David Van Wagenen

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the great weather. This is the final week of soccer season and the playoffs will be held this upcoming weekend. Teams are starting to separate themselves from one another, and we are excited to see who comes out to be the leader of the pack.

We will also be handing out another survey at practice tomorrow in case some of you did not receive one at practice. Please fill it out and return it to us at the games this weekend. It will help us greatly in figuring out how to improve the soccer league and improve as coaches. Remember, we have practice tomorrow evening at the soccer fields across from the Lakewest YMCA, and it will be the final practice of the soccer season.

We cannot express how grateful we are to all the parents and kids for making this soccer season so fun and exciting. Thank you again for all your hard work.

Sports Article of the Day: http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7153136/nba-lockout-david-stern-announces-more-game-cancellations

Philippians 3:12-14 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

David Van Wagenen

We held our second to last soccer practice earlier this week and it went great. The kids went through some new passing drills and responded well. The drills consisted of setting up cones in a line and having the kids weave in and out with the ball. We wanted them to try to dribble and maintain speed at the same time to try to simulate being in a game-type situation.

We have a big line up of games this weekend so be prepared to cheer on the kids to victory. The kids have been giving great effort and are motivated to finish strong. The season is coming to a close quickly and these last couple of games will determine the seeding for the playoffs. Keep up the good work kids and parents!

Some parents asked about the team and individual pictures this past Tuesday. We will have an update at the games this Saturday regarding pictures and how you go about picking them up. Also, don’t forget to fill out the survey we handed out at practice earlier this week and bring your completed form to the games this weekend. Your input is very important. Thanks again for everyone who has helped make this soccer season so fun and exciting!

GO RANGERS!

Sports Article of the Day: http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7154160/2011-world-series-no-reason-second-guess-texas-rangers-manager-ron-washington

2 Samuel 23:12 “But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field. He defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.”

Just Checking In

Hey Everybody,

       Just thought I would check in with the people an the community that make our sports program the wonderful program it is. I hope this soccer season has been a great experience for you all an hope an pray it will be 10 times better than what your experiencing now. We have had some ups an some downs this year but its nothing that cant be ironed out an that prayer cant take care of. Just remember that.....Jesus loves the children, an I see the children having the time of there lives out at the soccer fields!!!! Lee an I our learning how to run an organized sports program on a dime, so please bear with us as we learn more about familys,kids,coachs, etc. We are trying are very best to cater to all an make everyone happy. As we learn more an we pray for everything an anything to make it better for you all, please feel free to pray for us too!!!On that note I will let you attend to your daily work an keep you updated in the future about  BASEBALL, it is around the corner.

DANIEL ESCALANTE

David Van Wagenen

We are anticipating an exciting practice this evening as our coaching instructor will be back after being absent last week. He will have new passing drills to teach the kids and will reinforce some of the techniques we went over last week.

We held our team and individual photograph session last weekend at the YMCA across from the soccer fields. Everything went well, and I believe the kids and parents enjoyed the process. We want to thank everyone who helped out with the pictures. Everyone’s hard work helped make the weekend a success.

We will be handing out a survey at the end of practice tonight, in an effort to get feedback on how you think the coaches did, as well as how you think the soccer league was run in general. Please fill it out and bring the completed survey to the games this weekend. This survey is very important because it will help us evaluate areas where improvement is needed and help make next soccer season even better. This soccer season has been great but feel that we should always be looking for ways to improve, and this survey is a primary tool we use to gain feedback.

Thanks again to everyone for their hard work, and we look forward to seeing the kids on the practice fields tonight!

Sports Article of the Day: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-brown_world_series_game_five_rangers_102411

GO RANGERS!

1 Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

David Van Wagenen

Good afternoon everyone. We had a fantastic weekend of soccer this past Saturday and enjoyed the cool weather outside. There were some exciting matches played and the kids, and parents were in great cheering spirits.

Remember, you can go to www.quickscores.com/mercystreetdallas to check out your teams’ scores, standings and schedules. We typically upload the most recent scores by the following week, and we hope to have this past weekend’s results posted soon!

