Spring 2015 Information

January 13, 2015

To all members of the Men’s Soccer spring roster:

Happy New Year!  I suspect you are each counting down the days until your return to campus for the spring.  Let me first congratulate you if you had a successful fall semester in the classroom.  As I previously tweeted we had 14 members of our team over a 3.0.  I will be displaying each of your names on the bulletin board outside my office.  We have much to look forward to early on.  We will need to represent ourselves and our spirit well at the men’s and women’s basketball games on Tuesday, January 20^th, the day before school begins, in their quest for points in the Lake Erie Cup versus Buffalo State.  Additionally, we will have dinner with President Horvath at her house on Monday, January 26th.  Friday, January 30th we will begin our bowling events with Western NY Special Olympics.

Spring break will be upon us before we know it and with that will bring the start of our spring season.  As we have rehashed many times this is not just any old spring season.  We have had the time to reflect individually and as a team.  There are many corrections to be made like possessing the ball, competition in practice and team cohesion but one reoccurring theme can be addressed immediately.  The most overriding bit of feedback from our individual meetings was FITNESS.  This falls on both of us.  It is incumbent for you to arrive for preseason game fit which many of you did not.  It is also my responsibility to keep you fit which I did not do a good enough job at in the second half of the season.  As indicated at our final meeting of the semester, on Day 1 of the spring season you will be required to meet four fitness criteria:

Complete at least 50 pushups in one minute.

Complete at least 50 situps in one minute.

Complete at least 10 pullups in a row.

Complete a two-mile run in 12:30 or less.

If you do not meet these standards you will not practice the next day or any day further until you do meet the standard.  Now understand that by NCAA rule I will not be able to get you in shape.  That will be on you.  We have three strength coaches on staff and as many of you know we have workout groups to help you along.  Make no mistake though - it will be totally on you to show the commitment and dedication necessary to be a college athlete at Fredonia.  We have 25 returning players not counting any recruits so there will be someone there to take your spot if you don't seem to have it in you.

I am looking forward to seeing everyone very soon.  2015 season - HERE WE COME!