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Finally, for the first time in 65 days, D.C. United earned a point with a 1:1 draw vs. Sporting KC on BRYC Night, May 19.  After conceding an own goal – and benefiting from a first-half goal by Sporting Kansas City that was incorrectly called offside – D.C. (1-8-2, 5 points) snapped their dismal seven-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw Sunday afternoon at RFK Stadium.

Take, for example, the U9 Girls coached by Dalila Belmadani.  Linda Campbell, mother of one of the girls, submitted a zany team photo (left) to go along with the equallly zany name "OMG LOL".  Thanks, Linda.  That made the Webmaster ROFL.

Then there’s Kayla Yaglou’s team of U10 Boys (right) who were previously identified as the "Strykers".  Apparently that name didn’t stick and the boys had a hard time deciding between the Lions and the Tigers.  In a compromise that should embarrass our lawmakers on Capitol Hill for it’s simplicity, the team adoped the name "Ligers".  If only we had a few "Repubocrats" or "Demlicans" maybe we’d get something done in Washington!

And then there’s the team of U14 Girls who, after their "official" photo was taken, were lucky enough to get their picture taken with Washington Spirit star Kika Toulouse on Photo Day.  (See their picture in the story below).  Co-coach Barbara Murrillo wrote that early in the season the girls were having a hard time coming up with a name so the coaches were simply going to choose one for them.  Not one to let that happen, one of the team suggested "Fierce Babes" and the rest of the team thought that was just fine!

Time is running short.  The webmaster is still looking for a few more of the better team names this season and how they were arrived at. Whatever name your team has selected, be it traditional or "off the wall", drop an email to the webmaster at brycstars@aol.com with the subject "TEAM NAME" and let him know how it was chosen. If you can attach a team photo, so much the better.

Now they’ve given BRYC 10% discount coupons for a variety of soccer supplies including apparel, balls, cleats, shin guards, goals, rebounders, and more.  Simply click on their logo to the right to download your discount coupons, good through July 15, 2013. 

Thanks so much to Dick’s Sporting Goods for their support of recreational youth sports!!

To start things off, one of the more traditional soccer team names is "Strikers".  Expecting to see lots of photos of union members carrying picket signs (left), the webmaster was amazed when he Googled the term looking for "Images" and found very few of those but dozens of different logos from soccer clubs from all over the world who are so named, like the one on the right from a team in Pennsylvania.  Indeed, no fewer than four BRYC squads are using the name this season, including the U6 Boys squad featured in the story below on opening day; a U5 and a U19 Boys squad both coached by long time BRYC coach John Kelleher; and a U10 Boys squad coached by Kaya Yaglou, one of John’s "protoges", the only girl ever to play on the U19 Boys Strykers. 

Interestingly, except for the U6 Boys, all of the other teams are using the spelling "Strykers".  When you Google that spelling you find just a couple of logos for soccer teams that got creative with the spelling, like John, but dozens of pictures of armored vehicles like the one on the right.  After this story is published you’ll also find this photo of John Kelleher’s U5 Strykers, the first entry in the webmaster’s search for interesting team names!  Helping John (third from left) coach the Strykers are parent coach Steve Terpak, current U19G player Kate Cashion, and former U19B/Stryker and recent UVA graduate, Nishant Trivedi.  (This might just be the best coached U5 team in the history of BRYC!)

Braddock Road Youth Club mourns the sudden passing of Christopher C. Heasly, a referee for BRYC since he was first certified in 1999.

On the morning of Saturday, April 13th, Chris collapsed 50 feet from the finish line of a five kilometer race at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. EMS personnel at the scene and off-duty EMS providers participating in the race administered CPR almost immediately. Chris was flown to the Outer Banks Hospital, but could not be revived.

As a referee, Chris was known for his tremendous ability to manage and guide players and coaches, before people skills became as important to officiating as enforcement of the Laws of the Game BRYC Refree Director John Davis recalls quite a few conversations with Chris about phrases and gestures that he used which worked well in difficult officiating situations. He always brought a smile with him to the field, and made every referee proud to be a member of his officiating team. His mentoring of BRYC’s referees, young and old, will be very much missed.

Chris is survived by his wife, Patrice, and three adult children, daughters Kathryn and Carolyn, and son Chris who was also a player and referee with BRYC.

Uniform Director Kim Thomas has a house full or BRYC          Long-time volunteer Iris Jackson must love Uniform 
jerseys except two nights a year when she brings them        Nights.  She’s been volunteering for many years.  
out of storage.   She had Uniform Night humming like a                                                                                        
well-oiled machine.                                                                                                 

U14 Boys Coach Kevin Bradburn talked to some              U12 League Director Tracy Seamans helped Budget      
future prospects at the Spirit Wear table.                      Director Elizabeth Giuliani.  U16/19G players Samantha
                                                                                     and Sarah are clearly excited about the start of the season.   

