Some Reminders

  1. Age appropriate shin guards (not the mini ones) are mandatory for games
  2. Jewelry of all varieties MUST be removed prior to warm-up
  3. Wear all white – shorts and jersey and socks – white soccer socks.
  4. Bus leaves at 12:15 from HIGH SCHOOL. Game time is 2:00 PM at PM East (231 Pocono Mountain School Rd, Swiftwater, PA 18370)
  5. We will likely play three halves – wrapping up around 4- back to school by estimated 5:15 PM.

Starting Line-up Tomorrow

A disclaimer first:

I love transparency. I post a lot of thoughts and background I never had access to in terms of the coaches mind from my playing days. That said, lineups are created with knowledge those not practicing with us every day may know and I ask that everyone humbly please keep that in mind.

Keepers to warm up with Starting Group:

The Iron Giant, Jeans, and declan (nickname later)

Players to warm up alongside the starting group for dynamic stretch and line drills:

Yah Yah Yah, Kyle Reece, Big Luke, The Tyam Game, Pirhana, Agent Smith, Mr. Anderson, Lord Cromwell

Rondo Box

Just starting 10 field players- subs make your own box 4 v 4

Shooting:

Defenders – Take a few and then disperse to long balls

Subs – Take a few and then pass between you with intention.

Game Plan and points of emphasis to be discussed on the bus

PM East Traveling Roster

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P64woYzMPSC8e84xjSdLXcCvt00bE_yh8rWO7n7hw_k/edit?usp=sharing

Starting line-up, tactical plan, and varsity roster will be posted later in the evening.

*This is a scrimmage. We plan to try a few things. We want to play well and win every time we play. The primary focus here will be to play the best soccer we can right now and use the data to make adjustments for our Season Opener next Saturday. I am excited to see what WE can do together as a team.

Premiere League Fantasy League

I have created a “head to head” premiere league fantasy league for fun. Read the text below to join. Lets have some fun with us. I usually end up with my guys injured or transferred and never switch them out because I forget! Join with link below. Parents are welcome!

Hello,

For the 2026/27 Fantasy Premier League why don’t you join my mini-league “WABS FAMILY AND FRIENDS”?

Joining the league couldn’t be easier. Simply use the link below and you’ll be added automatically after you’ve entered the game.

https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/7pzody

League Code: 7pzody

Looking forward to playing against you this season!

Training Day 4 Recap

The Good:

1. Blue (our less experienced or newer players) often start slow but they are improving each day. Integration into drills is possible when the base skills reach a critical level. They were undermanned in our scrimmaging today at times but still manage to cause some trouble for our golds – Kareem comes to mind with some nice possession. Great job Kareem.

2. The transitioning was better today as was the ball control. Some of the quick transitions to Dillard from our midfield were fantastic. They will not all work but they will create trouble. Braden, Steven, Harnit, etc you guys were feeding the beast really well today

3. We took better care of the ball at times today as well. Off the ball movement, receiving ready and having had a look around, one touch all help with this. Ben Taube and Kaarsen had a really nice 1/2 combo from hold up play which I really liked.

The needs improvement:

1. The first touch – it still lets some guys down

2. Relationship building – between all of us. This is something that is a life skill!

3. Communication – it is present but more more more.

There is always more good than I have time for and more to work on than I have time to say.

Looking Ahead:

Our first scrimmage is Saturday @Pocono Mountain East High School. The bus leaves from the high school at 12:30 PM sharp. Be there 10 minutes early. We will carry 36 players for the trip. They plan to run three “halves” with one for the JV to give them a run. Work hard JV to be included on that bus for this game. The varsity line-up (starting and call-ups) will be posted tomorrow night.

Good luck on SAT’s saturday. You are student athletes and I care about your future. Best of wishes on it!

We had a lot of guys who have been present and accounted for all 4 days- here they are and make it a perfect 5 tomorrow

Brycen, Jaydem, Yahriel, Braden, Dillard, Justin, Owen, Declan, Logan, Alex, Aidan Flood, Rogan, Carpenter, Browne, Caswell, Cromwell, Gaudet, Nolan, Kaarsen, Connor, Jose, Harnit, Keerat, Ben Taube, and Big Luke (25 guys)

Thank you! Don’t worry, I know some of the misses are for golf or sickness – all good on those:).

And here are all those awesome guys – and some other awesome ones too!

Training Recap Day 3

Getting to full strength

We have slowly been swelling our numbers as folks have gotten their paperwork in and approved. I love the participation. We have over a dozen seniors this year and the younger classes will need to carry the torch. Once you start, don’t stop. The payoff on any adventure is typically in the finishing of it – the individual days and experiences along the way may not always be easy. We make no promise of that – guys will experience setbacks – injuries, loss of playing time or a start – but how do you react to that? That helps develop character.

Developing our tactics and position profiles

As much as we try over the summer, the official season brings the first time when we have everyone together and we can see where we are. Some positions and personnel are playing their way into place. Continue to work hard every day. A soccer team is a winning one when all members are worked hard to be the BEST they can be. We are not 1 guy or 5 guys. We are 45 guys.

Love

Great teams are teams in which everyone in the group is looking out for each other. A rising tide lifts all boats and that tide is most likely to rise when everyone feels lifted up, encouraged, and strong. Players were encouraged to do more than just exist with each other and us. Relationships between teammates and coaches last lifetimes – they have for me. I am still in contact with all but my college coaches as they have retired to far off places or passed on

Picture Day

Fun to see the crew in uniform and to have uniforms for most if not all of our guys. We have a few mismatches but it is worth it to have them out there with us. Here is our pic of the day!

