FA Soccer Stars

** FA Soccer Stars @ DHUFC **

When: Saturday 16th April
Who: (Phoenix, Fire, Flames 09:00 - 10:30. Heat, Sparks, Burn, Blaze 10:30 - 12:00)
Why: A fun exercise for the children and a useful guide of attainment for players, parents and coaches


What:
This is our third consecutive year of running the FA Soccer Stars Challenge and each year we have been rewarded by improved performances from our players. I feel this is a very positive experience and outcome for all those involved with playing, coaching and supporting here at the Club.

All players who attend the challenge will be presented with a certificate of attainment at our 'End Of Season Presentation' on Saturday 18th June. Players who achieve the top award of 5 Stars will also receive a small prize to acknowledge their level of attainment.

How Can I Help my Child Achieve Top Marks?
Yes, all the challenges measure basic football skills and can be viewed at the FA Soccer Stars Website. The skills themselves are quite straight-forward and parents can easily help their children understand and polish the techniques required by watching the animated skills and drills offered under the menu marked 'The Tests'. Each test section provides not only the drill to be performed but under the tab marked 'How to Master' some instructions on how to perform the drill to gain a maximum score.

Why not show your child the site over Easter and let them perform the drills and practices over the holiday?

The Challenges:
The Soccer Star Challenge is a soccer coaching, learning and assessment programme, for boys and girls aged 6-16 years.

Since its launch in 1988 this unique soccer coaching programme has been used by over 20,000 coaches and teachers, with over 500,000 children in over 20 countries worldwide.

The programme consists of practices and games to enable children to learn essential soccer techniques, together with six simple reliable tests.

What are the main benefits of the Soccer Star Challenge to players, coaches and teachers?

• It's fun to do and captures kids imagination
• Adds value to soccer programmes for boys and girls
• Offers Soccer Star certificate
• Profiles and records children's strengths, weaknesses and progress
• Rewards achievement
• Provides simple goal setting opportunities for kids
• Allow kids to practice and improve on their previous scores
• Provides tangible feedback to parents
• Increases loyalty to the coaches' learning programme

Flames v Trowbridge Wanderers

Flames 2 Trowbridge Wanderers 1 (HT Flames 0 Trowbridge Wanderers 1)
Man Of Match: The Team!

Our best performance this season. The Flames have been increasing their commitment and performance levels match by match, and this feels like a real pinnacle. We defended high, attacked as a team, remained focused on our positions and shape, and delivered killer balls on set-plays.

Super personal commitment all round, everyone played their part. Great confidence and belief to peg back Trowbridge after going a goal down. No Man Of The Match selected as every player performed with Pride, Passion and Belief. What a Team, I'm proud to be associated with you all.

I'm not going to highlight personal performances as normal as I want to recognize each player who gave everything to this game:-

Adam V, Ashley, Luke G, George, Ryan, Adam D, Ali E, Sam C, Josh W, Josh C, Oli P, Ed M

Spring Newsletter

Click HERE for the latest edition of the Club's newsletter, 'The Wildfire'. For those of you without an acrobat reader this tool can be downloaded for free from Adobe's website.

As we move into Spring, the Club concludes it's League activities and focuses on training and tournaments. Please keep in touch with activity through your group's coaches and team secretary. Three important dates for your diaries:-

1. 16th April: FA Soccer Stars
2. 30 April - 1 May: DHUFC Friendly Festival
3. 18 June: DHUFC End of Season Presentation

Current Club schedule is available on the Wanadoo Calendar. More details on each event nearer the time.

Remember, no Club training on Saturday 26th March and 2nd April due to the the Easter break. Have a good holiday and see you all on the 9th when activity recommences.

Regards,

Alan

Flames v Chippenham Rangers

Flames 5 Chippenham 5 (HT Flames 4 Chippenham 1)
Man Of Match: Adam V

Each team shared the spoils aided and abetted by the slope and strong wind. Both teams ran out 4-1 winners when playing with the advantages nature was offering!

Once again a great attacking performance by the Flames and some resolute defending against a committed opposition in the second half.

A fair result for both teams, each had great commitment and passion to their cause - Chippenham to win, Flames to play well.

Things to work on:-

• Remain confident and relaxed when under pressure
  
• Concentrate on positions and pass execution at own goalkicks
• Retreat to a defensive shape; narrow and compact
  

Some positives:-

• Held our nerve well and competed for the ball when under intense pressure
  
• Confident, effective attacking play
  
• Corners, Goalkicks and Shape - good throughout the game
  

Adam V
Two outstanding saves and many opportunities snuffed out by quick thinking and positive decision making. Some strong off the floor clearance kicks.

Josh W
Involved throughout the match, good tracking back when necessary. Great vision to pick out players in dangerous positions. when in possession of the ball.

Josh C
Strong tackling and holding play in midfield.

Ed M
For the third game in a row looking very fast and dangerous when given the opportunity to break.

Oli P
Strong running and link play when playing withdrawn behind the attack.

Flames v Calne Youth

Flames 4 Calne Youth 3 (HT Flames 3 Calne Youth 1)
Man Of Match: Dan

Phew. After being pulled back from a 3-0 lead, an intense finish saw the Flames holding onto a hard earned 4-3 result. After a superb first half of football which saw a rapid, 12 minute hat-trick from Ed, Calne gradually got hold of the game and worked to get back in the match.

After scoring 2 minutes before half-time, Calne went into the break knowing they had the slope, the wind and the momentum behind them. Resilient defending and threatening break-aways became the Flames main tools in the second half, and after losing both Sam C and Ryan to injury relied heavily on compact defending to keep Calne away from their goal.

On balance a deserved win and great reward for the excellent, confident, flair play of the first half. This was the Flames best half of football this season, with smart passes and decisive runs threatening to tear the opposition apart.

Things to work on:-

• Compact defending, need to move up quickly and as a unit
  
• Midfield to get closer to the defence when being pressed back
  
• Play yourself out of trouble, never 'just clear it'; the ball just comes back
  

Some positives:-

• We didn't let our heads drop as Calne came back into the game
  
• Confidence and flair on the ball - great creative play
  
• Corners, Goalkicks and Shape - good throughout the game
  

Ashley W
Another good performance from Ash at Left Wing back. Always prepared to get involved.

Dan T
Held his position well at Right Wing Back. Rarely beaten on the wing and made some good breaks down the flank when the time was right.

Ali E
Played a good, solid midfield game. Given little opportunity by Calne to break forward but used this situation well to defend on the right and offer support when in attack.

Ed M
Looked confident in front of goal, scored a great hat-trick. Made quick and decisive runs which caused the Calne defence many problems.

Sam C
A strong first half setting up plays from the centre of midfield. Suffered an unfortunate injury mid-way through the second half.

Adam D
Once again, played a number of positions over the course of the game. Great commitment and focus to work hard, compete, and win the ball where-ever he was positioned. Filled in well for Ryan G when he left the field injured.