We have only two weeks left of soccer as of today, so kids, make sure you focus on what the coaches teach you in practice and try to use it on the field as the season winds down. Raffle tickets have been flying out the door so make sure you get a couple so you can win the new soccer ball we are giving away at the end of the season.

We are always looking for coaches and referees, so if you would like to help, or know someone that would be willing to help, please let us know.

Thanks again for all the support by the parents and hard work put in by the kids. You can really see a difference since the season started, and I am excited about the future for these Mercy Street soccer stars!

Sports Article of the Day: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=sh-henson_world_series_game_four_holland_102311

GO RANGERS!

Romans 5:3-4 “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

David Van Wagenen

Good afternoon everyone. We were excited to see all of the kids at practice this week. We started practice by focusing on shooting while running, as well as play in some one-on-one matchups. This allowed the coaches to show the kids different techniques while playing defense, and the lessons helped them sharpen their skills…after all, defense is the most important part of the game!

The weather is finally starting to cool down, and we even got some rain a few nights ago. Make sure you still send water with your kids and maybe even have them bring a light jacket to the games this weekend. The wind is making it feel a lot cooler than it is.

This the first year we’ve had a concession stand at the soccer games and sales have been better than expected. It helps Mercy Street, and the kids and parents seem to be really enjoying it as well.

Please continue to support and encourage our soccer superstars!

Proverbs 13:4 “A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

David Van Wagenen

This past weekend provided the most exciting action yet on the soccer fields. The kids worked really hard to put the new techniques they have learned in practice into action. The progress they’ve made has been remarkable.  I can see major improvements in their ball-handling skills, as well as passing. The younger age groups have been great about not using their hands. I’m so proud! We have been stressing teamwork and passing because often times they get caught looking down. It’s hard to learn to trust your feet when dribbling. As always, I am excited for practice tomorrow and am looking forward to running some new drills that focus on teamwork!

November 5^th marks the last day of soccer games. We’ll have playoff games and after the games are over, we’ll have a fun, end-of-season party where we’ll crown the champions and hand out trophies.

Keep up the hard work parents and players as you have made this soccer season a huge success thus far. We are looking forward to some exciting final games in the next few weeks!

Matthew 17:20 “He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

David Van Wagenen

I hope everybody has practiced at home and is preparing for a fun-filled weekend of soccer games. The games count more and more as we get into the second half of the season so kids, think about what the coaches have taught you in practice and try to bring those skills onto the field this weekend. I am excited to see the kids show off the skills they have learned thus far, and am so proud of the kids for working so hard to improve. They really are an inspiration to coach!

I want to mention that baseball season will be starting in March and we will start accepting registration forms towards the end of February. Baseball was a big success last year and think we will have an even bigger turnout this year. We will also assemble an all-star team and will pick the members toward the end of the baseball season.

Speaking of baseball, GO RANGERS! We hope you all are enjoying watching and cheering on the Rangers as they finish up this weekend in the ALCS. Keep your fingers crossed for a win on Saturday!

Keep up the hard work and practice as much as you can. We look forward to seeing everybody at the soccer fields tomorrow. Happy Friday!

Romans 15:1-2 “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.  Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”

David Van Wagenen

We had our best soccer practice yet earlier this week. The kids loved the new drills and really improved on passing and ball control skills. For one of our drills, we lined up 4 cones and the kids dribbled the balls around each cone, there and back. This drill is a great tool to help soccer players improve their agility on the field, and is an easy drill to practice at home too. Encourage your kids to practice dribbling around various objects in the yard, no cones necessary!  Even an extra hour a week can really help to improve their accuracy and nimbleness during our games.

Additionally, we had the kids play one-on-one matches, also to help them improve ball control, but this time, against an opponent. We are encouraging our teams to pass the ball to one another more often so they are forced to look up and dribble at the same time. Learning to rely on their teammates also promotes teamwork, a very important, but often forgotten skill in soccer.

We had our biggest interest yet for raffle tickets during this past weekend’s games, so make sure you get one before time runs out! We have a full line-up of games this weekend, so be prepared to cheer loudly for our soccer superstars! The gorgeous fall weather is sticking around this weekend. Come out and enjoy it!

