Luke Wilkshire says Hello!

Hi Scott

Hope all is well back there.

Regards Luke

Luke Wilkshire (born 2 October 1981 in Wollongong, Australia) is a Socceroo who plays for FC Dynamo Moscow in the Russian Premier League.

Football Australia Bushfire Appeal‏

Hi Scott

Only one game to go until we know who the 2009 Hyundai A-League Champions will be and, with a revived Adelaide United out to prove they're not easy beats when it comes to playing us, this Saturday's Grand Final should be another action-packed 90 minutes.If you can't make it to the game personally, you can still be part of the big match by watching it on FOX SPORTS live and exclusive from 6.30pm AEDT.I also wanted to let you know about the eBay auction we've put together to help raise funds for the Red Cross Bushfire Relief. It's a foosball table personally autographed by both teams and it's a fantastic souvenir of this year's Hyundai A-League Grand Final. It would look good in the office, home or the showroom. The auction is open now on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Signed-Foosball-Table-2009-Hyundai-A-League-Finalists_W0QQitemZ270348799296QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAU_Soccer_Memorabilia?hash=item270348799296&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66:265:139:1240:1318) and closes at 6.00pm AEDT next Monday, 2 March. I hope you put in a bid for this unique item of memorabilia which will aid a much-needed cause. Although the immediacy is over, the devastation of the bush fires will affect people for some time to come and they need our help.By the way, if you want to purchase tickets and see the game for yourself tickets are now available online by clicking here or at any Ticketmaster outlet or by 'phoning 136 100.And don't forget, next Thursday 5 March, in Canberra, my good mate Craig Moore will lead the Qantas Socceroos in a match against Kuwait in the second of our 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Tickets can be purchased for the match at Canberra Stadium online through Ticketek or at any Ticketek outlet.Enjoy the football... and don't forget to put in your bid for the foosball table!
Cheers

Kevin Muscat

Who is Charlie Cooke?

Stay tuned to find out who he is and why we are talking to him?

MYSTERY SPONSOR

The Round Ball is delighted to announce a mystery sponsor has come forward to support the program. The funds donated will support disadvantaged participants and will subsidise programs. We are delighted with the generosity of the offer.

Tommy's Tip - Passing

If you know how to control the ball, you know that a soccer team has to have good passing. Passing is the key of winning in soccer. A team that has poor passing has to work twice as hard to win the game. The game needs understanding between your teammates on the field. If you understand the player next to you, you know how to play the ball to them. You must pass direct to a player or to a spot that you know that they can get to. You must think fast where the ball will go to when the ball is pass to you. You should control the ball and know where to pass next or shoot the ball at the goal; a bad pass might mean the loss of the game. A good pass might be the game winner and a winning team.

Tommy

VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE WALK

In an outstanding effort The Round Ball had approximately 80 participants in the VB Walk. We will keep you informed of the totals as they come in however, we can tell you that we raised over $300.00

for the cause. Well done and thank you to all who participated.

STAR OF THE WEEK - ETHAN LAFFERTY

NAME
Ethan

D.O.B.
21/6/1994

SCHOOL YEAR
Year 9

FAVOURITE POSITION
GK

DAD’S NAME
Scott
MUM’S NAME
Donna
SISTER (S)
Felice

THREE…
…things that make you feel good in a game
Saving goals
Winning the match
Seeing my team work as a team

…things that you like to do in training
Corners/ crossing
The Goalkeeper training on Sundays
Half length games

…television programmes that you watch
Top Gear
Mythbusters
Family Guy

…books you have read
Deltora quest series
Stormbreaker
Helen of Troy

…magazines you read
Hot 4’s
Street machine
Wheels

…favourite films
Wanted
Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift
Hot Fuzz

…favourite soccer players
Buffon
Messi
Inzaghi

…favourite foods
Pork Spare ribs
Pizza
Chicken

…favourite CDs
Children of Bodom – Follow the Reaper
Cradle of Filth – Dusk and her Embrace
Lamb of God – Wrath/ Sacrament

…favourite soccer teams you like to watch
Inter Milan
Manchester United
Adelaide U

…strengths of your game
Goalkeeping
Shooting
Crossing

…areas you would like to improve in your game
Penalties
Corners
Rushing

…things you would like to achieve this year
Become a Better player
Go away with the team to play in under 15’s
Achieve my Peak

VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE WALK

SPECIAL EVENT
THE ROUND BALL
VICTORIAN BUSH FIRE
CHARITY TRAINING NIGHT
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 19

The Round Ball invites you to join BLSC and other sporting teams to run and walk a charity lap or two of the Blue Lake.
We encourage you to come along as a family and show your support while raising funds to donate to their cause.
Please meet at Lennon’s Shop at 5.30pm when we will walk as a group to the Café and then on as a mass group around the lake.
As there will be no training on the night, please arrange a pick up point and contact arrangements.
I am happy to call at the end of the walk approx 6.45pm.

