David, Chris, and Johnny were the three original captains and leaders of the first William Byrd Junior High Soccer team. As I had mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, Byrd Junior High was one of the five original junior highs in the new soccer league from '85 to the establishment of middle schools beginning in fall of '91 when middle schools had sixth through eighth grades...while junior highs carried seventh through ninth grades. These three leaders were the soccer team's first captains as they led the new team both offensively and defensively.

Chris was previously mentioned in an earlier blog for receiving a red card in a crucially tight game when Byrd had to play "one man down." The bright spot was William Byrd still won that game, and as it turned out over my twenty years, Chris's red card was the first and only red card any of my players ever received....!

Johnny led the team this first year in scoring and played hard and intensely as an offensive player. The third captain, David, was the only player whose son I mentioned in a blog who lost his eye....missed his first year....and played his eighth year successfully. David was a good quiet leader who led by example, and I'm sure he probably missed following his son in high school soccer.

To have David, Chris, and Johnny as my first captains in my first year as soccer coach is a joy to be led by such skilled...intense....respected young men.....and.....David's son to play for me as a representative of the first year's player having his son on one of my last soccer teams..!!

Having mentioned this idea before, I wrote about soccer players having other interests...sometimes...and might (later) in high school choose another sport for fun ...rather than soccer. That would seem awkward to a "dyed in the wool" soccer coach, but we coaches have to accept that high school offers other likable sports that the athlete might recognize...and decide to choose.

Tyler, a genial, likable, good soccer player caught my attention immediately in his first seventh grade game at Ben Franklin Middle when he made his first assist in this first game of his first season. As a coach who recognizes quality when he sees it, I made him aware of such a good move in the first game...!! Tyler did well his two years at middle school and proved to be an enjoyable player. Tyler played soccer into high school...scored often....did well..making district and maybe region teams. (As always, I enjoy following my players and enjoying their successes). There was another sport that occupied Tyler's life that proved interesting for me as a coach to be aware of and observe from afar.

Tyler, his brother, mother, and father were heavily invested in snow skiing. For 2 to 4 months of late fall through late February, the family traveled to a certain ski resort (have forgotten its name)...sometimes on weekends...sometimes for several days...to engage in complete skiing...sometimes maybe competitively.........but almost every weekend. From what I hear and have seen pictures of , they were thoroughly involved....and very successful. They won competitions often enough and enjoyed the skiing that this coach has surmised from different opinions that they might move up there. Actually having talked to Tyler, I might get the impression that snow skiing might win out over soccer. Additionally, Tyler is a junior at a West Va. college that has those skiing grounds on campus or very near a skiing resort. It is my understanding that he also instructs skiing and is involved deeply in other areas.

I have written all this to clarify my thinking. An athlete can be outstanding in one sport or more...and it's not up to me or any coach to make judgment. We should realize and accept that the individual makes his own decisions...based on his own free will. Knowing that Tyler was skiing might have worried me because of soccer, but we have a responsibility to not judge .... to be flexible....and to support our players in whatever they may do.

Byrd junior high/middle school has had its share of tremendous scorers...most of whom finished out their school years as varsity players who may have eventually led the Timesland recognition or honor team for best scorer in this area. Brad Collins, as previously mentioned, is the one Byrd scorer who actually set the state scoring that unfortunately was broken within 2-4 years.

Below are the junior high/middle school's high scorers for one year (as some may have been)....two years in many cases....and three years possibly for some junior high scorers. As I have searched my records, I now realize that my scoring stats are not as complete as I had thought, and I do apologize for that oversight.
(A scoring "expert" will remember that the point system is 2 points for a goal...1 point for an assist.)

Single season highest score for seventh graders....Brad Collins, 47......Mike Berry, 45.....and Shawn Niday, 41..
.....................First year scorers cont.,, (second tier)....Greg Moses, 36......Derek Brown, 33......Johnny Lambert, 32......Chris Dowdy, 31......Ryan Richards, 31......Mark Andrews, 30......Josh Overbay.......(third tier)....Brett Hamlett, 29......Derek Lawrance, 26......Robbie Scharpf, 22

Two seasons combined for seventh-eighth graders....Shawn Niday, 122......Greg Moses, 101......
Mike Berry, 99......Chris Dowdy, 83......Mark Andrews, 79......Josh Overbay, 76......Brett Hamlett, 74......
Ryan Richards, 66......Derek Lawrance, 62......Rob Scharpf, 60

Obviously there were many skilled and potent scorers that moved to varsity and did exceptionally well...especially when one considers that several high scorers may have been a positive scoring factor for 3-4 varsity years.

This coach must make an addendum: mistakes are very much possible regarding record-keeping and coaching. Mistakes may surely have been made regarding names and numbers, and I make apology where needed..

I previously mentioned two of the original players who started Byrd Junior High/Middle School soccer and stars (Scott and Robbie) who played each game for seventh, eighth, and ninth grades....and both (if my memory is substantial) had commendable grades.
My memory is that of Scott achieving perfect grade averages through those first three years, and my instituting the Scott Carter Scholar-Athlete Award as an honor for the player who achieved best grade averages throughout the scholastic year. I made an effort to keep track of the players' grades throughout the year up to season's end.

