*Team can be found under "FOOTBALL" in the 17-18 age group.
Wassermann Blog Entry 7 (July 30, 2013) - The day has come...
A little over three weeks ago we all arrived in Israel. We came together the first night at our hotel and went through all the introductions, kids from Miami, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, NY, New Jersey, Virginia, and more... Barely anyone knew each other... I sit here tonight contemplating the last 24 hours that we just experienced and it doesn't seem that way at all, last night in the final, our team looked like a family.
That first meeting was short and sweet and the basic communication was something like this... "These are the team rules, this is the curfew, you are expected to work extremely hard, and we are here for a gold medal." The gold medal was our goal, nothing less. Oh, I forgot to mention, the USA had never won a medal in youth soccer at the World Maccabiah Games in the 76 years of their existence...
Our guys believed... We did not want to settle and do our best in the group stage, we wanted to win the group. We won tough games, we fought for each other, we all became very close... Guys set individual goals as well which we reviewed a couple nights ago and it has been great to see these guys progressed...
We did everything we had to do, we over-achieved, we fought through adversity, and all this to lead us to the place we talked about almost a month ago, the gold medal match. Last night we faced the Israeli National team on their home field, quite a bit bigger than the field we played them on the first time, for the Gold.
Playing against Israel with Israeli refs is not the most ideal situation but this group has become extremely mentally tough dealing with situations like this... One of our leading goal scorers was playing through a serious rib injury and our starting center midfielder was unavailable due to a late red card against Argentina... Should we change? Should we play differently? Should we play safer and go for the tie? All questions that were asked to us by other coaches, fans, and people around the event... The part that I loved the most is that these players didn't even have to ask me, they already knew, we weren't changing a thing, we were going to push even harder and guys were going to have to step up as we went out there to go for the win.
The atmosphere was amazing, we played a 6:00 pm
kickoff under the lights, and because a lot of other sports finished earlier in the day, there was a great crowd of not just fans, but other athletes from the Israeli and USA delegations that made for a rowdy crowd.
After a hard fought first half we got to the break deadlocked at 0-0, this was the first time Israel had been held scoreless in the first half of a game all tournament, we were in great shape but knew we could do better. The second half was intense, deadlocked and scoreless, both teams battled for every ball until finally Israel broke through mid-way through the second half, they went crazy with celebrations... Our team could have easily folded, instead, less than 5 minutes later we equalized and showed everyone watching that we were not going down easy. As a fan, this must have been a great game to watch with the amount of pressure, chances, tackles, and pace that the game brought.. Truly a gold medal game.
We got through the second half tied at 1-1 and we were set for overtime. Unlike college, where games are decided in "Golden Goal" overtime, international tournaments using FIFA rules dictate that two 15 minute periods be added on to the game to decide the winner. So, after playing 6 full games in 10 days, there would be 30 more minutes to find a champion before penalty kicks decided the fate of the two teams.
Our team was focused and playing well early in the first half of OT, we still had confidence and energy. The Israelis earned a corner kick and after the first clearance the ball was sent wide and recrossed for an unbelievable header by Israel's #9, the leading goal scorer in the competition. We were down a goal in overtime, but we still had 20 minutes left.
What happened next is what the game is all about in my opinion... The next twenty minutes followed by the hour or so after the game inspires me to do what I do for a living. Our guys were so tired... Playing on that huge field, against a national team that plays many international tournaments together, after a ton of games on short rest, our guys had every reason to look sluggish... but they didn't. They looked like machines. The last 24 hours people all over have been coming up to me saying and asking how our guys ran so much, and so hard, for so long. The whole night was very reminiscent of our SVSU NCAA National Championship game in the fall, the body can push itself way past the limits if you believe it can... Our boys in white, with the USA crest proudly donned on their chests, literally gave everything they had... We chased down every runner, we won every 50/50 ball, we made tackles and played quickly... It was unbelievable. We created a few chances, but none more dangerous than with 2 minutes left in double overtime where we broke behind their back line deep in their end and narrowly missed the chance that could have sent the game to penalty kicks... And then, it was over.
We did not reach our goal... But our goal was set way higher than others thought we could achieve. We proved to the world that the USA could play with some of the greatest soccer countries in the world, and we did it the right way.
