunswick
iRun because I live – Georges Schneller, Laval, QC
iRun because I love the solitude – Janene Tailleur, British Columbia
iRun iRun because walking is too slow – Barry Knapp, Ontario
iRun because it makes me feel powerful – Sarah Kallaghan, Alberta
iRun iRun to maintain a strong physical and mental state – Tammy Rainville, Ontario
iRun because the wall is meant to be broken – Jonathan Bird, Ontario
iRun see where my feet will take me today – Megan Dolinskas, New York
iRun iRun away from the abyss – Charlene Thomas, Ontario
iRun because it's better than almost everything else – Nathan Carey, Ontario
iRun but not enough – Michael Shaw, New Westminister, BC
iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland
iRun iRun because it helps me see things more clearly – Jennifer Pitts, Ontario
iRun iRun because i love to – Mirella Petriello, Ontario
iRun to get to know myself, my strength and my spirit – Lisa Groulx, Ontario
iRun because my heart tells me to – William Martin, Manitoba
iRun so I don't say never ever again – Linda Klaric, Manitoba
iRun so I can eat ice cream – Sandy Bolan, Ontario
iRun to be free and enjoy our beautiful country – Cheryl Carter, Clearwater , BC
iRun to unleash my inner athlete – Adelle Densham, Avonmore, ON
iRun slowly! – Jason Hoffman, Manitoba
iRun because I get foot rubs afterward – Kate Howerton, British Columbia
iRun iRun for relaxation and to motivate my two sons – Keith Bradbury, Newfoundland
iRun iRun at 50 years old because at 43 I couldn't – Peter Cicalo, Ontari
iRun iRun because it's a great stress release – Brooke McKenzie, Yukon
iRun because people around me inspire me – Pina Bevilacqua, Caledon, ON
iRun to challenge myself, physically and mentally – Kathleen Keenan, Brampton, ON
iRun because it reminds me that I am capable of so much more than I have done – James Sauve, Ottawa, ON
iRun iRun to feel great – Kathryn Rachar, Saskatchewan
iRun to inspire my kids to try – Glen Johnston, Nunavut
iRun away from the negative and towards the positive – Teri Lepard, Alberta
iRun because I am not as clumsy I thought I was – Hanna Baer, Quebec
iRun because it is my tonic and my salvation – Georgia Ioannou, British Columbia
iRun iRun to kickstart my day – Sharon Strueby, Saskatchewan
iRun because food tastes better afterwards – Patrick Houston, Alberta
iRun iRun because endorphins are free – Cassandra Chouinard, Ontario
iRun iRun for me! – Judi Wearing, Saskatchewan
iRun because I never thought I would be able to – Gary Morris, Winnipeg, MB
iRun iRun to satisfy the irresistible urge – Tim Nixon, British Columbia
iRun because when I run I feel most alive – Meghan Lynch, Ottawa, ON
iRun because pecan pie, french fries and beer are chasing me – Teresa Sterling, Ottawa , ON
iRun iRun because I learn more about who I am with every km – Steph Mansell, Quebe
iRun iRun for my heart, so it runs for me! – Cathy Brzoza, British Columbia
iRun because of the peace and strength it brings me – Michelle Jordan, Ottawa, ON
iRun because it cleans up my life, because I drink more water, sleep better and eat healthier foods – Robin McIntyre, Ottawa, ON
iRun because running is like breathing to – Stephanie McEvoy, Ontario
iRun iRun for the challenge and to remember to fully live – Pascale Synnott, Qu�bec
iRun because it reminds me of how strong I can be – Monique Lavoie, Ontario
iRun to prove to them that iCan – Catherine Smith, Manitoba
iRun because otherwise I'm grumpy – Alexandre Charest, Quebec
iRun iRun so that I can live longer and stronger – Derek MacPhail, Ontario
iRun because I can't dance – Mario Javier, Ontario
iRun because there is no finish line – Claire Kilgour, Ontario
iRun because all the ladies are chasing my sexy runner’s body – Chris Baker, Etobicoke, ON
iRun because not everyone can – Olivia Harvey, New Brunswick
iRun therefore I am – Duncan Walsh, Nottingham, UK
iRun because it gives me freedom to relax my brain – Marie-Claude Gregoire, Nova Scotia
iRun because it’s in me – Michael Foley, Stittsville, ON
iRun because it's a great way to see the world – Sherry Mahoney, British Columbia
iRun and run, and run, and run, and nobody can stop me – Andrei Lucaciu, Ontario
iRun because it's cheaper than therapy – Leah Boulter, Alberta
iRun whenever I feel the need to escape – Iona Hillis, Ontario
iRun iRun because I love the sense of accomplishment – Amber Moase, Nova Scotia
iRun iRun to inspire my kids and my players, because it feels great, because runners are really nice and healthy people, because I can and so many can't, and because of all those wonderful people said above - Raul SM, Ottawa, Ontario
Hunter's 2,000 Cans of Nestea
Hunter managed to get 2,000 cans of Nestea at home, filling a closet up. You'll have to ask him how he managed the feat.
Super Fun Skinny Moon Practice August 20
All kids having loads of fun tonight. These are the best practices, the ones that create lasting memories. They do bring back memories from childhood.
Adamo's amazing 11+ drop
Video:
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