We had a great season this year. I loved seeing the kids grow so much. I'm going to miss Lilly and Nico next fall; they are part of what made the Mighty Dragons so great.
Thanks again to all the parents. I know I'm not the most organized coach in the world but I like to think I'm good with the kids. And thank you for the gift certificates to Bill's and Baskin's. They weren't neccessary but were appreciated. I'll see you around.

















!!

'Sup with Miriam?

I've had a few people ask how Miriam is doing. It's been a while since I last took any pictures and when I do it's often times a blur because she's almost three and never stops moving. Here's a shot I took a whiel back.

You can see she still has some redness and it gets worse if she gets hot or cries.

Still, she's good. We're good. It's all good. Today is a good day.

 

Dragon Stuff

A few things:

• All our games will be at Oaks Elemetary from here on out. Practice will remain at Pine Forest.
• If you ordered pictures, I have them. I'll bring them to practice and the game.
• We will have a make-up game May 13th. It should be at the same time as the one we missed (noon). I'll confirm later.
• The team party was scheduled for immediatly after the last game (May 6th). We can still do that or do it after the new last game (May 13th). I don't care too much but prefer the 13th. You parents need to work it out. I'm cool either way.

I'm having a great time. Thanks again.

Whatchoo talkin' about Willis?

I have no idea what's going on here but th expresions in this photo crack me up.

Thanks for the pictures Mike!

Mike Kyme took some rockin' pictures of the Dragons two weeks ago and passed them on to me. I am passing them on to you. I can email full size versions if you so desire.


Pre-game drills

Nico's expression rocks!

Jacob hustles for the ball

The Smith's

Abby and Emma - Ready for anything

The goalie . . bored and alone, just teh way we like 'em. (Thanks Mark!)

"Throw like the wind!!"

It's a Dragon play!

I think they touched the ball twice this game. :-) Look at the Emory and Emma go for it.

More Dragon action

That kid, Tyler, was good.

Nico just scored a goal and was being hugged by his mom. This picture was two seconds away from a submission to Sports Illustarted.

It's all about working with yoru team

Brandon's got the idea in this picture

Dragons at work!

Just an update

A few things:

• We don't keep score or stats at the YMCA. It does appear taht the Dragons are doing well though.
• Did you see the kids working the ball?!?! How cool was that?
  
• There is no official practice on Friday. I will, however, be at the field for those that want to kick the ball around.
• There is no game Saturday.
• There is a YMCA discount for the Houston Dynamo on April 22nd, it could be a fun way to end the season. The Klenke's are considering going.
  
  We are pleased to offer you, our valued YMCA members, this special Members Only offer:
  
  Join us on Saturday, April 22nd at 7:30 p.m. as the Houston Dynamo take on Real Salt Lake at Robertson Stadium. All YMCA members receive a one time offer of 20% off ANY tickets!*
  
  Call (713) 276-7500 ask to speak to a ticket seller and mention the code YMCA.
  
  Houston Dynamo -- This is what we play for!
  
  *Advance Purchase only, based on availability.
  Good for Game 3; April 22, 2006 ONLY.
  
  

Miriam's getting better all the time

I wanted to thank you all for asking about Miriam at the last practice and the game. She's doing much better than she was. Susan says it's because of all the prayers.

We are very blessed.

In case of rain

The weather looks bad for Friday and Saturday.

Please remember, do not call the main YMCA phone number if you want to know about whether we'll have practice or a game.

You can call me or you can call the weather line: 281.628.5730

What a great game!

Are the kids getting good or what? The ball control is getting so much better. I see planning in some of the kids. I'm thrilled!

If any of you parents took any pictures, send them to me and I'll put them here for the REST of your families to see.

Next Friday I am working the Elm Grove carnival during practice time. Michael's dad, Joel, has agreed to fill in for me. He'll have picture forms to hand out if you don't have one already.

Picture day is April 1st. Bring your filled out form and method of payment to the field 1/2 hour before game time.

Also, if you want to have a team party, decide amongst yourselves what you want to do. Same with trophies. There is no DragonMom (or Dad) thus far but if you want one then elect one.

I'm having a great time coaching again this season. Thanks for all your help!

Change of venue

This weekend, March 25^th, our game will be played at Oaks Elementary instead of the usual Pine Forest.

