Camp ends

Friday

Camp has ended, but not without many memories. It was a great week from the weather to the enthusiasm of the players to the quality of the coaching. You really could not have asked for more. I want to sincerely thank all the coaches and helpers for their effort and the quality they brought to the Camp. To Jan, who had been grounded by his doctor, many thanks for a great program to folloe each day of the week. All the players benefitted from the experience and the interaction with the coaches.

We ended Camp with the Awards ceremony and Sam Scoles and Gudo Van Dronkelaar were awarde the Wooden Shoe Award as the Camp's MVP in their respective groups. During the week we awarded the Player of the Day and we made 9 presentations of that award.

We hope that everyone leaves with a better understanding of the Dutch Vision of soccer and in some way, hopefully, a better player. Thanks to all who attended the Camp and we wish you all the best in soccer future. we hope to see many of you back in Camp next summer.

More Pictures

Thursday, July 23

We are now approaching the end of the Camp and it really seemed to fly by.

Today, Thursday was a good day,. a light rain in the morning session, warmr in the afternoon session and a lightning delay fo the evening session. We managed to get everything in without any problems.

Friday we have a morning session with 2 technical training sessions - 2 contests (Pk and Juggle) - 2 All Star games ( 1 with the 2 younger aged groups and 1 Staff vs 2 older groups) -- followed by lunch and the Awards ceremony.

We ad a fantatstic week with the weather cooperating wonderfully -- everyone met new people and made some new friends and had the opportunity to learn from some of the best coaches possible and to experience the Dutch Vision of soccer.

It will be sad to close Camp on Friday, but we hope that the experience was one that will last longer than the week of Camp. We look forward to seeing many of the payers returning next summer to Camp and we will invite some to join us on our Spring trip to Holland.

pictures

Thursday

Wow !! We are already at Thursday, the last full day of the Camp. It has been a great week in every aspect. The players have cooperated very well, they are working hard, learning, improvining , making new friends, and having a great time , plenty of fun.

Wednesday was a good day with a morning only training session under cloudy skies and cool temps. The 4v4 was very well attended and the players enjoyed 'free play' - no coaching, just play and have fun with friends. The pool party was great, a little cool, but the heated pool helped. Even more players attneded the pool party. At 10pm, when our day ended, everyone was tired, but had a a lot of fun.

Today we are back with 3 training sessions. Another nice day of weather, with no chance of rain and moderate temps. We have been extremely fortunte with the weather this week and that makes a hge difference on the energy, attitude and performance of the players.

Friday, a morning session to include a juggle and penalty kick contest, followed by All Star games - with a staff vs the older campers in an All Star game. We have some younger helpers and assistant coaches who will challenge the best of the older groups - should be fun.

Wednesday, July 23

Today is a different schedule for the players -- local players morning trianing session and guests will have the day to sightsee in and around St. Louis. Everyone will meet at 6 pm at St.Luke's for 4v4 on grass fields, BBQ and then to swim party.

Tuesday was another GREAT day in Camp - the weather was nice, a littl sprinkle of rain just for a short time, the players were awesome - great enthusiasm and energy - and we hada soccer quiz that everyone participoated in.

The week is starting to get away from us as we approach the last few days of the Camp. Everyone is having a very good time , making new friends and enjoying a good atmosphere and thew Camp has been running very smoothly with a great program sent over to us by Jan.

Today, Jan has some further tests in the hospital to make sure that everyhting is normal and ok with his heart -- let's wish him well and hopr for the best.

later today, I will have some time to post more pictures.

A few pictures

T

Tuesday - Camp Day # 2

Monday was a great day with beautiful weather, good meals and a full day of soccer. The players cooperated very well as we played right up to 8:30 pm with the 11 a side games. I am sure that the players slept well last night as the day was long and they were tired.

Today, Tuesday will be the same full schedule, but with the possibility of rain. We will seewhat happen with that-- we will still have the cool temperatures, maybe just a little bit wet.

Wednesday will be a break in the schedule with the Dutchies off untl 6 pm to do some sightseeing and the local boys with a morning training session only.

