Mercer Island FC is our community's volunteer-led,
non-profit soccer club for kids of all ages. Let’s play ball!
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- Happy Holidays to all MIFC families
- 2021: the MIFC numbers summary
- Message From Paul Bayly - MIFC Director of Soccer
- Congratulations to our BU13 Bandits, BU16 Wildcats teams
- Lucas Meek, former MIFC, leads the Huskies to NCAA College Cup final
- Coach corner: Ken Duffie
- Registrations open for "Winter Sharpness" and Winter/Spring Juniors
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Happy Holidays MIFC Families,
I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe while enjoying a little bit of family time. This time of year is a good time to reflect on the past year and think about upcoming plans, goals and hopes for the new year.
2021 started out with a bit of uncertainty around what the club would be able to offer in terms of soccer programming but as the year progressed we were pleasantly surprised that select, recreational, juniors and micro soccer programs were all able to proceed on a mostly normal schedule with a minimum of sensible adjustments. We were so pleased that families returned and our teams and other programs were almost at pre-pandemic levels of participation, and in some cases even more. We had some successes in the WYS Recreational Cup which gave us a reason to celebrate and cheer. We were also able to mark the end of the fall season with our traditional Annual Membership and Coaches meeting where we also celebrate our graduating senior players. Fall seasons have now wrapped up in the past couple of weeks while we take a rest for the holiday season.
Most select teams will be returning to the pitch right after New Year's to begin the post season, the Founders Cup; for others there will be some training and an early spring season before we open up registration for Get Ready For Select (Spring Academy), which begins in early March, and for all of our 2022 fall programs on April 1st..
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The Board and staff (the coaches and administrators) want to wish you all the best for the Holiday Season and New Year. Thank you and your families for making the past year a success and for your patience as we return from a more normal experience. See you all on the pitch!
Greg Snyder, MIFC President - The MIFC Board Of Directors
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2021 - the MIFC numbers summary |
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We were coming from 2020, and we all know what that means.
As such it is with great pleasure that we have seen the rebound of all numbers at MIFC, from players of all ages to the involvement from the community, still within all safety protocols.
It is with great pride that we can share the current tally of the several MIFC programs:
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Microsoccer program (U6-U7 kids, our youngest players): 176 players within 28 teams;
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Recreational leagues (from U8 until U13): 326 players within 25 teams
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Juniors program (the high-level program for U8-U9):100 players within 12 teams
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Select program (the middle-tier competitive program for U9 thru U18): 306 Players within 23 teams
Let's play soccer and keep safe in 2022 as well.
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The message from Paul Bayly
MIFC Director of Soccer
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We strive to make the MIFC experience something integral to our sense of community and personal development, and wish that this extends to our kids as they play soccer and represent the real subject of all our efforts.
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More comments from Paul:
Game Day Experience
Make sure the player has all their equipment for the game. Plan ahead and arrive the time the coach/manager gives.
Enjoy watching the game and cheer as needed.
Remember not to give coaching information, as the players find it hard enough to make decisions during the flow of the game within additional information coming from the sidelines, especially when there are in possession of the ball.
Comments to Referees, Players and Opponent Players/Parents.
Allow the coaches to do the coaching, the referees do the referring and don’t get into a verbal argument with players, parents or refs. It never ends well and think about how your player, team and club feels about your behavior.
Different problems can arise when parents blame coaches, other players, or referees if their child doesn't play well or if the team doesn't win. Players who watch their parents shift the blame to others have a hard time being accountable for their own actions later in life.
Remember to enjoy the games, be proud and support your player, open the door and allow them to walk through it. When you need to reset, ask yourself WHY did I sign my player up to play sport?
Wishing everyone a great Holiday Season, yours
Paul Bayly
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Congratulations to our teams for a great season |
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The BU13 Bandits won the D2 Recreational Cup Championships, then advanced onto the quarterfinals and prevailed. Then their season came to an end after a hard fought match in the Recreational Cup State semifinal.
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Great job Wildcats|
Congratulations to Coach Viafore and his BU16 Wildcats, the team finished the season undefeated with an 8-0-2 record.
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Lukas Meek, former MIFC, leads the Huskies to NCAA College Cup final |
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Lukas Meek, a redshirt junior just wrapped up another impressive season at the University of Washington, taking the Huskies Men’s Soccer team to their first ever final in the NCAA College Cup.