PFE is having their Spring Carnival and will need the space.

Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&sll=30.056333,-95.210716&sspn=0.136989,0.341949&q=oaks+elementary&ll=30.076225,-95.210953&spn=0.273923,0.460052

A wee bit of the post-St. Patty's Day update

I hope all of your spring break's are going well. The Klenke's have had a good one. If you have never been up to Lake Livingston State park I recommend it. We camped overnight and had a blast. It's a short drive but seems longer once you are away from everything.

Practice yesterday was good. I'm glad those of you who could come, came. I know Gwen was ready to see some friends after a week of no school chums. We practiced the same drills as last week.

They were:

• Keep away - where everyone gets a ball in a circle and has to protect their ball while attacking everyone elses.
• Follow the leader - where everyone dribbles their ball wherever the leader dribbles.
• Blob - where one person tries to take a ball away from the other kids and then absorbs that kid to get the others.
• Minefield - where the kids have to pass the ball without hitting cones. (This one didn't turn out as well as I would have liked. Good concept, poor execution on my part.)
• Charge - where I roll a ball to one line of kids and they have to charge the ball and kick it to the other line.
• Ouch - where the kids try to dribble the ball into be and I yell "ouch" based on how hard a kick it was.

The kids are enjoying the "games" and their ball handling skills are improving well. In the next few practices I'll try to come up with games that help prevent bunching up.

Our last game was great; the kids are working together well and having fun.

Things to remember:

• Bring water to practice and games
• Bring shin-guards to practice and games
• Have the kids go to the bathroom before practice and games
• Practice with your kids; it's fun and educational

Thanks for all the help!

It's not a joke, it's Picture day.

Last season picture day was moved three or four times. Katrina threw us all off a bit I guess.

I'm not sure that it bodes well that our picture day is April 1st. Our options are limited though.
Pictures will be at 10:30, before our 11 AM game.

I'll start bringing picture forms to the game on the 25th an to the following practice. I will also have forms on picture day.

The kids need to start practicing their MIGHTY DRAGON faces now.

Morning Glory Muffins

My sister needed a cupcake-like recipe for my nephew Thad to take to school. So she came to us, because we have the best food ever!

These muffins are so good that the MIGHTY DRAGONS will never know they are good for them. If you bring them to practice, I know that I, at least, will eat them

Morning Glory Muffins

1 1/2 c. flour
3/4 t baking soda
3/4 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 t. vanilla
3/4c. oil
3 eggs
1 large carrot (grated)1 zucchini (grated)
1 c. coconut
1/4 c. golden raisins
1(8 1/2 oz.) can crushed pineapple (drained, reserve juice)

Sift together first four ingredients and set aside. In separate bowl, mix sugar, vanilla, oil, and eggs, stirring wall. Add dry ingredients to Liquid mixture, mixing quickly. Fold in veggies and fruits. If batter is too dry add a small amount of reserved juice. Grease muffin tins, spray with Pam, or use paper liners, and fill 3/4 full.

Bake at 375 degrees about 25 minutes or until golden brown

Snack Schedule

Susan made up this schedule. If the days don't work for you, find a buddy and trade.

Thanks for helping out!

date	time	h/a	shirt	halftime	snack/drink
3/11/06	11am	home	white	Brandon	Jacob
3/25/06	11am	home	white	Emma	Emmory
4/1/06	11am	away	red	Abby	Matthew
4/8/06	2pm	home	white	Katherine	Lillia
4/22/06	9am	away	red	Nicolas	Thomas
4/29/06	12pm	away	red	Michael	Brandon
5/6/06	9am	home	white	Jacob	PARTY!

The Mighty Dragon Roster

Click for larger image:

A call for help. We need a Dragon Bench

Hey Parents!

Do any of you do much woodwork? I was thinking it'd be fun for the kids to have a bench to sit on when they weren't playing.

I'm not great with woodwork but I was going to take a shot at building one. A number of you though, have asked what you can do to help out. Here's an opportunity if it's something that's up your ally.

I was thinking of something like one on the link below but bigger.
http://www.homeenvy.com/db/5/65.html

Any volunteers? Any ideas?

Snack schedule

Susan should have a snack schedule posted by Monday. If you can use what was brought today as a guide everything will be cool.