Attendance

We need everyone every day:

  1. If you are going to be absent for an excused reason (see team rules under the team information menu), fill out the google form online under the parent/guardian section BEFORE practice.
  2. Work is not an excused absence for missing practice. This is consistent across our athletic programs here at Wilson.

Training Recap Day 2

More soccer today than yesterday. We broke into blocks of training rotating with different coaches and technical skills and emphasis followed by some full field for the first time. The full field work helps cement some of our ideas of how best to utilize the boys and get them working with each other. We have a LONG way to go but there were flashes of what damage we can do. MY THOUGHTS:

1. We need to take care of the ball. Too often we:

  • give it away by one too many touches
  • boot a hopeful ball that “someone should be there”
  • just have a sloppy touch or errant pass

We will look to clean this up as the days proceeed

2. We need to decide to counter-press HARD when we do and collectively. This is acutely absent so far. Tomorrow we work on the mid-block and the counter press defensively.

3. We need to get faster (Decisions, passing, movement on and off the ball). One of the BEST moments of the full field was a 1 touch from Barbed wire to the killer b to the hetrick system. We didn’t score but it was good soccer. Defensively we must be faster too – we are often in a place where we COULD have intercepted the ball and or prevented the turn if we anticipated the game. No one if ever off duty.

Lots to do and this is what we are here for. There was lots to love:

1. A wonderful ball from the Killer B to roll the Bleice. Yes he shot it over the moon but in his words “It was my right foot”. It WAS a great run and connection! Dangerous as Coach Carmona would say

2. Some of the youngsters are learning that this is not a low key affair. They are learning to work hard and get better. Of the newbies (noobs as the youth calls them) – I like the skill of Juan on the ball and Brycen is communicating! Our youths of yesterday are really coming along too. Yahriel plays like he has a chip on his shoulder – I like that. Nolan Lutz is jumping balls, and Kaarsan is seeing minutes as a Varsity center-back. Keep working.

3. The goalies work hard every day – maybe the hardest of any group. I love the work Coach Ale is doing with you AND the work you are doing with him. Logan Moore had a nice save in the scrimmage. I want to see more use of the goalie in field play and aggression from them recognizing when they can make a play on the ball.

We only had one who wasn’t here today that was here yesterday. Here they are in all their sun-soaked glory. They are sore and working hard. What a blessing to coach them.

PLAYERS:

1. Check your email as this is how I am giving personal feedback. Respond thoughtfully or accountability

2. Watch the video below starting roughly 30 minutes or so in. (if it doesn’t work right away – give it some time as I just loaded into youtube) and:

a. Shoot me an email about 2 things you did (or someone else did) you thought was well done AND 1 thing you saw that YOU (or someone else did) that needs improvement. Enjoy the process of getting better and don’t worry. No one is judging and it is not personal. Challenge yourself to a NEW STANDARD.

I should get 43 emails tonight!

Important Picture Day Information!

Time is moved to 9:45 AM. Please be there by 9:30 AM with blue and gold uniform on. See more details below:

1. Goalies

Levi will use the 00 for pics – I have it in the shed.

Logan will wear 0 for pics because it is a large.

All other goalies – wear any goalie shirt, shorts, etc of your choosing.

2. Field Players

If you were not present today – you will not have a uniform. Arrive early to get one and get suited up. I will be at the fields by 9:00 AM.

Socks wear blue if you have them. Athletics have not gotten the news ones in yet.

There will be a Varsity pic, a JV pic, and individual pics. I will inform later tonight which ones you will be taking part in. (Some will be both)

3. Other information, please see flyer below:

Day 1 Review

Fitness testing was well – a rough row to hoe for these guys. It notoriously claims its victims each year but is a way to hold the guys accountable for training physically over the summer. On this forum and in person – I advocated constantly to run over the summer on their own to be their best. Many didn’t and the fitness testing is the bill that must be paid. Their numbers will be posted on the website in the fitness tracking section – NOT FOR ANY TO JUDGE – but for transparencies sake so they know how their ranking was achieved. In any case, they may be sore tomorrow, but make sure they keep coming. Growing pains are an indication of GROWTH. Being great at anything is not easy.

Here are the survivors:

Some gents who impressed me and why:

Nolan Browne’s passing was improved and he did 1.2 million pushups

The goalies looked sharp – coach ale mentioned the freshman looked strong and I saw a superb save from Levi

Hetrick is a rock – never complains, does the job. Never critiques, does the job. Never coaches, does the job. Never change Justin

Owen Smith was all in – attentive. Focused. Positive. Quick to smile.

Ben and Andrew with the headbands – you guys bring fun and joy

Anderson had a niggle and kept playing. I can’t judge wrong or right but you are TOUGH.

Connor suffered today but never stopped leading. There is real substance in there.

* I can’t mention everyone here so if you don’t see you or your child mentioned – it is not necessarily because I wasn’t impressed

We just began this journey. Walk it to the end. Don’t quit. Don’t second guess. Don’t doubt. Don’t look back. Grow, get better, work harder, dedicate yourself to the task. It IS worth it.

I will email players personal feedback tonight and each day. CHECK YOUR EMAILS. I expect you to respond. Accountability if you don’t.

WE BEGIN THE JOURNEY TOMORROW

  1. Only PIAA approved players can train. As of now, 42 players are eligible. Check out the PIAA roster under “Team Information”. If you have a line through your name, you HAVE NOT been approved through athletics for one reason or another. Please work on your physical/arbiter registration TODAY as the AD will update the list tomorrow AM.
  2. Be early – no later than 10:15. We START at 10:30 SHARP.
  3. Check out the “What should I bring to practice” list under “Team Information”
  4. Get EXCITED! Soccer is a beautiful, fun, and exciting game and we aim to play with joy and passion. Bring yours tomorrow!