Thoughts from the General Manager
As we embark on a new
season, I want to welcome back all of our existing players and
parents and congratulate our newest members on joining what has
proven to be the strongest soccer club in North Alabama. We hope
you enjoy your season with us and many more to come. As well, we
invite your feedback for improvements. We have monthly board
meetings, which are open to our members, or you can just drop us a
line with any ideas you have on how we can improve the experience
for our members.
Huntsville Futbol Club is a soccer club designed
to provide the best soccer education possible for our young
athlete’s. We strive to place the player’s interest FIRST. This
means that our primary focus is to cater to the player, then team,
then club. That is the model we use to ensure we have the best
possible club. By placing emphasis on what the needs of our players
are, we build stronger teams. Stronger players and teams will
equate to a stronger club. This is why our conflict resolution
procedure places emphasis on preserving the player when seeking
resolution to internal conflicts. Even as coaches, we first seek to
improve the players ability to handle the technical, tactical,
psychological, and physical parts of the game before we organize the
team aspects of the game. If there is any break down in the player
– the team will break down.
HFC has expectations of our players, parents,
administrators, and coaches. By holding everyone involved
accountable for the success of the program, we preserve the player.
I invite everyone to read our declarations of responsibilities and
seek to understand them. These roles and responsibilities are
available on our web site:
Role of a
Coach,
Role of a Manager,
Role of a Player and
Role of a
Parent.
We look forward to another great year of
Soccer. Most of all, we look forward to a great year of soccer
development and the “life lessons” youth sports provides for us all
See you on the field,
General Manager and
DOCO,
Huntsville
FC
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Thoughts from the GM
Letter from the Prez
Team Camps
Heat-Related Illness
Goal of
the Week
I want more training!
Coach
Mpagi -
Technical Director
July Issue
HFC HOME
To
contribute to the Newsletter, please submit suggestions, soccer
jokes, articles or photos to
Andrea McManus
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From the President:
Greetings to all!
It is time to start a new HFC soccer year and we have many exciting
developments to share.
Before we address the new year, let's reflect on our 2009-2010
experience and accomplishments.
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We maintained our standing as the largest
club in northern Alabama; over 600 youth players of all ages and
skill levels, participated in our organization; our objectives
remained consistent: to offer all players a quality, skill
development program based upon what our players seek from their
soccer experience
-
Depending upon varying levels of play,
ranging from recreation to travel teams, we were successful in
terms of our performance on the field, evidenced by many teams
that advanced in their respective state cup games
-
We introduced a new Top Soccer program,
focused on providing soccer to players with disabilities.
-
Our high school prep team program has grown
impressively
-
A number of our female and male players were
offered opportunities to play at the collegiate level; high
school elite, regional and state teams were well represented by
HFC players
-
Several coaches pursued personal development
growth as they attended classes and qualified for higher
coaching licenses
-
We made a substantial economic impact to our
community, through tournament play and the regular season; using
the local department of tourism statistics, our contribution
reached approximately $2 million to local hotels, restaurants,
convenience stores and other related businesses
-
We finished the first year in our new HFC
office located off South Parkway; this provides a professional
environment for our club and staff
-
Our new uniforms and colors were well
received and looked sharp
-
We generally reached financial goals and
remain to be fiscally solid as a 501 C-3 nonprofit organization.
I would like to extend
many thanks to our players and parents who represented our club and
community by exhibiting good sportsmanship and respect to our
competitors. The same appreciation is extended to our coaches
and staff who worked tirelessly and diligently with our players and
behind the scenes. Thanks are also extended to the City of
Huntsville
as our field partners at both the
Merrimack
and John Hunt complexes.
Your executive committee and board of directors at HFC remain
committed to the following objectives and goals for the upcoming
2010-11 year.
-
Our focus will be to diversify our sources
of revenue through fund raising activities outside of tournament
play; yet we will continue to offer outstanding local tournament
play to teams located throughout this region of our country.
-
We will add new board members who can
contribute their skills, talents and enthusiasm; we need to
continually develop leadership for our club's future.
-
We will continue to develop and present a
new volunteer program for parents and teenage players.
-
Our primary objective will not change; it is
about offering a positive soccer experience for our youth
through different levels of play and skill development.
I hope that this coming
year will be a good and healthy experience for all. There will
be the usual proverbial "bumps in the road" yet I would ask each of
you to do the best you can to participate and make a positive impact
on our program. We need your support.
See you on the field and best wishes,
John Eagan
President
Preventing Heat-Related Illness
Staying well hydrated is the key to preventing heat-related
illnesses.
Sweating
is the main way your body gets rid of extra heat.
When you sweat, and the water evaporates from your skin, the
heat that causes the evaporation comes mainly from your skin.