More later

Monday - First Full Day of Camp

Hello

today, Monday will be the first full day of camp - starting with the warmup at 9 am and training from 9:15 until 11:30. The morning will bedevoted to passing exercises and small-sided games. Lunch at CBCen at 12 noon and then back o the field for the afternoon session - warmup at 1:45 and training starts at 2:00. The afternoo training consists of shooting, possession and theory (classsroom session. The session ends at 4:00 with dinner served at CBC at 4:30. The evening session begins with a warmup at 5:45 and 11 a side at 6:00, with the day concluding by 8:30 pm. All in all, plenty of soccer for 1 day. The schedule is the same for Tuesday and Thursday - full days of training. Wednesday and Friday's schedule are differnt.

The weather is continuing to cooperate as today will be mostly clear with temperatures to reach 80 F - very unusual for this time of the year in St. Louis, but also very welcomed !!

I will be back at the end of the day recapping the day's activities, hopefully with some pictures to post as well.

On Sunday, all the dutchies seemed to be in good spirits and were actively involved in the activities.

Camp Photo

luckily, I got a Cmp photo sent very quickly --
here it is

enjoy

Sunday's Done --

hello everyone

Wow - what a great start to the week !!
Sunday was fantastic with the cooperation and the energy of everyone. The level of play and the enthusiasm was very high.

We started off in the gym with the Orientation Program and welcomed all of our guests and read an email letter from Jan explaining his situation. The pictures went fast and then we started playing and that's what everyone was waiting for.

We were on the field for over 2 1/2 hours and the time seemed to fly by. Players played and coaches evaluated.

I hope to post a camp photo tomorrow if all goes well.

first full day Monday -

more tomorrow

Sunday, July 19, 2009 -- Camp Day # 1

Hello everyone and a special hello to Irene !!

Yesterday was a great day and everyone got through their jet lag and did a variety of activities. The coaches had a great meeting and we are anxious to get started.
Today looks to be another very nice weather day and everyone should be fresh and full of energy.

We will start at 4 pm with an Orientation meeting, followed by pictures and then we start playing with small-sided games for evaluation purposes. The night will end by 8:30 pm and then we will resume Monday morning with a 9 am warmup and training at 9:15.

I will return later tonight when we finish the Sunday session and post how that went.

Jan has sent over a nice letter by email explaining his situation and wishing the kids a good week. He has asked them to be open to learn and to work in a way that is still fun - but by the end of the week, to be better. I know Jan is really missing being here, but he has no choice. Health takes priority and he needs to rest for awhile.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Hello

Saturday looks to be a great day for our guests as the weather will be very unusual for this time of the year -- a clear sky, with a nice breeze and very comfortable temperatures. It will be a wonderful day to experience St. Louis with the host families. Everyone is free to do their own thing today and I am aware of the following activities: a BBQ where several groups will join together, a Cardinal baseball game, a day on the water boating and a visit to a college campus to meeet with the soccer coach.

The coaches will gather and have a pre-Camp meeting to go over all the details as sent by Jan. We wish Jan the best in his recovery from his medical situation and we will miss him this week. He has sent over the program for the week and it is very well planned and will provide the players with a well-rounded soccer experience.

Camp will begin on Sunday at 4pm with an orientation meeting, followed by pictures. Then we will begin with the soccer activities as we evaluate the players and put into groups for the week. Sunday's session will end by 8:30pm and then we return Monday at 9 am for a full day of training, ending by 8:30pm. Lunch and dinner will be provided at CBC and we will provide ample rest in between the 3 sessions.

We have made arrangements to have the Camp put on a DVD this year and it is available for purchase. Hopefully, all the dutchies received the information pre-Camp. If not and you would be interested in purchasing a DVD, please contact Terry at michlert@cbchs.org ---

More to come as the week unfolds ----------

Our Guests Arrive !

Friday, July 17, 2009

We are pleased to snnounce that everyone arrived afely, on time and in good spirits --- and all the luggage arrived as well. So, we are off to a gret start. In addition, the weather in St. louis could not be beter for this time of the year -- it is relatively cool with very little humidity. Usually we are aweltering with high temperatures and high humidity crating a high adangerous heat index. The extended forecast into next week looks just as good. We should be in for a great week of Camp.

