Lady Scorpions 3-2 Win!

"Soccer is the opera of the people."

Lady Scorpions 3-2 Win! Sabrina scored one of the three goals. Right now the L. Scorpions are currently in first place and if we win next week - we could be going on to Pingree!

I am not able to make the game next weekend as I will be traveling to Moncton, Canada on Wednesday June 3rd until Sunday June 7th for the Toastmasters Region Vii Conference. As the incoming District 31 Governor I will be training for my new office.

Of course my heart will be with the players as they work together as a team for a final win of the spring soccer season.

Next week are the travel tryouts too. I am hoping Sabrina moves up in her division - which will probably mean I won;t be the head coach.

GO LADY SCORPIONS!

Sweet Soccer Star!

“Take your victories, whatever they may be, cherish them, use them, but don't settle for them.” Mia Hamm (American female Soccer Player. b.1972)

Photo: Sabrina Raftery, Lady Scorpions Soccer Team - Favorite Position - Sweeper!

ANOTHER Victory for the Lady Scorpion's Team on Saturday May 2, 2009! We won 4 - 2 and my daughter Sabrina scored three of those goals! Of course it was ALL a team effort but I must admit - I am VERY proud when I see how aggressive she can be on the field!

We will not be able to attend the soccer practices this coming week or the game on Saturday May9th - because I am the Lt. Governor of Education & Training for District 31 Toastmasters and I have been busy planning and will be hosting the D31 Spring 2009 Conference.

I am also running for the District 31 Governor seat. I wish the Lady Scorpions Luck and hope they bring us another victory and WIN the game. I am also praying that I too have a Victory for this most coverted seat in the District.

It will be an honor for me as Dr. Ralph Smedley said "TO LEAD AND TO SERVE" for my final year in the leadership track!

Proud of my Sweet Soccer Star - hope she is proud of MOM too!

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VICTORY

http://www.dictionary.net/victory

Victory \Vic"to*ry\, n.; pl. Victories. [OE. victorie, OF. victorie, victoire, F. victoire, L. victoria. See Victor.]

The defeat of an enemy in battle, or of an antagonist in any contest; a gaining of the superiority in any struggle or competition; conquest; triumph; -- the opposite of defeat.

Death is swallowed up in victory. --1 Cor. xv. 54.

God on our side, doubt not of victory. --Shak.

Victory may be honorable to the arms, but shameful to the counsels, of a nation. --Bolingbroke.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Lady Scorpions WIN 2-0 !

"Soccer is not just about scoring goals - it’s about winning".

Today I coached the Lady Scorpions - thankfully with the help of a very experienced Saugus Youth Soccer Coach - Tom - because my Assistant Coach (whose daughter is also on the team) took his family to Florida for spring vacation (so lucky!) High five to Coach Tom for sharing your tips and time!!!

We had six players and competing against another U-12 Girls team up in West Newbury, MA. I must admit going in we were the "underdogs" - the other team had eight players which meant they would have subs to replace their tired players. One of our goalies came to the game late - but we were VERY thankful to see her arrive!

We only had two practices and our fist game which was suppose to be Saturday April 4, 2009 was cancelled due to the rains and the wet fields. So we have NOT had much time to get into shape or to go over passing and kicking skills. Plus two of our new players have NEVER even played on a team before and are not very familiar with the rules or the positions of the game.

I am happy to report that we did NOT let the other team score thanks to our goalies and defense and we also scored two goals thanks to our offense! Pretty remarkable for our first game -well techincally our second - but first playing as a TEAM!

Really reaffirms that I am glad I stepped up the this very important leadership role in my local community to coach the U-12 Lady Scorpions Team.

I am a very Proud Soccer Coach & Parent! ...But know this - I would be equally proud even if we did NOT score or allowed the other team to score.

BUT it sure is fun to score and WIN!

GO LADY SCORPIONS!!


How about YOU - are you in it to WIN IT?

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Saugus Youth Soccer Association

http://www.saugusyouthsoccer.net/SYSA/Home.html

Essex County Youth Soccer

http://www.ecysa2.org/

Soccer Basics

http://www.saugusyouthsoccer.net/SYSA_Info/Soccer_Basics.html

Coaching U12 Soccer

"Make no mistake, as you change your leadership style to one of a coach you will face challenges. There will be times when you question why am I doing this. However, you must at all times keep the long term benefits of being a coach at the forefront of your mind."

Byron & Catherine Pulsifer, from Challenges in Adopting a Coaching Style

I received an email last night from Frank one of the Saugus Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) Board members asking if I would be interested in coaching my daughter Sabrina's U-12 team (!). I REALLY was not expecting this because I really thought that Sabrina would be picked for either the Division A or Division B Travel Teams.

http://www.saugusyouthsoccer.net/SYSA/Home.html

Although I have coached her team two years ago - I would NOT consider myself a know how of the soccer sport - I never played it growing up. I was also the SYSA Equipment Manager for the entire town of Saugus!

