FALL 2018 PRESEASON PREVIEW
Can you feel it in the air? The overweight beer drinking soccer player returns!
Ronaldo to Juventus? Real Madrid with another Champions League win? France wins the World Cup? Nope. I've taken a quick 1 person survey and the return of CLUBWAKA MEDIOCRE LEAGUE SOCCER is DEFINITELY the soccer event of the year.
CAPTAINS MEETING
REMINDER FOR ALL CAPTAINS -- We will be meeting at Schooners Bar and Grill in Newport News on Wednesday August 15th at 7:00 PM. Captains, if you can't make it please be sure to send a representative. If anyone else wants to roll out and socialize, feel free.
RULES
I highly encourage every player to read the rules prior to the start of the season as there are some differences from your normal 11 v 11 league. Rules are located here.
That being said, I know how lazy I am about these things. I thought it would be good to give a few quick bullet points highlighting some of the rule differences:
via GIPHY
SCHEDULE
A reminder to all players and captains that the website will always have the most updated schedule on it. Schedule is available here.
JERSEYS
I will have jerseys at the field to distribute on Sunday August 19th (Week 1). For anyone who signs up after today (8/14) you will most likely not have a jersey for Week 1. Please be sure to wear a color that matches your squad. Speaking of team colors, there are some colors that are similar in the league, so we will try to have pinnies available for one of the teams to wear.
VOLUNTEERS
Let me just say... Tom and Jay of Oozlekicks are dreamboats.
Tom Weniger, first winner of the Golden Boot and all around swell guy, has volunteered to assist with the blog this season. I've run out of material so consider yourselves lucky as Tom will be bringing the comedy every week.
Jay Coble has volunteered to assist with rule interpretation and clarification. He is also a great keeper as evidenced by this save from PKs last season.
If anyone else would like to volunteer to do something to make the league better - trashperson, flag collector, vlogs, interviews, Brewery Hypeperson, etc... hit me up. We strive for fun whether it's on the field or off. Plus I can use all the help I can get.
REFRESHMENTS
As I did last year, I will be providing old school refreshments week 1. We'll see if I go Capri Suns or whether I try to wrangle some Hi-C juice boxes. And you never know whether orange slices show themselves or whether I just go straight Lil' Debbie snacks. Try not to fall off the edge of your seats.
1. How long have you been playing and where you played club, high school or college ball?
I have been playing ever since being born in raised in Getmo, Cuba. I started in humble beginnings in this sport but came to the states play for Kecoughtan High at a competitive level and eventually to play at Liberty University for a short while. 2. How did you hear about the league? I heard about the Waka Soccer league through community pickup groups on Facebook.
3. What are you most looking forward to about the season? The thing I am looking forward to the most this season is to play ball with my brother and best friend. Also I desire to make connections with other good people.
4. Favorite player: Well there is only one person/god to be called my favorite player and that would be the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic the Savior of the People.
5. Position: The position I play for is a lone target man striker.
6. Team: I am signed up for the new Waka champions; Foot Works.
Let's review, shall we?
- Great team names - check
- 9 out of 10 teams returning - check
- Growing from 148 players to 214 players (45% increase!) - check
- Pre-season pick up games with 25-40 people weekly - check
- Oozlefinch in walking distance from the field - check
- Mixed skill set - check
- The return of the Golden Boot, Hands of God, Sign-up Simon, and the Golden Gal - chickity check check check check
So while we're reviewing, let's go back to where we started
--SPRING 18 SEASON IN REVIEW--
CHAMPIONS: MOAT MONSTERS
GOLDEN BOOT WINNER: Tom Weniger - Oozlekicks (MOST GOALS)
GOLDEN GAL WINNER: Mickey Amaro - Hangover 86 FC (FEMALE MVP)
HANDS OF GOD: Jay Coble - Oozlekicks (BEST GOALKEEPER)
SIGN UP SIMON WINNER: Scott Tinsley - UTTOTPHJ
(MOST OUTSTANDING LEAGUE SIGN-UP)
(MOST OUTSTANDING LEAGUE SIGN-UP)
NOW ONTO THE FALL SEASON UPDATES
CAPTAINS MEETING
REMINDER FOR ALL CAPTAINS -- We will be meeting at Schooners Bar and Grill in Newport News on Wednesday August 15th at 7:00 PM. Captains, if you can't make it please be sure to send a representative. If anyone else wants to roll out and socialize, feel free.
RULES
I highly encourage every player to read the rules prior to the start of the season as there are some differences from your normal 11 v 11 league. Rules are located here.
