Holiday stuff

Tessa, Anna and the rest of the gang glammed up with face paint before Saturday's match - thanks to Eva's mum Belinda for helping. Now, to the game: the Leopards were very unlucky to lose 1-nil to Waimea Heights.

According to our observer Sideline Sally, it was an even game. Waimea scored its only goal about 10 minutes into the first half. The Leopards' forward line of Anna Jamison, Bella and Sarah had several shots at goal with the girls unlucky not to score.

Our defenders were strong and resourceful, says Sally, with girls combining well as a team.

Coach Stephen was able to coordinate the players with his new magnetic board which is going to be very useful for future games.

Holiday games
As school holidays have already begun for some students, here's a timely note from Central Region Soccer about vacation clinics.

Hi Everyone,
There is a girls soccer clinic on 6th June at Sandown Park. If interested go to Central Region Junior Soccer and go to School Holiday link and register.

If you have an questions at all, please contact me on 6227 2145 or 0438 040 218 or send me an email and I will answer any questions. Have a great holiday and see the regular players back on 23rd June for our next training.

Regards
Melissa Kelly

Stephen's training tip

Here's a really useful tip when you're the goalkeeper. By taking a few steps away from goal and towards your opponent, you can decrease their chances of scoring. Stephen handed out a training sheet describing this on Wednesday but - in case you've lost it - we're putting it on our website.

Tip 01 - Cutting the angle

This week's match details - 26 May
Leopards play Waimea Heights at 10am on the West Hobart ground in Lansdowne Crescent. Everyone who gets there by 9:45am is promised face paint - does that include adults?

Development squad training
There's additional training on Saturday afternoons at Sandown Park in Sandy Bay from 3 - 4:30pm. Rosie, Anna, Bella and Alice have all found it useful for learning new skills. Bella's mum Karen was seen trying out for the squad and impressed everyone with her power kicking.

Juggernaut Rolls On

By Graham Schroter (Eva's dad)
The Mighty Leopards continued on their winning way with a 4 goals to one win over Fahan at Mount Nelson Primary oval on Saturday 19th May. The game was played in overcast but windless conditions on a slightly damp track.

The team’s performance was awesome with the girls showing continued improvement both as individuals and a team. There was cohesion in both defence and attack. Line throws were again of a high standard and passing was precise and regular.

Fahan were not without their chances, threatening the Leopards' goal on a number of occasions. But for the splendid efforts of our two goalkeepers - Sophie in the first half and Anna Jamison in the second - it could have been a much closer result. It could also have been a much more lopsided result in the Leopards' favour. Bella just missed with two scoring opportunities, and Eva went close with another.

Mae impressed with a lofted kick over the heads of a number of Fahan defenders to score a gaol. Coincidentally Coach Stephen had the girls practice just that sort of kick at training last week. Tessa struck the ball sharply to also register a long range goal. Sarah contributed with two goals despite suffering the lingering effects of a cold.

Go the Mighty Leopards!

This week's match

It's West Hobart Leopards versus Fahan on 19 May. The venue is Mt Nelson Primary and the match starts at 10am. See you there at 9:45am for a warm-up and some kicking practice.

Learn to play like Renaldo

Parents may be interested in an U9 girls development squad - training begins this weekend. The writer, John Parry, is involved with Central Region soccer.

Hi everyone, I must apologise for the mix-up with starting dates - I updated our web site, but not the online enrolment system.

We are in the final stages (I hope) of organising coaches for the girls under 9 and under 10 regional development program. We are going to require a parent to act as manager for each age group, so if anyone would like to help, please let me know. There isn't much work involved.

We have had to move the program from Olinda Grove on Sundays to Sandown Park on Saturday afternoons, starting at 3pm. The training program will start this weekend. If you know of anyone else interested, can you please let them know.

We requested that all participants try to enrol online.

Les Richardson and myself will be helping the coaches. I will be updating the development page of the web site shortly.

Regards
John Parry

Drubbing Avenged!

By special correspondent Graham Schroter

West Hobart Leopards repaid Calvin for last year's defeat with a 4 goals to nil win. Played in blustery conditions and on a moist surface at Kingston, Calvin were unable to make an impression on the Leopards who played their best game of the season. Both coaches agreed to waive the normal nine a side format and play ten a side. For the players it meant more game time and less sitting on the side line.

Milly was an inspiration in only her third game, scoring two goals. Sarah also chipped in with two goals, and played her usual high quality game. All of the girls played well and operated very well as a team displaying good passing skills and support play. Throw-in skills that were practiced at training last week were shown to repay the effort with some excellent long and well directed throws that were often executed before the opposition was able to organise its defence. Mae unfortunately was ill but turned out to support her team.

Get well soon Mae, and GO THE LEOPARDS!

Coming attractions

Girls U9 Kookaburra roster
...and what are Leopards doing in a Kookaburra league?

• Sat 12th May - bye
• Sat 19th May
West Hobart vs Fahan - 10am at Mt Nelson Primary School
• Sat 26th May
West Hobart vs Waimea Heights - 10am at West Hobart Oval (Lansdowne Crescent)

Check the central.soccertas.org.au site for rescheduled games or cancellations.

Registration fees
Young Leopards must pay their $60 affiliation fees as soon as possible in order to play. This covers insurance and things like that so see Stephen with the money.

Bella leads the charge for goal against Calvin Christians today with Eva book-ending the opposition. Final score was 4-nil.

Not such Little Leopards anymore

Star player Eva shows great kicking style at Wednesday afternoon practice. That's Millie next to her. The Leopards are back again this year, still under coach Stephen but now simply called The Leopards instead of The Little Leopards because - well, everyone's bigger, faster and better.

So far the team's played three games, the first one against Princes Street, followed by St Aloysius then this week, a mighty 4-nil win against Calvin Christian School at Kingston. Calvin sportingly agreed to playing 11 a side, very handy as there can be up to 14 Leopards available - almost a team and a half. (Normal matches are nine a side).

How's Lily going with her colouring-in? Stephen handed these out to everyone last week - it's a jungle scene with leopards of course. Behind Lily, from left to right, is Anna, Patrick, Rosie (hiding), then George and his sister Alice Mary.

George has been enormously helpful at practice doing everything from tying up shoelaces to goal-keeping as has his twin brother Stan. How can you tell who's George and who's Stan? Check out the t-shirt: that's Stan below in the yellow top.

It's been busy, busy, busy at Lansdowne Crescent Oval with so many soccer teams training there. As soon as The Leopards finish at 4pm, another team takes over. Over thirty teams play for West Hobart in the various junior competitions. Wolf von Gehr does lots of administrative work to keep the rosters going - thanks Wolf. Last year, Lansdowne Crescent Primary collected donations then presented him with a wheebarrow as a 'thank-you' for his efforts.