This feeling of defeat is so hard to take sometimes, to get so close, and be in reaching distance of the ultimate goal and have it slip away, it is a haunting feeling. However, in the National Championship game, and here in the Gold Medal match, as much as I wanted to win, I never once felt sorry for myself, but only felt sadness for the players that gave their all and were willing to run through a brick wall for the guy next to them. I have been extremely blessed to coach kids at SVSU and here with Maccabi USA that proved that they will trust me, never give up, and play for the person next to them, and that is a special feeling. The things I have learned this year, the people I have met, and the life lessons that these players have learned in gracious defeat are priceless. No one wants to lose a game, especially a Championship... But in the last 6 months I have felt that pain twice... Yet my memories are not of losing, what I remember about the games is pride and honor and players giving their all. I hope they all realize that as much as I try to inspire them, they inspire me.
As this trip comes to a close in 2 days, I am already looking forward to the next challenge that lies ahead, and I can promise that the lessons learned this last year have made me a better coach, our players better players, and all involved, better people. The future is bright.
This trip has allowed kids from all over the USA to meet, travel a foreign land together, become a family, meet and spend time with people from all over the world, and compete at the highest level... Truly amazing.
Our team huddled up last night after the game. A few people took turns speaking, tears in eyes, and arms around each other. The message was clear from all of us who spoke, although we did not reach our goal, we were a part of something special, something bigger than the game itself.
I will hang my silver medal proudly in my office and I will cherish the memories and people from this journey for the rest of my life...
Oh, and about that feeling, the one that haunts... The tough loss... Every true champion has had that feeling, and that is what motivates them... I know that myself and each of our players will take that feeling with them some where deep inside and use it as motivation in every aspect of their lives to become the best they can be... And maybe that is the ultimate lesson.
USA U-18 Maccabi Soccer
World Maccabiah Games
2013 SILVER MEDALISTS
GO USA!
Wassermann Blog Entry 6 (July 28, 2013) - The ride continues for the Stars and Stripes!
On Friday, our boys faced Argentina in one of the semifinals to see who would advance to the gold medal game and face the winner of the Israel/Great Britain match.
Our team has been through a lot in the last few weeks and we have come together in a special way. Each and every game up to now it has become more and more clear that these guys are not playing for themselves, but instead, they are playing for their country and the guy next to them.
Last game we proved that in a tough game we could battle back when we defeated the tournament favorites, Israel, with a late second half comeback. On Friday, we found ourselves up against the wall again...
After a chippy and sloppy first half, we came out into the second half with a renewed energy and focus. I thought for sure that we would take the lead with the way were we're pressuring the Argentina side, until about 10 minutes into the half when Argentina scored a direct free kick that put us on the verge of elimination and all hopes of a gold medal behind us. For these guys, that was not an option...
What happened next was a remarkable thing to be a part of... as a coach, you give direction, you make plans, you motivate, but the players have to believe. It is funny talking to these guys off the field and hearing them compare this team to some other teams they have played on, I have heard things like "my team back home could never fight back like this" or "man, this team has so much energy late in games and we just don't give up"... it very much reminds me of our program at SVSU. I like to think that this kind of mentality is something that I help inspire, an attitude, a drive, a will to win... but at the end of the day it is up to the players to believe, to fight, and to never back down. On Friday, down a goal to Argentina in the second half, with our hopes of a gold medal slipping away, we did not give up. Argentina tried to slow the game, break the rhythm, and kill the clock. As a player and a coach, these tactics can be extremely frustrating, Argentina was constantly delaying the game, fouling, etc... but that motivated our boys even more, our pace became too much for Argentina. We upped the tempo on every set piece, throw-in, and moved the ball quickly as we pushed forward. After getting in their end numerous times, we drew two defenders out for a short corner kick, and the ensuing cross led to the equalizing goal. We were back in business.
The push continued and after another chippy phase in the game we found ourselves minutes away from the end of regulation. Overtime and penalties were not in our minds, we wanted to win the game before the whistle. In the 88th minute a slip pass behind the back line found Alex Simon, arguably our fastest player, running full speed ahead, and before Argentina could react our USA boys were celebrating the game winner!! We had a few minutes of stoppage time to deal with and unfortunately after a tackle and ensuing melee, our starting central midfielder was issued a red card. We finished the game down a man but the boys showed great heart and determination.
