Sunblock for soccer players….

Coaching and playing in the sun can expose us all to sunburn. We have canopies to protect us when we are off the field, and icy towels to cool us down. But as a player, I never figured what type of sunscreen was the best to use when I played. I often found that the sunscreen would run into my eyes, and would burn. I know there are sports versions, that are designed to absorb into the skin and prevent the excess from streaming down our faces.

To be comfortable when playing is important, but we must also be protected from sun rays. Even though in Seattle we are exempt most of the year from the baking sun, our skin is not prepared for it when it does come. Try some different sorts and see what works best for you. My fiancee recommends Aveeno face sunscreen because it is oil free and light on your face. For the body try a spray rather than a rub on. It has a better coverage, especially if the child is the one applying it. Don’t forget the top of your ears and the parting in your hair.

When all this is applied, we still have to deal with the dreaded soccer tan, or farmers tan. Our lower arms, face, neck, and portions of our leg can have great color, it’s just a shame the rest of us looks like it has never been outside. Enjoy the great weather as a player, fan, or coach. Whichever way we look at it, soccer is July is far more enjoyable than December or January.

Tournament time….

The summer is not only a time for sun, sea, and sand – it is time for soccer. If you play soccer, coach soccer, or you are a soccer parent, you understand what lies ahead. Summer tournaments are the highlight of the year for many kids. You are surrounded by hundreds of players and supporters. Everybody is there to compete, to get a little better, and to win a medal. The organization that goes on for these tournaments is incredible. It starts with selling the tournament to teams and coaches. You want to fill the brackets with competitive teams, and you want to market the weekend as something not to be missed. Once you have teams, then everything else on the list begins to take shape. You need to confirm venues and fields, vendors and sponsors, medals, t-shirts, scheduling of games, volunteers, parking…. This is to name just a few things that make up the ever increasing list of things to do.

But for the rest of us who just turn up and watch or play soccer, we just hope for nice weather, good performances, and smiles on the kids faces. My first tournament of the summer starts today, at Starfire in Tukwila. It’s the first time I am coaching my new teams, so fingers crossed it all goes well.

Black rubber pellets….

Having coached and played on turf for many years now, I can’t seem to eliminate the constant mess of the black rubber. It’s everywhere. It’s in the car, in the house, in my bags, and even in my fresh clothes drawers. It is an ongoing battle to keep things clean, and keep the carpet and floor clear of it. There is no escape from it though I guess. If you take out the rubber, the fields quickly turn rock hard, and it becomes miserable to play on. After years of playing at PGE Park in Portland, I can tell you how uncomfortable and difficult it was to play on field turf minus black rubber.

Another negative against the black rubber is the heat it generates during the summer. If you have played on turf fields in the middle of the day, you know what I am talking about. The discomfort is even greater if you play with tight fitting cleats or with shoes that are covered with the plastic coating like those Nike shoes. It can be unbearable at times. I would see players tiptoeing around sometimes, barely able to run because their feet were so hot. During water breaks, the feet would get more fluids poured over them than would be consumed. But then the cycle would start again. Instant relief would then turn into sustained misery as the heat would return, and the water which had soothed your feet, suddenly becomes the catalyst for increasingly stifling heat due to the moisture.

I did see white rubber pellets used to ward off the issue of heat, but it never really passed the test. Even if white rubber was used to reduce the heat on the field and feet, they would still litter our houses and cars…..

Busy summer ahead….

It’s been a busy last few months, and there are many more ahead of me. Business is pushing forward in the right direction, building my networks, meeting some great people, and learning all the time. At 1to1 Soccer, we are searching for new opportunities to grow our business. Building our knowledge of our market, expanding the scope of our business offerings, and redefining what we need to do is at the forefront of our minds. Seeking out some angel funding is also important right now. We have a core team of dedicated individuals, but man hours cost money. We want to accelerate our progress and implement our ideas quickly. Speed to market is key, but we don’t want to drop something that will crash as soon as it hits the ground.

Youth soccer is gaining momentum also. We have passed through tryout season, and I am now getting to know the players. We have our first tournaments coming up, and it will be a good indicator to see where we are. I am running several summer camps this year, and hope to grow these over the next few months. We are focused on teams, and how we can best serve each team and develop some improvement over the course of the 4 or 5 day camp.

The Sounders are moving forward. The game last night was unfortunate and frustrating. To give up a 2 goal lead at home was greatly disappointing to the players I am sure, and the many fans that continue to pack Qwest field. What a place to watch a game of soccer. Hats off to Adrian Hanauer and his team – they have made a great impact in this area in such as short period of time.

I will be updating more often…..