 Teen volunteers Sam (left, with U9B League Director Larry Little) and Mimi (center)     Commissioner Dan Lemieux
earned volunteer service hours and were a big help keeping the lines moving.                   helps out as well.
 

In March, in preparation for the season, BRYC hosted all four licensing courses at the F E, and D levels required of our coaches as they move from coaching the U5’s to the U19’s, and 37 of our coaches enthusiastically took to the field! The F License course was a five hour program, held at Robinson High School. On March 9, fourteen BRYC coaches (below left) worked with Garrett Budd of VYSA to earn their F License for the U6-U8 age group. The next day, eleven BRYC coaches (below right) trained with Lucas Cook to earn their F License for the U8-U10 age group.

Over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, seven BRYC coaches (unfortunately unphotographed) spent 18 hours over one weekend on the turf at Wakefield Park working with Jim McLane of VYSA to receive their E License. U12 Boys coach Scott DiRocco commented, "I just completed the E Certification course instructed by James McLane. It was one of the best courses I have ever attended. Coach McLane was extremely knowledgeable and maintained a great demeanor throughout the course. While it was physically demanding, it will pay dividends to BRYC down the road."

Finally, five BRYC coaches, among a committed group from all over the area, made it through the VYSA D License Course led by Paul Shaw at Robinson High School’s upper turf field. The D course is a grueling soccer boot camp, including 36 hours of training and testing over two weekends! This is the first license course that includes a test that coaches must pass in order to receive their license. Coaches are awarded a National Certificate, a State Certificate, or a request to re-test. Our BRYC coaches were persistent in their pursuit of their license, even training in the SNOW!

But the Coaches were not the only BRYC personnel participating in the training! VYSA requests that players attend the training so that the coaches can work with players of an age that corresponds to the training. Eight BRYC teams sent players to assist with the VYSA training. BRYC extends a hearty thanks to the players from John Connell’s U7 boys, Jim Clark’s ODSL U12 girls and Mark Cashion’s U14 girls for assisting with the F and E Training. The senior divisions lent their teams to assist with the D Training, and we thank Mac Squires and Doug Alcorn’s She Devils (below right), Josh Rock’s Psych, and Gene McHale’s Storm. Special thanks go to James Sullivan’s DANGER!ous girls who cheerfully filled a 3 hour session, AND to John Kelleher’s Friday Night Lights (below left) who lent two teams to provide a total of 4 hours of player assistance. Three of the Lights even came back for more, having enjoyed helping out so much that they volunteered an additional three hours!

Thank you to ALL the players and the coaches who took part in the licensing courses in March, working together to constantly raise the bar and provide our club with the most well trained recreational soccer coaches in the area!!

After a welcome from new Recreational Soccer Commissioner (former Registration Director) Dan Lemieux, and remarks from D.C. United’s new Marketing Executive Evan Maly about opportunities for BRYC participation, and Golden Boot’s Deanna Scarcino discussing the host of training opportunities this season, coaches heard from BRYC EXCOM members on the subjects of training (complete with a footskills demonstration from Training Coordinator Joan Smith’s daughter Julia); practice field assignments (Fields Coordinator Trish Moxie had the coaches sitting on the edge of their seats); BRYC’s newest referees (Referee Director John Davis introduced a supersized evaluation card for coaches who just can’t say enough about referees’ performance); All Star Coordinator Anthony Pagano on the evolving all star schedule for the season; and Mac Squires on a number of issues related to risk management. 

Coaches have been given their rosters, their practice and game schedules, and equipment.  New uniforms ordered through the registration process have not yet been distributed due to a hiccup with our supplier but will be handed out to coaches before the first game of the season.  Coaches will be calling their team in the coming week, with practices beginning as soon as the coaches are able in anticipation of the first games of the season on April 6.

November 18

After two really hard-fought battles earlier in the day, a 3-2 win over Prince William followed by a shootout victory over the Northern Virginia Soccer Club in mid-afternoon, it would be a test of wills against a second team from perrenial powerhouse Prince William that would test the boys in the final, under the lights at Lake Fairfax Park.  With the score knotted at 2-2 as regulation time expired, the final match of the Herndon tournament would once again come down to peanlty kicks.  The boys had broken the BRYC PK jinx earlier, but could they do it a second time?  Yes they could!  Congratulations to John and the Strykers for a great tournament.