Today we will face Israel in the final. They have been the favorite in this tournament from the start and will come out for revenge for the 2-1 game we won in our final group match.
This is the 19th World Maccabiah Games, and USA Youth Soccer has never won a medal until this group came together to show the world that we won't go down without a fight. At worst, we will bring home the silver, but we came for the gold, and that is our goal.
Around 8:00 pm tonight, we will know who will be bringing home the ultimate prize, if our guys can recreate the effort and performances we have shown the last couple weeks, we can make history.
GO USA!
Wassermann Blog Entry 5 (July 24, 2013) - USA SOCCER, ON TO THE SEMIS!
The last 2 days here in Israel have sent a message to the other 10 soccer countries competing here in the World Maccabiah Games. Yesterday, Israel was sitting top of the group with 3 wins in 3 games and USA was just behind them with 2 wins in 2 games... By days end, both teams were sitting on 3 wins (9 points) after we dominated team Canada by a score of 5-0 on goals from 5 different players. Taking the early lead against Canada was our goal because we knew we had to face the tournament favorite the next day, Israel has their full U-17 National Team here and are one of the top youth teams in the world. After going up 3-0 early against the Canadians we were able to rotate many players to ensure we would have fresh legs today... The game today against Israel would decided who would finish on top of the group, on the other side of the bracket, Great Britain finished on top with Argentina just behind them.
The game was intense, being on foreign soil in an international competition is a surreal experience, you have referees from the country you are playing against, fans are against you, its hot, you haven't seen home in weeks, you are eating food that is different from what you are used to, but you have to deal with it, you have to find a way to win. Our boys today showed serious resolve in some very tough situations... Israel has scored 20 goals in 3 games before this one (10, 5, 5), and after scouting them, we knew how dangerous they could be. Our game plan was the same as it was the last 3 games, hold nothing back, attack quickly and high pressure up the field... This is not an easy task against players of this caliber who are already playing in professional youth systems and international competitions. After about 10 minutes of the game I think our team really realized that we were all over them, the ball was in their end, we were playing physical, and we got a few early chances that gave us confidence. After about 25-30 minutes of our USA boys controlling the half, Israel gained some ground and turned the momentum around, we went down a goal... which was a real test for our team.
Down a goal to a team like this is a tough task... when we came in for half time we really had to consider our options. We had already qualified for the semi-finals, some coaches and players may think the best thing to do is just minimize the damages and start thinking about the next game, try not to give up too many goals in the second half... That thought did not cross my mind. We came here to win games, win the group so we can be in a better situation in the semi-final, and prove that we can beat anyone, and that is what we did.
In the second half our guys grinded out every possession, making tackles, winning 50/50 balls, and making the Israeli's track back to defend our strong attack. We went on to equalize and the I truly feel that as soon as we tied the game up, our boys knew we were going to win. A tie was not good enough, if we would have drawn the game the Israeli's would have finished top of the group based on goal differential. We made one or two adjustments which helped us keep the ball on the ground a little more and break down the Israeli side with quick combinations, our speed getting forward was the difference... after a few chances for both sides, Jonah Gooden, who has now scored in all 4 games, finished off the game winning goal. This was only the 2nd time in the last 76 years that the USA has beaten Israel in Soccer at the Maccabiah.
We are now slated to go against Argentina in the semi-final and after scouting them and the Great Britain who will play Israel, we know we will have to replicate our performance in the next round.
The bus ride home from the game today was what these competitions are all about, music going, guys singing, the American flag flying high with the team... truly a great day.
Tomorrow we can finally rest as we prepare for the game against Argentina on Friday, it is much needed after playing back to back games two days in a row.
GO USA!
