This Month in Marin FC summarizes the month’s news and notes in a series of ‘high-level’ briefs from various club constituents.

In This Edition

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From the President

Evan Cross

Here are a few highlights and news tidbits from the past month:

A Time to Celebrate

The speed limit on I-5 south is 70mph, so mathematically Surf Cup is as little as six hours away from my present location in the back seat of the car. California’s paradoxically dry but agriculturally abundant San Joaquin Valley flies by while my daughter sits at the wheel … six hours? Pshaw.  While abject terror might be the predictable and acceptable state of mind for a soccer parent consigned to dorsal seating, I find myself instead bemused and elated.

This will be our last trip to the southern surf and soccer revelry. With six hours to think about it, one can only remark at the fun our team trips have been and the threshold upon which the Girls ‘99 Blue and each player find themselves. College, with or without soccer, presents its doorstep, and much as the six prior years can seem like the current six hours, these times merit celebration.  Kids grow up, and between the whistles they suddenly appear at the wheel of their own adventure.

Our club enjoys the rare privilege of shaping so many adventures and laying an immense map out before our kids. The responsibility inherent in this effort surpasses the trainings, games and trips, to become a multi-year task. In this regard, it has been an exceptional July as two of our coaches, Chris King and Michael Sharp, attained (after immense work) their “A” level licensure, bringing our total to six such pinnacle coaches. Year after year and from age to age, continually advancing our coaches strengthens the vessel which is player and team development here in Marin.

Aboard that vessel, six teams and more than 100 Marin FC players (fully 1/4 of the club) are making treks like the one my family is on now, converging at the Polo Fields of Del Mar or the SoCal Sports Complex in Oceanside. This is surely only a microcosm of the fact that we are all on a similar journey … from that first number sketched in sticky black on a forearm or thigh, to games around the country and world, and eventually to places beyond our youthful years in familiar and safe landscapes along our part of the 101. In reverence, we must appreciate the ride and likewise endeavor to further inspire our club to new heights.

With that in mind, I specifically and cordially invite you to participate in shaping and mapping Marin FC. On August 31, we will gather for a two-part event. Part recollection and part visioning exercise, we’ll spend the first hour or so on important business including the first unveiling of four professionally developed options for a new club crest and graphics. Come and have your say as to what Marin FC will look like for years to come across the many venues our kids will travel.

The second half of the evening will be pure celebration. The journey from six hours to six years is wondrous and worth taking time to appreciate. Foremost in the club’s appreciation are all those who make it possible. Literally from the rooftop, we will exalt our many and most critical contributors. Complimentary lite food will be served and a cash bar will be available from 7-10pm.

Anyone who has or wishes to play a role in guiding the club’s future, including players, coaches, alumni, and parents, is welcome.  I will personally look forward to seeing you at the roof bar after the business meeting … after all, I have my all-but-grown-daughter to drive me home.

Evan Cross, President

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From the Director of Coaching

Joshua Kalkstein

Here are a few highlights and news tidbits from the past month:

A Trip of a Lifetime

Mattias Kodzoman led his 15th Sweden/Denmark tour this past month, with a total of ninety ‘03 and ‘04 players, the majority of whom were Marin FC blue and red players, and 15 staff including several Marin FC coaches and former players, making the trip.  The traveling group, which consisted of four girls’ and two boys’ teams, were amongst 200 teams participating in the Cup #1 in Fredriskshaven, Denmark, and 1,700 teams taking part in the Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, Sweden. The group returned with considerable “hardware”, including five trophies in Denmark and one in Sweden.  Most notably, the 13-year-old girls finished second in Sweden, losing to a German team on penalty kicks.  This was a fun and very successful trip for all the players both on and off the field.  Dates for the 2018 trip are tentatively set for July 7-22, 2018.

gothia-cup

Back from Break

After a brief summer break, our teams are coming back, with several teams participating in banner events like Surf Cup.  Evan spoke to the travel component so let me just fill you in with scores from the first days’ worth of competition.  FC teams won three, drew two and lost one, so it’s fair to say that we got off to a great start.  More to come on Surf Cup in next month’s edition.

In USDA News

I jumped on a USDA conference call last Monday to discuss the landscape for the coming season.  Our younger boys’ teams all look very good as we head into the season, so this promises to be an exciting year for all in USDA play.

Coach Accomplishments

To echo Evan’s sentiments, please join me in congratulating Michael Sharp and Chris King for reaching the pinnacle of US coaching licensure.  This, and the fact that so many of our coaches are now head college coaches, underscores the quality of our coaching “bench” and speaks to the high level of coaching, mentoring and support our kids receive in trainings and games.  I couldn’t be prouder of our staff!

Busy Month Ahead

Almost all our teams are active in tournaments this next month.  Good luck to one and all as the “season” kicks in to full swing!

– Josh Kalkstein, DOC

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From the Director of Development

Ian Tonks

Got Team News?
To share a game summary or tournament recap:

  • Go to MarinFC.com
  • Locate ‘Media & Info’ under ‘About Marin FC’ at the top of the page
  • Click ‘Submit an Article’

Alternatively, click here: https://forms.marinfc.com/submit-an-article/

Edited posts will be added to our website homepage “latest club news” section and posted on our Facebook page within 48 hours.  We encourage you to use this tool to keep all in the club informed re: individual and team accomplishments.  A big thanks to those of you that use it already.

– Ian Tonks, Director of Development