ODP Interregional Event
A Daily Journal by Gretchen Miller
Welcome to the newest feature on the NY West ODP website - Gretchen Miller's daily journal from the ODP Interregional Event in Boca Raton, Florida! Gretchen is from Fairport, NY and has been involved with the New York West Olympic Devepolment Program for 6 years. For the past two years, Gretchen has also been selected as a member of the 1989 Region 1 team.
On behalf of the NY West ODP Staff and the Regional Staff, I'd like to thank Gretchen for taking the time to writing this journal. Her willingness to share her thoughts and feelings has helped to provide a glimpse into another phase of the ODP experience.
Dave Matthews
NY West ODP Administrator
November 25-27, 2004 (Days 6-8)
Day 6
Happy Thanksgiving! Today was our second game vs Region 3. We woke up at 8:20 and headed to breakfast at 8:45. Afterwards we relaxed and prepared ourselves mentally for the game before we met at 10:45 for a quick pre game meeting. We then left at 11:00 for our 12:00 game. Unforunately we lost our game 2-1. We scored first but they answered with a goal with 5 minutes remaining in the first half, and a late PK goal in the second half. After the game everyone was disappointed until the Thanksgiving dinner at the hotel with all the players and coaches. The dinner was very good and it was interesting to hear one of the assistant National coaches speak. We also received a book entitled, "Going for the Record." Afterwards, we had a team meeting to discuss the "goods" and the "not so goods" of today's game. Later we met at 7:30 and went to the movie "Christmas with the Kranks." It was funny. We got back to the hotel about 10:30 and immediately crashed into bed after a long day.
Day 7
Today was our last playing day in Boca. We had a game vs Region 2. We had our regular game day wake up time and breakfast. Our game was scheduled to start at 1:00. Our team played very well in the first half, dominated play and scored a goal off a corner kick. We moved the ball very well and switched the point of attack also very well. The second half we continued to play well, but they scored and got a second goal due to an offsides but that's soccer. Towards the end of the half we went into a 4-3-3 to try and get an equalizing goal. Even though we didn't we fought valiantly! After our game we talked with our coach (Michele Salmon) then we went back to the hotel and played cards outside. We went to our last dinner at Florida Atlantic University. After dinner we went to the mall and walked around for a couple of hours, then went back to our hotel and went to bed as it would be an early morning tomorrow.
Day 8
Time to go home! After a great week of fantastic soccer it was time to head back north to our families.
Even though our team lost all three games, the great soccer played by all will not be forgotten. This week was an amazing time to get to know everyone from Region 1, and to grow as a person and a player. The coaching was awesome and everyone who helped either as a staff person, or volunteer did a great job. I will never forget the time I spent here, but I am looking forward to getting home to my family. Happy Holidays! Gretchen Miller (Region 1, NYW).
Welcome to the newest feature on the NY West ODP website - Gretchen Miller's daily journal from the ODP Interregional Event in Boca Raton, Florida! Gretchen is from Fairport, NY and has been involved with the New York West Olympic Devepolment Program for 6 years. For the past two years, Gretchen has also been selected as a member of the 1989 Region 1 team.
On behalf of the NY West ODP Staff and the Regional Staff, I'd like to thank Gretchen for taking the time to writing this journal. Her willingness to share her thoughts and feelings has helped to provide a glimpse into another phase of the ODP experience.
Dave Matthews
NY West ODP Administrator
November 27, 2004 (Day 8)
Time to go home! After a great week of fantastic soccer it was time to head back north to our families.
Even though our team lost all three games, the great soccer played by all will not be forgotten. This week was an amazing time to get to know everyone from Region 1, and to grow as a person and a player. The coaching was awesome and everyone who helped either as a staff person, or volunteer did a great job. I will never forget the time I spent here, but I am looking forward to getting home to my family. Happy Holidays! Gretchen Miller (Region 1, NYW).
November 26, 2004 (Day 7)
Today was our last playing day in Boca. We had a game vs Region 2. We had our regular game day wake up time and breakfast. Our game was scheduled to start at 1:00. Our team played very well in the first half, dominated play and scored a goal off a corner kick. We moved the ball very well and switched the point of attack also very well. The second half we continued to play well, but they scored and got a second goal due to an offsides but that's soccer. Towards the end of the half we went into a 4-3-3 to try and get an equalizing goal. Even though we didn't we fought valiantly! After our game we talked with our coach (Michele Salmon) then we went back to the hotel and played cards outside. We went to our last dinner at Florida Atlantic University. After dinner we went to the mall and walked around for a couple of hours, then went back to our hotel and went to bed as it would be an early morning tomorrow.
November 25, 2004 (Day 6)
Happy Thanksgiving! Today was our second game vs Region 3. We woke up at 8:20 and headed to breakfast at 8:45. Afterwards we relaxed and prepared ourselves mentally for the game before we met at 10:45 for a quick pre game meeting. We then left at 11:00 for our 12:00 game. Unforunately we lost our game 2-1. We scored first but they answered with a goal with 5 minutes remaining in the first half, and a late PK goal in the second half. After the game everyone was disappointed until the Thanksgiving dinner at the hotel with all the players and coaches. The dinner was very good and it was interesting to hear one of the assistant National coaches speak. We also received a book entitled, "Going for the Record." Afterwards, we had a team meeting to discuss the "goods" and the "not so goods" of today's game. Later we met at 7:30 and went to the movie "Christmas with the Kranks." It was funny. We got back to the hotel about 10:30 and immediately crashed into bed after a long day.