Please check this regularly as I will keep this up during the Camp with a daily update

Tomorrow, Saturday, is a free day for the families to get to know their new guests. Camp starts n Sunday in the late afternoon.

Good first day report.

Back Home !!

Monday, March 30, 2009

United flight 8039 touched down in St. Louis just shortly after 5 pm and that brought the trip to its end point. I think it is safe to safe to say that most of arrived very tired, but very satisfied with the trip. A lifetime of memories accompanied each of us as we departed and met up with our families and stories were told right away and will continue to be told for awhile. The trip was not without a glitches, mostly on the part of the airlines and luggage. Many of us arrived hoem to find our luggage was still in Chicago. Hopefuly,that will be resolved very soon.

The final days of the trip saw most of the players spending time in the guest homes of the guest families, getting an up close and personal look at the Dutch living experience. All of the players seemed to be very satisfied with their guest family setup and seemed to adjust rather quickly to the new surroundings. For those that stayed behind,most of them spent the final day in Amsterdam, taking a train from Nijmegen. Saturday night on TV we watched the Dutch Naional team beat Scotland 3-0 in the Amsterdam Arena.

The trip was very well planned, fast- paced and interesting as we managed to see many different places and to do many different activities. Rain became a constant companion. Outside of the first 2 days, we had rain everyday, and usually for most of the day, and it was usually a cold rain with a strong wind.Never did it seem to bother the people on their bicylces as they went about their business as usual.

Special thanks to Jan for his planning and to Harry and Theo for their coaching and time spent with us, and especially for their historical stories aling the way. We also thank Astrid for her great meals at the Hostel Uitzicht and the staff at the de Oude Molen for their service and hospitality.

All in all, the trip delivered as promised. It was a life - enriching series of moments that will long be remembered by everyone on the trip. The soccer experiences were especially memorable - the stadium tours, the training sessions, the professional games, our own games, the way they play in Holland and the amount and design of the many soccer complexes that we saw where-ever we went. It was a great experience and one that hopefully will improve us in mnayt ways -- not just as soccer players and coaches, but as people with a global experience.

My thanks to everyone on the trip for their cooperation throughout the time in Holland. I hope that everyone, in their own way, realized all that had hoped the trip would be. We will release the dates for the Spring Trip 2010 shortly.
Applications for CBC Dutchtouch International Camp are now available on the website -www.cbcdutchtouch.com - don't wait too late as the interest in the camp is high and enrollment is limited -- don't be left out !!

Another cold, rainy day in Holland

Friday March 27, 2009

When in Holland, expect rain -- and cold as well !!
Thursday we had a morning training session, mostly in the rain - as usual.
After a big warm meal (mashed potatoes, big meat balls, green beans, salad and dessert), it was off to Nijmegen for a shopping spree in the centrum. From there we loaded vans and went separate ways to Huissen for the younger group and to Cuyk for a the older ones. Oh yes, it rained during the shopping spree and why would it not.

The games were played with rain, sometimes heavy, but the turf fields allow for play to go on. It is very impressive to see how nothing affects thes Dutch people -- as they ride their bikes trought he streest in the rain holding an umbrella in one hand , cell phone or cigarette in the other, and managing to keep the bike moving.

The older group, with the addition, of 3 dutchies , won 4-2 in a very well-played game. That group seemed to hit it's stride and the previous games proved to be a big help. The younger group played very well, with more intensity than before, but did not get the win. They also played in the rain on turf.

Turf is huge over here and nothing stops because of it. We are lucky because the grass field swere being hit hard by the rain of the past few days.

Today, Friday, is a free day - with the players in guest families and the rest, parents mostly, going to a U20 Dutch National Team game this afternoon. Many of the players will joins with their uest families.

so far, dry -- hope it stays that way.

A Rainy day in Germany

Thursday, March 26, 2009

We left in the rain and managed to be in the rain for most of the day and night -- and it was cold to boot !! Our day in Germany went very well - we first stopped in Dussledorf for a 2 hours walk about and shopping spree in the city centrum. I t rained mosst of that time - light to heavy rain and cold ! We found big soccer store and the kids enjoyed browsing and buying.