Mentioning the winner(s) might be appropriate. Note that several players won three years in a row when we had the original junior high program, but I hope to be fair by naming the winners once per name roughly in order: Scott Carter, Derek Linderman, CalebTaylor, John Conner, Aaron Dowdy, Andy Babcock, Chris Dowdy, Brant Somma, Brad McConnell, Andy Goodman. Remember that this coach has bragged or will brag about the quality and number of student/players we have proudly discovered in numbers on each yearly soccer team..!! These names so far have covered about half the twenty year program under my coaching. The roughly last ten years of winners include Ian Terrell, Ashley Lugar, Drew Murray, Mark Armstrong, Greg Moses, Chris Shutt, Brian Hill, Alex Fisher, Garrett Page, and Kyle O'Connor.

Other awards were MVP that was begun in the beginning years (defensively Bryan Holland, Ryan Ransom and offensively Shawn Niday.) As a new coach aware of the significance of team honors, I changed to honors or awards like offensive leaders, defensive players, coach's award, most hustle, or top scorer..!

Brad and Chris are brothers of tremendous soccer prowess...yet different in certain ways. (Memory fade out again)...They played for our middle school team....separated by 2-5 years of age, and played for different Byrd Middle teams. One of these teams had a "weak" record with the difference being one team had the worst won-lost record and Brad played only one year on an 8-6 team since the JV coach pursued his "recruitment." Turns out the coach had foresight of how big an impact Brad would eventually make..!!

Brad, older than Chris, was polite and almost apologetic as the JV coach persisted in Brad's "encouragement" to think ahead with his talent. As it turns out, Brad played JV in eighth grade and started varsity ninth through his senior year. In so doing Brad set the scoring record for state soccer scoring which was held for 2-3 years until a Martinsville player broke Brad's state scoring record. Through the few years I worked with Brad (even that one year middle school), Brad was always polite...thoughtful...discreet...humble...and helpful....and came back to his one year coach often times to talk and visit. This coach dad has never forgotten this and will keep Brad's outstanding talent and kind ways forever in memory.

Chris, the younger brother, developed tremendously as he starred through varsity years...grew stronger and acquired a powerful shot. Both brothers have been good to know and coach......have gone to different colleges and done well on their respective teams......and led Tech and Roanoke College to successful seasons. This coach dad finds another reward of being coach in observing two brothers who have done so well on and off the field.

Bragging on or showing pride of these young soccer players who succeed in soccer and later as grown adults in life is a joy that I have repeated constantly to the readers. Of the hundreds of players that I have coached and enjoyed, there is a spiritualness that has not been mentioned....but is real. Most of these former players have done well in their lives, and I enjoy sharing their lives with the readers.

A few young men have gone on and shared their spiritual work that I need to mention to you also. Understand, if I have not shared your religious work in these paragraphs, it may be because of lack of memory or not being told . I would love to hear of my soccer players' work in church or missions if I have overlooked you...!!

Andy McCaskill became state player of the year in his senior year in approximately '95. He played for me back in his three years of eligibility (in the late '80's into '90). He and wife Susan served as missionaries after college probably in the late '90's...maybe up in the early 21st century. I found out about two years ago that Andy and wife are now teaching (I think) in Richmond. Aaron, my son, and wife have served in Kazakhstan in '07 and plan to go back this year...(contingent)... Greg Moses of the 2000 team has served and plans again this year working with youth and soccer in South Africa. Chad Morris works on Carson-Newman campus as advisor and is newly married. Darryl McCallum is now a pastor based (I think) in Christiansburg. Craig Janney is married and pastor in NC. Mark Givens and brother Kent are in the Harrisonburg area...one a youth pastor and one working for Campus Crusade.
(Again, these are sketchy details and my apology.)

One day....driving my younger son home from practice, we were talking about (can you guess?)...soccer. Leave it to this coach dad to make a teachable moment; I mentioned to my soccer player son some ideas about being a good soccer player and what it takes. Being a teacher and a coach, I conceived some key words needed to be a good soccer player that conveniently began with "S."

In no special order I thought of these key words:
size......speed.....strength......smarts......shooting......stamina......sight...and....skills...!!
These creative words may seem simple..short...and stupid to the reader, but they do relate cohesively to soccer success. Size...speed...strength...stamina...and skills are most obviously thought of and understood although of those five key words....maybe the reader may have some reservation. Strength is needed in order to fight off the defender...to win the ball shoulder to shoulder. Stamina is surely needed since running and endurance are key components during an active, continuous motion game. A hard-working player may overcome size...perhaps even in winning headers. Speed and skills (admittedly) are probably the two S's that a player most needs.

Included in the final three " S" words are smarts and sight and shooting; all of which can be related in a way. Smarts seemingly involves the player playing the field.....knowing the game....the teamwork.....how to use the clock.....knowing what to do in a field/game situation. Sight is an awkward way of saying a good soccer player uses his sight to know where to go...to know a "man may be on".....to see a chance to assist an easy or difficult through pass for a goal..!!! It is imperative for a good soccer player to play with his head up ....always watching for the slightest advantage...using eye contact ...or some way communicating to his teammate. Shooting has to be perfected. A good shooter has to work constantly on his shot...practice on the run...different angle shots.....and especially PKs. Along with shooting, the player has to strengthen his leg(s).... be able to to use either foot/leg.....concentrate...head down and follow through.........and stay focused..!

These eight "S" words to become confident and do well in soccer are hard to master; no one player is probably perfect or can easily master all the "S's." Trying and narrowing to a few favorite words, though, is important. The aspiring young soccer player might wisely narrow those eight "S" words to at least five.....to "get by." The more "S" words you can master or feel comfortable with.....the better....!! Try (for starters)....sayyy.....smarts....skills....stamina.....then....strength(?)