Soccer Preseason Journal: Part 3
8/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Alabama junior defender Emily Pitek will give her account of the Crimson Tide’s pre-season work in her diary each day leading up to the beginning of the season.
Vanilla Ice and more recently Sherry Kimbro, our Athletic Trainer, said it best in three simple words, “Ice, Ice, Baby!”
We were given the morning off of practice in order for us to get in a weightlifting session. However, it didn’t take place in the weight room at the football complex, but rather between our soccer stadium and the freshmen dorm, Martha Parham Hall. I don’t think the freshmen actually realized how much space is actually in a dorm room. They packed as if they were getting ready to move into a penthouse suite on Park Avenue! However, with the caravan of automobiles plus the numerous helping hands of the upperclassmen, the task at hand was completed in just about an hour.
The two o’clock session came quickly. The staff had planned for the team to only be out there an hour and a half, but the team just got on a roll and kept playing hard and before anyone knew it, almost two hours had passed. The main focus of practice was to recognize when and how to relieve pressure on different parts of the field.
After that the team had their first chance at going at the goalkeepers during training through a 2-v-1 drill. The intensity levels by everyone were very high which made for some great battles. I have to give mention to Libby Probst, a senior striker. Libby works harder than anyone I know and has extremely high expectations for herself and it shows in practice. Her work rate as a striker not only makes the other strikers better, but also the defenders who try to keep her from scoring goals. I can personally tell you that that is no small task, either!
Due to the quick turnaround between sessions the magic word of the day was “ice” and lots of it! After another dip in the “party bucket” and an hour to rest the legs the team back to the field for the night session.
Coach, or more affectionately known as “Don el Diablo” because of his all-red outfit, went through some of his favorite Trinidadian drills to get the team into a rhythm and to get comfortable with the ball. He also threw a fun team drill in there where he punted a ball and one team had to chase it, sit down and pass the ball from the front of the line to the back of the line. Simultaneously, the other team was busy running circles around their teammates. Whoever could run more circles before the ball was done being passed down the line won the game. It was a comical sight to say the least!
A 45 minute scrimmage ensued, which as always, produced good results. But the main thing on everyone’s mind was the Olive Garden that would be arriving to the field. It was a welcomed break from the usual steak and chicken for dinner.
All in all, it was another productive day for Alabama Soccer. Here’s hoping tomorrow will be just as good!
Until later,
Emily Pitek
ROLL TIDE!