HOW MUCH: $5.00 per adult
$2.00 per student

The Round Ball will donate $2.00 for every player who attends.

THIS SPECIAL EVENT IS DESIGNED FOR FAMILIES

Hello from Central Coast!

On behalf of everyone at the Central Coast Mariners, I congratulate TheRound Ball for its contribution to football in Australia.

We at the Mariners are greatly excited by the future for football in Australia and look forward to The Round Ball joining us for the journey.

STAR OF THE WEEK - MEGAN SAUNDER

THE ROUND BALL
PLAYER PROFILE

NAME
Megan Saunder
D.O.B.
17/8/1990

SCHOOL YEAR
1st year uni

FAVOURITE POSITION
Right or Left Wing

DAD’S NAME
Greg
MUM’S NAME
Sally
BROTHER (S)
Andrew

THREE…
…things that make you feel good in a game
Stopping goals
Working well as a team
Scoring goals

…things that you like to do in training
Practice games
Team building
Fitness work

…television programmes that you watch
I channel surf a lot

…books you have read
Text books for uni

…magazines you read
Don’t read many magazines

…favourite films
She’s the Man
Madagascar
Cool Runnings

…favourite soccer players
Harry Kewell
Travis Dodd
Tim Cahill

…favourite sports stars (any sport)
Lance Armstrong
Ian Thorpe
Dawn Fraser

…favourite foods
Roast Vegetables
Pasta
Pancakes

…favourite drinks
milk
Coke
Smoothies

…favourite CDs
Don’t have any at the moment

…favourite soccer teams you like to watch
Matildas
Socceroos

…strengths of your game
speed
endurance
Tall

…areas you would like to improve in your game
shooting
Ball skills
Juggling

…things you would like to achieve this year
Become a better attacking player
Increase scoring
Have fun!

Adelaide United Give the thumbs Up!

To Scott and all the Football Lovers on the Round Ball,

I can’t believe how far this game has gone since the A-League began 4 years ago.

It’s great to see the South East a part of the World Game.

Well done everyone and let’s make it Bigger!

Dom Rinaldo
Media & Communications Manager
Adelaide United Football Club

The Round Ball U/13 7 A Side Squad

With fixtures on the horizon it is a good time to look at who has represented The Round Ball and what they have achieved. The U/13 squad that competed in the South West Games last year went through the minor rounds undefeated and lost the grand final 2 goals to 1. A fantastic effort for such a young squad.

Paul Wade says G'day

To Scott & all the troops at the Round Ball

"G'day"I hope you're all well & behaving yourselves.

I'm loving the site.

There aren't many places you keep that in touch with everything football.

Well done & keep up the good work".

Paul Wade OAM
National Football Director,

Communications manager,

Edusport

Paul Wade (born 20 March 1962 in Cheshire, England) is a retired Australian football player, who is most famous for his long-term role as captain of the Socceroos.

Wade's 84 "A" international appearances for Australia make him the second most capped player in the country's history. In total, Wade played 118 games for Australia between 1986 and 1996. He represented the Socceroos at the 1988 Summer Olympics and in two FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns (1990 and 1994).
One of his most famous moments came in 1993, during qualifying for the 1994 World Cup when Australia faced Argentina. Faced with the dubious honour of marking star Diego Maradona, Wade was valiant in helping Australia stay in the two games, although they would eventually lose 2-1 on aggregate goals following a 1-0 defeat in Buenos Aires.

NIKE Kit

We will be placing an order for our 2008/2009 boys and girls kit this week.

Boys kit includes...

yellow NIKE strip

black NIKE shorts

black NIKE socks

black and grey NIKE jacket

Girls kit includes...

black NIKE strip

black NIKE shorts

black NIKE socks

black and grey NIKE jacket

Goalkeepers kit includes...

keepers jersey

black NIKE keepers shorts

black NIKE socks

black and grey NIKE jacket

For all enquiries and pricing information please text Scott

Did You Know?

