UW Soccer Camp Wrap-up

I want to thank those of you who faifully check out this blog. I appreciate the interaction and I am always amazed by the geographical range of those who frequent here.

I greatly enjoyed my time at the University of Wisconsin Soccer Camp and look forward to using some of their ideas. I think the most interesting thing that I learned was that they do not offer significantly more in their camp than we do, even though their price is $450 for four days and three nights and our price is $220 for 5 days and 5 nights. . . Their campers also have to walk 15 to 20 minutes one way between the soccer fields and the dorm. Our camp does not feature instruction from NCAA I coaches and we are not sponsored by Adidas. . . but we do have Swifty, Jen Adam and Tim Ashton. . . The Madison camp consisted primarily of players from the Madison area (I think attendance was 130). The Maranatha Soccer camp consists of a lower number of campers, but from MI, WI, IL, AZ, VA, OR, MN, MO, and IA.

Our own Jennifer Adam will be instructing at the Girl's Elite Camp at the UW during July. I was asked to return for their Boy's Elite Camp in July, but the dates conflict with our camp here at MBBC. I want to thank Coach Rohrman, Coach Szczepanski, and Coach Pasquarello for allowing me to be a part of their camp and I hope I didn't bug them with too many questions.

Probably the highlight of the camp for me was playing a short sided pick-up game under the lights at the McClimon complex with a group that included a number of current and former UW players as well as, U17 USMNT goalkeeper, Josh Lambo.

They even let me touch the ball a couple of times. -C

Busy Summer

I just finished up the Watertown Technical Skills camp yesterday and will be heading for the UW Madison soccer camp next week. In the meantime, I will be participating in my sister Jill's wedding in Madison. We might see a couple of players from the Technical camp attend our own Maranatha Soccer Camp in July. We have been steadily growing our contingent of local players from Watertown High, Johnson Creek, Maranatha Academy and other schools. At the same time we have players from all over the midwest, Arizona and Virginia who will be travelling to Watertown. If we get five more registrations, we will have our highest camp attendance ever. If you are interested in Maranatha soccer camp, click here. - C

Rockford College Women's Homepage

I always think it is cool when our players end up on the websites of other schools. We won the game in which this was taken 17-1. . . Honestly we were not trying to run up the score and I wasn't too happy that we gave up a goal against them. - C

Soccer Camp for 3, 4, and 5 year olds...

Check out my wife's post. . .

I tried to teach the fundamentals - that is a ball under my shirt - not my stomach.My favorite player from PeeWee Soccer Camp. - C

Players Who are Involved

One of the goals of the Maranatha Soccer program is to prepare our players to become excellent soccer coaches. We believe that the NCAA III experience is a key influence in their soccer development, however there are many other ways to learn to work with young people and sports with credibility. Many of our players volunteer to work at the YMCA in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Some of our players volunteer to work with teams at Watertown High School. Several are involved with the rec league here in Watertown. A large number of our players work as high school and club referees around the area.

Junior midfielder, Melissa Nichols, did both this last semester. She volunteered as the head coach of the Watertown U-11 girls soccer team and spent much of her time on weekends as a referee in the soccer club. A month or so ago, we were driving through Brandt-Quirk Park and saw Melissa as an assistant referee for a boy's U-14 match. I snuck up behind her and took a few pictures without her even knowing. I have posted a couple here. There are several more that are not quite as good. . .you can purchase the entire set in exchage for a small donation to the women's team fund to buy new warm-ups. . . :) - C

Summer Soccer Camps

I have been asked to be a part of the University of Wisconsin's Boy's Soccer Academy in a couple of weeks. It will be exciting to coach soccer in support of such a big program. I am also looking forward to getting more ideas for our own soccer camp here at Maranatha. It seems that I am the director or head instructor for every camp I attend and so it will be nice to play more of a supporting role during camp instruction in Madison.

I will also be instructing at the Watertown Soccer Technical Skills Camp next week. This camp is for grades 3rd through 8th - both boys and girls. If you are in the area and would like to sign up, it is not too late! - C

Dan Kaminski

Dan Kaminski was recently featured in one of our student bios on www.mbbc.edu. I had the privilege of interviewing him for the article. Check it out here. Dan is exactly the type of young man that I pray that God will bring our way. He and I have not always seen eye to eye over the years - sometimes it just takes me a while... but I have come to really appreciate Dan's leadership and desire to walk with God. He is my wife's favorite player because he is from Oregon state - doesn't take much to get on her good side. . .

Dan began his high school athletic career as a football player, but major injury as a freshman kept him from continuing on in that sport. He joined the soccer program and ended up earning MVP honors while a member of the Willamette High School varsity squad. He only started a few games during his freshman year here at Maranatha, about half of our matches his sophomore season and last year, he became our regular goalkeeper. Dan's real passion is working with wood at Peaceful Valley Woodworks and he hopes to use his marketing management degree from Maranatha for that company.

A Question for Those of You Who are Attentive

A few months back, I was watching the Major League Indoor Soccer Championship on ESPN. The title was won by the Kixx from Philadelphia. Indoor soccer is very entertaining, even for someone who doesn't like soccer. There were two things that jumped out at me during the match. The first was the size of this guy. Can anyone guess the second thing that I noticed? Here's another hint. - C

Behind in Posting

I am way behind in posting on Maranatha Soccer. I have a number of posts that are close to being ready, but I just haven't buckled down and got them up on the site. Here are a few things for you to catch up:

Luke McCarnan had emergency appendix surgery. He is recovering well, but has a lot of summer school work to finish before he leaves for Northland Camp.

I am running a 3-day soccer camp for 3, 4, and 5 year-olds. (What was I thinking!?) The kids are fun, but there certainly isn't much serious soccer happening from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Brandt-Quirk Park in Watertown this week.

I have been trying to instruct in the University of Wisconsin-Madison soccer camps for several years. I finally got a call yesterday...but my summer is already booked. The week they needed me is the same week that I will be running a soccer camp in Rochelle, IL. However, I was able to give them Jennifer Adam's name and I know she will do a great job.

Angela Fenstermacher was married at the beginning of May. Sarah helped with the decorating and reception and I was able to sit with two rows of soccer girls during the ceremony. Too much fun! Killingsworth, Kennedy, Dow, Kutz, Nichols and others were there. Thankfully we did not disrupt the ceremony too much - it probably helped that we were outside. The only thing that I am disappointed about is that I can't call Ang, Fenstermonster, anymore... Although I'm sure that 'Aulph' will lend itself to many more nicknames.

I received a wedding invite from Steph Ujvary in the mail last week. She is finally getting married. I would love to go to the wedding. Sarah and I enjoy WY a great deal - our anniversary is one week (7/14) after Steph's wedding on July 7...

We also recieved an invite to Kim Gavitt's wedding in AK on August 25th. Another place that Sarah and I would love to visit...

Summer school is over. It is always sad to see the last few kids leave until the fall. Although, I don't miss Melissa, Barb, Olga and Hayley coming over all the time.

I hurt my knee a couple of weeks ago and was not able to finish the season with the Madison Masters. I'm pretty bummed about that. Hopefully I will be healthy for Maranatha Soccer Camp in July.

The Watertown High School girls team had a very disappointing season this year, but something switched in the play-offs. They ended up winning three straight games and finished their season in a respectable defeat by Waukesha West - one of the best teams in the state. This Saturday, I will go to open houses for Kendell, Bailey and Whitney. I have coached these young ladies in one place or another around Watertown since they were in 8th grade. Kendell is planning to play college soccer at Carroll College and Whitney will be trying out at UW-Whitewater. I would love to schedule those teams in the next couple of years.- C