SPRING BREAK PLAY
For players not going out of town for Spring Break, the Dynamos will provide several opportunities to get touches on the ball lost during the recent persistently-bad weather.
On Sat., March 9, there will be a Street Soccer Outing, from noon until 2pm at Dyess Park (with Zube Park as backup) and on Wed., March 13, an "indoor" Street Soccer Outing.at the Northwest Indoor Facility (14647 Walters Road) for two time slots--3:45pm until 5:15 pm for under-9- to under-13 boys and girls, and from 5:15pm to 6:45pm, for under-14 and up).
Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf
BIG GOLF EVENT IS APRIL 12
It’s coming up soon and you can bet Wilkie and Roli the Goalie, and other Dynamos trainers, are polishing their clubs already in anticipation of a spin around the Longwood Golf Club course. There undoubtedly will be good and bad golf, but a full afternoon and evening of fun and adult camaraderie at the 9th annual Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf Tournament on Fri., April 12. Tournament Director Andrew Bridges has ordered a shotgun start at noon on that day at 13300 Longwood Trace in Cypress. When the last golfer checks in about 5pm, a three-hour social highlighted by a fajita dinner and awards presentations will begin. Volunteers are needed for this big event, honoring Marty, who graced our soccer fields and previous golf tournaments for many years before succumbing to cancer in 2010. To join the volunteer corps for all or part of the day’s activities, contact CoordinatorTanya Goytia (tgoytia@dynamossoccer.com). "You don't have to be a golfer to support the Dynamos," said Director of Training Olivier Finidori. "The tournament offers two ways for individuals and firms to participate. . .first, play in the tournament by arranging your own foursome or just show up and join a group; second, and equally important, is as a sponsor to gain recognition for you or your company."
USMNT PLAYERS ON FOREIGN TEAMS
The roundup of U. S. men’s national team players in Europe and Mexico starts in the Premier League where DeAndre Yedlin's Newcastle United shut out Huddersfield Town 2-0 at home. Tim Ream's Fulham lost 3-1 at West Ham. Ryan Babel opened the scoring for Fulham in the 3rd minute with West Ham equalizing in the 29th. West Ham added goals in the 40th and a minute into stoppage time. Cameron Carter-Vickers's Swansea City lost, 4-1, at home to Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship. Josh Sargent subbed out in the 60th minute for Werder Bremen's 1-1 home draw with Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. Alfredo Morales's Fortuna Dusseldorf beat Nurnberg, 2-1, at home. Nurnberg went a man down in the fourth minute, scoring in the 41st. An own-goal leveled the score in the 62nd with Kaan Ayhan scoring Fortuna Dusseldorf's winner in the 83rd minute. Bobby Wood subbed on in the 65th minute for Hannover 96's 3-0 home loss to Eintracht. Julian Green's Furth finished 0-0 at home with Heidenheim. Andrew Wooten scored in Sandhausen's 3-1 loss at Cologne. Wooten opened the scoring in the fourth minute with Cologne equalizing in the 50th. Cologne scored again in the 83rd, finishing off the goals four minutes into stoppage time. Andrija Novakovich's Fortuna Sittard lost, 4-2, at home to Heerenveen. Lazaros Lamprou scored for Fortuna Sittard in the seventh with Mark Diemers doubling the lead in the 31st. Heerenveen scored in first-half stoppage time, equalizing in the 61st. Fortuna went a man down in the 73rd with a red card to Jose Martinez. Heerenveen converted a penalty a minute later, scoring again in the 84th. Erik Palmer-Brown's NAC Breda drew 0-0 at home with Groningen. Ethan Horvath was in goal for Club Brugge's 2-2 draw at Anderlecht. Omar Gonzalez's Atlas lost, 1-0, at home to Tigres, who scored three minutes into stoppage time. Michael Orozco's Lobos BUAP lost, 3-0, at Club America. America took the lead in the 33rd minute, scoring in the 83rd and 89th. A league down, Rubio Rubin subbed out in the 79th minute for Dorados in their 2-2 draw at Cafetaleros de Tapachula.—www.ussoccerplayers.com
THE BUZZ
