Near Post Gazette. Grillo Settles In as Director of the Girls U12-U18 Program. Team Evanston at Disney. Winter 2015 Volume 2, Issue 2

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1 Grillo Settles In as Director of the Girls U12-U18 Program Maurizio Grillo, head of the ETHS girls soccer program and recentlyappointed Director of Coaching for Girls U12-U18 teams, is on a mission to bolster the leadership and development of the program, partnering with Jay Bulev, Girls Program Coordinator. Maurizio is excited about his new position and the Club's future "It's been extremely rewarding to be a part of Team Evanston," he says. "Having my office at the facility is very helpful: I can get work done, then turn around and be on the field. I don't know how other clubs get along without it." He has been spending time at team practices, connecting with the coaches and meeting the players. "Learning the girls' names has been a challenge," he confesses, "each girl routinely asks me if I know their name, and appears a bit annoyed if I don't but slowly and surely I'll get it done." He has also been meeting with other clubs, schools, managers, and parents, from which he has gained valuable insight. "Feedback and ideas are very important to me, and I love all the ideas the parents and coaches bring to the table, the energy they provide. Each one of them wants to take Team Evanston to the next level, and I appreciate their vision." Maurizio shares their enthusiasm. "We have the facility, the talent, and the infrastructure to get to the next level," he claims. "I think we have to challenge ourselves. Several teams are going to find themselves competing in higher divisions and playing against stronger players. You learn a lot more by losing to a stronger team than by winning against a weaker one." Maurizio also wants more teams in the Midwest Regional League (MRL) and other competitive leagues. Maurizio envisions changes at the high school level as well. He has worked hard to create a college network and educate players on how to effectively connect with a coach. "I'm proud to say that several of our players have been contacted by college coaches from Division I and III schools after playing in showcase tournaments," he says. "My fingers are crossed that I will see my first 'commit' this spring." Maurizio sees great things ahead. "I'm looking forward to us becoming the premier club for our community and a destination for soccer players in Chicago and the North Shore," he says, "a club where parents and players find long-lasting friendship and share a passion for the game as well as a healthy desire to challenge and be challenged." If you re in the penalty area and don t know what to do with the ball, put it in the net and we ll discuss the options later." Bob Paisley (former Liverpool manager) Team Evanston at Disney ESPN/Disney World hosts a tournament over New Years for elite US teams. Called the Disney Showcase, it attracts top teams and university coaches from around the nation. Teams must be invited to participate, and it is an honor to play in it. This year, Team Evanston had three teams accepted to the Showcase: Girls U17 Premier, Boys U17 Premier, and Boys U18 Premier. All three teams faced stiff competition. The GU17 s won one and lost two, against teams from Pennsylvania, upstate New York, and Tennessee in the "premier" league. They were visited by over 40 coaches from schools such as Temple, Carnegie Melon, Penn State, Drexel, and Skidmore. The BU17 s also went 1-2, competing against top-100 teams from Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina. The BU18 s tied all three games, giving up two goals in the last two matches in extra time, which cost them the championship game. Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 1

2 Newsletter's New Name In the fall, we ran a contest asking people to come up with a name for our newsletter, and received a variety of clever suggestions. Team Evanston's board voted on their top three favorites. "Near Post Gazette" inched out a narrow victory over "The Pitch" and "The Goal Post." Play On! and Kick It also received high marks. The person who submitted the name will receive a chance to have an event at the facility with friends. Winter Season Is Upon Us Team Evanston's indoor season is in full swing, with practices happening at Team Evanston's facility, futsal on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and games at the Highland Park field house and elsewhere. While the season is still young, it is going well. In addition to team practice and play, the Club has been hosting a "Micro League" on Sundays at the facility, where non Team Evanston kids play in smallsided games. It has been received very positively, with 145 kids participating. Regular practices at the indoor facility have been very smooth. "Parents have been fairly good about following our pick-up and drop-off procedures," Club Administrator Rich Hollingsworth reports, "we aren't getting many complaints, which is good." However, he notes that some are still trying to drive east on Greenwood, or parking in the spaces on the south side of Greenwood, which causes traffic problems and may