There’s no way to do justice to the eleven other squads who also came home with tournament hardware, but congratulations are also due to the other six tournament champions: the U9 Boys coached by David Ross and Andy McBride; the U11 Boys coached by Scott DiRocco; the U11 Girls coached by John Decker and Uwe Mobius (see the story of their thrilling tournament win now posted on the U11/12 Girls page) ; the U12 Boys coached by Mauricio Milian (who has now coached many of the boys to three consecutive tournament championships)  and Kevin Ross; and both BRYC teams of U12 Girls, coached by Jon Fredrick, Ed Gagermeier, Tom Mastal and Tom Small.  Joining the list of proud trophy-earning BRYC squads are five Finalists:  Coach (and All Star Tournament Coordinator) Anthony Pagano’s U9 Boys; Mohamed Diaw’s U10 Boys; Tracy Seamans’ U10 Girls; John Beattie’s and David Knight’s U14 Boys; And James and Joan Sullivan’s U16 Girls.  They all came oh-so-close! 

To the other seven BRYC squads in the U9-U19 age groups...all reports are that you played hard and played fairly, but it wasn’t meant to be this season.  Your efforts haven’t gone unnoticed and your good sportsmanship has won priase for BRYC.  Thank you.  And for the five squads of U8 boys and girls playing in their first All Star tournmament "just for the fun of it", congratulations on earning that first All Star patch.  We hope you’re all registered for the spring season, hoping to experience the thrill of being an All Star once again!

Here are just a few pictures tournament photos, with many others posted on the individual league pages.

The stadium field, along with the soon-to-open upper field, cost roughly $1.5 million to build.  They were funded through a partnership between BRYC (football, travel soccer, rec soccer), Northern Virginia Soccer League (a premier adult soccer league), Robinson Athletics and their booster club, a grant from Fairfax County from the $5.50 fee per player that we pay each season, and Braddock District Supervisor and former BRYC softball coach John Cook, who found some extremely rare county money to enable us to reach our goal.

"These improvements add significantly to the quality of life in our community," said Supervisor Cook, who has worked to obtain funding for this and other turf projects in the Braddock Distict.  BRYC is already working with Supervisor Cook to turf Woodson HS next year, and he is working with another club to turf Lake Braddock SS at the same time.

“BRYC is proud to be able to contribute to the community, and to continue our long-time partnerships with Robinson, Northern Virginia Soccer League and Fairfax County," said BRYC President Dane Merkel in an article published by Burke Patch.  "This is an exciting time for all youth sports in the area, as quality fields foster good player development and provide the safest environments possible.”

The project is part of a long-term strategic plan started under the leadership of former BRYC President and rec soccer coach, league director, and soccer referee Charles Osborn, and written by BRYC’s Competition Cheer commissioner Dwight Hunt.  The plan addresses the need for more outdoor and indoor space for the club’s programs to grow.  Mark Dolansky, BRYC’s Travel Soccer Commissioner and rec soccer parent, took on the task of negotiating usage times and fair monetary contributions among the partners, similar to the effort led by former BRYC fields director Bob Lyle for the Wakefield project.  Bob was called out of retirement to help again. 

"We learned a lot from the Wakefield turf project a few years ago," said BRYC’s Communications Director and soccer referee director John Davis, "and from watching other turf field projects being completed around the county."  The BRYC Board sent BRYC Fields Director Trish Moxie and board member Amy Thompson to listen and learn at monthly meetings of the Fairfax County Athletic Council.  They brought back invaluable information on the processes and procedures for building and funding these fields, and showed the Council and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) that we were seriously interested in investing in this project.  John noted that in the two years of planning, we had several partners join, only to later drop out for various reasons.  "We asked for a lot in the design of these fields, including creating an 80-yard wide field at Robinson that can be used for small-sided soccer games in State Cup.  We were ecstatic when Robinson’s Director of Student Activities, Jeff Ferrell,  told us, "Build it big or don’t build it at all."  

The remaining task was obtaining a bank loan to help fund BRYC’s share of the project.  This job was expertly negotiated by BRYC’s Treasurer and football coach Steve Bergstrom.  The final agreements and check were delivered literally as the bulldozers were showing up to start work.

Recreational soccer commissioner David Knight wrote, "Our U14 Girls teams were thrilled to play on the new field. The players, coaches and parents are still talking about how great it was.  We look forward to playing more games at Robinson.  These fields are a great addition to the sports fields in this area.  Kudos to all who worked so hard to make this happen!"

In addition to soccer, the new fields have allowed BRYC football to play all their home games this season on synthetic turf fields for the first time ever.  BRYC football commissioner and Robinson footbal coach Bob Fizpatrick said, "This is a really exciting time for all of BRYC and especially football.  The players, coaches and parents are looking forward to games in Coffey Stadium on the new turf and it is a great recruitment tool to develop more growth in youth football.  Just can’t wait for the season to get underway."

September 6 -- Honduran children love soccer, but are often too poor to buy real soccer shoes. For the past three years, Midlife Men on a Mission from Fairfax Presbyterian Church (FPC) have collected used soccer shoes at various FPYC tournament sites. This year the numbers were down, so BRYC told them we’d attempt to augment the numbers by collecting shoes at Uniform Night.  And it worked.

