DI State Champions 94Boys Blue - Jetsu DI Finalist 93Boys Blue - Mpagi 92Boys Blue - Clark

DII State Champions 92Girls White - Warner

DIII State Champions 00Girls Academy - Copeland DIII Finalist 01Boys Academy - Cooper 00Boys Academy - Taylor

Season in Review As we review the first half of the HFC soccer year, our accomplishments are noteworthy.  These are important milestones as we celebrate our Tenth Anniversary this year. We have established monthly "Stoppage Time" forums for players and parents to meet with representatives from HFC, to include board members, executive committee members and directors of coaching. Our web-site and newsletters are top quality and effectively communicate club news. We have formed a meaningful partnership with Huntsville Hospital/D1/The Orthopedic Center; thus far we have received positive feedback from player treatment experiences. Our club has sponsored 2 tournaments, the last of which was the Kick's Invitational tournament which hosted 144 teams over a 3 day weekend.  When combined with the Summer Classic, and using formulas provided by the City of Huntsville’s visitors bureau, we have made a significant economic impact to the Huntsville/Madison County market.  Estimates of the financial impact are in the $2.7 million range, and have benefited our hotels, restaurants, gas/convenience stores, etc. We were proudly represented in the recent Fall State Championships.  HFC posted 3 teams to the Governor’s Cup final, 1 team in the Division II final, 3 teams in the Division I finals and earned 3 Championships overall.  We are looking forward to our Spring State Championships and the same success. We began a high school prep program this year.  This was a great way for players to keep their foot on the ball, play competitively without the travel commitment. New uniforms outfitted our players this year which distinguish our players on the field. On the financial side, to date, our performance has been solid.  Thanks to the success of our tournaments, club size of over 600 players and a carefully managed budget, we are effectively managing through these tough economic times. We are working on two important initiatives, defining our marketing plan and increasing volunteerism within the club.  Both of these in initiatives will further define our club. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank our players, coaches and parents for their membership and performance.  As a club, we have conducted ourselves with dignity and professionalism, while being focused on developing and providing a positive experience for the players.  Enjoy the holiday season and best wishes for the upcoming new year. President, Huntsville FC
	Corey Remillard Facility Coordinator D1 Huntsville 7242 Bailey Cove Rd Huntsville, AL 35802 o: 256.880.1717 c: 256.604.2227 f: 256.885.1704	If you need medical attention – contact Corey for immediate response and expedited appointments with TOC. Corey is able to get us immediate attention!
Discounted memberships for HFC players at D1 Our partnership with D1 now allows all HFC players in good standing to recieve discounted memberships at the D1 facility.  The staff and facilities at D1 have proven successful to our players by providing the edge necessary to compete at the highest level or to simply take you to the next level.  Visit D1 or consult with a DOC to determine how D1 can provide excellent speed, agility and strength training. Discounts available are: $75 per month for 12 month contract 25% off 3 month contract 50% off Team contract HFC Players (and Coach) Stay in Shape participating in the 2009 Turkey Trot Thanksgiving Morning.  Tucker Oliver placed 2nd in his age group, McKenna took 1st and Miller 3rd in their age groups. L-R: Katie Zoladz, Bailey Oliver(96Blue), Evan McManus(97Blue), Evan Moore(93Maroon), Peter Zoladz(97Blue), Tucker Oliver(92Blue), Coach Alex, Miller, Mason & McKenna Matzek

Off-Season Conditioning
If you want to impress your coach when practices start up again, make good use of your off-season time.  Your primary objective during the off-season should be to increase your soccer specific conditioning level and keeping your skills sharp.  The following are some suggestions for off-season conditioning.

AEROBIC EXERCISE:  Aerobic fitness is the foundation of soccer specific fitness.  A stron cardiovascular system will help you have enough energy to play hard through an entire practice or game.  Sustained, moderate-intensity is the best way to build or maintain aerobic fitness.  Biking, swimming and running for 30 minutes at least twice a week is the minimum for increasing aerobic fitness.

INTERVALS:  Soccer is a game of short, high intensity movements.  For this reason, off-season conditioning should include some interval running.  A jogging warm-up followed by several high speed running efforts separated by short rests and ending with a jogging cool-down.  You can combine this with aerobic exercise by extending your warm-up and cool-down.

SPEED & AGILITY:  Soccer specific speed is different from the kind of speed you need for track because it often requires quick changes in direction and dribbling or kicking on the run.  Short sprints of about 40 yards, some straight and others with changes in direction can help.  Try different starting positions-standing, kneeling, facing backwards etc….Create a slalom course with cones and sprint through it.  Add dribbling the ball for variation.

STRENGTH TRAINING:  Functional exercises that strengthen movement patterns rather than individual muscles are helpful for soccer players.  For example, the lunge is functional, the biceps curl is not.  Work the whole body not just the legs at least twice a week to see results.

STRETCHING:  Stretching improves flexibility and agility along with helping to prevent injuries.  An active warm-up with stretching and a cool-down with more sustained stretching is important at the end of a training session.  Soccer players should pay attention to hamstring, groin muscles and calves.

Don’t forget to get your foot on the ball during the off season.  Regardless of what position you play, a high level of “feel” for the ball only comes from accumulating experience with the ball on your foot (all parts of it) along with your thighs, chest and head (and hands for keepers!)  Kicking the ball against a wall and trapping  the rebounds in different ways and juggling help develop ball feel.

Also don’t forget hydration during off-season training.  A good sports drink with electrolytes hydrates you faster than water and the carbohydrates it contains provide energy in the fastest acting and most digestible form.  The new generation of sports drinks also contains protein which has been proven to deliver energy to muscles even faster resulting in better endurance.   The ideal ratio of carbs to protein is 4:1.

As with any sport, soccer depends on a mix of talent and preparation.  While there may not be anything you can  do about talent, you can do a lot to prepare.  Training smarter and more consistently than other players during the off-season can help move you ahead while they aren’t looking.

A Parent Talks to a Child Before the First Game
John Wooden has always understood the power of sports to teach good character and the responsibility of coaches and parents to guide young people so they can enjoy and grow from their athletic experience.

During one of my visits with this great teacher, he shared with me this poem from an unknown author. It’s worth sharing.
– Michael Josephson

This is your first game, my child.
I hope you win.
I hope you win for your sake, not mine.
Because winning’s nice.

It’s a good feeling.
Like the whole world is yours.
But it passes, this feeling.
And what lasts is what you’ve learned.
And what you learn about is life.

That’s what sports is all about. Life.
The whole thing is played out in an afternoon.
The happiness of life.
The miseries. The joys. The heartbreaks.

There’s no telling what’ll turn up.
There’s no telling whether they’ll toss you out in the first five minutes
 or whether you’ll stay for the long haul.
There’s no telling how you’ll do.

You might be a hero or you might be absolutely nothing.
There’s just no telling.
Too much depends on chance.
On how the ball bounces.

I’m not talking about the game, my child.
I’m talking about life.
But it’s life that the game is all about.
Just as I said.

Because every game is life. And life is a game.
A serious game. Dead serious.
But that’s what you do with serious things.
You do your best. You take what comes.
And you run with it.

Winning is fun. Sure.
But winning is not the point.
Wanting to win is the point.
Not giving up is the point.
Never being satisfied with what you’ve done is the point.
Never letting up is the point. Never letting anyone down is the point.

Play to win. Sure.
But lose like a champion.
Because it’s not winning that counts.
What counts is trying.

It’s the little details that are vital.
Little things make big things happen.
– John Wooden