endanger the kids. "We'd like everyone moving the same direction, which makes it easier to manage." If your child has lost items (balls, water bottles, articles of clothing, etc.) at the facility, have them check lost and found near the front entrance. We make a routine sweep of the facility after each practice and game. "I'm attracted to soccer's capacity for beauty. When well played, the game is a dance with a ball." Eduardo Galeano Uruguayan writer Coaches Reflect on Fall '14 We asked coaches to share some of their memories and thoughts about their teams from the fall season, and everyone had positive things to say: U8 Boys Blue, Alec: I have many happy memories of the team from the fall, but my fondest has to be just watching them play the game with the joy of young boys, the enthusiasm they brought into every game and practice and always trying their best. It was fun to watch them run around and have a good time. I'm glad to be their coach. U8 Boys Orange, Sami: The best memory I have of my team was the time they beat Kuba. Kuba was undefeated at the time, and the boys came out and played very hard, and even though the other team was kicking us all over the field and their parents were talking trash to our kids the boys never gave up. Our boys won 5-3. I was very proud of what they were able to do. U8 Boys White, Milos: My fondest memory was probably the last game of the fall tournament, where Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 2

3 the boys had their first win. Simon Luglio scored the only goal in first half. The boys played very hard all game, and were able to keep that score until the end in what became a very exciting game. They played like champions. U8 Girls Blue, Jessica: The team had many accomplishments in the Fall, but two stand out for me. The first was the girls' third game at the Libertyville tournament. It was early on a Sunday morning, but the girls came out ready to play, which resulted in one of the most back-and-forth games we saw that season, and the team ended up tying 3-3. I think that tie sparked a love of soccer and desire to win, which allowed them to dominate their last home game, winning 2-0, my second fondest memory. After that game, the girls were excited and celebrated the "W" with loud screams, jumps and running in circles. It was great. U8 Girls Orange, Jay: My favorite memory was the way the players and team as a whole started improving after we lost our first three games. The players didn't have a lot of experience playing travel soccer, and it took a few weeks to get going, but once they figured out their positions and roles on the team, they started playing really well and they finished strong. It was great to see them celebrate together after one player scored a goal. I love their energy. U9 Boys Blue, Adam: I was very proud of how the boys performed at the Octoberfest tournament. Through a combination of brave goalkeeping, solid defending, and team-wide scoring, they managed to win all three games in regular play. In the championship, they gave it everything they had, and fought back after being behind to win 4-3. U9 Boys Orange, Branko: The most memorable point of our season for me was the parents/players game at the end of the fall season. It was very "competitive" and fun. I think the kids loved it and enjoyed every moment of it. I know I did. Oliver Hazzard's mom was the player of the game with two goals scored. Very impressive! U9 Boys White, Terence: The memory that stands out in my mind was our first game of the fall season. The boys were up against Buffalo Grove U9A, a very good team that ended up winning the division. We lost that game, the other team was better, but I was very impressed by the attitude the boys took into the game. We had no subs, it was our first game as a team, but our players kept playing hard and showing excellent effort throughout the game. They fought and never gave up. I'm confident they will continue to develop and demonstrate the same effort in their games this winter and spring. U9 Girls Blue, Dule: I think they are a great and fun group of girls with an outstanding chemistry as a team. Most of them played AYSO last year, so they were new to travel soccer. We had some challenges at the beginning of the season, but the girls made great improvement, and they finished the season with 5 wins. I am happy to be the coach on the team and expect them to continue improving. They deserve a lot of credit. U9 Girls Orange, Francisco: I really liked how the girls showed strong growth and a great attitude throughout the season. They had an impressive showing at the Libertyville tournament, winning 3 out of 5 games. They were very competitive. I was very impressed by the fact they put together a 3-game undefeated streak at the end of the season, which showed how much the girls had grown and developed. U10 Boys Blue, Mauricio: I'm proud that the team finished with 5 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. The most memorable game of the season for me was when the boys went up against a higher-level team, Elite SC, who finished in second place with 60 goals in Rent the Facility Looking for a fun place to host a birthday party? Planning a corporate, church, or school function? The Team Evanston indoor facility is available for rent. Rent for an hour or an afternoon, gaining access to the turf fields and a party room for food and drink. Contact Rich Hollingsworth at (847) or tefacilityreservations@gmail.com for more information. Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 3