Midlife Men will be thrilled to receive forty pairs of used soccer cleats (some that look almost new, and not to speak of a handful of shin guards) contributed at BRYC’s Uniform Night.  The group will be conducting their annual mission trip to Honduras in November, taking the shoes to a small town outside San Pedro Sula, Honduras’ second largest city.

In additrion to the used cleats, former BRYC Tournament Coordinator Ralph Schuetz, who had built up quite a collection of surplus All Star jerseys over the years, previously donated more than thirty assorted royal blue All Star jerseys which Stephen Wade, who coordinates the program for FPC, said would be a big hit with the boys. 

Coming into the match with a record of 6-1-0, scoring an average of over five goals a game while allowing just one, the boys still had something to prove against the Springfield team that had handed them their only loss of the season in week four, a tight 2-1 contest in which BRYC played without subs and great defenses prevailed for both teams but BRYC came up a goal short.  In the championship re-match BRYC gave up four goals, fully half as many as they had in the entire season to that point, but the offense was running on eight cylinders, scoring seven goals for the second time in the season.  Congratulations to Coach Beattie, Asst. Coach (and BRYC Commissioner David Knight) and their squad of 14 boys for a championship well earned.

D.C. United’s return to the MLS Cup playoffs is far from a trivial matter, but to celebrate the team’s return to the MLS tournament for the first time since 2007, D.C. United developed a trivia game to test knowledge of the team’s earlier participation.   With a perfect score of 15 out of 15, U10B Coach John Dangler has walked off with first prize, his choice of all the prizes in the contest including an autographed 2011 msoccer ball, a D.C. United training shirt, a polo, et al).

When he’s not coaching his son play in the U10 Boys division, or his daughter in the U6 Girls, John is obviously following D.C. United.  Amazingly enough, he said he was able to answer every question in what the webmaster thought was a challenging list without resorting to the computer.  Meanwhile, the webmaster (who was not eligible to win) was all over Wikipedia and the D.C. United site and still missed one of the answers.  How many people would remember that Alecko Eskandarian was the last D.C. United player to be named Man of the Match in an MLS Cup final or that it was Raul Diaz Arce who scored a playoff hat trick.  John did!  Congratulations and thanks for entering.  Others winners will be notified individually.

Coach Heyer,

his U19 Boys,

and their families

Coach Ramirez,

U19 boys,

and their trophies

Meanwhile Coaches Bob Brennnis and John Kelleher’s U19B "Strykers" played in the SFL’s highly regarded 1st Division, and finished the regular season with a record of 7 wins against just 3 losses to finish 5th of 21 teams.  They had to play in a tournament division that included the four teams who were ranked above them, including a powerful squad from Soccer on the Hill (SOTH) who had finished the regular season with a record of 7-0-0, outscoring their opponents 28-4, and a squad from Annandale (ABGC) with a record of 6-1-1 who had lost only to SOTH, plus a couple of squads from Prince William (PWSI) with equally impressive records.  

After falling to SOTH by a final score of 2-4 on Saturday morning (only the second team all season to score two goals against them), the BRYC boys came back strong in the afternoon with their most powerful offensive performance of the season to thrash one of the Prince William teams by a score of 7-0, setting themselves up for a match against Annandale on Sunday that could determine who would take both first and second place trophies.  Sadly, the second team from PWSI failed to show up for their game against SOTH.  Annandale, who had lost to SOTH during the regular season by a score of 1-0, the toughest win of the season for the undefeated team, desperately wanted to play them again. 

Coaches Brennis and Kelleher magnanimously deferred, and watched Annandale go down to a 0-2 defeat in a very physical and confrontational game.  Nonetheless, by virtue of their close loss, ABGC took second place, SOTH took first, and BRYC was only left to ponder what might have been, but nonetheless finished the SFL season with honor and with an impressive record of 8-4 going into the FPYC tpurnament the following weekend.

Congratulations to all three of the U19 Boys teams for their seasonh-ending successes.

June 20 --

A recent BRYC recreational and travel soccer player herself, Megan loves the beautiful game, and loves coaching girls!  She holds a USSF/VYSA D License. She is the Woodson High School JV girls assistant coach.  She has been a member of the Positive Coaching Alliance since 2007. She is also the recipient of the 2008 Champion of Character Sportsmanship Coaching Award from Fairfax County.  BRYC is lucky to be able to tap her talents and love at tournament time.

Megan is a player’s coach in the best sense of the phrase.  Currently coaching the VISTA X-plosion in WAGS Division 5, one line from their web page says a lot about her coaching style:  "Our goals are to have fun, train hard, and have a great time together."  That the Galaxy did!  Here’s Megan’s description of the weekend, sent to her team but too good not to share:

Wow! What a tournament! U-10 Galaxy went undefeated this weekend scoring an impressive 21 goals while conceding only 2. Our success was certainly a team effort with 7 girls scoring! Bridget O (Lightning) Bridget C (Bee C), Olivia (Sassafras), Mya (Puma), Sarai (Bananas), Willow (Starburst) and Emma (Moo) tallied our goals, while Jordan (Hummingbird), Abby (Wildthing), Aine (Warrior), Kate (Ninja) and super keeper Brianna (Bumblebri) held down our defense!