That last year The Round Ball donated pink soccer balls to SEWFA for their Pink Ribbon Day?

Caffe Belgiourno Signs On

In another coup for The Round Ball, Caffe Belgiourno has signed on as a sponsor.

New Content

Each week at The Round Ball we will bring you all that is good in football including...

Star of the Week

Tommy's Tips

Video Bar Updates.

STAR OF THE WEEK - MICHAEL GOREY

THE ROUND BALL

PLAYER PROFILE

Michael Gorey

NAME
Michael Gorey

D.O.B.
21 March 1996

SCHOOL YEAR
Year 8

FAVOURITE POSITION
Midfield

DAD’S NAME
Michael

MUM’S NAME
Juliet

BROTHER (S)
James

SISTER (S)
Kathleen and Maggie

…things that make you feel good in a game
Getting the ball
Scoring goals
Stopping goals

…things that you like to do in training
Match practice
Ladders
Passing

…television programmes that you watch
The Simpsons
Speed Racer
Family Guy

…books you have read
Enchanters End Game
Castle of Wizardry
The Dragons of Coming

…favourite films
Die Hard 4.0
Van Helsing
Jumper

…favourite soccer players
Christiano Ronaldo

…favourite sports stars (any sport)
Ricky Ponting
Jonathan Browne

…favourite foods
Spaghetti
Lasagne
Apple pie

…favourite drinks
Orange juice
Powerade

…favourite CDs
Good Charlotte

…favourite soccer teams you like to watch
Manchester United
Perth Glory

…strengths of your game
Corner kicks
Speed
Passing

…areas you would like to improve in your game
Accuracy in shots and passes and crosses.
Fitness
Speed

…things you would like to achieve this year
Centrals win the league and cup.
Continue to improve.
Score more goals than last year.

REBEL SPORT FINALS FEVER

Who are we talking to?

Do you remember A Night of Inspiration with Travis Dodd? Did you get to meet him and have him talk at your school? Well, who is The Round Ball in early discussions with to come to Mount Gambier this year?

Stay tuned over the next few weeks for clues and how you can help.

Grant High School Scholarship

Grant High School and The Round Ball have strengthened their relationship with the provision of a year long scholarship to worthy year 8 student at Grant High School, to be awarded annually.

The Round Ball programme uses the Grant High School soccer and gymnasium facilities to conduct their soccer programme for elite players, and the new scholarship is in part recognition that Grant High School supports the Round Ball programme through access to its facilities.

The Round Ball is a community based soccer programme that offers tuition over summer, as well as two terms of futsal, during terms 2 and 3.

The scholarship includes a year long training scholarship which includes 26 training sessions over summer, annual membership to The Round Ball, fees for term 2 and 3 futsal and a Nike training kit including shirt, shorts and socks.

Round Ball coach Scott Dickson commented “We are pleased to offer this new scholarship in recognition of the mutual support our programme and Grant High School offers soccer players.”

Grant High School soccer coach jack Yeates explained “This is a great opportunity for an up and coming soccer player to access some elite training, which will compliment our soccer programme nicely.”

The scholarship winner for 2009 is Monique Ianella.

Megs Morrison joins The Round Ball

Well done on the Round Ball for spreading its wings and getting on the inter-web-net!!

We at Megs have always been thrilled by the support you've given us - and impressed by your top drawer reporting and discussions on the great game of 'Vootball' as we know it.

We'll be launching Book 4 in the series with Mark Schwarzer this June, so keep your eyes on www.megsmorrison.com to stay informed.

All the best!

Neil and the Megs team.

NOMIS BOOT DEAL

SAVE OVER $100 ONTHIS MONTH'S SPECIAL. PLUS A NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHED!

This email is best viewed in your web browser.

