Fancy footwork

Check out this impressive sequence involving Thierry Henry.  I wish MLS could have more of this stuff.  Click here.

Night game! RSVP for Week 2 here

Our first of two night games is this coming Sunday Sept. 12th, 9:00 p.m., George Mason High School in Falls Church. It's walkable from the West Falls Church Metro, and right off Route 7 if you're driving.

Are you in?

Please RSVP as early as possible so we can call up our reserves if necessary.

Ally & Pete

Schedule adjustment

Our game on Sunday, September 26th will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Dunbar HS.  The time is the same but the location has changed.  The schedule on this website will be updated shortly.

Tsunami wins the Orange Bowl

Well, we played this one hard, and you have to admit, we looked good.  Regardless, Tsunami picks up the 1-0 win with a direct kick from the 18' in extra time.  Congratulations to Tsunami, who capitalized really well.


None of the usual "teething" problems existed in this season opener - fitness was good, organization was good (at times excellent), folks showed up on time, and we played well.  All that is great news.  The result is just the nature of sports.  Fortunes turn quickly.

Let's talk stats.

With Vic's 91st minute strike, Tsunami evened the series score in the Orange Bowl at 3-3-1.

Fall '10 (1-0 loss)

Spring '10 (2-1 loss)

Fall '09 (no game)

Spring '09 (3-2 win)

Spring '08 (2-0 win)

Fall '08 (no game)

Fall '07 (1-1 tie)

Spring '07 (1-0 loss regular season, 2-0 win playoffs)

There have been some great match-ups in those games, always hard fought.  On occasion, Tsunami has had providence on its side with some offside calls where the ball was in the back of the net and the result changed.  But not today.  The refs were no factor and the team with the best plays won.

I was curious about our performance in season openers.  Kind of sorry I looked it up.  We're bad and getting worse.  We are 3-8 since joining CCSL, having lost our last four season openers.  Our last win in the opening game, then, was Spring 2008.

ANYWAY...not to worry.  Great effort and structure on the field.  Congratulations especially to Diana, whose versatility playing 4 positions was important.

Did you enjoy the game?


[Notes: 1-0 loss to Tsunami on 8/29/10, Wilson HS. GK: George.  Discipline: George (yellow, deliberate handling).]

Preview of fall schedule

Ahead of our first game this Sunday, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at our schedule.  It's a tough one.

Like last season, we start off the first week playing our rivals and co-equals, Tsunami.  I'm sure everyone remembers our close 2-1 loss to them last year in that first match.  It turned out to be accurate prediction for the season.  Tsunami finished 3rd behind Itchy & Scratchy and LUA and we finished a very close fourth.

Labor Day Weekend we are off as usual so there's an early bye built in.

When the season begins in earnest we will have the first of two night games this season.  Those 9:00 p.m. games will be late, but I expect really strong attendance because everyone is home from traveling on Sunday nights.  In those early games, we will be playing DC Divided and DC Thunder, teams that we're pretty familiar with by now.  We have even records versus both teams so it's a coin toss on paper.  But you can be sure we can't rely on chance to win.

We have four games at the league's new field at Galludet University.  Combined with our Trinity game, that's five games in the same general part of Northeast DC.  We'll be getting to know the neighborhood.  My neighbor plays for Geezers, a 3rd Division team that is being promoted.  That's our 9/26 matchup at Galludet.

We finish the schedule with three hard games - Quick, LUA, and Taz.  Quick and Taz have beaten us, but we have also beaten them.  Quick, of course, scored a 6-0 victory against us before they were relegated two seasons ago.  That one was bitter because it was a meltdown on our part.  LUA we have never beaten.  We played them once about 4 years ago and then 3 times recently.  Each time it's a LUA victory, although the margins are getting thinner each time.  When is that going to end?

Our late bye is six of one, half dozen of the other.  It should allow us to get healthy. But if we are in position for the playoffs, it will result in awkward breaks in the action towards the end of the season.  Our nonstop run of several games in the spring proved to be important to our success.

Any thoughts of your own on this sked?

It will be fun and very competitive.

RSVP for Game 1 - 9:30 a.m. at Wilson HS [Re-posted]

Fall soccer is back.

Are you in for this match? 

Wilson HS is located in upper Northwest, near Ft. Reno Park.  It is metro accessible.  This field takes a while to reach on foot from the parking areas so show up early.  this is where we played our night game last spring.

DC United player salaries

I find the business of soccer to be quite interesting. 

