Kicking Off the Season

 

The soccer season has officially begun.  The boys at St. B’s are off to a great start!  As Coach Miceli put it, we are blessed with great soccer players at St. Bernard’s.  There have already been six soccer games against competitors, and St. B’s has been victorious each time.

 

St. B’s Soccer Varsity White team has played four games with the following scores: 11-0 win against Léman Manhattan; 7-1 win against East Harlem School; 8-1 win against Dalton; 8-0 win against Allen-Stevenson.

 

St. B’s Soccer Varsity Red has a record of a 1-0 win against Allen-Stevenson.

 

St. B’s Soccer Junior Varsity White earned an 8-0 win against St. David’s.

 

The athletic department at St. Bernard’s starts teaching boys soccer the moment they walk in the door.  From Kindergarten through grade IV, boys are taught the basics of how to kick, pass, and throw.  In grades III and IV, boys play soccer in St. B’s intramural program.  They learn how to work together as a team and are constantly passing the ball to each other.  “One, two, touch” is a common phrase used on the field and during practice.  By grade V, the boys know how to play well as a team and have solid skills that they keep improving on as they compete with other schools.

 

Coach Miceli has noticed how well the boys adapt and grow over time.  They are able to maintain incredible focus, and coach has seen boys apply that same focus in the classroom.  Coach Miceli likes the intensity the boys show on the field and is impressed by their willingness to work hard.  He is most proud of the way they work together as a team and move the ball around to play a fast, aggressive game.

 

Immediately after each game, the boys are encouraged to re-evaluate their game on their own to analyze what they did right and where they could improve.  They do this together as a team the following day, but right after the game they do it on their own.  As Coach Miceli says, each boy controls his own destiny.