Wassermann Blog Entry 5 (July 21, 2013) - USA vs. Brazil -
VIDEO OF GOALS
Today we played our second game in the Maccabiah Games, and it was intense... This game has been building up for the last two years... In Brazil, in 2011 at the Pan-American Games, these two teams met in the Gold Medal match of the 15-16 age group, where Brazil went on to win in an extremely tough and physical battle. We have 4-5 players on our team now that were on that team and have been looking forward to this game ever since. Playing Brazil is always something that every soccer player, at any level, looks forward to their whole lives, they are arguably the greatest soccer country in the history of the game.
We went into the game with confidence, and looked forward to keeping the momentum from the Sweden game 2 days ago. From the start, the boys in the red, white, and blue were flying. The hot Israeli sun was unbelievable today but our guys played through it and fought extremely hard. Our work rate defensively set the tone early in the game, we did not let Brazil have time on the ball, that is where they thrive. Taking away their possession made the game a bit more up and down which suited our boys as we have some very dangerous players that can get forward and create chances quickly. We had some chances early in the game but Brazil's goalie showed from early in the game that it would not be easy, he was saving everything.
The game was a bit back and forth at times and it got extremely chippy, the ref let the game play on even though the physical battles were really tough, but we kept our heads... We chipped and chipped away at the feisty Brazilians and after the goalkeeper made another point blank save and we hit the crossbar a few minutes later, it began to feel like it was going to be "one of those days"...
What happened next blew the roof off the place... in the 78th minute we played a quick short corner kick and drew in a few Brazilians to the sideline, the ball got crossed to the far post and as everyone shifted to the far side, the ball got chipped back from where it came from and our central midfielder, Max Brodarzon (New Jersey, Rutgers University in 2013), who is about 5'5", jumped high enough to literally hit his head on the cross bar and smashed home the game winner. The team and crowd went crazy and 3 minutes later we put the nail in the coffin with the second goal scored by Jonah Gooden, who kept his goal scoring form after scoring the bicycle against Sweden. We battled out the last 10 minutes and finished with a huge win putting in us in great shape to get through the group and hopefully qualify for the semi-final. We still have 2 huge games left against Canada and Israel, who brought their full U17 National Team, but today really put us in a great position.
The feeling I have had the last few days has been unreal. I have talked to players about it as well and they share the same thoughts... these are more than just games. The way everything has come together, traveling together, living together the last 3 weeks, the Opening Ceremonies, and competing for your country wearing the stars and stripes on our crest on the jersey, it is unbelievable. I am not one who usually celebrates much after goals, I like to keep my cool, but I could not help myself today, watching the boys go crazy on the field and knowing that we got the goals we deserved against a tough Brazil team was a great feeling.
We are on the way to a dinner event now with delegations from all over the world and tomorrow will be all about rest, recovery, and scouting our opponents. On Tuesday we play Canada followed by Israel on Wednesday.
GO USA!!
Wassermann Blog Entry 4 (July 19, 2013) - Today was the culmination of four days of pure build-up and emotion... We opened up today with our opening game of the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel with a match that kicked off at 11:00am against Sweden. Before I get into the game you really have to understand what the last five days entailed to get the full idea of the build up for this game... we have been in Israel for over 10 days preparing for this day to come, but the last few days were really something else, I will give a brief synopsis of what has been going and cap it off with today's game against Sweden.
July 19th - GAME DAY! - It was hot, we were low on sleep, but it did not matter... After all the things this team had been through in the last 2 weeks and all the build up, we came out flying and running on adrenaline. We pressured Sweden from the start of the game and scored early which only added to our positive mentality only 5 minutes after our team did the international walk-out and starting line-ups in front of a great crowd of USA Supporters and athletes from other sports who came to watch... The momentum was momentarily rattled when Sweden answered back with a goal off of a free-kick just a few minutes later.
That was the moment where I saw what this team's true potential is really all about... not one player put their head down after the goal, we all knew that we were going to keep chipping away even after the Sweden goal. From the kickoff after Sweden equalized we got right back on top of the game, pressuring, working, and fighting for every loose ball. The depth of our team really showed as we brought on subs late in the half and we kept chipping away. What happened next is something that you really would have had to see to believe... the game was recorded so hopefully I can add the video later.. Brian Peiken from New York came into the game on the right side of the defense and got up the field into the attack, on one of his first touches of the game he whipped in a cross that was high and pacey... one of the forwards, Jonah Gooden, from Malibu California, sprung into the air and scored a perfectly struck overhead kick (Bicycle) Click here to see game winner
http://youtu.be/_XQTCmUvSYY, and madness ensued... the team and crowd could barely believe what just happened, it was truly one of the best finishes you will ever see at a soccer game... and to do it in the opening game of international tournament was special. Chet Castellew (Los Angeles, CA) had two goals and an assist and Dylan Rose (Nashville, TN) also added a goal. We finished our opening game with a 4-1 win and we are looking to carry the momentum forward as we prepare for BRAZIL on Sunday.