Two decisive wins on Saturday against VYSA and Reston resulted in Galaxy needing only a tie against an undefeated PWSI on Sunday to move on; win they did, with an impressive 2-0 victory. The girls then played against a talented Mclean team in the finals. Mclean scored first. With tons of team spirit, Galaxy rallied back to tie it up. Two overtimes came and went with the score still tied. Galaxy had practiced PKs during our practices and our shootout lineup did exactly what we practiced!

What a great weekend with a talented group of girls and an amazing group of parents. Big thanks to travel players Claire and Kelsey for helping coach and pass on their love of the game! WELL DONE GALAXY!!!

If one of your goals for the kids is to have fun and have a good time together, there’s not much doubt that Megan succeeded, as a final picture or their post-tournament ice cream break, shows.  But if there is any doubt, a note to the All Star Coordiantor from Monique Burgos, (Banana’s Mom), tells the story:

The experience was one [my daughter] will treasure for a long time. The very next day, she said "I miss All Stars". I know by that she meant the coaches, the girls and the positive experience it was for her. From day one of practices Coach Megan began the process of bonding the girls and friends as a team. From the drills, to the cheers, to coming up with nick names for each player, to the All Star party that included Team Tank Tops, making signs and a motivational CD for each girl that they listened to on the way to games (and lots of other things)!! It was the total experience that helped the girls want to give it their all on the field. I can’t say enough...."

Megan is far from the only BRYC coach who gives his/her all for their regular season and All Star squads.  Thanks to all of them for their dedication and commitment to the kids.  They are what makes BRYC one of the most respected recreational programs in the area.  There would be no program without them.  If you want to have a really positive influence on your kids like Megan Kipp, Joan Sullivan, and more than 100 others, why not think about volunteering next season?

June 10 --

Thanks to event organizers and BRYC Training Coordinators Joan and James Sullivan for their work all season long in support of all the recreational coaches and players, not to speak of coaching their own U14 Girls squad in the Middle School League, and currently coaching the U14 Girls All Star squad.  Joan must be a mean pastry chef and cake decorator as well.

On Sunday, June 10, the BRYC Coach’s met at Lake Braddock Lower to see who wanted it more... the Girl’s Coaches or the Boy’s Coaches. In the First Annual Spring Coach’s Challenge, the boy’s coaches wanted it more. They walked off the field the winners by a score of 5-2.

The girl’s coaches were led by Deanna Saracino, VP of Golden Boot. They came out and took an early 2-0 lead (Julia Smith and Deanna Saracino scored). But the boy’s coaches, led by Tamir Linhart, President of Golden Boot, would have none of that. They came roaring back with 5 straight unanswered goals, including one by Tamir.  Whether you were on the winnning or losing side mattered little.  With family on the sidelines cheering them on, the coaches got the chance to play the game we all know, love and teach. Some coaches brought a lot of skills to the pitch... ALL brought a lot of heart... and they all came with a spirit of fun and camaraderie.  After the game, everyone shared pizza and cake... and bonded over a game well played.

Congratulations and thanks to all the BRYC coaches on another great season and for all your hard work. We’ll see you all back in the fall, when we’ll come back and try it again... (only THIS time the girl’s coaches will show no mercy to the boy’s coaches... and will SURELY walk off the field the winners.) (SURELY.)

Have a GREAT summer!!!

Watching the three Olsen photographers coax those smiles out of the kids was a joy! One of them, in particular, was truly a master of the art, with such a radiant smile of her own who could help but smile back.

But the best part of photo day?  It was watching the unrestrained excitement of the youngest players in particular as they posed for their individual photos and then the team shot.  Who wouldn’t want to recall the season with a photo of Coach Eileen Porter’s "Angry Birds", Coach Andy Seamans’ "Psycho Wolves", Coach Mark Keithley’s "The Other Guys", Coach Anthony Pagano’s "Deadly Unicorns:, Coach Tom Mastal’s "Rockin Penguins", Coach Dave Diaz’ "Deadly Donuts", Coach Gretchen Brown’s "Havoc", or Coach Matthew Baker’s "Golden Lightning Dragons" (his U5 team must have had a tie vote!).  The webmaster’s favorite?  Coach Willy Llamosa’s "Mighty Mighty Tigers" featured below. 

