DC United / Sunny DC

It was another great weather day in DC with the sun shining brightly and the sun block being used for the morning session.  The past few days have been beautiful and it seems like we're having a final push from the summer suns before they give way to the colder Fall days and nights just in time for our A10 play. 

After a hard physical session yesterday it was a shorter field session today as we finished with a lift.  With everyone taking part to some extent in todays session we started with a fun warm up to get the guys moving   With the intensity and heat taking its toll yesterday, today was about getting the guys moving again and injecting some life into those aching legs and minds.  The warm up seemed to get the guys going and plenty of shouting and celebrations showed they were into the soccer handball game.  Main topic of the day was shooting and crossing, Is there a better way to get the players buzzing again when they're feeling a little tired?  Coach Ouimet our goalscoring/attacking  took the guys through some  exercises before we got into a 11v11 game to finish the field session.  Our new strength and conditioning coach Mark Spellman has been pushing the guys hard in the gym for our lifting session and I look forward to seeing the results in the spring when we really increase our strength and conditioning program.

With the players finally getting a water bottle for practice it was almost too much excitement for one day as some already forgot to pick them up or left them in the gym after the lift.  On a side note, Shaban came into the office pre practice to give me some grade updates but more importantly we discussed the win by DC United last night in the Open Cup.  As one article noted, DC United is currently the worse team in the MLS (overall record) but that didnt stop them winning and lifting the trophy last night and a place in next seasons CONCACAF Champions League.  Congrats to Benny and Chad Ashton and all the other staff and players at the club.

Raise High Moment of the Day
The goal from Farhan Khan to end practice.  A great move in the 11v11 game to be finished off with a strike into the upper 90 from the top of the 18 yard box.  Lets have some more tomorrow please.