The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 12 No. 47 - September 5, 2012

sports

Soccer season starts Sept. 19

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

File photo
The 2011 AutoWay Ford team huddles before
taking the field last year.

 

School is back in session, summer is winding down, and one of the most anticipated sports seasons of the year is back. Soccer has a long and historic tradition on the Island. For the Anna Maria Island Community Center, soccer is one of the largest sports leagues it offers.

The soccer season has a way of bringing families together in a fun wholesome social environment. Kids, siblings, parents and grandparents will all come together on the fields to cheer friends and family on after a long hot summer mostly apart.

Male and female players age 4 to over 60 will find their way to the pitch. Currently, the Center has drafted 26 co-ed teams and will have its final draft for the 14-17-year-old league on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Two volunteer coaches are running each team and are the cornerstone and strength of the program. These caring individuals are giving their time and talent to make a positive difference in this community.

During the tryouts, it was encouraging to see all the young talent. There has been a great soccer buzz about the fields and in summer indoor soccer since the U.S.A Women’s Team brought home gold from the Summer Olympics, especially among the young female athletes. The Island has been a breeding ground for young soccer talent over the years. Most notable as of late is Joey Hutchinson, who went to college on a Division I soccer scholarship this year.

Who will be the next young star to shine bright under the Island lights? Wait no longer for this season starts now. Practices begin this week, and the season officially starts on Wednesday, Sept. 19, for the kids with the kick of the season banquet and uniform handout.

Spirit week exhibition games begin on Friday, Sept. 21 and carry through Saturday the 22nd. Players and families are encouraged to dress in their team’s colors and show their team spirit. The more creative, the greater amount of points the team will receive during this fun and exciting two day event.

The adult league begins on Thursday, Sept. 13, with their its regular season game.

Adult co-ed Soccer schedule:

Sept. 13, Thursday, 6 p.m.,
Sato Real Estate vs. Wash Family Construction

Sept. 13, Thursday, 7 p.m.,
Moss & Bernard Construction vs. Florida Discount Signs

Sept. 13, Thursday, 8 p.m.,
Pink & Navy Boutique vs. Island Pest Control

Sept. 13, Thursday, 9 p.m.,
Jessie’s Island Store vs. Slim’s Place
,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

Personal training from in person to online

My personal training and running clients are starting to get serious about fall training. The first 5K in the Bradenton area is on Labor Day, and that seems to be the starting line for the kick-off of cooler temperatures and more races. By the time you read this, I will have run it and hopefully will have placed in my age group again. I’ve placed in 5Ks almost three dozen times since starting to race competitively in 2007.

As we begin a new running season, I am delighted with the new turn my personal training and coaching business is taking. I had been quite content with my book tour, various writing gigs I have, including the book, with a second one on the way. I was also happy working at a real gym on our Island with real personal training clients, or going to individual homes.

But after a New York Times blogger wrote about how my running coaching advice helped her shave lots of time off of her New York City Marathon time, my e-mail inbox has been bursting. Funny thing was, I had no idea she was a reporter and just talked to her as I would anyone who asked for advice.

As a result, I’m doing personal training on Skype and Facetime – two of the most popular ways to connect via free online video conferencing. Your computer becomes a full-screen video of people who “call” you. I can see my clients, and they can hear and see me as I demonstrate exercises with proper form and workouts I’ve designed for them. I take them through the whole workout, counting and giving feedback on form as I watch.

I train a woman in Queens in her apartment starting at 6:30 a.m. Then a client at the gym, then the beach for a woman who wants to run a 5K and back home by 9 a.m. where my Midwest, Mountain and Pacific time clients are waking up for their 6:30 to noon workouts. I’m struck by how some clients live in very small living quarters, but yet they’re making weight training and exercise a priority.

In the afternoon, I work with phone and online running clients. I don’t need to see my running clients unless they prefer it. After I design a running training plan back-timed to a race or event, we talk about issues, struggles or concerns. I only talk about food when asked. Given the interest in vegan diets these days (thanks Bill Clinton, Beyoncé, Steve Wynn and many others), it always comes up as a way to fast track weight loss, when done healthfully. Given the daily press that vegan diets get for avoiding disease and enhancing performance, curiosity is huge.

This week another NFL football player announced his conversion, Arian Foster, of the Houston Texans. The huge scoreboard posted his daily menu plan! Eating vegan is so mainstream, I’d say it isn’t even funny. But I’ve caught so much grief over my life for food choices, it still seems and will probably always seem funny.

Though not so funny is the just released report by the Stockholm International Water Institute joining other studies that say we’ll be eating vegetarian by 2050, if we don’t drastically cut our consumption of animal protein. I’ve been saying this in my cooking classes for years. As the worst U.S. drought in 50 years has shown, corn used to feed cattle spikes in price, forcing ranchers to sell cattle, which will spike meat and dairy prices, even with controversial farm subsidies.

I try to keep my prices low since I know many are struggling. I never did set out to do this for money. Motivated by my mom, aunt and both sisters having had breast cancer and much more, I just enjoy helping others try to stay fit. My hubby and I moved here to kick back more. So much for that. More studies are redefining retirement, suggesting the more active you are, the better quality of life with increased odds of staving off disease.

More than certifications that attract clients are those who say, “Wow, I want what she’s got.” Not so much in looks, but in energy, stamina, good hair, complexion and defying genes – all affected by lifestyle. Gotta run!

You can follow Island resident Ellen Jaffe Jones on her Facebook page and keep up with her just released book:,"Eat Vegan on $4 a Day," or her website: www.vegcoach.com. She is also a nationally certified personal trainer and running coach. For training in a gym or private hire, contact Ellen at ejones@vegcoach.com or 941-704-1025.


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