The second stop was Gelsenkirchen, the home of FC Schalke 04 - a powerful club in the Bundesliga. Upon arriving, we quickly hit the fan shop and made some purchases of the SDchalke merchandise and then we toured the massive and new Veltins Arena - capacity 80,00o with a playing surface of natural grass that rollos in and out of the stadium as needed. Yesterday, it was out and a car show was setting up. The tour was very complete from locker room to club house to the museum to the Hall of Fame. The entire complex at Schalke was mind-boggling. Fields and equipment everywhere -- turf fields, grass fields, a sand field and a tennis court field for soccer tennis. The first team was training while we were there and some of us watched it, also in the rain and a heavy rain it was.

We played the youth of Schalke '95 -- WOW !!! speed everywhere and the fastest tranisiton team I have seen at tHt age ever. The game opened at a fast pace and they seemed to be everywhere, all at the same time. they scored 2 early goals and then we made some adjustments and the game settled a bit. It was a great display of efficiency, pace, skill and tactical awareness -- their training was very evident in their play. It was a great experience for our players. Before the game each of the Schalke players gave our players a gift bag, which was very nice and nice of them.
We played the game mostly in the rain on the artificial surface with some parts of the game in heavy rain. The second half was better and the game leveled but we were unable to score and they went on to be run away winners at 5-0. Not a bad result considering all that there is to consider.

Then it was load the bus and head back toi Holland with a stop at McDonalds, which everyone enjoyed.

Today we have training in the morning, visit and shopping in Nijmegen, games tonight and then for most of the players it will be off to the guest families until we leave on Sunday.

It's been a great rip, very busy, but very well planned. Harry and Theo have been with most all of the time and they are great in so many ways. Jan is busy as always. He has Japanese group starting their tour today, so we will not see him for a couple of days. We are now down to the last few days of the trip and they will be good as the guest families will provide many neat things to do in their country.

3 day update

TUESDAY, March 24, 2009

After 2 days of no service on the computer and difficulty getting a signal for the cell phone, I will now provide an update, as best as I can remember.

Sunday: after breakfast, we had a meeting /reunion with the dutchies from last summer and the guest families for this trip. It was a great turnout and everyone seemed excited to see each other again.

Following that we had a training session led by Harry, Theo and Henk ( 3 dutch coaches). It went very well. It was also on Sunday that the weather started to change -- cold and windy, but dry. After training, there were 2 options: visit the War Museum 40-44 or go to a local senior level amateur game.

Monday: Thhe weather turned for the worse -- cold, windy, now wet. We trained and just did finish the session before we had showers. After a big lunch (dinner). we went to the Opan Air Museum in Arnhem -- and it rained (hard) and it was cold and windy. Some of the buildings were not open and it was a walking tour. After the tour, we loaded the bus to go tour games in the evening in Arnhem against the local youth team. It was quite an experience for our players as the dutchies had a degree of playing sophistication and using the body that made life difficult for us.
we played 2 games - 2 different age groups and we got better as the games went on, but did not have enough to overcome the local teams. A good learning experience and hopefully we will better because of it.

TUESDAY: another cold, wet and windy day. We trained in the morning and got blasted by freezing rain. We were able to get most of the session in before we had to give in to the weather. Then it was off to Nijmegen, tpo the local soccer shop ( many purchases) and to the NEC grounds for a stadium tour and to watch some training sessions. Then off to our games for the evening -- we did better, but did not do enough to win. We finished the night with pizza at a local restaurant.

Wednesday: we will spend the day in Germany and play Schalke 04 youth team.

Great 2 nd day

sun 3-22-09

quick recap-

Jan arrives and joins us

we play indoor in Someren

Go to Eindhoven for PSV - Vitesse game

beautiful day

all luggage has arrived

meet the dutchies and train today

Great first day in Holland

Sat. March 21, 2009

Sunshine and blue skies greeted us as we awoke to our first full day in country.
After a typical Dutch breakfast (eggs, bread, butter, jelly, cereal, milk and juice), we were off to Amsterdam. We arrived on time for our scheduled tour of the Ajax Arena. The tour took us through all the various areas of the Arena and culminated with a group photo taken down on the field.

