On a picture-perfect Thursday evening, players gathered with earnest anticipation, eager to show that they had been training for this very moment -- the start-up of the 2009 CAL Varsity Men's Soccer season. Players first got to demonstrate their preparedness by participating in Level 1 of the Yo-Yo Interimittent Relay Test. This shuttle-run-based fitness test, sometimes affectionately known simply as the "beep" test (named for the beep queues that help players with pacing) is the very same evaluation used by the U.S. National Team, as well as by other soccer teams the world over. The particular script that the boys followed was designed specifically for soccer, with focused sprint intervals, broken up by 5- and 10- second rests... just like the game itself. The coaching staff used computer equipment under the coaching tent to coordinate the "beep" sound queues and track individual player results, reported by how many "stages" or shuttle runs that the players finished.

At the end of the test, the following players finished in the top 10 spots on the YYIRT "beep" test.

Latest YYIRT "Beep Test" Results (updated July 26, 2009)

Note: The first number represents the farthest "stage" in which the player was able to make it to the finish line (in pace with the 'beep'). The second number reflects how many shuttles the player had completed in that stage of the test. Note that most stages have 16 segments or "shuttles." In this chart, we are reporting only varsity-level players. Players with a blank were absent from practice the night the test was administered.

These scores are helping with varsity player selection, fitness, and the creation of a benchmark for the players to build on for the season. Coach Lucas explained to the players that the two-times-a-week morning conditioning workouts, led by Assistant Coaches (and brothers) Toby and Ty Wilcox, will certainly give them an opportunity to improve their performance on the beep test, as will investing themselves fully in the evening practices 4 times a week as well. "The game itself is a fitness conditioner," explained Coach Lucas, "when played full-out." The test will be repeated approximately every two weeks until the team begins league play. The software allows the coaches to follow the progress of the players and even creates graphic charts to show the players' progress in their individual and team fitness.

The players then took part in a number of individual, small group, and large group activities to demonstrate their knowledge of soccer tactics, their abilities and skills, as well as their "heart and scramble" for the game. Coach Lucas reflected, "It's tough to pick from a pool full of players like these, in which so many of the players are hard workers, eager to excel not only individually, but as a team as well."

But at the end of the day, the coaches identified, at a minimum, the following players who would make up a core for CAL's 2009 varsity squad. In addition to this core, the coaches will continue to invite various combinations of JV players until they settle on a set of players with the best chemistry, the best set of skills and tactices, and the best confidence for the tough schedule CAL will face right around the corner this fall. Here is that varsity core.

2009 Varsity Core as of 7/26

Coach Guest and Coach McFaran rostered the following players (thus far) for JV. There are other players still in the pipeline.

2009 CAL JV Soccer Roster

(As of July 16, but likely to change)

The JV team has started practices, with JV Head Coach Guest will looking forward to integrating JV Ass't Coach McFarren when he returns from his out-of-town trip.

With other players still in the pipeline, the coaches are confident they'll get the numbers and combinations needed for a great fall season. Please pray for these players, the coaching staff, and all the parents (some of whom invest a lot of time shuttling players back and forth, preparing suppers on the run, and investing their whole selves in the program). Thanks to all who are involved. We look forward to an exciting new season.

To see practice and game schedules, click on "2009 Schedule" in the menu bar at left. Note that JV players will have to change the drop-down box to JV.