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Most teams take holidays off

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 23, 2000

This is the time of year when coaches give the same speech to their teams. It goes something like this: "Have a good holiday, stay in shape and don't get hurt."

For a majority of the area teams, when school lets out for Christmas holidays, the season also takes a break. Unlike basketball, soccer has precious few holiday tournaments, especially for boys teams.

Only two area teams, Clearwater and Clearwater Central Catholic, are playing in a tournament. Both are in the Puma Tournament.

All of the other teams are left to fend for themselves. Most won't practice until school resumes Jan. 3.

Most jump right back into the season, playing key district games.

After a two-week break, the "second season" certainly will be survival of the fittest.

"In the beginning, the games come so quickly that I think it's good that the kids get a break," longtime Tarpon Springs coach John Friermuth said. "We've been running three games per week for the past few weeks, and it can get pretty intense. Give the kids two weeks off to get some rest.

"There was a time back in 1980, when I first started, that I would try to practice over the holidays. But 50 to 75 percent of our players would either be out of town or playing in a club tournament that it wasn't worth it."

If a team is loaded with club players, like Tarpon Springs, Countryside, Palm Harbor U. and Seminole, then the break has less of an effect. Most area club teams are participating in the Sun Bowl tournament in Tampa during the week after Christmas.

But for teams like Northeast, which is off to a fast start despite having few club players, the break could be a problem.

"I just hope we can keep up the momentum," Vikings coach Tom Blauvelt said. "We don't have the club players other teams have."

Like it or not, soccer always has had to deal with two seasons. Once teams return from the break. there are only two full weeks of the regular season remaining before the Pinellas County Athletic Conference tournament.

Osceola coach Tim Rachford, who also is an assistant coach for the football team, always has played fewer games in December and loaded up in January. He doesn't mind the idle time.

"I kind of like it," Rachford said. "Of the 21 players I have, 14 play club, so they'll be playing anyway.

"We've got three quality games right when we get back (Lakewood, Clearwater and Tarpon Springs), and we've got two days to practice for them. So we better be ready."

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