Winter Hibernation, Hardly!

Historically, the chief impediment to maximizing soccer development in New Hampshire has been the weather. We are usually snowbound from late December or early January until mid to late March, with a two week, post melt mud season that further delays outdoor play on natural turf. Global warming seemed to be giving us more time on the front and back end but the middle has been as persistent as ever. This winter, its as if mother nature has decided it wants to strike back at the warming trend. Our field has been under a foot of snow since early December and a look at it on Sunday afternoon showed over a foot of the crustiest, toughest, multi metomorphosed snow clinging stubbornly to every inch of the pitch. We have yet to have a period of sustained warm temperatures so there has been no perceptible melting of the boilerplate that clings to the field.

Despite all of this, the COE teams have not traded in their cleats for skis (although we do have a number of skiers and boarders scattered across the teams) and we are not in a deep sleep someplace warm. The teams have all been training once a week at the NH Sportsplex. Many club members are doing weekly supplementary skills work and fitness sessions. The younger teams have been playing in indoor leagues and Len's U-12s, Steve's U-15s and Gary's U-17s have been hosting or attending 11 v11 tournaments throughout January and February. The level of commitment and training intensity has been good and we are hopeful that it will translate into results outdoors now that the season is upon us.

And the outdoor season is upon us, notwithstanding the snow still laying around the "Corp." Just to the south over the border and certainly south of Rt. 495, the snow is gone. The Scorpions' Bowl is upon us with Len's U-12s playing on March 8 & 9 and the U-15s playing on March 15 & 16. The Western United Spring Friendlies follow two weeks later for Len's U-12s, the U-14s and the U-15s. The U-17s will follow in quick succession with appearances at the MAPS/MSSL College Showcase and the PDA Spring College Showcase. MAPLE play commences the beginning of April for Len's U-12s and the U-10s, Region I subregional play begins for the U-17s and the U-15s the end of March and Ryan's U-12s will be picking up friendlies and GSYSL play in early April. The holy grail of youth soccer -- the State Cup -- beckons thereafter in the beginning of May.

So, its not easy to run a strong youth soccer program in New Hampshire from December through March but it can be done and it must be done to keep up the developmental pace set by our neighbors to the south and to develop to the highest levels possible. Good luck to all of the teams and players this month and into the Spring!