Each year, the MLS Players Association releases player salary information as a means of keeping pressure on the league to treat players fairly and to increase compensation.  The recent collective bargaining agreement reached between the centrally-managed MLS and the players was quite interesting.  The league went from giving players practically no guaranteed money and starting salaries of as little as $14,000/year to something much more in line with their economic value.  Still, you will be surprised by how little the players make the growing disparity between the American-born workhorses of the league and the high-priced foreign players.  Are we headed back to the days of NASL?  Who knows.

Here is DC United's spread.  The last columns, from left to right, are annual salary and 2010 guaranteed compensation.


DC Allsopp Danny F $ 1 80,000.00 $ 217,500.00
DC Barklage Brandon M-F $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Boskovic Branko M $ 3 80,000.00 $ 516,200.00
DC Burch Marc D $ 7 9,000.00 $ 81,500.00
DC Cristman Adam F $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Graye Jordan D $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Hamid Bill GK $ 4 0,000.00 $ 46,666.66
DC Hernandez Pablo F $ 2 40,000.00 $ 249,090.91
DC Jakovic Dejan D $ 1 47,600.00 $ 167,102.50
DC James Julius D $ 5 2,085.00 $ 61,460.00
DC King Stephen M $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC McTavish Devon D-M $ 7 0,000.00 $ 72,500.00
DC Moreno Jaime F $ 1 60,000.00 $ 185,000.00
DC Morsink Kurt M $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Najar Andy M-F $ 3 9,000.00 $ 58,995.83
DC Pena Juan D $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Perkins Troy GK $ 2 00,000.00 $ 205,000.00
DC Pontius Chris M-F $ 1 00,000.00 $ 100,000.00
DC Quaranta Santino M-F $ 1 05,000.00 $ 107,500.00
DC Quinn Andrew GK $ 4 0,008.00 $ 40,008.00
DC Rice Barry D $ 4 0,000.00 $ 40,000.00
DC Shanosky Conor D $ 3 1,250.04 $ 37,135.54
DC Simms Clyde M $ 1 65,000.00 $ 171,000.00
DC Talley Carey D $ 9 9,996.00 $ 99,996.00
DC Wallace Rodney M-D $ 7 5,000.00 $ 124,000.00
DC Zayner Jed D $ 5 7,000.00 $ 60,875.00


My commentary.  Overpaid: Alsopp, Burch, McTavish, Talley, Wallace.  Underpaid: Cristman, Pontius.  Jury is out: Pena, Hernandez, Boskovic, Perkins.

Check out Goff's blog for the full link to the salaries of players on all MLS teams.

After promotion and relegation, here's how the Second Division looks this season.  Rankings are based upon last season's final results.

1. Little Urban Achievers
2. Tsunami
3. Goleros
4. Taz Devils
5. DC Thunder
6. DC Divided
7. Lost Tourists
8. Quicksilver (from 3rd)
9. Geezers (from 3rd)

We used to have 10 teams in the division.  Since we lost two teams last season (the Replacements and Black Haggis), the league was able to drop back to 36 teams evenly split across 4 divisions.  So we will play each of these teams this season.  Every game will be competitive.

Let's do it like this

Sascha Kljestan's goal for Anderlecht this weekend serves as a good example for us.  We've got to time our runs and have enough patience to be in position for a cross.  I know my own tendency is to sprint for the 10 yard line and wait for the cross.  But that, of course, doesn't work because your teammate can't hit you in stride, especially if you beat him or her to the line, and the defenders pick you up.

Watch Kljestan arrive somewhat late, but on a great trajectory to make the play.

Another example of this was Donovan's finish versus Algeria.  He sprinted up field but took a few steps off at the end so he could chase a rebound.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFEZMS5yuEI&feature=player_embedded

Fwd: [ccsl_teams] new Ref Course - please sign up!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jesse Rosenthal

Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 8:25 AM
Subject: [ccsl_teams] new Ref Course - please sign up!


Hello Refs,
Please pass on the course info. listed below to anyone you know who wants to
become a ref. The course starts tomorrow and we need a few more folks ot
sign up. Thanks!

Jessie

Class Code: NORTH00055-11
Area: North
Grade: 8
Type: New Referee
Dates: August 24, 26, 31 and September 2
Times: 6:30 - 10:30 PM
Location: Greenstein DeLorme & Luchs, P.C., 1620 L Street, NW, Suite 900,
Washington, DC 20036
Club Name: WAWSL/CCSL
Instructor:Tom Frank
Contact: Jessie Kratz
Contact Email: refs@wawsl.org
Minimum #: 10
Maximum #: 30
Comments: Students must attend all four sessions (Tues. 8/24. Thurs, 8/26,
Tues, 8/31, and Thus, 9/2), and online registraton to sign up clinic
(two-step process). Please instructions on the State web page:
www.vadcsoccerref.com
Cost if the class is $65.