July 18th - Opening Ceremonies - The morning consisted of our final tune-up as we practiced on a gorgeous turf field called Kadima. Our Israeli hosts were great providing us with water, locker rooms etc... however, now that our pre-camp is over and the games are starting, the transportation is much different and we are being shuttled all over the place hopping from bus to bus (9,000 athletes all being bused around, not a simple task for this small country), our kids are remaining focused and patient throughout these trips which is important.
Without going into too much details, the Maccabiah Opening Ceremonies was one of the most breathtaking things I have ever experienced in my life. 40,000 people filling a stadium, all representing countries as athletes or fans, and we were in the middle of the USA group, the largest team here! There were moments as we walked into the ceremonies that we had groups of 500-700 athletes chanting "USA-USA" at the top of their lungs and screaming out the words to "The National Anthem". The spectacle of singers, dancers, and light shows was unbelievable and the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, addressed the whole crowd... to sit and watch a world leader speak with my own eyes in such an international event was something I never could have dreamed about years ago.
One of the highlights of the night for myself and the team was the madness of the gear exchange that was going on in the stands, on the concourse, and outside the stadium after the ceremonies. People were trading their gear for other country's gear all over the place. People were racing around trying to get their hands on gear from the 70-80 countries involved... I traded some of my USA stuff with some very cool Brazilian and South Africans that I met.
The event was in Jerusalem... we are staying on the other side of the country... after a crazy train ride filled with athletes from all over the world, and then a shuttle bus, we finally were back to our hotel at 2:45am... we all knew that bed time and focus were the key, we had to wake up early for SWEDEN!
July 17th - Travel Day - I am going to keep this segment short ant sweet because this was one of the most exhausting days of the trip... We trained hard in the morning, focused on speed of play, and worked on some speed and agility... and then the real day began. After a pep rally of the whole USA contingent of almost 1,100 athletes who finally had all arrived in Israel (Some teams had their training camp in the USA), we had to all move to our new homes in the towns where our games would be played... that meant 1,100 people checking out of hotels and hopping on buses all over Israel... we were checking into out new home in Netanya called Schefayim... it took all day and it was as hot as you would expect in the middle of summer in Israel. We survived.
July 16th - Holocaust Memorial - We started the day with some very paced technical work at our training session and I could tell that after just one day off of soccer, the guys were ready to be back on the field... It reminds me of our SVSU Soccer program... every once in a while our guys need a day off but they are always itching to get back to playing right away. Our training site was not as high quality as the field we had previously used at Shoam but it was a great scene in the park were at because we were surrounded by lakes, trees, and some shade, finally!
After training the mood changed from our usual loud/fun attitude to a more serious side as we took all the USA contingent to visit Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Memorial Museum, here in Israel. The Museum is in the hills of Jerusalem. Taking a team of athletes to a site like this really puts things in perspective. To be a student-athlete at the college level, or for this team, mostly high school kids playing for their country, sometimes you need a moment to stop and smell the roses. All over the world there is tragedy, war, and struggles and sometimes you need to appreciate what you have by exposing yourself to some uncomfortable situations. Yad Vashem is not like other museums... The architecture and trees that are planted all around the site, mostly dedicated to non-jewish people who risked their lives during the holocaust to save others, are beautiful. However, inside the museum the halls are tight, the walls are cold, the the emotion is strong. The trip was educational and important for our whole group, it was very powerful.
