THE 2022 U 20 MENS TEAMS PERFORMED SOCCER AS IT IS INTENDED.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, WATCH TO SEE WHAT THEY DO TO BUILD UP, TO ATTACK, AND TO DEFEND.

CONGRATULATION TO THE PLAYERS AND THEIR COACHES FOR PUTING FORTH A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE FOR US TO WATCH AND LEARN FROM.

With our stay at home orders and not being able to practice with any team, I suggest you do this workout as often as you can but at least 3 days a week.

How to improve your soccer between practices or How to get better at soccer when there is no team practice

If you will take time to do these skill practices 3 times a week, your coach can focus on teaching team play.

Juggle the ball 100 times.  Begin by dropping the ball to thigh, or foot and pushing the ball gently to try to repeat the contact.  Foot and thigh need to be level with the ground when contact is made with the ball.  Repeat until there have been 100 touches.

Lobatta (push the ball back and forth between your feet) 25 in place, 25 moving forward, 25 moving backwards. 

Roll overs (roll bottom of cleat over the ball while moving the ball forward) 25 right foot while moving forward, 25 left foot while moving forward. 

Toe Taps (alternate putting bottom of your cleat on the top of the ball) 25 in place, 25 moving forward, 25 moving backwards. 

Locomotion (Push ball forward with laces or cup of the foot, stop the ball with bottom of the cleat, then restart quickly pushing the ball forward again) 5 starts and stops and restarts. 

Train Wreck (Start locomotion,when putting your foot on top of the ball draw your foot back keeping the ball in front of you as you turn your body to push the ball back the way you came from)  do 5 reversals with your right foot and 5 reversals with your left foot. 

Scissors ( push the ball with the outside of your foot three times in a row, on the forth time don't push the ball out but step over the ball and push the ball with the outside of the other foot at a 90 degree angle from the direction you were going) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot. 

Double scissors (do single scissors but fake going 90 degrees the other way by stepping over the ball with your other foot and then continue in the first direction) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot. 

Big Kick Fake (bring foot at ball with full body preparation for a hard long kick but stop foot on the ball or beside the ball and continue in the direction you had been dribbling) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot.

Cut back (while running at full speed, cut the ball from the line you are running in with the outside of your foot to change direction 45 degrees)  do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot.

Shielding the Ball (with arms out and knees bent keep the ball on the opposite side of you using the foot furthest from the defender)(if you do not have a partner to practice with move the ball around as if your shadow is the defender) do this for a minute with your right foot and a minute with your left foot.

Spin Move (Step over the ball blocking the defender from the ball and pull the ball with the other foot backwards and around the defender while shielding the ball, turning toward the ball and keeping it in front of you as you turn then accelerate away from defender) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot.

Spring Academy and Tryouts February 14, 2015 through February 28, 2015

Tryouts began Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 10 to 12 at Riverfront Park for u 12 to u 14 boys and girls.


Tryouts continue at Gray Ave. School from 6 to 7:30 p.m. this Tuesday February 24, 2015, and Saturday February 28, 2015 from 10 a.m. to noon for the under 12 boys as well as u 13 and u 14.


 The girls tryouts are the same on Tuesday evening as the boys at the same location.  Saturday, the girls tryouts begin at noon and run until 2.


The u-11 Azzurri Phantoms are looking to add a few good players and expect to move up a division and move up in their rankings.


The Yuba Sutter Youth Soccer League, Azzurri Phantoms, took first place in the Peach Classic Tournament in July 2014, narrowly winning the final game by kicks from the mark. 


 In the Rocklin Rumble Tournament, they took 3rd place.  They beat the team with the best record in the tournament, but who were penalized for scoring too many goals in one of their preliminary games.  The Phantoms won 3-0 in the play for 3rd place.


The Azzurri Phantoms soccer team participated in their 3rd tournament of the year, bringing home 1^st place. The under 11 boys competed in the Hunter Troy Clegg Memorial Soccer Tournament in Redding, California, September 27 and 28, 2014. In the 4 games, the boys allowed one goal in the 1^st game and no other goals in the remaining 3 games. In winning all 4 games, the boys scored 16 goals. Leading the defense, were Luke Ratajczak, Jacob Branum, Josh Martinez, Carlos Topete, and Jonathan Yang.  The goalie enforcing the shutouts was Logan Frazier.  Leading the offense were Jesse Palacio, Victor Preciado, Alex Reyes, and Peter Her. Boys receiving special recognition for outstanding play were Luke Ratajczak, Josh Martinez, Jesse Palacio and Logan Frazier.


In league, they won 9 games tied 2 and lost 1, the best record in the bronze division at the end of fall season.


They took second place in the Pumpkin Kick Tournament losing in overtime 3-2.


The Azzurri Phantoms soccer team participated in their 5^th tournament of the year, bringing home 1^st place. The under 11 boys competed in the District Commissioner’s Cup Soccer Tournament in Auburn for the preliminary rounds November 8 and 9 and Elk Grove November 15, 2014 for the finals, In the 4 games, the boys allowed only goals by one team that they played twice, overcoming a 1-0 loss by beating the same team 5-2 in the championship game. In winning first placed in the tournament, the boys scored 9 goals, allowing only 3. Leading the defense, were Luke Ratajczak, Jacob Branum, Josh Martinez, Carlos Topete, and Jonathan Yang.  The goalie enforcing the shutouts, and low goal count was Logan Frazier.  Leading the offense were Jesse Palacio, Victor Preciado, Alex Reyes, and Peter Her.  Goals have been scored by 8 of the 10 players that are on the active roster.  At the beginning of the season, David Villasenor suffered an off the field serious injury to his leg keeping him out of the competition for the season.  The boys have shared the awards with David.