Click the link below to see it: http://nomissportsinnovations.createsend1.com/t/r/e/jjdrlr/trmnty/

Thanks,Nomis Sports Innovations

STAR OF THE WEEK - JENNA McCORMICK

THE ROUND BALL
PLAYER PROFILE

Jenna McCormick

D.O.B.
7.9.94

SCHOOL YEAR
Tenison Wood College yr 9

DAD’S NAME
Brian

MUM’S NAME
Lisa

BROTHER (S)
Bradley (11)

SISTER (S)
Alanah (16)


…things that make you feel good in a game
Scoring a goal!
Having players or spectators compliment you
Playing with friends

…things that you like to do in training
Soccer games
Shooting drills
Player fitness

…television programmes that you watch
So you think you can dance
Neighbours
Cricket

…books you have read
Specky Magee
Facie Faltrain
Simpsons comics

…magazines you read
Soccer International
Inside Cricket

…favourite films
High School Musical 3 (saw it in Manchester!)
Mali & Me
Yes Man

…favourite soccer players
Cristiano Ronaldo
Kaka
Steven Gerrad

…favourite sports stars (any sport)
Shelley Nitshcke (cricket)
Nenita Burgess (soccer)
Karen Rolton (cricket)

…favourite foods
Pizza
LCM sports bar
Watermelon

…favourite drinks
Diet coke
Lemon, lime and bitters
Dead lizard

…favourite CDs
Let it Rock (Kevin Rudolf)
Poker Face
(Lady Gaga)
That Beep
(Architecture in Helsinki)

…favourite soccer teams you like to watch
LIVERPOOL
Arsenal
Tottenham

…strengths of your game
Attacking – short sharp bursts
Passing with accuracy
Shooting for goal

…areas you would like to improve in your game
Defence all over the pitch
Fitness
Learn more tricks

…things you would like to achieve this year
Be able to speak Italian
Play state soccer again
Play state cricket again

Tommy's Tips

Each week Tommy will give a tip or two, stay tuned for this new addition to our blog.

Training Times

After the hot weather last week and the cancellation of Thursday nights sessions we are pleased to say that normal training will commence this week.

SESSION TIMES

TUESDAY

GIRLS ONLY

5.30-6.45

UNDER 15

6.45-8.00

THURSDAY

UNDER 13

5.00-6.00

UNDER 15

6.00-7.00

GIRLS ONLY

7.00-8.00

SUNDAY

GOALKEEPERS

9.00-10.15

UNDER 13

9.30-10.45

Sean's Welcome

Hello bloggers,

I want to write a nice welcome message but so far everything I have tried to write sounds a bit rude. I started with welcome round ball bloggers but I'm sure 10 years ago I would have got arrested on indecency laws for saying that. Then I changed it to lets get blogging but that didn't sound right either. So I've decided to just write what I think "if you love football BLOG ON."

Sean

The Old Logo

Not too many people will remember the old classic logo which was designed by Jaala Ashworth as a year 8 Art and Design Project in I think 2003?
What do you think?

Award Winners

If you are new to the site and not sure of our history, The Round Ball started as a radio show on 5GTR FM in 2002 and is still going strong. In 2009 The Round Ball will stream live and blog live during the show. In 2006 the show won a CBAA Award for excellence.

The Troy Garner Award for Excellence in Sports Programming went to 5GTR’s ‘The Round Ball’ hosted by Nathan Butler, Scott Dickson and Robbie Hann. We thank Troy’s father Arnie Garner for kindly donating the prize money for this award. It’s a very special award for the CBAA as it commemorates the late Troy Garner’s love of sport and broadcasting.

Footballtricks

I have included the first email of the year from Sean D'Arcy, the Football Juggler from WA for you to have a look at. He has a great understanding on the game and is a supportive follower of The Round Ball.

Hello,

Welcome to 2009 from FootballTricks.Com. I have attached an article to start off the year with a discussion about why the results of most youth games are meaningless and I am interested to see what you think about it. You can have your say either by emailing me info@footballtricks.com or going on the forum.

Go out and check out the new forum by the way. I have had it upgraded again so go and check out the new features on http://community.footballtricks.com/forums/default.aspx

At the moment I am busy writing a book for a UK publisher about Street Moves and after that I am planning to write a few E-Books that will be available online. So there is lots to look forward to in 2009.

Sean

Footballtricks.com, Glencraig Crescent, Kinross, WA

Football is about Blood, Sweat and Tears‏

The new NIKE campaign is out and here it is!
Blood, Sweat and Tears is a filmabout determination. The passion,the pain, the blood, sweat and tears of seven footballers pavingtheir way on to greatness.Our ruthless players including Socceroos captain Lucas Neill, may speak different languages, come from different countries, wear different colors, but at the end of the day they teach us one indispensable lesson: if you really want it, work for it.
The episodes will be updated weekly on nikefootball.com. Keep checking back regularly for the next installment.

SKOKO Cards

Our official Josip Skoko Round Ball Cards are on the way and as you can see they look impresive!