That being said, I know how lazy I am about these things. I thought it would be good to give a few quick bullet points highlighting some of the rule differences:
- Physicality: We have spoken with the head of referees and instructed him to call the game much more like futsal than your normal outdoor league. We understand soccer is a physical sport but knowing we're adults, have jobs, and the priority is fun, we thought it best to limit physicality. For those that haven't played futsal, it's 5 v 5 indoor and physical contact is called very tightly. Also to note: there is absolutely no slide tackling.
- *(!&%&$*:We're all adults and we all shank shots over the goal from the 6 from time to time. Shouting expletives to the skies will not result in a card unless it's excessive. Shouting expletives at the ref or other players will result in a card. We'll reiterate this a million times throughout the season, but this league is about enjoying the fun of the game. This isn't the World Cup.
- On the field: 7 players and at least two must be females. You can play with 5 to avoid a forfeit, but 2 of them must be females. If you have less than 2 females or less than 5 total players, it results in a forfeit.
- Free Kicks: All free kicks will be direct. All my free kicks will be direct...ly over the goal.
- Safety: SHINGUARDS ARE MANDATORY TO AVOID INJURY. The rules that are currently posted as of 8/14/18 will be changed. If you get kicked without shinguards, my guess is you will not be playing fakey snakey peek-a-boo like someone I know.via GIPHY
- Offsides: This one is easy. No offsides.
- Goal celebrations: Encouraged as long as they do not take a good deal of time. However, if I see anyone flossing or dabbing, automatic red.
- Substitutions: Subs are on-the-fly meaning you can sub at any time. Subs MUST be made from half field so consider the midline to be a door and you have to enter and exit through it. There will be a couple of cones there. Think of it like hockey.
- Goalkeepers: No punting or dropkicks. Only throws or kicks from the ground. No throw or kick should go past the midline, but a ball put on the ground and kicked can go past the midline. If it does, it's a free kick for the other team. The goal is to not have any Doug Flutie goalkeepers chuckin hail marys to cherry pickin' strikers.
via GIPHY
SCHEDULE
A reminder to all players and captains that the website will always have the most updated schedule on it. Schedule is available here.
JERSEYS
I will have jerseys at the field to distribute on Sunday August 19th (Week 1). For anyone who signs up after today (8/14) you will most likely not have a jersey for Week 1. Please be sure to wear a color that matches your squad. Speaking of team colors, there are some colors that are similar in the league, so we will try to have pinnies available for one of the teams to wear.
VOLUNTEERS
Let me just say... Tom and Jay of Oozlekicks are dreamboats.
Tom Weniger, first winner of the Golden Boot and all around swell guy, has volunteered to assist with the blog this season. I've run out of material so consider yourselves lucky as Tom will be bringing the comedy every week.
Jay Coble has volunteered to assist with rule interpretation and clarification. He is also a great keeper as evidenced by this save from PKs last season.
If anyone else would like to volunteer to do something to make the league better - trashperson, flag collector, vlogs, interviews, Brewery Hypeperson, etc... hit me up. We strive for fun whether it's on the field or off. Plus I can use all the help I can get.
REFRESHMENTS
As I did last year, I will be providing old school refreshments week 1. We'll see if I go Capri Suns or whether I try to wrangle some Hi-C juice boxes. And you never know whether orange slices show themselves or whether I just go straight Lil' Debbie snacks. Try not to fall off the edge of your seats.
FALL 18 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT #1
Joseph McCalla - Striker/Captain, Foot Works
I have been playing ever since being born in raised in Getmo, Cuba. I started in humble beginnings in this sport but came to the states play for Kecoughtan High at a competitive level and eventually to play at Liberty University for a short while. 2. How did you hear about the league? I heard about the Waka Soccer league through community pickup groups on Facebook.
3. What are you most looking forward to about the season? The thing I am looking forward to the most this season is to play ball with my brother and best friend. Also I desire to make connections with other good people.
4. Favorite player: Well there is only one person/god to be called my favorite player and that would be the one and only Zlatan Ibrahimovic the Savior of the People.
5. Position: The position I play for is a lone target man striker.
6. Team: I am signed up for the new Waka champions; Foot Works.
FALL 18 PLAYER SPOTLIGHT #2
Jose Lucio - Defender, Netkicks and Chill
I've been playing since I was 8 years old. 2. Where did you play growing up? I played a lot of street soccer. Me and a couple of friends would play in the parking lot of a community center and use cones as goals. I would also play during lunch at my school in the baseball field since we didn’t have soccer
3. Favorite Player? Sergio Ramos.
4. Position: Defender/Center Back
5. Thing You're Most Looking Forward to About the League: I’m looking forward to playing again it’s been 3 years and also just trying to improve my gameplay.
STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT BLOG WHICH WILL HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS AND A TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEW PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SEASON ON SUNDAY!
via GIPHY
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