November 24, 2004 (Day 5)
We got to sleep in this morning - breakfast wasn't until 8:15! After breakfast, we had an hour of free time before meeting at 10:00 for training. In training today, we focused on being dynamic in hte final third of the field. We started by playing handball and then played 4v4+1 neutral player. After that we played 6v6 to goals and concentrated on crosses from the outside, and dynamic runs in hte box. We finished with a cool down before heading for lunch at noon.
After lunch we went back to the hotel , took showers and chilled until 1:30, when we met to go to the Adidas outlet in the mall. We stayed at the mall until about 5:00 and then headed back to FAU (Florida Atlantic University) for dinner. We all had a lot of fun a tthe mall!
Affter dinner, we had the whole night to chill, relax and think about our second game tomorrow (Thanksgiving), agianst Region III.
November 23, 2004 (Day 4)
TODAY IS GAME DAY!!! We got to sleep in until 8:15, and went to breakfast at 8:30. Then we went back to our rooms to mentally prepare for our game against Region IV. We met at 10:45 fora quick pre-game meeting before taking off for the fields at 11:00. We warmed up for about 40 minutes. Then it was finally here - our first game! The game started at noon and unfortunately we ended up losing 1-0, but we played really well. Coach Salmon said she was very proud of us becasue no one gave up, and we played with a lot of heart. After the game we went back to the hotel where we had a box lunch. We all took showers and relaxed until dinner.
Right after dinner, we had a team meeting to go over the game. After the meeting we went back to our rooms and watched Gilmore Girls and then went to bed - we were all sooo tired after our game!
November 22, 2004 (Day 3)
Today we had breakfast at 7:30 and training at 8:30. Training was light today because tomorrow we have our first game vs. Region IV. In training, we worked on set pieces offensively and defensively, and corner kicks, and then finished up with a game of 5v5 to big goals. To make the gaem a little more fun, Coach Salmon told us that all our communication had to be done with a German accent!
After training, we went and watcheds the U17 Region 1 team play the U16 National team. It was a great game with a lot of great soccer. The game ended in a 0-0 tie. After the game, we went to lunch and then relaxed in our rooms. At 2:00, we had a chalk talk with coach Salmon. In our meeting, we went over the starting line-up, corners and set pieces. The meeting lasted about an hour and a half, and then we went to dinner.
After dinner, we met with Dr. Barber and talked about pre-game thoughts and how to prepare mentally and physically for a game. We also talked about visualization and what and how to visualize to help prepare for a match. After the meeting we went back to our rooms and watched TV before bed. I can't wait until our game vs Region IV tomorrow - YES!
November 21st (Day 2)
Today we woke up to the alarm at 7:15 AM so we could get down to breakfast by 7:30. My roomroommates and I (Brooke from ENY, and Ingrid from NJ) went to breakfast and then had training at 9:00 AM. In trianing, we focused on defending in a flat back four. We started with a 3-man passing activity and the n played 2v2. The defenders in the 2v2 activity couldn't cross an imaginary line splitting the field. Coach Salmon said this was to help us communicate with our defensive partner, which is crucial. After that, we played 4v4 and focused on communication and defensive shape, and then playing 8v8 to 2 goals. We finished up with a finishing game.
Lunch was right after the morning training session. After lunch, we went back to the hotel before heading out to our afternoon trianing from 3:00 - 4:30 PM. The afternoon training session focused on making the final pass, and forwards making good runs to recieve the ball in the final third of the field. Coach Salmon divided the field into thirds and we played 8v8, but you coud only go forward.
After training, we ate dinner and then met with Dr. Barber, the sports psychologist for the Region 1 girls program. We talked about goalsetting, teamwork, leadership and realizing that you can do anything you put your mind to. We also did an activity that incorporating these concepts.
After our meeting with Dr. Barber, we had some free time and my roommates and I relaxed in our hotel room. My roommate Brooke is from Eastern New York and has been playing ODP for two years. My other roommate, Ingrid is from New Jersey, and has been in ODP for three years.
November 20th (Day 1)
Today was a travelling day. My flight was scheduled to leave at 12:00 PM, so my parents and I arrived at the Rochester airpport at about 10:30. I checked in at my gate and said my good-byes to my mom and dad. My flight took off on time, and landed at about 3:00 PM in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Wow, was I excited to be in warm weather and away from the cold and wet weather in Western New York.
When I arrived in Fort Lauderdale, I met Deb Dooley at the baggage claim, and from there we drove to our hotel (the Marriott in Boca Raton). We immediately dropped our bags off and went to dinner at Florida Atlantic University, where we will also be training. We trained from 7:30 until 9:00 PM. In our training we focused on possession, and by the end we were playing half field to goals. It felt so good to play after the long plane ride!
More tomorrow ...