July 15th - Masada, Dead Sea, Bedouin Tent - What a day... We were coming off of our scrimmage against the USA Open team so the boys got to sleep in a little bit and recover before this long day of hiking and touring. We started the day at The Dead Sea which is truly an amazing place to visit. The team had the opportunity to take a dip in the the Sea which is 34% salt... It is truly mind boggling going into the Sea, you float at the top of the water and bob up and down because of the water. The Sea is a beautiful site, bright blue water that is still as can be in the middle of a bright orange desert like scene, it would be like dropping a huge 1,800 foot deep lake into the middle of what looks to be Arizona desert. At The Dead Sea I had a chance to meet and chat with Aly Raisman, USA Gymnastics Olympic gold medalist! She has been part of the USA contingent (http://forward.com/articles/180768/aly-raisman-leads-parade-of--athletes-at-th/) along with another Olympic gold medalist, Garrett Webber-Gale who is competing with the USA Maccabi Swim Team.
We finished the day with a hike around the top of Masada, which was not only education, but also inspirational to our team as we learned about the ancient battles that took place on the very ground we were walking on.
After a long day of being in the sun we ended up taking buses to the desert where we were hosted in Bedouin tents as the sun went down over the desert hills and the breeze cooled us off... we watched camels walk by the tents as the athletes sat on Bedouin blankets on the floor eating terrific middle eastern food. It was one of the most relaxing nights of the trip after a long day, it was much needed!
Wassermann Blog Entry 3 (July 15, 2013) - Wifi is a beautiful thing... With limited time on the computer I am writing this update from our bus wifi on our team trip to Masada and The Dead Sea, two amazing natural and historical sites that really can change your perspective on the world just by being there. We will finish our day eating dinner in a desert tent on a Bedouin campsite. I was lucky enough to visit these sites on a previous trip but I can't tell you how excited I am to watch these players experience it for themselves as most of them are traveling across the world for their first time and I can already tell that this experience is changing their perspective on things.
This will be a very long day for the squad so we gave the team the day off of soccer activities for the first time since we have been here, a lot of guys went to the hotel gym this morning for some light recovery work which is very important on a trip like this.
Yesterday our team woke up early and scrimmaged the USA Open team (18+ age group), the team is coached by Preston Goldfarb who has been the head coach of Birmingham Southern for about 30 years, he has built up a great collegiate program there and has taken his program through stints in D1, D3, and NAIA and has been successful at all levels. The Open team is comprised of mostly current college players who attend schools that include Wake Forest, Northwestern, San Diego State, Boston University, Maryland, and other top schools across the country. Our team is comprised of almost all 17 year olds who are just starting their college search so we were up against a tough task...
We ended up competing at a very good level for most of the game and ended up narrowly losing the exhibition on a score of 2-1. The game was very beneficial for us and we saw a ton of things from our team in the game that we will build on in the next few days before our opening game against Sweden. We have been training on turf but the game yesterday was on grass which was great for us as we will play all of our official Maccabiah Games on grass.
After our scrimmage and lunch, we took the team to the old city of Jerusalem for a great cultural program. It is amazing to see the kids learning and experiencing things off the field that can be paired with the athletic competition for an overall life changing trip. After a tour of Jerusalem the day ended with the team all finding local Shwarma and Fallafel stands to get a true taste of Israel!
Well we are almost at Masada, time to put on the hiking shoes! I will update again in a few days and by that time we will be getting ready for the opening ceremonies which are already SOLD OUT and will be held in Teddy Stadium which will hold about 40,000 people in the stands and on the ground there will be about 9,000 athletes marching around representing over 70 countries... We will be proud to be wearing out USA outfits and flying the flag of the Red, White, and Blue!
Wassermann Blog Entry 2 (July 11, 2013) - Another couple of great days here in Israel and it is only getting better! The team has been continuing our training camp with practices, meetings, pool workouts, recovery, and not to mention the amazing team meals with authentic Israeli food. Last night we had the opportunity to play an exhibition game against a local Israeli club called Shoam at their facility and it was truly a special night. The weather was unseasonably cool for summer which made for perfect playing conditions under the lights for the 7:00 pm kickoff. The representatives, coaches, and players from the Israeli club were first class in hosting our USA Team, and it was a much needed exhibition as we prepare for out opening game in a week. We scored a goal late in the first half, and a second mid-way through the second half... after giving up a late goal, we managed to hang on for the 2-1 win, it felt great to get our first victory as Team USA on foreign soil. The Shoam club hosted a cultural exchange dinner and served our players a nice dinner alongside the Shoam players, it was great to see our team mingling with the local Israelis... a lot of them traded shirts after the game and will have a souvenir of the night for years to come... truly special.
