Tuesday, August 27, 2013

The Hounds go Camping!

This past weekend, the Hounds made a road trip to Seymour, Indiana to visit Camp Lakeview for some leadership training and team building exercises. Our team split up into three teams and tackled various obstacles on a ropes course that proved to be very challenging but very rewarding as well. The groups were divided into defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Within our groups, we had to put our communication skills to the test in order to successfully complete each obstacle. It was so cool to see different people step up and take on leadership roles in different scenarios.

The Forwards navigating a tight rope obstacle!

The Midfielders working together to keep the "radioactive" ball from falling.
 

The Defense talking strategy :)
 

After our time on the course was over, we had a delicious spaghetti dinner followed by team bonding. Our competitive nature came through when tetherball turned into a round robin tournament, and volleyball and kickball were no different. At night, we had a bonfire fire, roasted smores, and performed some skits. Bentley, Adams, and Bryant brought their ukuleles and performed a song for us, and Crump lead the team in lots of fun games.

Throughout the camping trip, we learned several valuable lessons:
     1. Stacey Klene and I are pretty fierce tetherball players, but we don't even hold a candle to Coach Amanda Mason. She literally doesn't lose.
     2. Our team was exceptionally good at a Pitch Perfect-style riff off. I was very impressed.
     3. 65 degrees is way too cold to keep your cabin at night...
     4. Keki and Bentley do a perfect impersonation of Betty White on the toilet. If you want to know more, you'll have to ask them.
     5. Our team does not deal with bugs well. At all.
     6. I have never seen Lindsey Adams so scared as I did when her life flashed before her eyes as Megan Fee spiked a volleyball at her face.
     7. Do not drop your teammates through massive spider web obstacles onto your goalkeeper's neck when there is no one else to catch them. Gravity is real.
     8. Most importantly, we learned how to better communicate with one another in challenging and stressful situations. This will without a doubt give us an advantage over our competition this season.

The team :)

This trip was a great escape from the stress of preseason. It allowed us to further strengthen the team chemistry we have worked so hard to create, and it provided lots and lots of laughs! It is times like these makes me realize even more how truly grateful and blessed I am to be a part of such an amazing group of young women. I am so excited to take the field alongside them on September 6th and show the GLVC what we have to offer!

GO HOUNDS!!

Kait #5

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Free2Play Viral Video!!

During our 2013 preseason, junior goalkeeper Megan Fee planned and choreographed a viral video about our team's journey with the Free2Play campaign last year. As a communication's major with an emphasis in electronic media, she has a lot of experiencing directing short films and commercials, so she was perfect for this job! Check out this video we made featuring statistics of the harsh realities of human trafficking worldwide, the successes of our team's campaign during the 2012 season, and our plans to make this year's journey bigger and better!

 
 
If this is a cause that touches your heart like it has ours, please take action and pledge! You can do so via the UIndy Women's Soccer web page. By simply pledging a monetary amount for each goal scored in the 2013 soccer season, you will join us in the fight to end human trafficking. Last year, we raised $870.75, and this year it is our goal to beat that!
 
 
Thanks for viewing! Please help us raise awareness and spread the word! :)
 
 
Go Hounds!!
 
Kait #5