Bug spray and sunblock might be good to have in your bag of tricks when you come to practice and teh games. I noticed it was sunny and buggy today. It felt great but no one likes welts and melanoma.

First game report

What a great first game! The kids were wonderful. All of them did so much better than I could have hoped for.

If you have any pictures you can email to me or that I can scan I appreciate them.

See you all next Friday!

Shirt colors

I can never remember . . so I called the YMCA.

Home is white.
Away is red.

We are the MIGHTY RED DRAGONS today!!

We are . . The Mighty Dragons!

The Mighty Squirrels have passed on. Long live the Mighty Squirrels.

The dragons are in town.

The schedule is posted . . but I wouldn't hold my breath

It looks like the game schedule has been posted. These things have a tendancy to change so I wouldn't plan my whole spring around it.

Susan and I will be bringing snacks for teh first game. See you all at practice [5:30, Friday, March 3rd @ Pine Forest Elem.].

It has begun

The rosters were released last Thursday.
The first game is sometime Saturday March 4th
The first practice is Friday, March 3rd at Pine Forest Elem.
Everyone on the team has been contacted.

It looks like we are ready to go.

Make sure you bring water and shin-guards to practice.
If you have a ball, bring it.
If you want a ball, swing by Beasly Tires on Loop 494. They give them away. Buy some tires while you're there. :-)

Call me if you have any questions.

Talk to you all soon.

A Squirrel Scrapbook

Last season I wanted to post lots of pictures to this site. I couldn't take them because I was coaching but I saw parents taking shots. So I did the logical thing and asked them to pass anything on to me.

I especially noticed the team mom, Bonnie Malone, always had her camera. The only time she put it down was when to cheer on Libby.

I never got any pictures from her though. I couldn't figure out what I had done.

The team party rolls around and I'm presented with the best scrapbook ever. There are tons of pictures, the kids all signed it. It was great.

I meant to put it on the website but never got around to it.

So, here it is, a season late.

Thank you Bonnie and Squirrels.

Click on the image below to start a slideshow

A game for squirrels about squirrels

A simple game for a squirrels about squirrels. Move your mouse right to go down and gain speed . . .move it left to go up (and lose speed). Get lots of nuts!

Gwendolyn starts preparing for soccer

The spring season is right around the corner. If you haven't started getting ready, now is the time.

Gwendolyn and I have been working on passing, dribbling, and kicking with the inside of the foot.

While the weather is good, practice, practice, practice.

A new season starts . . . here I am again

It's been a few months since last I posted. I planned on closing out the last season by scanning in the scrapbook that Bonnie made. But I failed.

Thanks again for a great Fall season. I think the kids made great progress and we had fun. Thanks again for the gift card to Pei Wei. Susan and I have gone out twice on it and I have just enough for some edemame on my next visit. It was very thoughtful.

It's been a very busy break for me. There were dance recitals and families in town, and pageants and holidays. It was fun but it looks like the true meaning in my life has raised it's head and called me out.

And that true meaning is YMCA soccer.

I got an email the other day:

Aaron, will you be coaching YMCA soccer again this spring? Abby is thinking about playing again, so wanted to check with you first.
Thanks,
Binita Pernik

So I fire back from the hip (as is my wont):

Binita,

If I say "no" does that mean she won't play?

I translate you question as "Our daughter's physical well-being is dependent on you, Aaron Klenke, sacrificing time and effort again teaching our kids about teamwork, good health, and other YMCA stuff. Are you going to let her waste away or are you going to be a stand-up guy and do the right thing?"

The answer is yes. I plan on coaching again this spring. I'll email the other parents and let them know.

Thanks for asking!

Aaron
AKA Coach Klenke

So here we are. At least here *I* am. Ready to coach again.

I'm thinking about doing a few things differently this year. The kids have reached an age and expertise where we can start specializing. Some kids will be goalie more than others. Some will focus on offence and some on defense. They will still move around some [because it's a good thing to try stuff and be ready to fill in], but not as much. I want to give the kids time to learn and excel. We may rethink that as the season progresses.

The other thing is that I will not be coaching every game. I have never seen Gwendolyn play from the sidelines. I'd like to try that once or twice. So there will need to be stand-in coaches for the games. I'll handle the practices as always, but a game or two will need an alternate coach. I'm open for volunteers . . . otherwise you'll be volunteered.

