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Coaches Corner
Welcome
Kara Sharpe!
Academic Background:
Bachelor of Arts in History & Secondary Teaching Certificate (grades 6-12)
Washington State University, 2005
Master of Arts in Special Education
Whitworth University, 2009 (anticipated graduation date)
Playing Experience/ Recognition/Awards:
Washington State University (2001-2005)
Four-year varsity letter winner
WSU Athletics Excellence in Academics Award (2001, 2003, 2004)
NCAA Appearance (2002)
University High School (1998-2001)
1st team All GSL (1998,1999, 2000, 2001)
Washington State 83' ODP team
Youth Coaching Experience:
Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club, Head Coach (2005-present)
U18 Navy girls (2005)
U12 Navy girls (2006)
U14 Sky girls (2007)
U14 Navy girls (2008)
U13 Sky girls (2008)
Spokane Soccer Academy, Coach (2005-present)
Ferris High School, Junior Varsity Head Coach, 2007
Central Valley High School, Assistant Varsity Coach, 2005
Hobbies:
I love to spend time with my husband, Kevin and our dog, Frank. I also enjoy cooking, spending time at the lake, playing soccer, riding my bike, shopping, and of course, being a die hard Cougar fan!
Coaching Philosophy:
I firmly believe in developing soccer players as well as people. It is imperative in my mind, to encourage the players I work with to strive for the best in both soccer and in life. Likewise, it is my charge as a coach to maximize each individual player's potential, which will look different from player to player. I strive to encourage the players I work with to be the best they can be. I work to create a competitive, yet positive playing environment, where players are encouraged to work hard, be creative and have the freedom to make their own decisions.
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On and Off the Pitch
The Shadow BU15 team competed for fun last week in the Cheney 3 v 3 tournament. 11 of the boys wanted to play, names were drawn for two teams; one named and one named "Sha" and one named "Dow." The boys ended up playing each other in the finals. "Sha" took 1st and "Dow" took 2nd in the tournament. The boys were great sports and ended up having a blast!
Check out BU15 player CJ Skillingstad's fancy tournament footwork!
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Madyson Shockman's (96G Navy) Hoopfest Team, Street Heat, won 1st in their bracket for the 4th year in a row (out of 4 years playing). Madyson also plays for The Hurricanes AAU basketball team which is the Spokane and Northwest Region 1st place Champion in their age group two years in a row (out of 2 years playing). Maggie Keenan (96G Navy) just joined "The Hurricanes" team.
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Soccer Without Borders announces the participation of volunteers Kerry Moller (Shadow GU17 and member of the Idaho ODP program) and Caitlin Bayly, in the SWB Girls Program in Granada, Nicaragua. Kerry and Caitlin traveled to Granada July 29th- August 5th to work with young girls, distribute donated equipment they collected prior to the trip, and experience life in Granada through cultural exchange with their peers. Learn more about Soccer Without Borders
Shadow wants to hear about player accomplishments!
Send information to:
shadownews@comcast.net
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Sean's Shadow Spiel
For the soccer player, soccer family, or soccer coach the summer always goes by way too fast! There seems to always be something going on that's related to chasing a round ball around the field. For me, July always proves to be hectic - and almost always, rewarding.
Part of my work life entails working for Region IV's Olympic Development Program (http://www.regioniv.com/odp.htm. You can find out more on this link about ODP.) While there are some demands I'd rather not have on my time, the experience proves to be invigorating from a soccer perspective. I worked with the '94 boys age group this past July (I had the '93s last year and we ended up traveling to Costa Rica this past March.) Invigorating because I work with the Region's best youth players and they always provide me something to think about!
My first speech to the over 200 kids trying to make a 36 player pool, who then try to make it to an 18 man roster, is that you first must enjoy the game (hopefully, this sounds familiar). What is amazing to me is that the administrators and coaches that are there frequently tell me how refreshing that is to hear!
The game should always be about enjoyment - the game is not always "fun." Joy is something that comes from deep within; fun is something that is on the surface. The game just isn't always fun-like when you have to sprint 20 yards one way and then 40 yards another; blocking a shot in the face is not fun; getting scored on is not fun - however, there should come a real sense of joy about testing yourself, working hard, competing to win (whether you win or not), and working with others. As coaches and parents, we should not look to impede that joy. What is interesting to me is that the players that end up making the final 18, almost always exude the joy of playing. There is something to learn from that!
The other thing that the players that make the final cut exude is activity. I've told our coaches and all players that I've come in contact with, "the best players are active." Active in their position-a goalkeeper isn't running all over the show but there's a way to be active even in playing that constant adjustment to the positioning of opponents and teammates. Even a goalkeeper should really never stand still! One of the main things we want to get across to our Shadow players over the coming year is to be ACTIVE. Unfortunately, it takes more than just telling a player, it has to be trained over and over and over. That will be our goal.