4 favor. We lost to them 1-4 at home, but later turned around and won 1-0 on their field. That victory gave our team a lot of confidence for the rest of the season. I was very proud of their play that day. U10 Boys Orange, Svet: This was a very exciting team to watch all season, with great balance at all positions. The last game, against Kuba FC was the highlight for me. The boys won 3 to 2. A left foot shot to the upper 90 for the winner, it was a thing of beauty. U10 Boys White, Nikola: The highlight of the season for me was the FC Lake County game, where the boys faced a team that was on top of the table all Fall. We gave them their only loss and tie in the season. The first game ended in a victory, where the boys came back from a 2-1 deficit to earn a 3-1 victory. The second game ended in a tie, where the boys scored in the last few minutes, after being down 3-2, to make it 3-3 tie. Those were both great games to be a part of. The boys deserve credit. U10 Girls Blue, Jay: My favorite memory from the Fall was the great turnout we had at "Bring a Friend To Practice". We had 12 players from the team and 11 "friends" join us in all kinds of games, skills, and challenges. I thought it was awesome to see the girls participate and invite so many of their friends to share the Team Evanston experience. U10 Girls Orange, Dule: This was my first year with them, and I think they're a nice group of girls who are willing to work hard. Last year they struggled in their division, but this year their performance was much better, finishing in the middle among 10 very talented teams. I have good feelings about where this team can go: it has a lot of talent, and with more aggressiveness on the field, I know we can do an even better job this spring. U11 Boys Blue, Terence: I'm proud of the fact that the boys went undefeated and took home the hardware in their group at the Octoberfest Tournament. This group is very close as a team, and they have good attendance at practice and always a great If you re attacking, you don t get as tired as when you re chasing. Kyle Rote, Jr. Retired American striker attitude: their skills are noticeably developing, much more passing, and they're focused on getting better. U11 Boys Orange, Alec: I'm honored to coach these boys. They made it to the finals in a tournament recently, and they will soon be playing in the final at Toyota Park after the Chicago Fire play a regular season game. I'm very excited for them, they earned it. U11 Boys White, Mauricio: The boys should have won the division. However, they finished in second place with 8 wins and 2 losses, which is still great. The best performance of this team was in the Octoberfest tournament, where we won our first two games and lost our third game in a semi-final penalty shootout. In this game we were able to hold the score to 0-0 in overtime against a higher-level team that ended up winning the tournament championship. I was proud of the boys' play. U11 Girls Blue, Milos: I think my favorite memory of this team was the time we played against the Chicago Magic. They were undefeated all Fall season, and the girls went in and won that game. Magic won our division, and we were the only team that beat them. Another thing I appreciate about this team is their support for each other. One of the girls was injured at the beginning of the season and only now is back, and it was great to see how excited the girls were to have everybody back together. U11 Girls Orange, Issac: Our goal this fall was to spend time on the tactical part of the game: I wanted the girls to play a better game of soccer. We played very well, winning games was not my worry, as long as the girls stayed positive about their field decisions, in time winning would take care of itself. When we went to the St Louis tournament, everything they'd been learning came out. In the semi-final game: they were down by 2, but came back and tied the game and won on penalty kicks. For me, the turning point of the tournament was seeing the girls working harder than ever. That was a huge change in them, recognizing what it will take to get to the next level. I'm very proud of them. U11 Girls White, Maddie: I have many fond memories of the girls. We had our first win partway through the season, and many of the girls were very excited by it and became very motivated. During the Octoberfest tournament, I challenged them to win Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 4

