Season's End

What a great season we had this year! I can' think of a more enjoyable season of soccer I've ever experienced. I especially enjoyed getting to know all of the new players that I had never met before and their families. We had a really great group of kids. It was fun to watch them grow and compete. I especially enjoyed coaching the U-9 team in the Shootout In the West tournament. We did pretty well considering we hadn't played together before then.


Congratulations to Coach Mark and the Lady Flyers Red team on winning the Sylvan Cup. It was a really fun game to coach. I told the girls before the game that regardless of the outcome, this was the last game of the season and they should enjoy every minute of it and play their hardest. Next year many of the girls will be playing select soccer or moving on to other teams. So this was their final game together. To those of you playing Academy next Fall, Jenny, Mark and I will be meeting next week to assign the new players to teams. Doug should have the updated rosters posted on the Academy web site shortly afterwards.

As for me, I'll be managing the Lady Flyers 97 team. Our tryouts will be tomorrow afternoon at 2:00. Mark Schatz will be coaching the team and I'll be assisting him. You can read more about the LF97 team at ladyflyers.com.

Thanks again to everyone who made the inaugural Academy season a success. Thanks to Doug and Pope for putting the Academy together and getting us everything we needed in a timely manner. Thanks to the coaches who loved every player as their own kids. It's been a pleasure getting to know Jenny, Tim, and Mark. I am so glad that Alicia has gotten to be around them. And finally, thanks to the parents. You are raising a really great group of young ladies. Each of them has touched my life in a special way. I and grateful for the opportunity to serve as their coach. Luke 6:40 says, "A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher." That is a challenge to all of us who teach, coach and work with young people. We should not just watch what we teach but understand that it is who we are that our kids will pick up on and want to imitate. I appreciate the trust that you have placed in me this season.

Thanks also for your gift and the T-shirts! They were wonderful! I was completely blown away by everything. I'm debating whether to frame mine or just wear it to every Academy game next season.

I hope everyone has a great summer. We are facing a difficult few months ahead with Traci's treatment. Please keep us in your prayers. Thanks for all your support and encouragement during the past few weeks. We love you all.

-Joel