June 25 -- Pulling together six girls from the two highly successful FPYC Tournament teams coached by Fred Welther and Tom Mastal, who had each won Finalist Honors just last Sunday in that tournament, Coach Jim Clark pulled off a stunning win in the innaugural "Fantastic 4" tournament put together by the BRYC Travel Soccer program, played at Robinson High School this weekend.  Playing three mini-games in rapid succession, with the two best of six teain the division to meet in the finals, the BRYC girls showed their stuff again. 

The first game was tough as the girls had to adjust to the 4v4 format after just one practice. Neither team scored in the first half but the Rage turned up the pressure in the second, taking the lead on a goal by Lynn V. It was all they needed for their first win.

The second game, against Loudoun, was much tougher. Both teams had many chances to score, but were tied 0-0 at halftime.  Loudoun scored just thirty seconds into the second half and immediately switched to a defensive style of play.  The Rage girls would have none of it, countering with an offensive flurry that pinned Loudoun on their heels, but were still unable to score until Jenna H. found the back of the net with just four seconds left in the match, for a final score of 1-1.

 

 

Congratulations to the Rage girls for a really great tournament!

March 15 -- The BRYC spring 2012 pre- season coaches meeting tonight at Kings Glen ES saw a rousing turnout of BRYC volunteers including the EXCOM, League Directors, and, most especially, coaches!  After welcoming remarks from Commisioner David Knight, emphasizing goal safety; from BRYC President Charles Osborn (noting his BRYC beginning as a recreational soccer coach); and a presentation from our new DC United representative Mikael Tigrett, the meeting got down to business with reports from various members on the Executive Committee. 

Co-Training Coordinator Joan Smith reported that the league will be trying a few exciting new things this season.  (Coaches can soon go to the "Coaches Corner" page for complete details.)  Fields Coordinator Trish Moxie humorously reported that field assignments are as tight as ever this season.  (We’ve lost Kings Park ES due to construction.).  Ralph Schuetz noted that All Stars is advancing the calendar to give all BRYC kids and coaches an extra opportunity for scrimmaging prior to team selection and then Sunday practices starting after regular season week five.   Referee Director John Davis emphasized the point that coaches are responsible for not just their own conduct but that of their players and parents...noting that they are always to be the "adults" on the field.  Uniforms Coordinator Kim Thomas noted a few hiccups in the process but had most of them there for the coaches to give to the players who ordered them..and the rest would be ready before the season starts.  And former Rec Soccer Commissioner Mac Squires gave a well-received presentation on player protection, safety, sportsmanship, and risk management.

The meeting ended with coaches actually receiving their rosters, equipment, jerseys, and practice field assignments.  Registered players should expect to hear from their coaches in the next week or so, with BRYC’s regular practice fields (or, in some cases, temporary fields through the end of March) available for practices beginning as early as Monday, March 19.  The first games of the season will be on Saturday, March 31.

March 7 --

The establishment of an NVSL club is not taken lightly, requiring a significant financial commitment from each of the players, not to speak of regularly scheduled pratices and matches. But with moral support (and a limited financial guarantee) from the BRYC Rec Soccer Executive Committee, and after the success of Friday Night Lights, John and Bob determined that there was enough interest among "over 18" players to pursue the opportunity and extend themselves a bit further...and they were right. Approximately twenty players, mostly alums of "Friday Night Lightts" and the BRYC Recreational Soccer program, have signed up for the squad for the spring season.

Kudos to John and Bob for their commitment to BRYC, which is proud to offer its support, and their commitment to the group of young men, some of whom they have been coaching for a number of years as U16/19 players, who will carry the Braddock banner. (Don’t be fooled by the fact that they will be wearing red jerseys!)

February 23 --  In a sure sign of spring, Saturday morning saw six workers for our field partners from Annandale Boys and Girls Club (ABGC) remove the turf blankets at Chapel Square field where they’d been warming and protecting a complete and costly overseeding of the field since late November. 

Sadly, even before the geese arrived on Sunday morning and the AHS lacross team on Tuesday, a thoughtless person couldn’t resist some unnatural urge to drive a car out onto the field and tear it up, leaving tire marks and gashes that will remain throughout the season as a reminder of his disrespectful act.  Why anyone would take pleasure in driving a vehicle onto a soccer field, heedless of the time and effort it takes to maintain a field and ruining if for others, is a mystery. 

Thanks for head organizer Coach John Kelleher, assisted by fellow U16/19 Boys coaches Bob Brennis and Ricky Ramirez, for their continued organization.  What started out as as a loose-knit fill-in between seasons has obviously filled a need and turned into a major event each and every week for a group of boys including a mix of current and former BRYC U16/19 players, joined by various guests recently including a contingent from the Robinson and Woodson High School teams.  The photo below was taken at one of last month's gatherings of close to forty boys.  Imagine twice that many!