2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

David Van Wagenen

Hello team members and parents. The soccer season has been flying by and I can’t believe we are already halfway through the season. I hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful weekend. We are thankful for getting some much needed rain in Dallas and fortunately for the kids, it came after a competitive round of soccer games on Saturday. The kids played hard and were flying around the field all morning long. Thank you parents for your tremendous support as you have kept the kids motivated and having fun. We love how enthusiastic our parents, grandparents, friends and family have been on the sidelines each game. You all are an inspiration to us as coaches, and we appreciate your enthusiasm, as I’m sure do the kids. Keep it up!

Please remember to get your name in the drawing for an awesome soccer ball that one lucky person will win at the end of the season. At $1 a pop for a raffle ticket, you won’t find a better deal on a brand new soccer ball! 

We are looking forward to practice today, and we have some challenging drills planned to test the kids’ skills. Keep up the energy and good work parents and players! We can’t wait for a fun practice today. With sun and a high of 84°, it doesn’t get much better than this! See you all at the soccer fields tonight.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 “For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. “

David Van Wagenen

Good morning and what a wonderful day outside! The weather here in Dallas has been absolutely perfect and the kids are having a blast getting outdoors for some soccer. We had a great practice yesterday and the fields were packed once again. We ran some new drills that tested dribbling skills and ball control. The kids did a great job and are really trying hard to improve in practice. Their efforts are translating onto the field during our games, and as coaches, it is so rewarding to see this hard work pay off. Keep encouraging your kids to practice, practice, practice!

Remember to buy a raffle ticket for the new soccer ball that will be given away at the end of the season. Tickets are going fast, and will continue to be sold during the weekend games. At just $1 each, you don’t want to miss out on the possibility of winning a new soccer ball!

The weather forecast continues to look good for this weekend, and we are expecting a huge turnout for the games. If you have any questions regarding your child’s game time, you can go to www.quickscores.com/mercystreetdallas to view the schedules. We look forward to seeing everybody out there this weekend and we wish the best of luck to the teams. Congratulations to all of the kids for their teamwork and dedication.

PROVERBS 12:14 “From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward.”  

Mercy Street Sports

Hey Everyone, Hope you all are doing fine! Just thought I would give you the weekly up date about the soccer program. As some of you knew some did not know that our coach for the Longhorns( James Wayne) son was not doing well an was in a coma last week. Well we have good news, he is awake an doing fine an James is in very good spirits. We had a small incident this past week at the fields Saturday, an I don't want to go in to detail about, but do want to say, Us as parents need to not worry about the small things that go on during a soccer game or any youth game, lets just thank the LORD that our child or children can have fun an play a sport. Its fine to cheer an get excited about them but always cheer them on in a loving way win or lose, good or bad, they are trying there little hearts out.

 As far as the league its self, we are doing fine an I see the crowds getting excited an amped up like I never seen before. I heard one parent tell a staff member of ours that they use to play an J.C. Zargoza in Ledbetter an that it was boring ,an over here with Mercy Street/YMCA that its krunck an hype.... For some that don't know krunck means like over,over, over the top exciting!!!!! So that made me feel real good about the program. Well I could sit here for days an write but I won't so KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK EVERYBODY AN THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP AN SUPPORT! Have a blessed day, Daniel E.

David Van Wagenen

Good afternoon everyone. We are three weeks into the soccer season and have had an overwhelming response from the kids and parents in the West Dallas Community. The kids are starting to grasp some different soccer techniques and concepts that the coaches teach during practice. They are greatly improving week-by-week. The weekend games have been very competitive and exciting to watch, with many coming down to the final minute of regulation. The sidelines have been packed for the games, and we truly appreciate all of the time and effort from the parents to help make this experience fun for the kids.

Starting this past weekend and continuing throughout the season, we are selling raffle tickets for a brand new soccer ball. Tickets are $1 each, and we will draw the winning raffle ticket at the end of the season.

We have a big week ahead and look forward to seeing you all out on the fields. Thanks again to all the coaches and parents…this would not be possible without your help!

PSALM 105:4 “Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.”