The final entry in our Holland journal.

I wanted to conclude our journal with a few pictures and thoughts from the week.

I hope the girls had a great experience on and off the pitch. Each one of them certainly contributed to the adventure in some way. I know we all had a great time getting to know each other a little better.

The sights and the culture were awesome. The shopping was plentiful. The soccer was challenging, educational, and fun. The coaching, knowledge, skill and insight into the game, will certainly help them improve. The weather couldn't have been better and the girls behavior could not have been more perfect. As participants on this trip, I think we all feel very fortunate. Your daughters were fun, caring, hard working, punctual and polite.
We all certainly missed not having Lia with us on the trip. The girls made sure to dedicate each game to her as their small heartfelt way of including her in their journey.  The journals they kept are certainly full of thoughts and experiences that will last a lifetime. We are thankful to everyone that worked hard to make it happen and look forward to sharing the adventure with you.

We would also like to thank the coaches that helped the players improve as well as the teams and clubs that we played for their wonderful hospitality and positive experience. The girls enjoyed getting to compete against you, as well as getting to know you after the matches. Also "Thank you" to the bus drivers, and to Joss for is excellent planning and organization of a very memorable experience.

Here are a few pics from the final day as well as a few random ones. Enjoy!

Behr handing pins to the girls.

Last day of training

Great looking bunch!

Wendy keeping Zaf organized.

A group photo with the team from ASC Waterwijk



Its easier with a little help from a friend.



Great girls with great smiles!

hey Audrey- I'm over here!!

Classic Amsterdam

The entire gang.

Our last night in the Netherlands.

Well we knew this day would come. Our last day in the Netherlands. We awoke to a sunny and beautiful day. Riley had a hard night of the pukes. She woke up however feeling much better. She was conserned that she wouldnt be able to practice or play.  She rebounded nicely. She is probably the most polite puker I know.
 The other girls were tired but ready to get started.After a breakfast of cinnamon rolls and apple turnovers, the girls headed to their last training with Behr. They respnded well and finished strong. After practice, Behr gave each of the girls a small gift and said some nice words. It was a great week of training. The girls learned alot and have alot to work on back home. The words of Dan Feeney certainly rang true-"you must make open!" After lunch we packed our stuff (again) and met up with the boys for our ride to Almere for our final game.

We played well and had a great time in our final match. We won 2-1. After the game, we alsohad a chance to watch the boys in their final match. We then had a drink, some great french fries and a Dutch treat called "frikandel". It is a hot dog and sausage mix. quite good. We spent a good amount of time with our hosts. We all enjoyed our time with each other. We arrived at the hostel and had a quick team meeting and went to bed. We get up at 8 a.m. and then head to the airport at 10 a.m.  This will probably be the last entry from the road. We will call when we get to Boston. expect the girls to be very exhausted. It has been an awesome week. We all look forard to sharing it with you when we return. I will squeeze in some pics.

Photos from the U15 match

Some of you might have seen these over on the Far Post Facebook page, but here are some shots from Monday's game against the U15 KNVB team.

SEE LINK...

Pictures from our stay in Valkenswaard

The hostel in Valkenswaard

walking to training

Behr using cones to explain transition

Bakery stand in the market

Listening to the lecture

The girls with the U14 regional team after the match

getting in the zone before the game

having a drink with the girls after the game



team meeting on the terrace at night



a nice display!

I think Zaf got lost here.  (pssst.... we're the white team!)

A full day in Valkenswaard

The second day in Valkenswaard was just like the previous 8. Sunny, hot and busy. Patty, Wendy and I walked to the open air market that is held in the city center every Thursday. We purchased alot of fresh fruit and goodies for the girls. They inhaled the strawberries, pineapples, kiwi and plums. We also got apple turnovers and cinnamon danishes for breakfast tomorrow. It will be a nice change for breakfast. The girls have been eating well, but the food is not what they are used to.

Our two trainings with Behr were good. They girls moved through the drills that he has working with them on. They continue to be healthy. Amazingly there are no real issues. A sore knee here and a little sunburn there. The second session ended with a shooting drill that the girls really enjoyed. After the 2nd training session, we were treated to a presentation by Ton Seuntjes. He is a KNVB director and also the coach of the U14 regional team that we were about to play. His presentation helped the girls understand the Dutch soccer structure and the growth of the girls programs. After the lecture, we got dressed and walked to the field for our match against his team.

The game started very strong for the girls. Behr was in attendance. He wanted to see the girls in action. They moved the ball well  and dominated the first 20 minute period. 0-0  at the first break. The second period began as the first had ended. As time passed the toll of four hours of practice began to expose the girls weaknesses but it was 1-0 at the end of the second break. The third was our undoing. The girls worked hard but could not dominate as they had in the beginning. At the end of the game it was 3-0. Not bad for a match against the top U14 girls in Holland. The girls were dissapointed and realized that they need to put in a solid effort for the entire game. After we had drinks with the other team, we said goodbye and headed to the hostel for dinner and bed.