Coach Kelleher invites anyone who hasn’t yet participated to join the group, and has started a BRYC Soccer Alumni Group that anyone can join, already boasting over 90 mimbers.  Simply click on this Facebook Link for more information

Organized by long-time Senior Division Deputy Commissioner and U16/19 ("She Devils") Girls coach Doug Alcorn, and (just as) long time U12 - U16/19 Boys coach John Kelleher (who now has two very active U4 boys of his own and just might complete the cycle again), more than a dozen girls and over two dozen boys got together with current and former soccer teammates and opponents for an afternoon of fun...and hot chocolate! 

Not content to take the winter off, the senior boys and alums continue to play at Wakefield every Friday night from 6-7:30 PM, weather and field conditions permitting.

Thanks to Doug and John for the group photos to freshen up the web page as we wait for the spring season!

November 4

This weekend brings an end to the "regular" season, but not so fast.  Most of last week’s (October 29) games are scheduled to be made up next week on November 12.  Check with your coach if you’re not sure yet about your makeup game schedule.

Before the season disappears into distant memory, don’t forget to get a team photo.  Whether or not you purchased one on Photo Day earlier in the season , you’ll want to get one out on the pitch.  Two coaches have been kind enough to share team photos with the webmaster in the last few weeks.  U5 Boys coach Bernie Fructuoso and his assistant Lenny Lapetina are wrapping up their first competitive season with the high-spirited Pirates, pictured above right after enjoying their post-game snacks.

And U19 Boys coach Bob Heyer and his assistant Nick Gardner (who have coached more seasons together than the webmaster can recall) are wrapping up their Suburban Friendship League season with the Magic before taking the team to the Herndon tournament. 

Bob liked last season’s All Star jerseys so much that he got a complete set for his team to wear during the regular season.  With a twenty-player regular season roster (because at this age you never know which boys are going to show up on any given Saturday), Bob gets a team photo after each game so he can recall who was there. 

On October 1 vs. Annandale, when this photo was taken, Bob had only eleven of his players.  In the SFL tournament next weekend, and the Herndon tournament the following week, with the prospect of a number of games each day,  he’s surely hoping to field a full squad of eighteen.

Meanwhile, a brisk business in T Shirt sales in the hallway kept BRYC volunteers busy, raising money in order to keep the club’s registration rates as the lowest possible levels.  The Webmaster/All Star Coordinator was excited when he spotted Katelyn H., U14 Girls goalie on the squad coached by Joan Smith and James Sullivan, sporting a warm-up jacket emblazoned with all the tournament, BRYC, and opposing team patches she’s collected in six previous six All Star appearances.  (In both of the annual tournaments in which BRYC participates, the players trade patches with their opponents at the end of each game).  Katelyn’s was the finest display of patches the All Star Coordinator has seen.  Katelyn is pictured below, modeling her collection of patches and as she posed for her "official" photograph. 

With the score tied 1-1 at the half (BRYC’s goal coming on a PK), the second half began poorly for the Wildcats, going down 2-1 when Springfield scored on a high, looping ball that trickled off the outstretched fingertips of goalie Jack L. who played the entire game between the pipes.  It was about midway through the second half when Jack deftly fielded an easier ball, surveyed the field, and rather than kick it out to mid-field, decided to give it a hard roll on the turf.  About twenty yards away, Andrew B, a regular forward turned defender at this moment, deftly picked it up and finessed the ball through SYC’s offensive front before passing ahead to forward Harold P., who outraced SYC’s defenders, charged toward the goal, pulled SYC’s goalie out for a one-on-one confrontation, deked around him, and tapped the ball into the net.  From Jack’s roll-out of his own goal area to Harold’s tap-in couldn’t have taken more than fifteen seconds.  It was a thing of beauty Coach Peyer thought worthy of an ESPN highlight reel (if only they’d been there!).

With the score now tied 2-2 but plenty of time remaining on the clock, neither team was content to play for a tie, with SYC getting the better of it.  The Wildcats were tested repeatedly by their strong passing, crossing, and excellent footskills as their defense thwarted any serious BRYC advances toward goal (keeping the ball in their offensive end most of the time), and the goalie barked out instructions and encouragement as he played far up the pitch.  SYC’s chance for the win came in the final minute of the contest with some frenetic activity in the BRYC goal mouth, the Wildcats unable to clear the ball, until finally, goalie Jack L. made a terrific stop of a point blank shot that was headed for the near corner of the goal.  And then the whistle sounded.

Coach Peyser and his assistants, David Burns and Rich Bautista, were thrilled with a come from behind tie against such a strong team on their home field to start the season.  The webmaster was happy to be there, seeing some great action and grabbing a few photos below.

Coaches Burns and Peyser discuss lineups and strategy at halftime.   Andrew B. scored on PK and assisted on second-half goal.

Harold P. scored "ESPN worthy" goal in second half.     Jacob P. played strong defense and midfield, launching Wildcats’ attack.

