It’s been pretty quiet here in Bradenton for the past couple of weeks.  We went 3 weeks without games.  We did have a mini camp with the potential new players for next year.  Our ’91 players will be leaving the team after this semester and the coaches are looking for players to fill those spots.  Many of the ‘91s will go right into college from the US team.   Many of these players participated in the 2007 U-17 World Cup.  It has been a lot of fun being able to play with them this semester. 

     Today I will go into a little more detail about what a normal practice is like here at US Soccer.  We wake up at 6:50 AM on IPI days (M-W-F) and go to lift weights and do core exercises.  Tuesdays and Thursdays we wake up at 7 AM, walk down to get some breakfast which consists of eggs, hash browns, oatmeal, banana and lots of water, then we walk back to the dorms and stop by the equipment rooms where we find our gear already washed and waiting for us in our individual bins.  All the coaches then drive up in their mini vans and pick everyone up to take them to the fields. 

     When we get to the fields we normally have 20-30 minutes to get our boots and shin guards on while the coaches set up the cones and hurdles.  Then the coaches bring everyone in and talk a little about what they have planned for the day, then we jump right into the warm up.  The warm up is about 30 minutes of light work at the start then near the end we pick it up to full speed to get our hearts pumping and our muscles ready to go.  Next, we head over to do our speed work, which is normally drills with the ladders and the hurdles.  The ladders are for more speed and quickness and the hurdles are for the acceleration and speed.  Then we’ll usually do some technical work, such as sprinting from pole to pole recieving the ball and passing it back to the lines (this is not as easy as it sounds, especially when you have to do it for a good 45 minutes in 80 degree heat and at full speed).  Then we’ll play some keep away or short sided games and each time the coaches will put a different restriction on the game, and they can get pretty interesting with the rules. 

     Near the end of practice we will bring it in to the coaches and they will tell us if the practice was good or not, if it was good then you can expect the same or an easier practice the next day, but if it was bad then you can expect to run a lot the next day.  Finally, for the cool down we will usually take a couple light jogs back and forth across the field and grab our ropes and stretch.  Usually our focus for the cool down stretches is to increase flexibility for increased speed and to experience less injuries.  Back when I played at home, I didn’t take much time for stretching.  We only had a couple of hours to practice, a couple of days per week, and we were usually rushed to get there at the last minute.  Since playing for the US team, we are taught how important stretching is for your body, especially when you are expecting your body to perform at higher levels.  I encourage players to take the time to stretch thoroughly before, and after, practices and games.  Not only does this protect your muscles from injury, but it also helps your body to perform better for your games.  Your muscles will be warm, and loose, and much more likely to play harder, faster, and longer.  But don’t forget a good cool down as well to prevent tightening of the muscles.  You will be a better athlete with good habits for your body.

     That is a normal practice day here at US Soccer.

     The end of the semester here at IMG is coming fast.  We had our first games in 3 weeks last weekend and won both of the U16 games.  We don't play again until the Development Academy Spring Showcase in IL over Memorial Day Weekend, and then we pack to come home on May 29th.  We will have a number of summer commitments including trips to Chicago, Milwaukee, N.C., Uruguay, Argentina, and Central America.   It looks like a busy and exciting summer planned for the team. 

\\Drew