A Great Day to be a Hound

January 19th was a GREAT day to be a Greyhound. The day started with an hour training session with the newly appointed women's national team head coach, Tom Sermanni. Yes, you did read this correctly....we really did train with Tom Sermanni! We were demo players at the 2013 NSCAA Annual Coaching Convention for a session he designed focusing on combination play and possession. There were hundreds of coaches from across the country gathered in the audience to watch and learn from the best. After the session, we even got a chance to catch up with our own Geoff VanDeusen, who was head coach of the Greyhounds until 2011 when he took a job with the NSCAA.

The team with Coach Tom Sermanni!

After the session, we had the opportunity to explore the 2013 NSCAA Annual Convention (held just 10 minutes away from campus at the Indiana Convention Center). Some of us ran across Tony DiCicco, a former women's national team head coach, and many professional players like Marta, Michelle Akers, and Kristine Lilly also made appearances at the convention. The entire experience from start to finish was incredible, and we are so fortunate to have had this opportunity. In my three years as a Greyhound, this was easily one of the coolest things I've been a part of.

Bentley, Crump, Tony DiCicco, KJ, Kait, and Bryant

And as if all this wasn't enough, we also volunteered for an hour alongside the UIndy men's soccer team as buddies for a group of TOP Soccer athletes. As many of you already know, this is not our team's first experience volunteering with TOP Soccer, which is a soccer program for children with disabilities. This session, like the session with Tom Sermanni, was open for coaches to sit in and learn how to adapt some common soccer drills and make them functional for all types of athletes. Working with the athletes is always a rewarding experience and is guaranteed to put a smile on our faces. Their love of soccer and competitive spirit is very inspiring to us. I'm sure we'll be seeing them again in the future!

Nicole, Kiara, Tracey, and their buddy, A.J.

Alex and the girls :)

 

Check back in for updates on our spring schedule as we continue our pursuit of the Division II National Championship!

Love,Kait #5 and Megan #1