Before we begin this newsletter, the St. Barnabas Soccer Community owes a huge debt of gratitude for outgoing Soccer Coordinator David Hladik. Dave has administered the Buckeyes soccer program for the last seven years and with it has changed the face of our group. From showing kids intriguing soccer drills like sharks and minnows to teaching new coaches how to keep the kids from then swimming away, Dave has created a positive soccer community that we hope to continue building. From all of us coaches and fellow helpers, thank you very much Dave.
2022 Spring Season Recap
Our Spring Season lasted all the way into June, but after an undefeated regular season, the 5th - 6th Grade team lost 2-1 in the SWCSA Semifinals. A controversial penalty against our Buckeyes allowed St. Linus to advance. Coaches Rom, Rivero, and Balta were impressed with the kids improvement throughout the year and look forward to next season,
Our 1st - 4th Grade teams participated in the inaugural season of the St. Linus Spring Soccer League. The league consisted of teams from Saints Barnabas, Linus, Alexander, Walter/Benedict, and Gerald and consisted of a 10-game regular season and a 1-weekend playoff bracket. After some strong play from all teams to start the season, none of the teams advanced to Semifinal Sunday. Thanks to each of our Spring Coaches for weathering, no pun intended, this initial season. We look forward to participating with St. Linus again next Spring.
Six 8th graders, nine 7th graders, and a few JV call-ups struggled to field a full team most of the season due to weather and other conflicts, but Coaches Petto and Reilly reported that the Varsity Team had fun and vastly improved throughout the season. While our Buckeyes scored a victory over St Cajetan at their homecoming in the Fall Season, claiming some early season bragging rights, the team placed 10th out of 14 teams this Spring and missed the playoffs for the second time this year. With a large group of 6th graders set to join the Varsity Team next fall, the future is bright heading into the 2022-23 Season.
We bid a happy coaching sabbatical to Jeff Petto after participating in Buckeyes Soccer for 8 years. Thank you for teaching our kids many life lessons and a few tips about the beautiful game. Hopefully we can catch you out at the Coffee League next season to welcome and advise our new coaches.
We also say farewell and best wishes to Mary Callaghan, Skylar Greene, Andrew Hollinger, Donald Martin, Connor O'Malley, Billy Petto, Jack Smith, and Kaliah Washington as they begin their next chapters in life. Rumor has it that Kaliah plans to try out for Mother McAuley's soccer team while Billy and Andrew looks to make the team at Marist.
Summer Soccer Camps and Adult Rec "League"
Area high schools offer boys, girls, and co-ed soccer camps beginning the week of June 6th. As a sample, Br. Rice (boys), McAuley (girls), St. Rita (boys) and Marist (all) each have camps costing between $50 - $90 per weekly camp listed on their Athletics Summer Camps webpages.
While it is not a camp or for kids, the Chicago Beverly Adult Soccer group (find us on Facebook Groups) hosts friendly, co-ed pickup games for players of all ages (16 - 65?) and skill levels (OMG to MLS). Generally games start at 9am or 10am on Sunday morning depending on the weather and last for two hours. There is no cost, no membership, no obligations, just soccer for fun and exercise.
2022 Fall Soccer Registration
Sign-up for the 2022 Fall Soccer Season is now underway at https://registration.buzz/barnabas/.
In-House Soccer is our Saturday Morning Coffee League for beginner and intermediate players from Pre-K thru 4th Grade to develop their soccer skills. The league kicks off on the Saturday after Labor Day and runs until the end of October. Rotating weekly sessions begin at 8:30a / 9:30a / 10:30a at the field behind the Convent.
League Soccer is competitive soccer, relatively speaking, played amongst other area schools. Players of all skill levels are grouped into two-grade levels (1st/2nd | 3rd/4th | 5th/6th - JV | 7th/8th - Varsity) per league. The younger groups will play approximately 10-games over a 6-week period with no playoffs. The older groups will play approximately 8 games with a short playoff after the regular season. League Soccer practices begin when school begins. Games begin around Labor Day and the season lasts until the later part of October. Game days are played upon the coordination of the League, but usually not on Sundays.
Please contact Kevin O'Kelly at saintbarnabassoccer@gmail.com with any questions you might have.
Have a great summer!