As long as there is proper blood flow to the skin, extra heat
from the core of your body is “pumped” to the skin and removed by
sweat evaporation. If
you do not sweat enough, or if blood is not flowing to the skin,
your body can’t get rid of the extra heat.
 Dehydration makes it harder for your body to
cool in two ways. If
you are dehydrated, you won’t sweat as much and your body will try
to keep blood away from your skin to keep your core blood pressure
at the right level.
But, since you lose water when you sweat, you must make up that
water to keep from becoming dehydrated.
High humidity makes it harder for your sweat to evaporate
which means it is harder for your body to get rid of extra heat.
The best fluid to drink when you are sweating is
water and alternating with sports drinks is also beneficial.
Players should be encouraged to drink plenty of water and/or
other non-caffeinated beverages such as fruit juice in the days
prior to any athletic activities such as practices and games.
Illnesses to watch for:
Heat Cramps-Usually in the hamstring muscles at
the back of the calves.
These seem to be connected with heat, dehydration and poor
conditioning and usually improve with rest, water and a cooler
environment.
Heat Exhaustion-Feeling like exhaustion as the
name implies, this is also a result of excessive heat and
dehydration. Signs
include paleness, nausea, dizziness, and vomiting, fainting and
increased temperature.
Rest and water will help in mild cases as will ice packs.
Those severely affected may need IV fluids if vomiting
prevents them from drinking enough.
Heat Stroke-This is a medical emergency!
 Heat
stroke can also affect people who are not exercising.
Symptoms include warm, flushed skin, a very high temperature
and often a lack of sweating.
Athletes however, may still be sweating.
They may also be delirious, unconscious or having seizures.
Victims of heat stroke must have their temperature reduced
quickly and IV fluids for rehydration.
They are often hospitalized for observation since many
different organs can fail in heat stroke.
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I want more training!
Did you know that HFC members can get free
additional training at virtually any time?
It is true! By
joining the HFC family, our players get access to almost all our
staff and player base.
Players that wish to get additional training,
exposure to a different coach, a chance to train with better or
older players, or whatever you might be up to – that experience is
available to you through HFC.
Players have access to ANY team within one year of their
proper age group.
Of course, your commitment to your registered
team is the priority.
Should you want additional training, just notify the manager of your
intention to participate in a set practice session.
Manager notification is crucial so they can advise on any
change in practice plans and make the coach aware of your desired
attendance.
No player should ever go home wishing they had
more!
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HFC names Coach
Henry Mpagi as the
Technical Director
 We
are proud to announce Coach Henry Mpagi
as our new Technical Director.
After completing his certification and earning the NSCAA
Premier Diploma, HFC wanted to take advantage of Coach Mpagi’s
experience and education by giving him more responsibility over the
development of our players and coaches.
Coach Mpagi will be responsible for coaching
education and be more available to our players during their practice
sessions to ensure we are communicating a consistent and
professional curriculum to our players.
This added presence on the field will be instrumental in
continuing to develop the best players in Alabama and abroad!
As well, we have realigned the responsibilities
of Marty Clark, General Manager and Director of Coaching, and Mo Khodabandeh, Assistant Director
of Coaching and Deputy General Manager.
Coaches Clark and Khodabandeh will now be responsible for all
club programming regardless of division or gender.
This will allow for greater coverage and the necessary
flexibility to maximize their strengths and cater to where the club
is in need.
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So you want to
play in college?
Beginning with the 2010 season, the club will offer College
Prep, a comprehensive program of services for college-bound
athletes. HFC Introduces our
Director of College
Recruiting –
Stacy Franklin.
Coach Stacy will be a key component for our college bound
players as she rolls out our NEW program geared towards unlocking
the mysteries of college recruiting, college selection, scholarships
and much more! Visit
College Prep
for more info.
'94 HFC Blue Striker is
selected for ODP RIII pool
Rawls Musgrove was named to the '94 Region
III pool in the recent Olympic Development Program summer
camp held in Tuscaloosa, AL. The camp is used to highlight
and select the top players from Region III, which represents
11 states from the southeast. These players may be
selected for international competition or high level
tournaments. It is also a path for National team exposure.
Congratulations Rawls!
Huntsville FC’s Goal of the Week!
Your HFC goal could be featured on our You Tube Goal of the Week!
Please record your teams amazing goals
on a CD and drop them off at the HFC office
3322 S. Memorial Parkway, Suite 609
or contact Newsletter Editor ,Andrea McManus
to arrange to pick up at the field.
Each week we will select our goal of
the week and post on You Tube and the Huntsville FC website.
Remember, you can’t win if you
don’t enter!!
Happy AUGUST Birthday!
Stuart Holden 8/1/85
Louis Saha 8/8/78
Jared Borgetti 8/14/73
Thierry Henry 8/17/77
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