Today we had a light recovery day which included a pool workout and some games along with technical work in the afternoon. Tomorrow we are back to full training in the morning (6:30am) and then starting at 11:00am we will take the team around the area touring historical streets, attractions, and even some beach time in the city of Herzliya. This schedule of training in the morning and touring the country in the afternoon will continue for a week until we have the Maccabiah Opening Ceremonies which will mark the beginning of the official games.
This coming Sunday we are scheduled to have our U-18 Team USA play against the Open Team USA (18+ age group) in a prep game, this will be a very tough test for us considering the Open USA Team is filled with top college soccer players from around the country who attend Universities including Northwestern, Maryland, Wake Forest, and Boston College, among others. This game will really prepare us for the teams we may encounter throughout the games like Argentina, Germany, Brazil, etc...
The trip has been amazing so far and we look forward to getting to know the country as well as progressing in our team's development building up the the games which start in about a week.
Until next time... SHALOM!
Wassermann Blog Entry 1 (July 9, 2013) - The last two days have been a whirlwind but the journey has just begun for us here in Israel. We arrived on Sunday night after a crazy day of travel... our players came from all over the USA including some players from Philadelphia, Los Angeles, New York, New Jersey, and Miami.
The first night we really just all had to get our feet underneath us after traveling for 24 hours with layovers for some. We met with the team at our hotel which is a beautiful place in Ramat Gan, just north of Tel Aviv. It was an early night because we have scheduled training sessions daily at 6:30am for the first few days as well as an afternoon session to complete our "two-a-days". Waking up at 5:15am isn't the favorite thing for most 17-18 year old soccer players but beating the Israeli summer heat is well worth it. The afternoon sessions are quite hot but the view and the breeze helps the team manage. We are training at a very nice turf facility which houses the Israeli youth club called Shoam. We have had this schedule for the last few days and tomorrow we will have a light morning session before we play against the Shoam club team as an exhibition friendly match to help prepare our team for our games next week, we are scheduled to play Sweden in the opening match, followed by Brazil.
The food is great here and the people are extremely friendly. Our players here are already having an amazing cultural experience and competing for your country internationally is already proven to be an amazing sporting experience. The team is highly motivated and we have set some pretty high standards and goals for what we want to achieve here as the USA Maccabi Team.
We are looking forward to our first scrimmage tomorrow!
Wassermann to Lead Maccabi U18 Soccer Team at 19th Maccbiah Games in Israel
Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer head coach Cale Wassermann will coach the Maccabi USA's Under 18 Men's Soccer Team. The Team will compete at the 19th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 17 - 30, 2013.
"I am extremely thrilled to be a part of the Maccabi organization and to travel to Israel for this event. To represent your country at any level is an extreme honor and we are excited to compete against some of the best soccer countries in the world. It will be a great opportunity and our goal is to be the first U-18 Maccabi team to bring back a Gold Medal from the games," stated Wassermann.
The reigning NSCAA National Coach of the Year, Wassermann is entering his fourth season at Saginaw Valley State University where the Cardinals finished the 2012 season as national runners-up in the NCAA DII Championships. In just three full seasons at SVSU, Wassermann has won back-to-back Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championships and led the Cardinals to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances.
Over the course of the 19th World Maccabiah Games Coach Wassermann will regularly offer his view on a variety of topics related to the games, his team and his experiences in blog posts. All his posts, along with links to related content, will be available on www.svsucardinals.com.
About Maccabi:
Maccabi USA endeavors, through sports, to perpetuate and preserve the American Jewish community by encouraging Jewish pride, strengthening Jewish bonds and by creating a heightened awareness of Israel and Jewish identity. The volunteer organization seeks to enrich the lives of Jewish youth in the United States, Israel and the Diaspora through athletic, cultural and educational programs.
We develop, promote and support international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. We strive to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. We support programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish continuity, Zionism and excellence in sport.