The other thing I take away from the ODP camp is that being comfortable with the ball is paramount. It seems obvious but the best players can do more things with the ball (and yet even they - even our National Team-men and women-must be better with the ball.) Strategies/tactics are always limited by technique. There is a reason why Brazil wins most of their games! (Brazilians also always exude a joy of the game - not coincidental to their success - which comes first, the winning or the joy? I say the joy - as they just grow up playing. They play whenever and wherever they can.) Thus, our other goal as a club is to make every player better with the ball-the technical part of the game: dribbling, passing, receiving, etc.
To that end, starting September 8th and going for about 6-8 weeks, every Monday we will as a club have 1:15 training sessions that will focus almost solely on technique. We will combine teams together and take them through circuit-type of training (this will dovetail, either prior or after depending on your age, the Fast Trac Performance clinic that hopefully all of you will be in ). The only way to get better with the ball is to spend time with the ball. We are going to do that as a club - and then ask the players to do so as well at home. Good players are good with the ball. When you are good with the ball, you can get more joy from the game.
And so, we are right back where we started - the joy of the game. Whether you are a National Team, Regional Team, State Team, Premier Team, Select Team or Recreation Team player, playing is what it is about. That is our club's reason for being and we'll keep on promoting it. We are only young once - as we parents know! There are only so many years where you can play a game. Let us help our kids enjoy playing, whether they are 10 or they are 18. As coaches, we'll help as well-through teaching them to be better with the ball and teaching them to be active!
As we approach these last weeks of summer, let's also enjoy this Spokane weather and some time with family!
In the Spirit of Soccer,
Sean
Sean Bushéy
Technical Director
Spokane Shadow Youth Soccer Club
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Winning
by Sean Bushéy
Every time I come away from a youth soccer game whether I am out recruiting for Whitworth or just watching my kids play, I end up shaking my head - and it doesn't matter the level. Do you know who cares the most about winning? Parents! Who is next on the list? Coaches, however, the best coaches will always keep losing in perspective. Who is last? You guessed it, players. Ultimately, players just want to play. continue
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What Makes Shadow Unique?
A NEW 10-WEEK SPEED TRAINING OPPORTUNITY
FOR SHADOW PLAYERS!
AUGUST 18 - OCTOBER 27, 2008
 AND
have
teamed up to offer a fun, affordable, and educational speed training
experience for Shadow players to improve physical performance and
confidence levels. Fast Trac Performance provides unique speed
training programs for all athletes, of all sports.
Fast Trac Performance training will:
- Enhance Coordination
- Improve Running Technique
- Develop First Step Quickness
- Improve Agility
- Increase Flexibility
- Promote Weight Loss
- Improve Speed
- Increase Strength
- Develop Endurance
- Maximize Jumping Ability
- Decrease Susceptibility to Injury
- Boost Confidence
Shadow team training sessions will be coordinated around
Fast Trac Performance sessions
Cost:
$80 per player
(due at first session; check payable to Fast Trac Performance)
To Register:
E-mail player name & age to jmbushey3@comcast.net by August 12th.
Free t-shirts will be provided if 100 or more Shadow players participate!
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Fall League Schedules Coming Soon!
With the exception of our high school girls teams (U15 - U18) who will start league play in February, all Shadow teams will begin league play the weekend of September 6th! District 6 and Player Development League brackets and schedules are being finalized now and will be announced by August 15th. Shadow will forward the information through club-wide email and website postings as soon as it is made available to the Club.
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Stay Inside the Lines
Washington Youth Soccer coordinates and enforces the boundaries between state youth soccer associations in the state. With the Spokane Youth Sports Association-Soccer being the umbrella organization for Shadow, please remember that all team meetings, fundraisers, practices, tryouts, and anything related as a team cannot be conducted outside of our area. So, please stay clear of the East Valley, West Valley and Central Valley school district boundaries when representing Shadow. Thank you!
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US Club Soccer Registrar "Retires"
Thank you to Becky Wirtz for all her hard work and precious time as Shadow's US Club Soccer Registrar. It was a massive undertaking this spring to register or re-register over 250 players; we cannot thank her enough and we look forward to her enjoying her last Shadow season with her daughter Kristi and the U18 girls. The Wirtz family has dedicated many hours to the club (Larry is our professional field plower in the winter) and logged many miles with their son Kyle, who graduated from the club a couple of years ago, and now Kristi. Thank you, Becky, and thank you to her replacement, Kelly Bliesner!
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