An exciting week 3/17/12
The team had another solid week of training as we prepare to take on a few of our competitors this next weekend. Training was very hard and it is evident to me and the coaching staff that we are getting in pretty good shape. With a strong base we will now be able to spend more time on fundamentals and team tactics. By no means are we done with our conditioning. I am just saying that we have a solid foundation to build on. We finished the week Thursday night with a competitive intersquad scrimmage. It was a hard fought battle with both teams playing very spirited. It was nice to see more fans in the bleachers watching and cheering us on. The community support is growing.
We decided to take an extra day off this weekend and give everyone (including the coaches) a short break. This is an important part of our training. We must be smart and build in breaks both physically and mentally. As we go through the hard work together we all are learning to lean on each other. Slowly we are learning to trust and rely on each other more and more. As trust and respect grow for one another - the team slowly comes together as one. This is a wonderful process. There will be bumps along our path but for now we are growing and becoming a better team and family.
This next week we will host the national teams from Montenegro, Germany and Italy. We will have some great common training and also play four official matches while these teams are in the area. It is a good opportunity for us to be tested and to see where we are as a team in this stage in our training. Italy is the reigning world champion. They have already qualified for the Games in London. Their coach, Alexander Campagna (whom I competed against as an athlete), has helped Italy soar to the top of world water polo rankings in this past year. Montenegro and Germany are both in a different situation. They have yet to qualify for the Olympic Games and are stopping here for there final preparation for the Qualifying tournament which is to be held in Edmonton, Canada April 1-8th. There are twelve teams in the qualifying tournament and only four will qualify for the final spots in London. This means that Montenegro and Germany will be in great shape because they are literally fighting for their lives. If they don’t make the top four in the qualification tournament they are out. On a side note, Hagen Stamm, who coaches the German team, is also a long time friend and former Olympian. In my opinion, there are eight teams that have the potential to win the Olympic Games this summer and four of those eight will be competing right here next week. I hope that you all can come out and support Team USA in these games. It should a nice Olympic preview right here in our back yard.
I have a big milestone to celebrate this week and I would be amiss if I failed to pay tribute to my beautiful wife, Lori. Wednesday (March 21st) marks our 25th wedding anniversary. Lori has been with me every step of this journey. I am grateful for the blessing of her love and support for all of these years. She has already earned the gold medal. Happy Anniversary Lori – I love you.
See you at the pool
Coach
We decided to take an extra day off this weekend and give everyone (including the coaches) a short break. This is an important part of our training. We must be smart and build in breaks both physically and mentally. As we go through the hard work together we all are learning to lean on each other. Slowly we are learning to trust and rely on each other more and more. As trust and respect grow for one another - the team slowly comes together as one. This is a wonderful process. There will be bumps along our path but for now we are growing and becoming a better team and family.
This next week we will host the national teams from Montenegro, Germany and Italy. We will have some great common training and also play four official matches while these teams are in the area. It is a good opportunity for us to be tested and to see where we are as a team in this stage in our training. Italy is the reigning world champion. They have already qualified for the Games in London. Their coach, Alexander Campagna (whom I competed against as an athlete), has helped Italy soar to the top of world water polo rankings in this past year. Montenegro and Germany are both in a different situation. They have yet to qualify for the Olympic Games and are stopping here for there final preparation for the Qualifying tournament which is to be held in Edmonton, Canada April 1-8th. There are twelve teams in the qualifying tournament and only four will qualify for the final spots in London. This means that Montenegro and Germany will be in great shape because they are literally fighting for their lives. If they don’t make the top four in the qualification tournament they are out. On a side note, Hagen Stamm, who coaches the German team, is also a long time friend and former Olympian. In my opinion, there are eight teams that have the potential to win the Olympic Games this summer and four of those eight will be competing right here next week. I hope that you all can come out and support Team USA in these games. It should a nice Olympic preview right here in our back yard.
I have a big milestone to celebrate this week and I would be amiss if I failed to pay tribute to my beautiful wife, Lori. Wednesday (March 21st) marks our 25th wedding anniversary. Lori has been with me every step of this journey. I am grateful for the blessing of her love and support for all of these years. She has already earned the gold medal. Happy Anniversary Lori – I love you.
See you at the pool
Coach
posted by Dr. Terry Schroeder at
10:51 AM
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