June 2007

Raising the Level of Coaching

One of the methods that CASA utilizes to put our motto of "Raise the Level" into practice is by continually upgrading our coaching education. It is in that context that we congratulate the NSCAA and the outstanding instructors that conducted the Youth Diploma Course held at Cordova High School during Memorial Day Weekend. We were honored to host the course and were gratified by the excellent level of attendance with more than 60 coaches taking the course. A special word of gratitude to Cordova High School for providing their excellent facilities!

The course was geared for coaches that work with the youngest age groups and the quality of instruction was of the highest order both in content and in the delivery of the message. It was clear that the candidates who attended the course greatly benefited from it, and we are delighted as a club that many of our Boca coaches including several who already hold the National Diploma of the NSCAA attended the course and thoroughly enjoyed it! The latter are to be greatly commended for setting the example of putting into practice our club's stated goal of continuing self- improvement and "Raising the Level" at all times and fighting the tendency towards inertia.

It was a privilege to host the course and provide the venue for our national coaches' organization and the opportunity for many of our colleagues from other clubs and organizations to participate in the course. We hope the collegiality and collaboration will extend in the future as we go on to our respective roles in the game.

Although we are already proud of them, we were especially thrilled by the participation and enthusiasm of our many Boca young athletes who made themselves available for the coaching staff to use as models for the training program! The young player's presence gave the candidates a chance to concentrate on the learning of the topics at hand instead of huffing and puffing as players in the various exercises. Thank you Boca players and a special respectful thanks to the coaching instructors Kim Sutton, Cynthia Goodwin and Theresa Echtemeyer for such an instructive and enjoyable course!

After a fun and successful skills clinic, many of the Boca coaches attended the NSCAA Youth National Diploma during the Memorial Day weekend. The staff came away well educated with new games and practice sessions to continue to teach our young players how to play and love the game of soccer.

The coaching staff would like to give a special thanks to all the players and their parents for helping out with the course. Having young players participate in the practice sessions of the course really helped to define it. The players made Boca proud with their play and their demeanor.

As we play our way forward into the month of June, the Youth Academy kicks into high gear with the following events.

• June 10th - Sac State 6 a Side
• June 16th and 17th - Extreme 6 a Side
• June 12th U8 Program
• June 15th Friday Play Days

GO Boca!!!!!!!!!!

• 6/7 - Nike Champions Cup Meeting at CASA office at 7pm
• 6/12 - U8 Player Development begins 5-6:30
• 6/13 - Coaches Meeting at CASA office at 7pm
• 6/14 - CASA Management Meeting 11:30-1:00
• 6/15 - Boca Plays Days begins (all ages)
• 6/19 - Managers Meeting at CASA office at 7pm
• 6/20 - RCYSL Meeting at 7pm
• 6/24 - CASA BOCA JR FAMILY PICNIC & PICTURE at Larchmont Park 10-2
• 6/28 - CASA Management Meeting 11:30-1:00

For a detailed calendar, view our website's calendar tab.

Come join us for a BBQ and some soccer.

Cost of BBQ is $5 per person to be paid at the BBQ.

• Texas West BBQ (chicken, hamburgers, hotdogs, sides)
• Club picture at 10:30 by Premiere Photography (parent Traci Kinney)
• Coach vs Coach soccer game after photograph
• SYL games going on at Larchmont featuring our BOCA players

GO BOCA!!!!

The BOCA 89's started off their 2007-2008 season at the Laguna Eclipse College Showcase over Memorial Day Weekend. The 89's are basically a new team with 9 returning and 8 new players and for only having a few practices together the girls did well going 1-2 for the tournament.

First up was a 2-0 win over CSC San Diego. In the first half, the girls controlled the action but did not put one in the net. In the second half, Dara Karnofsky took the ball down the left side and sent a cross in that Arianna Fragoso was able to finish for a 1-0 lead. Then Taylor Morrison took it up the other side and sent in a hard shot that a CSC player unsuccessfully tried to head away. Game over. 2-0 win for BOCA.

