Big Announcements: Season-End Celebration, Playoff Update, Uniform Return, A Lecture

 Dear Players, Parents and Friends -

We know from past experience that daily readership of this blog is about to drop off a cliff.  We adjure you to hang in there for a week or so as we work to put this unique season to bed.  It's worth hanging in there for a few more postings.

First, a Save The Date:  Please mark your calendars (do we do that any more?  Actually mark calendars?) for Thursday, November 12 for our Gala First and Last Ever Hanover Soccer Celebration  at 7:00 on Zoom.  We normally gather all four teams on the gym for our Celebration, with the famous Dessert Buffet, usually some student music, and (short) speeches by the coaches to recognize team members and announce team awards.  We will still have the speeches and awards and brevity and maybe music, but alas no dessert. Perhaps, with Zoom, we might have some juicy highlights. There have been some nice goals scored this year,  most of them by Will Guerin.  Oh, a few others, too.  This event is for players and parents, all four teams.  More details to come soon.  Save the Date.  Mark your calendars.

The Marauder Varsity will open the NHIAA Division One Playoffs on Wednesday, hosting Concord at Merriman-Branch at 3:00 p.m. These are two of the top five teams in NH, and it should be a great matchup.  They are two of the three teams (yes, also Central) who have won two or more D1 titles in the last decade.  Concord has been to the Final Four 11 of the last 16 years.  They are quality.  For the first time this season, opposing parents are being allowed to spectate. Students are not allowed, but the Marauders will be well-supplied with ball boys.

We are hoping to receive the balance of JV1, JV2, and Freshman uniforms on Tuesday.  Please bring them to the front desk, cleaned, folded, bagged and labeled. Thanks for this help.  We will begin the billing process for missing uniforms on Friday.

Finally, please read this:  Players,share it with your parents. Parents, share it with your players.  The transition from daily soccer to a longer than usual off season requires some important decision-making. For the first time since late August  (or really, since early June), players will have nearly three hours a day, five times a week, at their disposal.  This time cannot be wasted or mismanaged.  The time to establish new patterns is now. Here is some time-honored and effective advice.  Divide these 15 hours per week into three parts, and allocate the hours according to your individual needs/wants:

1. Exercise and training.  You are an athlete, so act like one.  Work out regularly.  Prepare for your winter season, or for your skiing season, or for your spring sport, or for next soccer.  Work on your CV fitness.  Start lifting. Most importantly, maintain your flexibility and core strength and flexibility with dynamic ic stretching. It will be harder than ever as we hunker down for the long winter, but please find a way.

2. School Work.  These afternoon time blocks are precious.  Establish a routine where you do homework, reading and long-term projects after school.  Go to bed earlier.  Get more sleep. 

3. Music/Art.  If you play an instrument, you finally have the time you need to practice.  Please, please allocate some of this newfound time to practice.  Imagine the delight of your teachers.  If you sing, work on your parts, whether in chorus or a cappella. Do something else creative.  Consult with Coach Willie Johnson (a certified art teacher, if you didn't know) and he can help you do what you need to draw, paint, make jewelry or sculpture. Become a Renaissance person.  Google Benvenuto Cellini. Be him.  Be Galileo, or maybe DaVinci.