Following the tour, we headed to the Youth training center at Ajax ( The Futuro ) and we watched a training session of the reserve team. The pace of the session was very lively, with high intensity and plenty of competition on the field. Our group was very impressed by the session and loud the players were during the session. Intensity and communication were the 2 most significant aspects of the session.

After the training session, it was back to the Arena for the Ajax Museum tour and a visit to the Ajax gift shop. After making our purchases, we were off to downtown A,sterdam and a Canal cruise. Amsterdam is truly a unique city in the world and our short visit did not disappoint. The volume of pepoplem and bikes, were awesome. The Canal cruise gave us an overall impression of Amsterdam and then our short shopping spree put us dead center amongst the volume of people. We all wished for more time in Amsterdam, but our schedule did not permit it. We were off to Doetichem, about a 2 hour drive back to near where we started from, for our professional game (De Graafschaap vs Heerenveen. We ate at a restaurant along the way and the ribs and schnitzel filled everyone.

The game was awesome -- small stadium, filled to capacity with passionate home fans, cheering their team on to an upset-victory. Kick-off was 8:45 local time. The walk up to Stadium was through a wooden area, which would not resemble anything we have back home. Bikes lined the trees at the edge of the walkway and the crowd was building as we approached the stadium. Great game - 2 - 0 win fot the home team, who desperately needed the 3 points. It was a clash of the bootom of the table home team vs the 4th place team in the league. The players and fans both celebrated the victory.

Back on the bus for the short return trip to our 'digs' -- it was after midnight when we arrived back and the adrenaline from the day's activities, kept sleep away for a little bit longer/

Today, Saturday, we start with a late breakfast at 9 am, a vidit to the War Cemetary, and then off to 3 hours of training and playing at a facilty near Eindhoven, the site of our professional game tonight -- PSV (Eindhoven) vs Vitesse (Arnhem) -- should be another great game lloaded with atmosphere and passionate fans.

more later, after the day's activities. Everyone is doing fine and settling in well.

Finally !! We Arrived !!!

Thursday March 19, 2009

After many twists in the tail, then group srrived in Dusseldorf, Germany --
but not without a certain amount of aggravation. The Washington - Franfurt connection went smoothly, while the Chicago - Munich one made up for it.
The St. Louis departure was first delayed in the terminal, as the plane had a mechanical problem. Soon came the announcement that we would be taking a different plane -- moree delay (it had not even shown up yet ?). Then, after boarding that plane, it was determined that it was not running just right -- more delay, frustration and hope. WE were told that if we did not take-off by 4:30m that we would miss our connectionn to Germany. Fortunately, a little after 4:15 we were building up steam and awy wwe were. Kudosn to the pilot for getting us to Chicago in 40 minutes - TOPS !!!

Once we landed in Chicago, our next plane to Germany was already boarding. No wasted time and we made it to thgen gate in time and boarded -- thenn waited 45 minutes for a pet (a dog) to join us. Then we were off for a smooth ride - long but smooth.

Then we arrived at Munich and our plans were to travel the last leg on Lufthansa Airlines. We got to the ticket counter to get our boarding passes only to be told that we were not in the system !! After numerous interactions it was sorted and we completed the flight to Dusseldorf, arriving on time --- unfortunately our luggage did not !!! 19 of us were without luggage -- albeit the carry-on version. FINALLY, 5 HOURS LATER, MOST OF THE LUGGAGE ARRIVED AT OUR HOSTEL --- minus luggage of 5 people. The remaining missing luggage was located and will reach us on Friday -- the day we keave here at 8 am for a full day in Amsterdam anda professional game at night.

The group of Washington-Frankfurt also had aa lost bag, but it will arrive with the others on Friday.

After settling in, we had sandwiches and fruit and took a walk into the village.
Now it's off to dinner and a big day tomorrow.

So far, we are glad to bwe here and looking forward to each dayt's experience.