Schedule released; details shortly

Code Orange ends season with scoring blitz (corrected again!)

Code Orange went out with a bang today, sporting a 7-0 win.  The other team, bless their hearts, was not particularly strong.  If memory serves, goals were scored by Melissa, Griz, Carlos, Pete, Alyssa, Alec, and Vic. The goal of the match was clearly Patrick's distribution from the goalie position all the way over the top of the other team's defense.  Carlos collected the ball on the run and beat the keeper to the near post.  Wow.  I did get a goal myself too.  My scoring prowess was not exactly on display, however.  I missed quite a few opportunities.

It was a fun time.  Thanks to Tsunami for combining forces with us.  Let's look to do this again next summer.  We're heavy on guys a few weeks, but really we're constantly short players and we just need a relaxing atmosphere where organization, winning, etc etc are not the main focus.  So it works.  

Good times. 

Here are the results.  Our record was 3-4.  Two of our three victories were pretty darn close.  Our losses, not so much.  If not for the goals in the final game, it would have been super ugly in terms of goals.  Going into that last game, we had scored 3 goals in 6 matches, while giving up 16!  We ended with a GD of -7.  Andy, with two goals, was our leading scorer.  I think everyone else on the board only had one goal.  I'm sure we had an assist leader.  But I don't know who it was.  I didn't keep track today.

• 
  

  SUMMER 2010 (3-4, .429)

• 
  

  ---------------

• 
  

  1-0 win on 7/11 to Armory/Divided

• 
  

  1-0 win on 7/18

• 
  

  4-0 loss on 7/25 to Buena Vista

• 
  

  3-0 loss to Funky Prism on 8/1

• 
  

  7-0 loss on 8/8!

• 
  

  2-1 loss on 8/15

• 
  

  7-0 win on 8/22

Enjoy the rest of your summer. Thanks to Mike, Alyssa, and Ally for helping to organize. See you in the fall!

Captains' Meeting Report

Last week, Ally and I attended the pre-season captains' meeting for the league.  Here are some of the key points that we covered:

• We discussed Division winners, both in the general classification and the playoffs.  The Flirts, once our cohorts in 3rd division, won the First Division playoffs and are going up to Premier.  Itchy & Scratchy won our division, and as we know, LUA won the playoffs.
• The season starts this weekend.  Schedule to come out soon in its entirety.  No games Labor Day Weekend but we will play Columbus Day Weekend.
• We've got great fields again.  Our fields will be: Blair HS in Silver Spring (only a few games, hopefully we're not scheduled there), Dunbar HS, Trinity, George Mason HS in Falls Church, Ridge (a few games; we'll be shifting away from this field), Galludet University, St. Stephens in Alexandria.
• The league fees did not go up.  They remain $1650 per team.  I brought the check that evening to secure our spot.  No check, no spot in the league.  Our fees are supposedly competitive with those of other leagues.  Sanjay, the Commish, mentioned that the S League, a local competitor, charges $2000 per team.  I think our fees are high myself.  But we have the best fields, best teams, best promotion/relegation system, best reffing crews, and overall best situation of any coed league.  That's why we worked so hard to get into this league.  And it's really well run.  
• BTW, there is a $500 fine/bonus charge for teams that do not supply a referee.  The Vice Commissioner has been working for years with the state associate to reduce our insurance premiums.  I think we pay something like $16-20 per player to cover insurance costs.  According to the VC, approximately $8 of those charges are necessary to cover other states whose insurance regimes lead to higher costs.  We are looking to lower costs in the DC/MD/VA state association.  We are even thinking of joining the national association only, and leaving the state, if we cannot address this issue. 
• The State Cup is returning in Dallas in October.  CCSL teams are encouraged to attend.
• The Scheduler reminded teams that we can make scheduling requests.  The league endeavors to reschedule all games, as we learned last season.  However, teams will have to accept a forfeit if they do not provide notice to the league by Wednesday COB.  Forfeits result in $200 fines, $100 of which goes to the league to offset costs and $100 of which goes to the opponent.  That reminds me, actually we are probably due $100 from last season.  Hmmm...
• The ref assignor reminded everyone of the two changes to the FIFA laws that will be enforced this season.  I can't remember one of them.  The other one has to do with the run-up to PKs.  I think I'll do a special post on these rule changes later.  Jeremy continues as our referee.
• Fees for refs this year are as follows: CR $55 per match, ARs $40 per match, 4th referee when used in the playoffs $40.  We pay the CRs-in-training $10 per match.
• There are league rules about cards.  3 yellows per season and you're out (for a game or the remainder of the season?  Not sure, probably just 1 game).  1 red = 1 game suspension automatically, and it can be reviewed for more.  Red cards are published on the CCSL website under the "Hall of Shame" page.  Haven't seen it before.
• We'll have some league social events again.
• We did promotion/relegation at the end of the meeting.  Two teams left the First Division, which meant that everyone who was eligible to go up/down did not end up going.  Cap Crew and the Flirts moved up to Premier and no one came down to First.  Itchy & Scratchy moved up to 1st Division and we added a new team directly into the 1st Division, DC Chillin.  We played them in the Summer League.  They kicked Code Orange's butt.   You may have noticed that Little Urban Achievers, our opponent in the championship game, did not accept promotion.  They will stay in our division.  Tim, their captain, reports that they lost a few key folks and picked some folks back up who will need to get the swing of things again.  Quicksilver and Geezers are promoted into our division from the 3rd Division.  Celtic and Diplomats went down. 
• Rosters will be due by the 4th week of the season (Sept. 26th).