5 two games, and I'm proud to say they went out and did just that, plus they were only one point from making the finals. They all wanted it, so I felt badly they were edged out at the very end, after they had worked so hard to get that far. The last game of the season stands out for me. We had already lost to the Wings at the beginning of the season, and we wanted to show improvement. Our midfields came up big with two goals, while our defense held strong, letting in only one goal. This gives Wings, who finished second, something to worry about next season. Our win secured our spot in the league and showed that we deserved an even higher position in the rankings. U12 Boys Blue, Mauricio: I'm very proud of what the boys accomplished this fall, and what they're capable of going into the spring. The boys played very strong, with 6 wins and 4 losses. They scored an amazing 54 goals throughout the season! I still can't believe it. The champions, Thunder FC, had only 43 goals scored. U12 Boys Orange, Dule: I think this is a hardworking group of boys with a great chemistry. This is their first year playing in NISL Premiership 2, which is a very competitive league. The parents and the players were very concerned how they were going to handle themselves. I thought the team did very well and proved that they can play against any team in this league and not be intimidated. There is more room for their improvement and I expect a better spring season. I am proud to be coaching them. U12 Girls Blue, Jessica: There are so many great moments from the season it's hard to pick only one or two. One of the highlights for me is not a game, but the whole season. In our 13 games together this fall, the girls scored at least 1 goal in 12 of them, tying for second place in the IWSL rankings. They should be very proud of that. There were many close and exciting games throughout the season. All the games against LASC kept both teams on their heels and biting their nails. The girls battled hard against SkoMor, and though it resulted in a close 1-2 loss, they held their own. Probably the game that stands out in my mind was against Chicago Fire FC. Both teams came out ready to play, and through our teamwork, passing, and desire to win, we went up 1-0, which was our first of two shutouts in the Fall season. Congrats, girls! In football everything is complicated by the presence of the opposite team. Jean-Paul Sartre (French philosopher, novelist, and literary critic) U12 Girls Orange, Adam: My favorite memory was how they battled at the Octoberfest tournament. They had two wins and a tie in group play, during which they scored four goals and gave up just one. The championship was a highly competitive and physical match, and four of our girls had to be helped off the field with injuries. Yet the girls refused to give up. The game went into overtime tied 1-1, and late in the second period of overtime, a direct kick led to a rebound that was skillfully finished for a 2-1 victory. I loved it. U13 Boys Premier, Rob: The highlight of the season for me was the Halloween Classic tournament in Fishers, Indiana. The performance they gave in the final was the best I have ever seen them deliver. They all worked so hard for each other, and the celebrations at the side of the field at the end were great. We had a player come off injured in the last moments and was on a golf cart with the trainer. They all came over and surrounded the golf cart and were jumping and cheering and grabbing the injured teammate! The thrill and joy on their face reminded me of one of the reasons we do this job and love it so much. U13 Boys Select, Milos: My fondest memory was when the team had an early morning game in the Libertyville tournament. The game was at 7 am, way up in Libertyville and since it was still dark, we had to play under the lights. Some of the boys had a hard time waking up, but they gave it their all and we ended up winning the game. I consider that early game as a lucky charm. U13 Girls Premier, Svet: The games the girls played against the Magic and Mundelein in the Fall really stand out in my book. I felt that the girls came out well organized, that their communication was excellent, and all of the players worked hard on both sides of the game, that the girls deserved the points they earned. I'm really proud of the Fall season, and want to say "good job!" to all the girls. Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 5

6 U13 Girls Select, Francisco: l thought the team was very strong defensively all season. They conceded the second least amount of goals in their division, which is something to be proud of. The girls' skills have continued to grow, and that's due to the hard work and effort they're giving during training. They are really coming together as a team. U14 Boys Premier, Dule: This is my second year with this team. Last year we played in NISL Premiership 2 and the team did very well. This year the team played NISL Premiership 1 and I think we had a really good experience. The boys played against top teams in the Chicago area, and they proved their skill. This is a very competitive and committed group of boys, and they have made a significant improvement in the last two years. Among 10 team in the league, they finished 5 th and deserve a lot of credit for that. U14 Boys Select, Alec: The memory I have from Fall is the boys' sense of humor as much as anything. One practice, I had the boys training really hard, doing sprints and pushups, and afterwards they told me they once really liked