Dates to remember: Daylight Saving Time begins Sun., March 10 (set clocks ahead one hour); the Joe B. Napier Kick Cancer Camp (raises funds for pediatric cancer research) will occur Sun., March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), and the Marty Espinoza Memorial Golf Tournament tees off Fri., April 12, at Longwood Golf Club. . .Now THIS is a real soccer fan: Dentist/Coach/Trainer James Beaty last weekend posted on Facebook: “Bri (his daughter Dynamos player Briana) and her TMHS (Tomball Memorial HS) Wildcats won last night, 9-1, Bri with a hat trick, and this morning, Newcastle United won, 2-0. . .winning weekend at the Beatys!”. . .Before a big crowd for Teacher Appreciation Night at Cy-Creek HS, Dynamos U18 player Ayden Bridges exploded for four goals last Friday to lead the Cougars to victory over Jersey Village. It was a huge rebound for the Cougars after a disappointing loss to Cy-Falls the week before and balanced out their record at 6-6-6. "With all the teachers watching and the JV Boys returning from their game," said proud Papa Andrew, "the atmosphere was electric." Cy-Creek is 3-3-4 in 17-6A District play and still in the hunt for a coveted playoff spot with six games left to play. Despite playing a defensive role during 40 per cent of her playing time, Ayden has 14 goals this season. . .Following a weather delay and one-goal deficit, Mauro Manotas scored two late goals for a 3-1 aggregate win over C.D. Guastatoya and a spot in the Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals. The Dynamo will face Tigres UANL of Liga MX in the quarterfinals, with Leg 1 scheduled for Tues., March 5 at 9 pm at BBVA Compass Stadium. The Dynamo opens the Major League Soccer season with a home match against Real Salt Lake on Sat., March 2. If you have items or photos for the Coaches Memo, please email to jwalker332@aol.com. Deadline for each issue is midnight Wednesday.
QUOTABLE
“Conceit is bragging about yourself. Confidence means you believe you can get the job done.”—John Unitas, legendary Hall of Fame football quarterback.
THOUGHT ON COACHING
Actually, some thoughts on refereeing by Dynamos’ Man on the Go Andrew Bridges: "Refereeing high school soccer games can be so interesting. You never know what games you will be assigned or who you will work with: also the difference in competition levels is stunning. Last night I did a girls’ game in HISD where you had players who really thought they were good. It was hard to focus because the game was so boring, poor quality and poor field conditions. Last week I did Varsity Boys in Klein ISD. What a game!!! The speed of the game, the thought process, and the competition level, were just breathtaking. So far without a doubt my favorite game was girls Katy Tompkins vs Bridgeland. Tompkins was just ranked #1 in the country by Top Drawer Soccer. Some great players on both teams, some I am sure I will watch on TV some day. At the conclusion of the game, for the first time in my referee career, I asked Tompkins' Coach Shipman if he would introduce me to #10 Barbara Olivieri. Coach Shipman, (who was my son Alex's jayvee coach at Cy-Creek) invited her over and I shook her hand. Barbara was by far the most creative player I have ever seen on the pitch. I told her, 'It was fun to watch you play.' After she walked away, her coach informed me she has played for the Venezuelan National team and is committed to Texas A&M. Funny thing about all of this, I get paid the same amount to do a game regardless of the level."--Andrew Bridges
ANOTHER THOUGHT
Generally, restarting play will not be challenging on free kicks when the ball is far from the goal. However, referees will find certain forwards and midfielders deliberately walk by the ball after a foul is called against their team, trying to delay the other team restarting play. Refs should not let them do this and need to verbally warn them that if they persist, they will be cautioned. Should a player deliberately run up to a stationary ball, preventing a free kick from being taken, that player should be cautioned immediately for failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a free kick. I’ve had teams where players were much more subtle and feigned believing it was their team’s free kick so they could stand by the ball. This happened in a boys’ U14 game I refereed recently where the same forward stood by the ball after the first two fouls were whistled against his team, approximately 80 yards from their own goal. After the next foul, the midfielder who was also their captain, feigned that he thought it was his team’s free kick. So I had a discussion with him that his team was trying to delay the other team re-starting play and I’d caution the next player who did this. After whistling the next foul, the captain was near the ball but he retreated rather than approaching it. After play restarted the coach said to him: “What happened?” The captain responded: “The ref figured it out.” No more approaching the ball in that game or In the next game that I did for that team.—Randy Vogt, veteran referee and author of “Preventive Officiating,” writing in Soccer America
IT’S ONLY FAIR
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous, declared Coach Cy Fair. Nothing makes a coach more red-faced, claims Coach Flo, than that moment during a loud argument with a referee when you realize you’re wrong.