Coach's Notes

Thursday 9/10/15

Hi Team, Please see the e-mail message below. Thank you for being a part of this small gesture to cheer up Mac and brighten his day. I would not like to imagine any of you in such a difficult situation, so I think we should do what we can to support Mac as he goes through his recovery process. Let me know if you have ideas for what else we can do. In the meantime, let's send him good thoughts and prayers for a quick return to full health. And many thanks to Marta, Merjan's mother, for organizing this on behalf of the team. Coach Carosella ________________________________ From: Marta L. Ozisik <martaozisik@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, September 10, 2015 9:13 AM To: Joseph Carosella Subject: Thank you, team! Greetings, Coach Carosella, Please pass along to the team that Merjan and I delivered the card with the team photo and signatures to the recovering Schenectady goalie, Mahmoud (Mac) Shohatee, and his father, Nabil, at Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital last Friday. Due to being deprived of oxygen during the cardiac arrest he suffered and also due to the effects of the stroke, Mac is not able to speak or walk at this time. Due to his youth and general good health, however, the doctors are hopeful that he may be able to recover in significant ways. He is undergoing physical therapy every day and has received many visitors from the Schenectady team and the high school. Mac's Dad, Nabil, is originally from Yemen and he played Division 1 soccer at Siena 20 years ago. He was Mac's coach in youth soccer and is hoping to attend many of Schenectady's games this fall, including when they host Nisky on October 6. Nabil was very appreciative of the card from all of you and the Real Madrid flag. He also recognized a few of you from teams you may have played on or camps you may have attended with Mac in the past. Thank you all for helping in a small way to reach out to a fellow player in need. That is the true spirit of Teamgeist in action! Hope the weather holds; good luck against Colonie today! Marta Ozisik

Tuesday 8/25/15

Scrimmages at Baldwinsville HS, Friday 8/28.

Bus leaves at 11:00 am. returning between 7:30 and 8 pm.

Bring plenty of water, as well as healthy snacks to keep you going for a long outing with 100 minutes of playing time.

Bring red jersey, white shirt, white socks and white shirt.

Uniforms are not yet in, but the kit includes a white training jersey and the socks for players to keep.

To help defray the cost of the bus to the scrimmage and cover the jersey/socks, please bring a check payable to the Niskayuna Boosters Club in the amount of $35.00. A painless fundraising effort is planned to help cover additional costs, more info to come.

Sunday 8/23/15

I'll be sending out a detailed schedule very soon, but I want to let you know that we will be practicing or playing Monday through Saturday all season long. We have no Monday games, though, so we won't need to practice on Sundays until we get to sectionals (and regionals, and states). Our Saturday games this season are 9/12 and 9/26, as well as 10/3, which is Labor Day weekend. We'll also have to have practice on Labor Day itself, probably from 5-7 pm, because we have a game the next day. In the past, players and families have missed games and practices due to family trips. We expect players to attend practices and games during the season, including through the post-season, which potentially runs into early or even mid-November.

Here's the schedule for the coming week, as far as we know it. 8/24 M - 8:00-10:00 am, practice 8/25 T - 7:30-9:30 am, practice 8/25 T - 10:45 departure for 12 pm Teamgeist adventure 8/26 W - 8:45 bus for 10 am scrimmage at Shaker 8/27 Th - 9:45 bus for 11 am scrimmage at BS 8/28 F - scrimmage at Liverpool HS, Liverpool, NY - details to be confirmed 8/29 S - 7:30-9:30 am, practice at Craig School field, Parent and Player Meeting to follow Our team bonding activity is set for Tuesday at 12 pm. We'll be doing a repeat of last year's exciting whitewater tubing on the Sacandaga River, with Beaverbrook Outfitters. Here's the link: http://www.beaverbrook.net/whitewater/sacandaga.asp. The cost per person is $21. You'll need to fill out attached waiver (2 pages), have parent/guardian sign and bring it along to avoid delays.

Beaverbrook is on Route 9N, just north of Lake Luzerne-Hadley (take exit 21 of the Northw and head south on 9N). It's an hour from NHS and is easy to get to, but for anyone who wants to car pool and/or needs a guide to the site, we'll meet in the high school parking lot at 10:45 am. The whole adventure lasts 2 hours, so we should be home by 3 pm or a little after.

Sunday 8/23/15

Hi everyone, Please see the e-mail below from James Nuqui. This is a great opportunity for us to help others who are not as fortunate as we are. James - thank you for giving us the chance to help out. Just let us know when we can bring items to donate. Coach Carosella ________________________________________ From: jamesnuqui22@gmail.com <jamesnuqui22@gmail.com> Sent: Saturday, August 15, 2015 9:38 AM To: niskyu14boys@googlegroups.com ; Joseph Carosella Subject: Hello everybody I hope you are all having a great summer so far both kids and adults!! I am sending this email because in my recent visit to the Philippines over the past week or so I have been able to practice with the local school soccer team in preparation for the upcoming season. While there I not only trained but I also learned how fortunate I was to have nice cleats, shin guards, and even my own water bottle. You might be surprised but all of the boys there had to share one water jug and one water bottle. When I came on the first day they were surprised that I brought my own water bottle and ball. What I am getting at is that all these kids in the Philippines are very poor and are only able to afford what is needed, they cannot afford any cleats. On my last day practicing I donated a few water bottles and my ball, they were very very happy and grateful. If any of you have any old cleats, water bottles, dri-fit shirts, shorts, balls, or anything you think would help these kids I will gladly take them and ship them to the high school. Thank you in advance for your future donations!! ~James Nuqui