me, but after that practice, they now hate me. It was very funny. U14 Girls Premier, Branko: This past season has many great moments, but the one that I will always remember was the great time we all had in St. Louis. We were at the tournament over Halloween weekend, and we spent great time together having fun at a bowling alley. I'll never forget it. After all, it is not all just about soccer, it is about growing together as a team. U14 Girls Select, Francisco: The girls were very strong defensively all season, conceding the second least amount of goals in the division. I enjoyed watching how tough they were. I have very fond memories of coaching them at Octoberfest, where their play was fantastic. They really showed their cohesiveness, battling to within one point of advancing to the final. I can't wait to see what they do in the spring. U16 Girls Premier, Jay: My favorite memory from the fall was the way this group of diverse players came together as a team. Our team is composed of players from multiple teams and clubs last year. We have freshmen and sophomores from six different high schools, and by the mid-point of the season, a lot of them were interacting on and off the field as if they had been playing together for years. It was great to see that they were coming together to play as a team on the field, but even better that they had developed friendships away from it. U17 Boys Premier, Svet: With a few games and a tournament, the boys have really jelled together and are starting to play really well. They've already got some great results versus Magic teams and top nationally-ranked teams. I have high hopes for them. U17 Girls Premier, Branko: We had a lot of success this year as a team. We won our MRL division, and we made it to the semi-finals of the State Cup. But to me, as the coach of this team, nothing compares with the energy, commitment, and emotions we showed at our last game in the Disney Showcase. After two losses against very skilled opponents, to be able to find extra strength and beat a team who ended up winning our group and playing in the Finals, that was something amazing to me. I will never forget the circle we made after winning the game, and seeing the happiness in the players' faces. I felt like we had won a World Cup. Team Evanston On the Go Team Evanston families visit many interesting places, and we'd like to capture that. If you have a picture of your child wearing a Team Evanston shirt (ideally in a non-soccer-related locale), please send The ball is round, the game lasts ninety minutes, and everything else is just theory. Josef Sepp Herberger Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 6

7 it to us and we will run it in the newsletter. the picture to Here is one of Will Fine, boys U12, at the largest butterfly sanctuary in America, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Butterflies seem to love Team Evanston: The effect of the spin steadily increases over the flight of the ball. As the ball moves through the air, it meets wind resistance and slows down. This gives the force more time to work, resulting in a greater amount of curve. Skilled players take advantage of this, for example kicking the ball around a wall and curving into the corner of the goal, seemingly at the last minute. So, while it may look like magic, it really is just a matter of putting a spin on the ball. Doing it, however, is another story, it takes practice. So get out there and give it a try! Fitness and Safety How does a Soccer Ball Bend? When skilled players "bend" a soccer ball, what are they doing? How does it work? "Bending" means making the ball curve, and involves fairly simple physics. You can do it fairly easily, in fact, if you know how. The amount it curves depends on the speed of the ball and the rate of its revolution. To make it bend, as you kick, have your foot make contact with the side of the ball, so the ball begins spinning. The spinning creates higher air pressure on one side of the ball and lower pressure on the other, and the lower pressure pulls the ball in that direction, resulting in a curved flight. It is the same principle behind the airplane wing, where fastermoving air over the top part of the wing draws the airplane upward. The faster the spin, the greater the curve. Did you know that soccer players run an average of six miles every game? Soccer is a great way to stay in shape. At the same time, it puts stresses on the body and exposes players to risk of injury. Team Evanston is committed to making the sport fit, fun, and as safe as possible for every player. Every coach has received training in concussion prevention and intervention, as well as injury avoidance. The Club has held two seminars for parents, and more are planned. A committee is working with coaches and parents to augment warm-ups and set policy that support safe play. Expect more on this soon. Newsletter Topics Welcomed If you or your daughter/son wants to write an article for the newsletter, or you have an article idea or picture you'd like to submit, we would welcome it. Please send the article, ideas, or picture to info@teamevanston.org. Copyright 2015 Evanston Soccer Association 7