Wow -- all the guys did great tonight. They worked really hard tonight in a fairly intense practice, fitness-wise. Lots of little 10-yard rotations... and not a single complaint. We had to start out with a fundamentals session on passing and receiving for the first half of the evening, but Coach Lucas seemed to keep everyone's attention (even our most experienced players) by working with our non-dominant foot and by eventually lengthening the pass to 20- and 30-yard driven and flighted balls for crossing. By the last half of the evening, we had gotten to the point that we were sailing in 20- and 30-yard crosses. Interestingly, by the time we transitioned to that level, we were overcooking the majority of them. Strange how we sometimes don't know our own strength!

Either way, the highlight of the evening -- and the award for camp MVP for Monday night -- came when John David executed a perfect version of a cut-back cross from the goal line right into Coach Lucas' full-field run from defense. Coach Lucas might have gotten to score the goal, but John David had done most of the work. And because he made the coach look so good, John David has received a full refund for the cost of camp. (OK, we're kidding about the refund, but we're not kidding about the fact that John David did pretty much symbolize the topic of the night fairly well -- passing and crossing.)

Stay close to those cell phones in case we have to adjust for a thunderstorm. And if you're the type that likes to wear a jacket when you practice in the rain, bring one.

By evening, ... say... 7pm... all those clouds should blow away. Either way, we train in light rain, but we have to cancel in case of a hard downpour because Coach Lucas can't yell over the noise of the rain. See you at the field.