I asked Sabrina if she wanted me to coach her new team and she said - "YES MOM" "DO IT" YOU MAKE IT SO FUN"! OK Sabrina WANTS me to coach - well then I will coach.

Today I emailed Andy back and agree to be her coach and asked if I could change the name name (I will let Sabrina pick it - last time she picked THE CHEETAHS.

Andy thanked for "stepping up". And since I have been in Toastmasters I have found that stepping up to leadership roles is as equally important as stepping up to speaking opportunities!

So add this to my arsenal of duties - "Coach Sherri"!!

"Kids don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

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Has YOUR local town or surrounding comminity ever called upon YOU to "step up" and to take on a leadership role? There are MANY leadership opportunities - coach a sport, join the PTO/PTA Board, assist with a church function, charity or fund raiser event. And you don;t even have to wait to be asked...

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FACTS

Soccer

http://www.answers.com/topic/soccer

A game played on a rectangular field with net goals at either end in which two teams of 11 players each try to drive a ball into the other's goal by kicking, heading, or using any part of the body except the arms and hands. The goalie is the only player who may touch or move the ball with the arms or hands.

Coach

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&defl=en&q=define:coach&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

Definitions of coach on the Web:

In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coach (sport)

* (sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team

* a person who gives private instruction (as in singing, acting, etc.)
* passenger car: a railcar where passengers ride
* teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports; "He is training our * * Olympic team"; "She is coaching the crew"
* a carriage pulled by four horses with one driver
* drive a coach
* bus: a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport; "he always rode the bus to work" wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

My Little Soccer Star!

"I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion". Mia HammAmerican female soccer player.

Sabrina is my little Soccer Star! This weekend Sabrina played with her Saugus Youth Association - U-10 Girls Wildcats Team for the Danvers Invitational Memorial Day Tournament at the Danvers High School soccer fields. http://www.saugusyouthsoccer.net/

The Wildcats played two games on Saturday May 24th (tying one and losing one) and two games on Sunday May 25th (winning one and losing one). Sabrina scored goals in three of the four games (no one scorded on the tying game). She is such a natural athlete and I am so proud of all of her efforts she displayed to help the TEAM!!

But this tournament was different - this time each soccer coach was to pick one girl from the other team and award her with a "sportsmanship" medal after each game. ANY parent would want their own child to get picked for this medal - and as hard as Sabrina tried - with scoring and teamwork - she did not get picked and she asked me - "Ma what do I have to do to get picked"? I told her "Sabrina - I guess it just isn't your turn (yet) but you'll get it one day". The truth is ALL the girls deserved to get the sportsmanship medal - they ALL did their best yet only four girls were awarded the medals. It was nice to note that the Wildcat parents suggested if they had an MVP Medal - it would go to Sabrina (!) Thanks Wildcat Parents!

It doesn;t matter if Sabrina gets a Sportsmanship Medal or an MVP Medal or even a Trophy at the end of the tournament (which they ALL did) because for me, just seeing Sabrina interacting with her team, helping towards a common goal, respecting her team mates and opponents means more in the long run for her own personal growth and development. Plus she is already "My Little Soccer Star"!

This Wednesday May 28, 2008 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts I am being honored by The Home for Little Wanderers. http://www.thehome.org/ for making the right choices and staying on the right path in my life when my life could have gone in either direction. I played by the rules of the game and I was also a TEAM PLAYER - I won because of my "good sportsmanship" and being recognized after all these years is certainly an honor!

Can you see the Win/Win value in working hard towards your "team goals" because at the same time you are also working on your own "individual goals and growth"? Throughout your life you will work on projects, events and goals with teams and although it is nice to be recognized with a medal or trophy - those are not the only measures of our success - so keep working towards your team goals, individuals goals and always show good sportsmanship.

...Sabrina one day you too will be recognized for all that you do and all that you contribute - My hope for you is that you too make the right choices in your life and all of your hard work and efforts will pay off - just like mine has/is....And since I can't resist - I just may go out and buy you a well deserved medal... my "Little Soccer Star!

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FACTS

Sportsmanship - peek at the longer definition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is, in a basic sense, conforming to the rules and the proper spirit of sport. This is a term called etiquicy. More grandly it may be considered the ethos of sport. It is interesting that the motivation for sport is often an elusive element. Sportsmanship expresses an aspiration or ethos that the activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors.

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Recognized

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recognized


1: to acknowledge formally: as a: to admit as being lord or sovereign b: to admit as being of a particular status c: to admit as being one entitled to be heard : give the floor to d: to acknowledge the de facto existence or the independence of

2: to acknowledge or take notice of in some definite way: as a: to acknowledge with a show of appreciation b: to acknowledge acquaintance with

3 a: to perceive to be something or someone previously known b: to perceive clearly : realize