In The 18: Intern Kyler Parris at Marysville Strawberry Classic

Kyler Parris is a seventh-grader at Skyview Junior High (Bothell, WA). He is a goalkeeper and midfielder for his Northshore Select team, as well as the co-captain. He enjoys writing, photography, and, most of all, soccer. This is Kyler’s first article for goalWA.net. He plans on posting interviews, match reports, photography, and covering all levels of soccer. Kyler is a participant in our new internship program that allows young writers, photographers and videographers a chance to gain experience covering soccer online. Contact us at goalWA@gmail.com for more intern information.

by Kyler Parris

We were wary of the 2012 Marysville Strawberry Classic U-13B final. To an outsider looking in on at the team that weekend, this might sound odd. Our team had dominated the tournament; our defense was solid (one goal against), and our offense was producing in excessive quantities (21 goals scored). What was there to be scared of? Well, it looked eerily like last year, and we had to improve on last year.

That year, we had gotten similar results in the first three games and advanced to the final. Everyone around the team was ecstatic, and being largely built on first year select players, we hadn’t experienced this type of hype before.

Kyler Parris takes a corner kick for Northshore Select at the recent Marysville Strawberry Classic. (Cory Parris)

Being in the final wasn’t the cause of the hysteria; it was the smell of victory just around the corner. It was the dream in clear sight. It was those champions shirts that were so tantalizingly beautiful that we couldn’t wait for glory to be thrust upon our shoulders and hung around necks. We didn’t get any of it that year. We were too engulfed in our daydreams that the game just slipped out of our hands.

NSC Thunder Head Coach Scott Moor. (Cory Parris)

When we finally did win that tournament this year by a final score of 4-2, few of us bought those formerly elusive t-shirts; we’re on to bigger and better things this year. This is largely in thanks to our coaches, spearheaded by Scott Moor.

NSC Thunder head coach Scott Moor has “Several years of youth soccer coaching” experience. He also says that he “played many years of soccer growing up from Recreation to Select to Junior high to Senior high teams.” He primarily played “Goalkeeper, outside defensive back, and sweeper.”

“With having a team of 12 and 13 year olds, I know that mistakes will be made as soccer skills are being developed, therefore I keep a balanced perspective between desiring a high level of play and allowing for fun. I focus on encouraging for improvements versus being negative.  I believe in respecting the game, our opponents, our teammates and ourselves.” Coach Scott said via email. This year, I think that he has also involved parents, players, and assistant coaches very well and has used all of his resources wisely.

Thunder Reign: Kyler and his club took their group in 2012 at the Marysville Strawberry Classic. (Alyssa Parris)

On the playing side, we have improved all over the field since last year. Goalkeeping has improved thanks to a new program from NSC (which I’ll talk about more next week), defense has improved thanks to having our defensively-minded head coach, and the attack has improved because it’s clearly our deepest position.

When I asked Coach Scott for his hopes and expectations this season, he would like to see improved communication, vision, teamwork, and anticipation. “Development in these areas will make the Thunder a very formidable team.” Formidable and  league contenders, in my opinion.

So watch out, because the Thunder are on to bigger and better things this year, and there’s no stopping us. This is our year.

Next Kyler writes about the Northshore Select Club and talks with club president Brian O’neal and goalkeeper coach Chris Bauer.

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