So go to the YMCA or online at http://www.ymcahouston.org/ and register. Make sure you ask for me as a coach. I look forward to seeing you all again.

Celebration Time C'mon!

The season is rapidly coming to a close. It is time for the Annual Coach Klenke Child/Parent Scrimmage. Bring your camera, bring your athletic shoes, leave your pride at home.

I'll see you Friday. 

The Coach Klenke Seal of Approval

I have tasted the sweetness of CapriSun Red Berry and deem it good; a fine snack worthy of Squirrels.

Thanks Mark and Bertina for the snacks.

Thank you all the parents who have brought snacks. And "Thank you too," to the parents who wanted to bring snacks but were unable to because we have too many kids and/or too few games. There is always next year!

Meshelle Submits Pictures!

(Click for HUGE individual pics.)

Pictures are in

Today at practice I handed out team pictures. If you missed practice I'll bring them to tomorrow's game at 11:30.

If you didn't like your pictures or missed picture day, retakes will be November 12th from 8AM until 10AM.

If you parents haven't been practicing now is a good time. Friday November 18th will be the annual Parent/Child* scrimmage. Be ready to be squooshed by the MIGHTY SQUIRRELS!

*Siblings welcome

For the record that is my fake picture smile. My real smile is MUCH more scarey.

The ads for this site, they kill me.

For the record, I don't expect any of you to buy anything from the advertisement on this site. I have an account with Google so I throw the code up on each page. I haven't made any money yet (mostly because only you and my mother read these pages) but I enjoy the ads that are displayed. The one on the 3rd of October has my favorite though.

The ad I saw today was for Squirrel gifts (click on the link if you want to see what type of stuff they have). Cute stuff, nothing I had to have though.

It made me smile that there was such a thing.

Game Five was amazing!

Wow! Your kids were great. Did you see the passing and dribbling?
Dillan and Gwen had their best game ever as a defenders. Libby wasn't scared of the ball when she was goalie. The Smith girls were taking names offensively. Brandon unintentionally had a header and stayed in the game Thomas and Jack ran like crazy and scrappled with the best of them.

I was so proud of them. They did it almost all on their own too. I almost never left the defensive positions. They were great.

I think we are going to work on offensive positions this week. Last practice we spoke of defense; the why and the how. We are going to talk about when to center the ball in front of the goal and when to move the ball to the sides.

I'm going to try to get them to understand the why of it and how to predict what's going to happen if the other Squirrels have control of the ball.

I saw Bonnie taking pictures . . . If you are taking any please pass them on to me so I can share with the rest of the team and whatever extended family might see the web page. If they are digital, email them. If they are "real" I can scan them on Friday after practice and return them on Saturday.

I want to thank you again for the time you let me spend with your kids. You and they are great!

Picture retakes / make up

This is the last picture update of the season. I promise.

Re-takes for pictures has been schedule for Nov. 12 from 8am to 12pm here at the Y. It's an open time of first come first served. If you need a specific time please call Wade's at 281-353-1819.

That's it. I'm done with pictures. (Again.)

Practice Update

For those of you who are smarter and better planners Daylight Savings Times ends this weekend. What that means to us immediately is that it will be dark at practice. Practicing in the dark is bad.

So I am moving practice up an hour. I am very sorry for messing up a known schedule but unless one of you parents has an indoor field we are out of luck.

If you are going to have a hard time getting your squirrel to practice, give me a call and I'll do my best to coordinate rides.

The kids did great tonight at practice. Their ball handling is getting so good. And for those of you who weren't there . . . ask to see how they go after the ball as goalie.

Our team is working very well together. I'm very impressed. You parents who are practicing with your kids, keep it up. I had a bunch tell me they practiced at home and they seemed thrilled about it.

Thanks again for your support. You are the best!

Watch out for traffic (not the band)

The Kingwood High School Homecoming Parade is this weekend.

Specifically Saturday.

At nine in the morning.

---

Our game is at 9:30.

If you use W. Lake Houston to get to the field you may be delayed.

Libby, The Littlest Squirrel

There once was a little squirrel named Libby. She was the tiniest squirrel ever. Every day she stretched and stretched to get bigger so she could play soccer better with the bigger squirrels.