 First place in the Commissioner’s Cup, is for the championship of the Silver, Bronze, and Copper teams in District VI.

 The u 11 phantoms go to Morgan Hill November 22, and 23, 2014 to compete in the California North Association Cup.  Because of their outstanding play, District VI sponsored them in the Association Cup.

Coach Cooke is extremely proud of the accomplishments of the boys and is pleased with his help from the parents, coach Tadj Ratajczak, and trainer Moises Preciado , and manager Wendy Ratajczak.  Coach Cooke is also very grateful for the support of his wife Nancy Cooke who has attended many of their games.

Spring League Begins

The expanded team of Phantoms, called the Green Phantoms for indoor soccer, as only two players have been participating that played last fall, and is made up of 13 players, is getting ready to play Spring Soccer outdoors and will have their first game beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday March 29, 2014 playing on the Sutter North Field in the Wheeler Auto Soccer Complex in the Marysville river bottoms.


The outdoor team has 18 players for this Spring, and Coach Cooke expects all players that want to participate this Spring, to turn in their player contracts before the first game.


Some players have been missing practice without a communicated adequate excuse and may be the first to not be on the game day 14 man roster, depending on how many turn in their fall contracts.  The team is limited to a game day 14 man roster and play 8 v. 8.


Despite the potential for rain, Coach Cooke will hold practice on Thursday, March 27, 2014 to practice corners and direct and indirect kicks and to continue to work on defense.


The Green Phantoms will play the 8 a.m. indoor game on March 29, 2014 and are asked to show up between 7:15 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. at the indoor arena to prepare for the day. They are improving weekly and Coach Cooke expects them to make substantial improvements this Spring.

Green phantom soccer practice.


Monday MARCH 3  practice will be moved to Tuesday March 4 at 5:30 p.m. still at 1216 Highland, Yuba City.  We are scheduled for the 2nd game on Saturday at the indoor arena.  Game time 8: 40 a.m.  Please plan to arrive 30 minutes before game time.  Beginning with the time change on Sunday next week practices will be on the Sutter North field at the Wheeler Soccer complex in the Marysville River Bottoms.  We will plan to be there Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

How to improve your soccer between practices or How to get better at soccer when there is no team practice

If you will take time to do these skill practices 3 times a week, your coach can focus on teaching team play.

Juggle the ball 100 times.  Begin by dropping the ball to thigh, or foot and pushing the ball gently to try to repeat the contact.  Foot and thigh need to be level with the ground when contact is made with the ball.  Repeat until there have been 100 touches.

Lobatta (push the ball back and forth between your feet) 25 in place, 25 moving forward, 25 moving backwards. 

Roll overs (roll bottom of cleat over the ball while moving the ball forward) 25 right foot while moving forward, 25 left foot while moving forward. 

Toe Taps (alternate putting bottom of your cleat on the top of the ball) 25 in place, 25 moving forward, 25 moving backwards. 

Locomotion (Push ball forward with laces or cup of the foot, stop the ball with bottom of the cleat, then restart quickly pushing the ball forward again) 5 starts and stops and restarts. 

Train Wreck (Start locomotion,when putting your foot on top of the ball draw your foot back keeping the ball in front of you as you turn your body to push the ball back the way you came from)  do 5 reversals with your right foot and 5 reversals with your left foot. 

Scissors ( push the ball with the outside of your foot three times in a row, on the forth time don't push the ball out but step over the ball and push the ball with the outside of the other foot at a 90 degree angle from the direction you were going) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot. 

Double scissors (do single scissors but fake going 90 degrees the other way by stepping over the ball with your other foot and then continue in the first direction) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot. 

Big Kick Fake (bring foot at ball with full body preparation for a hard long kick but stop foot on the ball or beside the ball and continue in the direction you had been dribbling) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot.

Cut back (while running at full speed, cut the ball from the line you are running in with the outside of your foot to change direction 45 degrees)  do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot.

Shielding the Ball (with arms out and knees bent keep the ball on the opposite side of you using the foot furthest from the defender)(if you do not have a partner to practice with move the ball around as if your shadow is the defender) do this for a minute with your right foot and a minute with your left foot.

Spin Move (Step over the ball blocking the defender from the ball and pull the ball with the other foot backwards and around the defender while shielding the ball, turning toward the ball and keeping it in front of you as you turn then accelerate away from defender) do 5 with your right foot and 5 with your left foot.

Azzurri January Soccer Academy Note changes

The soccer Academy for Azzurri will be held January 19 and 26 from 1 to 3 in the afternoon for the age group under 12 Boys and Girls. While last year they asked all people attending the academies to preregister for the following season, the Azzurri club voted to make the Academy open to all people at no cost, and not require preregistration for the 2014 season. The director of Azzurri coaching, Chava Arevalo will be overseeing the Academy. Coach Cooke will also participate in a planning and teaching role.