As a young athlete coming through the ranks of recreational and select soccer with MIFC, Lukas knew early on what he wanted to do. “I have wanted to play beyond high school since I was 8-years-old.”
After a stint with Sounders Academy and great success leading up Mercer Island High School’s Varsity soccer team, Meek turned his sights to Division I athletics and landed a spot at UW.
“One of my biggest keys to success is simply loving to play soccer and being someone on the field who always positively impacts your teammates."
Watch here NCAA.com's Natalie Bode interview with Huskie Lucas Meek after his team advanced to their first ever College Cup final. Meeks scored the first of two second half goals that lifted Washington over Georgetown in the semifinal, 2-1. Read the match summary from the Seattle Times.
Congratulations Lukas, great job Huskies.
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A life-long player, Ken started coaching with MIFC in 2006 when his eldest son was in micro-soccer.
He has been involved with coaching all three of his boys as head coach, assistant coach or team manager, including both recreational and select teams. Currently, he is the head coach for the BU-13 MI Bandits recreational team that made it to this year's Recreational Cup state semi-finals played at Starfire Soccer Complex.
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Coaching 15+ years, Ken has learned quite a bit about coaching youth soccer and about himself. Here are some insights he has gathered through the years (especially as related to recreational teams):
- It's all about having fun – Wins and losses are temporary. Having fun and playing with friends is what keeps kids playing soccer. This can be tough to appreciate during seasons with little on-field success. Keep the faith!
- Support teammates – It is important to make sure every player feels appreciated as a contributing part of the team. Good teammates supports each other when mistakes are made; they do not point fingers.
- Mental endurance – Kids have different capacities to focus. It is especially evident after being in school all day. Be understanding. And be flexible with your practice plans. Sometimes you'll need to scrap the whole thing. As long as the kids get time with the ball at their feet, it is a good practice.
- Don't over-coach – This is hard because as a coach you have so much soccer knowledge you want to convey. But kids have age-appropriate levels that they can absorb things. Some concepts take years to sink in. Be patient. For practices, pick one skill to focus on per week. For games, give your players guidance and options, but let them figure it out on the field.
- Encourage mistakes – Soccer is a sport where players constantly have to make decisions about where to move and what to do with the ball. There are no right or wrong decisions – except for just "booting" the ball. The best way for players to learn what works best is to try different things without fear of being criticized.
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- Goals against don't matter – Don't worry when the other team scores against you, especially if it was a result of a mistake. That'll only distract you from moving forward; focus on scoring the next goal.
- Under pressure – Players put a lot of pressure on themselves. As a coach, I try to relieve as much of that as possible. Teams play better that way and the kids are happier. I convey that to my parents as well.
- Sports as a sanctuary – Kids have to deal with plenty of expectations and pressure growing up in today's world. Sports should be a sanctuary from that. Don't screw that up for them.
- Passing is over-rated (especially for younger ages) – I think a lot of coaches get this wrong. The most important soccer skill to develop is being comfortable with the ball at your feet; dribbling under control, turning away from pressure, unbalancing and beating a defender, etc. Passing builds on this base. Without it, a team cannot effectively pass and keep possession – panic passing is the result.
- Good soccer is like a dance – it has tempo, rhythm, fluidity and coordinated movement. It is both structured and flexible. When a team gets into it's groove, it is a wonderful sight to behold. It's the beautiful game.
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Winter Sharpness, Parent Camp
Our annual and very popular program targeted at developing soccer skills and decision-making is back!
For players who are looking for some additional training we offer the ever-popular Winter Sharpness and Parent camp beginning Friday January 7th.
Winter Sharpness allows recreational players to train and safely scrimmage with other players of their age and skill level, all while being trained by MIFC's professional trainers.
Parents also get a chance to participate in their own weekly clinic that helps them understand what player development looks like in practice.
Parents sign up and participate for free.
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2022 MIFC Winter/Spring Juniors program
Winter/Spring Juniors program will run 12 weeks and will include games on the weekends.
Season dates: 1/17– 4/10
(No sessions during mid-winter break Feb 21-25)
Cost: $500
Practices: Mon/Wed 4:15-5:30 pm, @Island Crest Park
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