PARSIPPANY HAWTHORNS
COACHES CORNER
COACH KEVAN
The strength of the wolf is in the pack!
The coming season represents an exciting step in the development of both Parsippany Soccer Club in general and the Hawthorns in particular. The club has launched its formal “academy” program and established some new principles that should enrich the soccer experience of players at all levels. Meanwhile, the Hawthorns will make the leap from the small-sided game to 11 v 11 competition: these girls will now play on the same size field as the professionals!
Over the course of last season, what has pleased me the most is the way that the Hawthorns have gelled as a team. There seems to be a terrific sense of unity among the girls, both on and off the field. And that is one reason why I asked for all 12 of last season’s players to be selected again — it would not have felt right, at this point in time, to break up a group of committed girls who have battled together and bonded so closely.
To equip us for the large-sided game, we have also included six new players. Each of these girls will add to the mix her own unique attributes. My primary goal will be to help all 18 girls in the squad tap into their own individual strengths and, at the same time, continue their collective growth as an organized and cohesive unit.
I am as competitive as anybody, and I like to win more than most. But it is also important to me that — to the extent possible — when the team is successful, each and every member of the team feels she has made a noticeable contribution to that success. When that happens, I believe you have built a true team!
“There is that interdependence and that strength you get from a team — that the group is greater than any individual.”
Pete Newell
— Legendary Basketball Coach, 1915–2008
Welcome to the Parsippany Hawthorns program. I am looking forward to spending the coming season with you and your families.
Coach Kevan 2010
Hawthorns Raise their Game
Over the last 15 years of coaching girls’ soccer, I have often said that I would rather lose in Flight 1 than win in Flight 2. I truly believe that young soccer players raise or lower their game according to the caliber of their competition. Over the last few weekends, we have been able to see that adaptation in practice. Our first competitive encounters of the Spring season have indeed brought out the best in the girls and I am proud of their performances against opposition that has been of a much higher standard than they are used to facing.
COACH KEVAN - SPRING 2011
Dear Hawthorns Families:
This week, we begin our preparations for the new season — a season that I am looking forward to with even more excitement than usual. Three years ago, I asked twelve 8-year-old girls to “become a part of something special”. Since that time, we have advanced from Flight 3 in the Morris County league to Flight 3 in the much bigger Mid-New Jersey league, followed by Flight 2, and eventually Flight 1.
It took the girls a few games to adjust to the much higher level of play in Flight 1, and we lost three of our first four games. After that initial adjustment period, however, we went unbeaten for the remaining six games! I believe that a major contributing factor to the Hawthorns’ success last year was our thorough preseason preparation, which allowed us to hit the ground running — we began our season with a bang by lifting the first place trophy at the Essex Fall tournament. This year, our preseason Boot Camp will be even more challenging as Rich and I work to take the girls’ play to the next level.
But the Hawthorns’ achievements over the last 3 years extend beyond the steady improvement in the team’s play — there is also a sense of unity and enthusiasm among the players and families that has helped make the complete experience every bit as special as I had hoped it would be. There have been many factors that fueled that team spirit: Kim’s exceptional organization; Jack’s great web site; Mike’s continuous flow of vibrant photos that enabled us to relive the action from some of the key games; Deb’s additional team-building activities, including the Sky Blues game and the Bizzie Lizzie 5K; the Barrese’s preseason pasta party; the Hasting’s barbeque; and the positive attitude that parents (and many guests!) brought to each game. These things all make a difference!
2011-2012 Team Roster
The Summer is a time when most teams adjust their rosters, with a few players leaving for one reason or another, and new faces coming in. The Hawthorns say goodbye to last season’s captain, Emma P, who moves to the Academy. Emma was looking forward to continuing her growth with the Hawthorns and did not seek a place on the Academy team — the Academy came to her! Although we will miss Emma’s great attitude and energetic play, her ability to make the step up to one of the best teams in New Jersey is, in my opinion, testament that we are doing something right on the Hawthorns.
Amanda and Sydney move to the Fusion, and we will miss them as well. I am very sad to lose Ed; he has really been a fantastic coaching partner over the last few years. Ed’s departure will mean that Rich and I have to work that much harder to provide the girls with the individual guidance that helps them improve their play.
While three players depart, we welcome two very talented soccer players — GiGi and Anna. I enjoyed watching these girls during the try-outs and I am looking forward to what they will bring to the Hawthorns. Overall, I believe that the adjustments we have made to the Hawthorns roster will make us a stronger, more formidable team going forward.
Preseason Boot Camp
I have put together a robust preseason program to help the team prepare for its second season in Flight 1. We are hoping to have nine rigorous sessions before our official campaign gets under way on September 10th, and we are also trying to finalize a couple of scrimmages within that schedule.
As a part of this program, I will be dividing the girls into small groups before arriving at practice. Therefore, it is important that I know exactly who will be at each session. If we are expecting somebody who does not show up, her group will not have enough players to carry out the planned activities properly. So please be sure to let Kim know whether or not your daughter will be at each session. Also, we need the girls to wear a white t-shirt to each one of these Boot Camp sessions, and to bring both their yellow pinny and their green pinny.
Last season, there seemed to be an increasing number of players who had to leave practice sessions early. This turned out to be quite disruptive to those sessions. Schedules do occasionally overlap, and we try to be flexible. Except in occasional, unavoidable situations, however, girls need to be present for the full 90 minutes.
Kim will be sharing additional details about the year ahead as those plans are finalized. There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure that the 16 girls on this year’s team are a part of something even more special than before! I hope that everybody shares my excitement about the coming year.
Kevan . . . .
COACH KEVAN - FALL 2011
