The Chelmsford Sunday Soccer Club's Blog

Hi everyone,

Xing Tao and I could not make it work for us to have a game against the Winchester group this weekend. This is the time of year when numbers are low (for a variety of reasons) for both groups. We tried hard to make it work. We’ll definitely have a game with them in the spring.

We just have regular pick-up at Harrington this week. 8:30 AM should be more attainable this weekend as the clocks roll back an hour. If you are the first person at the field, realize that more people are on the way. Harrington. We’re at Harrington.

Bring a white shirt and a dark shirt.

As was reported last week, I was pretty sure that I would not get it and I was not named to be the new USWNT head coach. Unclear if all of the coaching staff positions have been filled. So, there is still the possibility that I’ll get the call.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

Lawrence

If it is not raining, this Sunday at Harrington at 8:30 as usual. We’ve been sliding later and later for kick-off time. Let’s see if we can possibly, potentially, probably try to get back on time(ish).

The weather had been looking rainy for this week and we never play on a wet grass field. So, check the forecast and conditions in the morning. In the summer, when we play on the turf, we play in the rain. However, we don’t want to beat up the grass fields.

I am still looking to see if we have enough players to have a game with the Winchester group on November 3rd (next Sunday). If I do not see you at the field, could you please E-Mail me (1L0J7M@gmail.com) or text me (978 729-6805) if you are able to play on November 3rd. When you do, please identify yourself in case I do not yet have you programmed into my phone. I would like to confirm this game with the Winchester group. When we play them, we would wear white.

To recap, this would be a full 90 minute game against a good group of players. It has always been a lot of fun. I would like to confirm as soon as possible.

Now to address the rumor mill. It is true that I recently spoke with Coach Ellis. However, to the best of my knowledge, I am not a finalist to be the new US Women’s National Team Head Coach.

Hope to see you all soon.

Lawrence

Because of weather, business trips, and Diwali we are not playing the guys from Winchester this coming Sunday (Oct 27). If the weather is good, we’ll play as we always do.

Looking to see if we have enough players to have a game with them on November 3rd. Could you please E-Mail me (1L0J7M@gmail.com) or text me (978 729-6805) if you are able to play on November 3rd. When you do, please identify yourself in case I do not yet have you programmed into my phone.

To have a bit of a guideline recap. 1.0 — bring a white shirt and a dark shirt every week. 2.0 — do not bring a grey shirt. We try to balance the teams so that the game is more fun for everyone. Bring the shirts.

Look forward to seeing you on the field.

Lawrence

This Sunday (Oct 20) we are playing at Harrington. Try to arrive by 8:30. Usual set-up. White shirt, dark shirt, etc. Although a bit cool, it actually works out to be good soccer weather.

For next Sunday (Oct 27), I have tentatively agreed to play our friends from Winchester. Because of the weather forecast, we may move it back a week. Many of you have played in these games against the guys from Winchester. I think that we’ve played four or five times over the last several years. Please let me know if you are interested in playing. The games are competitive and we try to find a ref and play for a full 90 minutes. Fun. Let me know what you think.

Particularly this time of year, this may be a good way for us to get a full field of players.

My E-Mail is 1L0J7M@gmail.com if you have questions or concerns. Of course we can discuss it on Sunday.

Lawrence

Until the end of the travel soccer season, we are playing at Harrington. This won’t change week-to-week. Sometime in November there will be an update that (most likely) will bring us back to the turf field. Until then, we are at Harrington.

If you are early and nobody else is yet at the field, don’t panic. They will be. 8:30 has always been kind of a stretch goal for us. But it gets us there before the little kids and gives us a warm-up and a kick-off before 9:00 AM. If you are the first one at the field, just start your warm-ups. No worries.

Good game yesterday. Fun.

Lawrence

Part of the value of experience is that it allows you to sometimes predict what is going to happen. The weather is spectacular this weekend. If I had my way, we’d play for four hours on Sunday. In about five or six weeks, people will start to complain that the weather is not as good as it was in September. So, why don’t we take maximum advantage of the great weather while we have it now? Let’s play now.

Let’s try to start as close to 8:30 as we can. Let’s not even think of “best of three” until we are past 10:30. Let’s not drift away early. Let’s get a good, long game in this week. We need to play AT LEAST 90 minutes (after the warm-up). You won’t regret it.

Look forward to seeing you at Harrington.

Lawrence

Historically, I think that we do a good job balancing the sides each Sunday. Makes it more fun for everybody. There are a lot of factors to consider and we generally do a pretty good job. I don’t think that it went that well last Sunday. We tried. It wasn’t horrible, but not the best either.

It is challenging to balance the teams when:

• people arrive late and just jump into the game.
• when we make a trade and then players leave just after we’ve made the trade.
• when people make unilateral moves.
• when people do not bring two shirts.

Let’s really try to arrive on time tomorrow and give it another go.

Looking forward to seeing everyone. Big field at Harrington. Warm-up at 8:15. 8:30 kick-off time.

Lawrence

Sunday after Labor Day is moving day. This time, we are decamping to Harrington. We will be on the big field at Harrington with a kick-off time of 8:30.

At 9:00 or 9:30 I believe the infants and toddlers will have their soccer on the other field. Our game should be in progress by the time that they arrive.

If you wish to be the full-time goal keeper, wear grey. If you want to play in the field (and take your turn as goal keeper), bring a white shirt and a dark shirt. This time of year is the perfect soccer weather. Let’s not miss the opportunity to play. At this time of year, we should all be in shape to play all day.

Look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Lawrence

We are still at the McCarthy turf this Sunday at 8:30 AM. Long weekend means that we have more time to play.

I have noticed that fewer and fewer people are taking a turn playing goal keeper. Unless we have a dedicated keeper, we have to share it out. Please take your turn in goal.

Next weekend (not this weekend) we are moving to Harrington.

This time of year we are playing unless there are thunderstorms. Even if it is raining, we are playing on the turf at McCarthy. Be ready to kick-off at 8:30 sharp. Don’t wear a grey shirt (unless you are playing goal keeper). Bring a white shirt and a dark shirt. Water, sunscreen, and a soccer ball are also things that you may consider bringing.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll wind up moving again as we do every year at the end of summer. We’ll announce it during the water break on Sunday and post it in the blog. Until then, just keep doing what we’ve been doing. I may not post every week if it is just the usual.

Lawrence