Next was the RSF Attack. Big and extremely fast, this team went out to a 2-0 lead by half time. In the opening minutes of the second half, Fragoso took the ball straight down the middle, beating most of the mid field and all defenders to power it into the net. Shortly thereafter, Ayana Younge took a ball at her feet, coolly took the goalie one-on-one, put a move on her which left her in front of a wide open net and BOCA was tied 2-2. Unfortunately, this was short lived as RSF came back with 3 very nice goals over the course of the second half to win 5-2. RSF was a very skilled team and the BOCA girls will learn from the loss.

The last game was against the home club Laguna Eclipse Blue. Mother Nature played a hand in this game. The wind was really blowing and caused a lot of problems on both sides. BOCA had the wind in the first half but could not utilize it to their advantage. The half ended 0-0. The second half was more of the same, but BOCA had two great shots on goal that they could not convert. Then a miscue gave Laguna a corner kick and as the ball went towards the goal, the wind took it and moved it to a Laguna player that put a head on it and the ball floated into the goal. BOCA was unable to find the equalizer and the game ended in a 1-0 loss.

Next up for the 89's in the US Club Regionals in Boise Idaho, June 30-July 3 and The Pleasanton Rage College Showcase July 28-31. You can follow the BOCA 89's on their website (www.eteamz.active.com/BOCA89.)

Cal Expo is our biggest Club fundraising opportunity. Jeannette Wilson has managed it for her daughter's team and then our club for several years. Unfortunately, we have to wish the Wilson family well as they leave us. We have been searching for new volunteers to take on this important and very busy position. A few parents have stepped forward, and we are currently working with Ovations (the concessions company at Cal Expo) to keep our invaluable relationship and opportunities. We will keep you posted as the situation develops. In the meantime, if you are interested in shifts at events, contact Tania Kelly at 955-3982.

There are many team fundraising ideas available on the ETEAMZ website. The list is easily accessible by going onto our website calendar page and then clicking on the fundraising title at the top of the page.

Selling FOOD is always a hit. Ghiradeli Cookie Dough, Sonoma Valley Cheesecakes & Brownies, Soft Pretzels, Churros, Funnel Cakes, Apple Pies, Pumpkin Rolls, Oberto Summer Sausage, Pizza and more can be ordered and packed-to-the- player. 50% profit & prizes. Additional ideas can be located at www.g atewayfundraising.com

Jeff Henrichs operates the Champion Fundraising company. He has many options available that focuses on local dining areas. Contact him at jeff@championfundraising.org

Sell Storm tickets (games in Folsom). The Public Relations Department of the California Storm, a WPSL (Women's Premier Soccer league) team, is looking for interested youth soccer teams to promote soccer in the Northern California area. If your team is interested in the ticket incentive program for fundraising, contact Alice Su at castormpr@aol.com and check out the Storm website

Sell Umbrellas and Travel Bags. Gerald Carlyle at 800-931-3609 or 870-974-1102 (or email gerald@golfumbrella.com) wants to answer your questions about fundraising products to sell. His company is RainGames USA, 4707 East Johnson Ave., Jonesboro, AZ 72401.

Additional ideas that have come to my attention through our Boca teams include:

• Scrip
• Cookie Dough
• Sees
• Car Wash
• Harv's Car Wash - Incentive Tickets
• Entertainment Books

Doing a silent auction or selling team baskets at the Club Picnic is also a good idea, but requires a chairperson for proper planning. The Club has recently discussed forming a Fundraising committee to share ideas and to chair potential fundraising programs and Club events. If you are interested, contact Gene Cheever at gcheever@diepenbrock.com.

I am also available to help write sponsorship letters to local businesses for your player(s). Give me a call for additional ideas, contacts, opportunities or questions.

Dear Friends and Family,

The Race for the Cure was a lot of fun. We had 34 Boca players and parents participate. We were able to exceed our fundraising goal by $400, contributing a grand total of $1400 to the cause.

Clare Carroll from the U12 Boca team, finished the race in a time of 22 minutes. She was one of the top finishers in her age.

Sincerely, Melissa Cavitt