That's it!

No word...

I haven't seen anything about the fall schedule yet.  But remember, we will play this coming Sunday, Aug. 29th.  At this point, keep the whole day open.  We want to have adequate numbers for that first match.  When I know the schedule, you'll know it.

Heads up on dues

At this week's captains' meeting, I wrote the big check to secure our spot in the league this fall.  I want to make sure to let everyone know that they will have to pay me the dues shortly.  And we have a 100% paypal policy, unless you send a check well in advance of the season. 

I'm not collecting dues just yet because I'm hoping to be able to reduce them on a per person basis.  Nevertheless, please be prepared to pay the usual amount - approximately $80 pp plus the optional charitable contribution.  You will be required to pay it before the season starts.

Last summer league game - new time and place!

As you probably saw from Mike's email, our last summer league game was moved to a new field and time.  We will play at 2:45 at Wakefield High School in Arlington this Sunday.

Please note the change and update your RSVP on evite or to me or Alyssa pronto.

Go Code Orange!

Thanks!

Pre-season happy hour will happen

As you've seen from Cat's evite, we're having a pre-season happy hour on Friday, Aug. 27th.  A friday happy hour means you should avoid early dinner plans!

After work, Cantina, be there.

All individuals are welcome - summer team, significant others, whatever.  Come join us!

Scheduling requests made

Lou sent around his usual email about scheduling requests.  I made the following requests for our team based on the limited information I had. 

1. Bye on 9/12

2. Late game on 10/10

3. Avoid 8:00 a.m. games.


We'll see what happens.

CUA schedule posted

You've probably noticed that we have a lot of former Lady Cardinals on the team - it's one of our secrets to success.  One of our stars, De, is an assistant coach for the club as well, which keeps her busy in the fall.

The CUA women's schedule for the 2010 season has been posted.  Let's try to do a team outing to one of the games.  Perhaps Sept 15th, which is a Saturday.

ate	Opponent	Result	Time/Status	Links
Sep. 1	Marymount (Va.)		4:30 PM
Sep. 4	vs. Frostburg St. @ at Maryland SoccerPlex  Thunder SoccerFest		4:00 PM
Sep. 10	vs. DeSales @ at Gwynedd-Mercy  Griffin Classic		4:00 PM
Sep. 11	vs. Delaware Valley @ at Gwynedd-Mercy  Griffin Classic		12:00 PM
Sep. 16	at Gettysburg		7:00 PM
Sep. 19	at Meredith		1:00 PM
Sep. 22	at Stevenson		4:30 PM
Sep. 25	Susquehanna *  Alumnae Day		3:00 PM
Sep. 30	East. Mennonite		4:30 PM
Oct. 6	at Hood		4:30 PM
Oct. 9	at Juniata *		1:00 PM
Oct. 12	at Shenandoah		7:00 PM
Oct. 16	Scranton *  Senior Day		12:30 PM
Oct. 18	at Trinity (D.C.)		4:00 PM
Oct. 19	Goucher *		4:00 PM
Oct. 23	at Drew *		1:00 PM
Oct. 30	at Moravian *		12:30 PM