Day after day she reached higher and higher. But she didn't seem any bigger.

Then one day she got very, very sick. Her tummy hurt. Her head hurt. She got bumps on her arms.

The doctor came to visit . . . but couldn't make her better.
Her mommy and daddy gave her lots of hugs and kisses . . .but that didn't make her better .
Her little brother was even nice to her and shared his toys . . . but not even that made her better.

Everyone was sad. Her soccer team and coach most of all. They knew that they were all part of a team and everyone counted, no matter how small.

So they all got together and said a quiet prayer. And Libby got better soon after.

At her first practice back everyone said how great she looked and how happy they were to see her.

And at the game? At the game Libby was so happy to be better and be with her team and friends that she scored three goals. (Even though she wasn't any bigger than before.) Inside though, she felt like a MIGHTY SQUIRREL!!

The end.

{authors note: the squirrel image is not mine, I found it on the internet and was looking for a way to use it. I hope that Libby and Catherine both get well soon. - Coach}

A Game Two recap . . .

We won game two against the Laser Sharks . . .

even though we had to come from behind.


Photos by Rick Vaile.

"Dillon! Thomas!" <> Dylan Thomas

Odd things bring me joy sometimes and twice this season I have been struck by the conjunction of Dillon and Thomas' names on the field.

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh poet who died in the 50's. One of his most famous poems was written about his father while he lay near death. It tells of not giving up, of fighting against death. It tells of a son's love. A love that the son does not want to lose.

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

More on Dylan Thomas

My thoughts go out to Thomas, Nicholas, his parents, and family.

Game Three is Behind Us . . What's ahead?

The season is almost half over and I think it's going really well. The kids and I are having a good time and their soccer skills are improving.

It's tough be a coach at the YMCA sometimes. It is for me at least. I want the kids to win every game because it makes them feel good and because I like winning. But I want each child to experience all the different parts of soccer and being goalie, or defender, or even losing is part of that.

We've talked about exercise and good sportsmanship. The kids seem to be doing very well understanding being good sports. Last Saturday's game is a good "teachable moment" on losing gracefully.

I think that this week at practice we'll talk about playing positions. I don't expect it will sink in at this age and they will be able to execute it well, but we have to start somewhere. I think we may do some goalie drills too. We'll see.

If you have some time during the week, dribble and pass with the kids. The weather is nice and it's a skill all the kids can get better at.

Thanks again for being great parents.

Don't get me started on pictures

At 11:20am on Saturday 10/22 at the Y.

Don't ask. It's not the coaches fault.

It really doesn't need to be said but I'll say it anyway . . . . this is subject to change.

:sigh:

Today was a good day.

I've written in my other blog what makes a good day. But today was extra special. Today the kids were working as a team like never before. They were passing and dribbling and had their heads in the game. I don't know if you noticed, but I stayed out of the game play. I set them up at the beginning of each quarter and helped place them when the ball stopped (out of bounds, goal and corner kicks) but for the most part I wasn't with them all the time.

To tell you the truth, I miss them not needing me so much. I guess it's a good thing that Miriam is still coming up.

So I got the shirt schedule wrong (again). Home is white. Away is red. Really. No, really.

Thanks again for trusting me with your kids. They are great.

It doesn't get much better than this

Wow. Can we ask for nicer weather? The practice and the game are going to feel so nice. The squirrels are going to be on FIRE!

Make sure to bring your bug spray and sun-block, I don't want the little guys feeling like they really are on fire.

If you don't have a picture form please ask me for one. My goal would be to have them all filled out and checks/cash/credit card info ready to go when we line up for pictures.

If you need anything, let me know. See you all this evening!

Thank Goodness for Rita?

I don't know if any of you have checked the schedule but since the Huffman team has been added to the Lake Houston YMCA we no longer have a double-header!

Our schedule

How many more picture posts can I have?

I've already had the new and improved picture day post . . . I don't know what to call this one.

I guess it's best to just give you the information and you can, with confidence, knwo that it should be good for at least a day.

Picture day is at the YMCA at noon on the 22nd. Be there or be square.

I hope we look as good as this squirrel:

Do I really want to buy this now?

I added some ads to maybe generate some "other" revenue. Google ads search the content of the page the code is on and returns "relevant" ads. Sometimes, like in this case, the results are very funny.