A few girls went swimming in the pool next door and a few girls relaxed at the hostel (checking out the boys field hockey teams from Germany, Ireland). The U.S. U17 womens national field hockey team is also staying here. It seems like a hot bed for field hockey in this area. Behr pulled me aside earlier and said " you know, real men don't play field hockey".

They are all tucked into bed and getting rested for our last training with Behr. Zaf has challenged each of them to wring as much as they can out of these trainings. I think many of the girls have. We have a final match in Amsterdam on Friday against Almere. Its home the next day. It seems like it was just a few days ago that we started this adventure. I will stop now, as my beer needs to be refreshed. I will download som pics in a sec. Hope you are all enjoying the blog.

Ok- These are really what you want!

The girls with the Sharn team, before the match.

Ok- I know this is sideways. I cant rotate the photo, but I just had to include it. And yes- she ate the whole thing Earl.

A night in Maasricht.

Our hostel in Maastricht from the bridge that crosses the canal.



"When the moon hits your eye like a big.........."



Happy shoppers. 20 stores down- 95 to go. They were glad Todd said to bring 250 Euros!

Under a great smelling vine in the old city.

The entire gang.

Maddy and Katie have grown so much, they have to start bending down for the pictures

A moment at the American Cemetery

Its hard to imagine.

This says it all

Olivia looking for a Vermonter in the sea of hero's.

Enjoying a cappucino at cathedral that was converted to a bookstore



Do they look crooked to you?



The Basilica that we visited.



Thinking of Lia.



Someone said- "Are you all models?"

Our second day in Maastricht.

Sorry for not posting last night. Very busy day and we switched to a hotel for a night and it was a hustle. Sit down, get something to drink (I have!) and enjoy the double entry.

Our second day in Maastricht was much like the first. We woke to a sunny and warm day. Our training sessions with Behr were hot, busy, and the girls began to understand the Dutch method and philosophy on ball possesion. As Behr says- "When we have possession- we make big!- When we lose possession- we make small!" The game against Sharn was a chance for the girls to use some new tools that they learned earlier. The first half was a bit hectic and the girls were trying to work toward Behrs teachings. It was 1-1 at the half. After some tea at the half, they came out motivated and determined to improve their performance. Their transitions were much better. We won 6-1. We had a drink at the canteen with the girls and once again found out that the only difference between them is their language. They are alike in all other ways. We went to a new hotel for the night and got changed for a night on the town. After dinner at a great Italian restaurant, we strolled through the cobblestone streets of Maastricht to get some bicycles. Once we all got adjusted to the bikes, we rode to the hotel and crashed hard.

In the morning we headed into town and explored the sights. We went into a beautiful Roman Catholic Basilica, shopped in a few hundred stores, visited an open air market, ate some excellent street food. Many of the girls tried new things. Walter- watch out, Sophie tried crab and she loves it. Ellie tried some cod, and could have eaten more. The fresh strawberries were awesome and the trip to the grocery store was fun. After that we got on the bus and headed to Margraten to the American Military Cemetery. The girls enjoyed the visit and learned quite a bit. We all had some very engaging conversations. After that we went to the "Three Points". We all stood in three countries at the same time and it was a nice experiencce as well.

We relocated to the hostel in Valkenswaard. got settled and after dinner, a team meeting and some journal entries, went to bed to catch up on some much needed rest. We are back at the two a days and a game at 6. I will update after the match. Enjoy the pics. All the girls are doing great. No one is homesick. We are doing the first load of laundry now and enjoying the clamor of 100 youngters playing games, and having a great time. Bye for now.

Here are the lastest pictures

I am sterdam!!

Anna looking chipper!

The girls chillin' in the city

We meet Behr.

The start of the Feyoonord match.

Zaf and his team warming up with Behr

The group poses for a picture before our game against the U15 Select team.

After the game- sharing a drink in the canteen with the girls.

The girls doing the- "I beleive......" cheer.

M.K. sharing her thoughts with her journal.

Zaf and the Coach of the U15 girls discussing the match.

the girls head to the locker room for hot tea at the half.

This is the canteen/clubhouse that is built up on a small hill in the center of the fields so the parents can
have a cocktail and watch the game. Hmmm... would that work at the Tree Farm?

The girls in the stands at the Feyoonord game.

Mandy and Sophie relaxed and having  good conversation.

Olivia posing for another picture for her Dad.

Doing a little street shopping. Phoebe says-" ok, should I get all 3 or just one."  M.K. says- "how much money do you have?"

Lunch on the terrace at the hostel.

A gooooaaaalllll!!!! at the Feyoonord game.