Ticket offer for Washington Freedom

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjay Nayar
Date: Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 1:32 PM
Subject: [ccsl_teams] Fw: [mdcvsasoccer] Special Ticket offer - Washington Freedom v. NJ Sky Blue 8/28 at 7:00 p.m. -- please forward
>

 

FYI

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: James Sadowski 
Sent: Sat, August 14, 2010 12:13:15 PM
Subject: [mdcvsasoccer] Special Ticket offer - Washington Freedom v. NJ Sky Blue 8/28 at 7:00 p.m. -- please forward

 

All:

Many thanks to Cara Rooney, MDCVSA Treasurer.  In coordination with the Washington Freedom, Cara has arranged for MDCVSA players to get a special discount for the match on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 7:00 p.m., when the Washington Freedom take on nearby NJ Sky Blue in one of only a few remaining home matches at the Maryland SoccerPlex.  This game should be a great one as both teams are still fighting for the remaining three WPS playoff spots. 

Here are the details:

Premier Sideline Seat: $20 (Regular $35 -- 43% discount)

Lower Bleacher Seat:   $18 (Regular $25 -- 28% discount)

 

The MDCVSA promotional code is built into Freedom's system as "MDCVSA2010".  Enter this promo code when prompted and your ticket order should be updated to reflect the discounted rates. 

Click Here to Order Tickets

Or go to this link: http://wf1.glitnirticketing.com/wfticket/web/ev_list.php?refresh=1273095666&event_list_id=19

If you have any questions please contact Dan Ferguson (dan.ferguson@washingtonfreedom.com)

Dan Ferguson

Manager, Group Sales

Washington Freedom

t. 240.449.1618 | f. 240.449.1631

Please pass this message on to your players.  We hope that you have fun at the game!!

Jim Sadowski

MDCVSA

--

Check out the new MDCVSA web site at http://mdcvsa.org/default_css.aspx

__,_._,___

Goleros sign new player

Please welcome Diana, a.k.a. "Nap" to our team.  You know her from summer league, where, in recent weeks, she's stood with us to withstand quite a scoring barrage by our opponents.

She's got skills and we're lucky to have her.  It was an easy decision, really.  She's cool and we're going to need some reinforcements as Tracy moves to the reserve roster and fall schedules look hectic for a lot of our ladies.

Nap is the latest Lady Cardinal to join our team.  In fact, you may have seen her name come up in this previous post.  Nap was recognized by Catholic for her high school honors in New Jersey.  Yes, in addition to being the latest Lady Cardinal, she also continues a regrettable tradition of Jersey girls on our team, dating all the way back to Jackie.  I'm kidding of course. 

Welcome Nap!

Thefts at Ridge Field

Here's a forwarded message from the captains' list-serve about Ridge field.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sanjay Nayar
Date: Sun, Aug 8, 2010 at 7:26 PM
Subject: [ccsl_teams] Thefts at Ridge Field
To: CCSL Teams
Cc: CCSL Execs

 

Hi all,

 

A few captains have made me aware of recent thefts that have happened at the Ridge field over the past couple of weeks both for unattended bags and cars.  Please use extra caution and vigilence when playing there (or any field for that matter).

 

Sanjay

Bring a white and a dark T-shirt to the game

I'm out for this weekend's game.  Unless someone picks the jerseys up from my house in Shirlington, we'll have to go with ordinary shirts for the game.  Bring one white shirt and one dark shirt to the field.

Good luck!

Changes to payment policy - paypal is now mandatory

In the past few years, the process of paying dues has improved a lot.  My pain is being reduced, which is great, but we're not all the way there yet.

We're going to 100% paypal this fall.  I am willing to accept other forms of payment, but they must come well ahead of the deadline.

Paypal is extremely convenient.  First, it allows you to pay in a few clicks. I mean, you probably sit at a computer 8 hours a day, so the opportunity to get those dues paid is there.  You don't, on the other hand, spend all day writing checks, addressing envelopes, buying stamps, and going to the post office.  So it's no coincidence that you often forget to pay me, and don't make it a priority.  I'm trying to make this easier.  From my perspective, it's a pain to hound folks for money.  Dealing with partial payments, checks that I have to endorse and send to the bank in batches, etc. - not fun.

So there it is.  Please continue to use paypal.

The other elements of our payment policy are posted here.

Physical conditioning tests ordered

We lost our second game in a row in summer league. 

I guess we're going to have to take drastic measures.

As of today, every player is ordered to pass the Haynesworth conditioning test before re-joining the team.

Just kidding.

Good game last weekend.  We lost 3-0 to Funky Prism.  GK: Galen.