Seok Huyn H. played strong midfield, shutting down SYC offense.    Coach telling goalie Jack L. he was needed there in 2nd half.

Growing up in a family that loves soccer (one of her older sisters was a BRYC All Star at U12 before going travel, and played on the Woodson HS varsity team this year; her mother was a BRYC coach for a few seasons), Addie gravitated to the game.  By the time she was a U8 she was an All Star for the first time, and had made the squad five of six seasons through last spring’s FPYC Tournament as a U10.

But then last summer the doctors said it was time for a second open-heart surgery to correct an area that had not kept up with her growth.  For Addie, among other more important things, that meant no contact sports for six months.  No fall soccer. 

Flash forward to the spring season just ended.  With the doctor’s approval, Addie was back on the pitch, playing with as much spirit, determination, and "heart" as ever. Once again she was selected to play as a defensive back on the U11G All Star squad, coached by Dave Diaz.

Meanwhile, Addie has become a movie star of sorts, which is where this story really begins, as a film crew followed Addie’s surgery and recovery to create a promotional video for Inova Health System...capturing some her regular season play for Coach Mike Choffel, on whose team she’s played since 2008.  With the permission of the hospital, the doctors, and her parents, you can see the Inova film, in which Addie says she wants to become a professional soccer player.  Whether she’s that, or a movie star, or a heart surgeon perhaps, for now she’s an eleven year-old who loves soccer...and we’re thrilled she can play again for BRYC.

In January it was a family of deer on the winter’s most blustery day...and happy kids sledding down the hill when school was cancelled the next.  Last week it was Canadian geese and the Annandale High School lacrosse team.  In just a few weeks it’ll be BRYC soccer.

Check out the photo gallery below to see some of the never-ending activity.

The six photos in the gallery below are truly professional quality and have earned Jennifer a coveted BRYC fleece jacket, the same as that worn by our All Star Coaches but emblazoned with the title "Official Photographer".  It’s not quite a Cadillac Escalade or a LCD television but it’s the least (and the best) the webmaster could do and stay within budget. 

Every team should be so lucky to have such an interested and involved parent...who capped the team’s season with a sleep-over no less.  Congratulations to the Titans on a great season, and to Jennifer, for capturing it with some magnificent action photos.

Because of the county’s priority policy, the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association (FWSA) who’ve played soccer at Pine Ridge Park on Saturdays for 20 years, is losing one of the three fields on which they have played and which they maintained as a grass field under an "Adopt-a-Field" agreement with the county.  As long time friends and supporters of FWSA (including partnerning on the turf installation at Wakefield Park), BRYC is attempting to work with the organization to accommodate their needs at nearby Winterset Park.

Formal dedication of the park’s new facilities came on October 16 when, with a game going on behind them, members of Coach Megan Kipp’s U14 Girls squad, the Nightmares, joined dignitaries in the field’s opening ceremony.  Pictured from left to right are Nightmares players Morgan P. and Melissa F., Project Manager Eric Brunner from the Fairfax County Park Authority, Mason District Park Authority Board Member Frank Vajda, Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Sharon Bulova, former Head Commissioner of the Fairfax Women’s Soccer Association Ruth Walton, Rose Purple, Chairman of the Pine Ridge Park Association, and Nightmares players Connie K., Julia M., and Erin S.  

After stubbing their toe in their first match against a powerful Quicksilver, the Golden Jets came back strong, winning their last three games against the Destroyers, the Blast Juniors and the Destroyers again, to take championship honors in the tournament’s U7B Silver Division, earning the right to compete at the National KickIt 3v3 Championships in Orlando FL in January. 

Congratulations to the boys and their coaches on a summer well-spent in preparation for the BRYC fall season ahead.  Coach Shiferaw has become the U8B League Director.  The other three will be back on the pitch.  Let the competition beware!

But wait.  As Coach O (for Octavio) was getting ready to leave home for the 10:15 AM match at Kinchloe Park, his wife Amber had a surprise for him!   "Honey, I think it’s time!"  And so it was that Assistant Coach Kevin Ross coached the U11 Girls to a 1-1 draw and into the championship game.  Meanwhile, Coach O was OO ("otherwise occupied") at Fairfax Hospital where baby boy Gabriel Alfaro arrived on the scene as the newest (and probably the loudest) supporter of the team

Sadly enough, after BRYC took an early lead, SYA came back late in the championship game to tie the score.  After two scoreless overtime periods the "Gladiators" were faced with a dreaded Penalty Kick shootout and fell one kick short of winning the Championship trophies.  Still, it was almost a perfect day for Coach O, who raced to the field after Gabriel was born, arriving too late for the presentation of the Finalist trophies but just in time for the team photo.  Many times and over many years there is no doubt that Gabriel will hear the story of his birth day, on the best of all possible Fathers’ Days, except for PK’s!