Athletics : From Athletic Director and P.E. Teacher Damian Canny...
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Futsal wrap-up [May 6, 2008]
The spring sport season has been a successful one for all three of Live Oak’s futsal teams, and they are all headed to the playoffs next week. Live Oak’s youngest sports team ever finished in third place and will play the second place team next week. Meanwhile, our second J.V. team finished in fourth place and is scheduled to play the number one team. The varsity team finished the season with a 9-1 record which put them in second place. They will now face the third placed team in the first round of the playoffs. All three teams should be commended for the hard work, dedication, and improvement they’ve shown this season. Unfortunately, the first round of the playoffs coincides with next weeks’ art showing at LOS, but the two J.V. teams do play early enough for you to come support them. The varsity team will be playing at 7:00 in the evening, so the players will have to miss the opportunity to show off their art but will be showing their athletic skills instead. If any of our teams win on Wednesday they will play in the finals on Friday. I encourage all of you to come watch our young athletes display their athletic skills, sportsmanship, and determination in either the playoffs or finals. I have listed the time and place that each team will play below.
Wednesday 5/7
4:00 p.m.- Live Oak J.V. “A” to play the #1 seed
5:00 p.m.- Live Oak J.V. “B” to play the #3 seed
6:00 p.m. Live Oak Varsity to play the #3 seed
Friday 5/9
Varsity finals at 4:00
J.V. finals at 5:00
- Damian Canny
WInter Sports Wrapup [February 15, 2008]
Basketball season is coming to an end at Live Oak for the 07-08 season, and the kids once again represented themselves and Live Oak well. Our basketball players learned a variety of skills from their coaches that helped them to earn both individual and team success along the way.
Live Oak fielded two boys’ teams and one junior varsity girls’ team this year.
On the girls' junior varsity squad, our two eighth grade girls, Marisa Hedgpeth and Celeste Boureille, joined seventh grader Samantha Hernandez, sixth graders Lois Basconcillo, Nora McDevitt-Hickey, Maddie Howden and Katie Luck to help lead and welcome Georgie Galinson and Olivia Tom from the fifth grade. Having this team vary significantly in speed, skill, and experience provided a forum to focus mostly on individual skill development and less on team dynamics and success. As a result of much focus on increasing skill competence and building muscle memory, each girl improved upon or learned skills that are specific to basketball. The team went on to have a winning season that included a last second three pointer that tied a game and send it into overtime; a Live Oak record of 3 three point field goals in a single quarter; and a lot of fun and laughs. All of the girls should be commended for their efforts and devotion to basketball this past season, though Marisa Hedgpeth and Celeste Boureille deserve special recognition for their numerous acts of selflessness and leadership along the way. Both Celeste and Marisa will be missed next year, but the positive impact they had on this team will remain for the next couple of years.
The junior varsity boys were the youngest team in the league this year, playing together for the first time, and with a new coach to boot. However, they were still able to keep every game close. More importantly, the boys had structured practices that promoted skill development, conditioning, and sportsmanship. First year coach Brandan Lange was impressed with the work ethic, respect, and attentive nature the boys approached each practice and game with. The team consisted of 9 sixth graders and one seventh grader, David Immerman, who is now on the varsity team. There is no doubt this team will be a formidable one next year.
This year, the varsity boys proved themselves to be a cohesive group that has grown into one of the best teams in the league. I think they will go down as one of Live Oak’s finest examples of what a team should be. This team is also being coached by a first year coach, and he has helped all of the boys understand how to play and practice hard while focusing on both individual and team goals. They have pulled out last second wins, held off faster and bigger opponents, and learned how to sacrifice their own desires for the betterment of the team.
Every season of sports at Live Oak brings different team dynamics, new coaches, and various levels of competition, but the one constant that is never compromised is our students’ ability to display fine sportsmanship. This year, all of our teams were complimented by other schools, parents, and coaches for their outstanding display of respectful sportsmanship. This accomplishment is something that makes all three teams a success this year. I’m looking forward to a great spring sports season when we gather to play futsal.
Futsal Practice Schedule
Tues, 3:30-5:30 Varsity at UCSF
Wed, 2:30-4:30 - Varsity and 5th grade at UCSF; J.V. “A” at Jackson Park
Thurs, 3:30-5:30 - J.V. “A” at UCSF; 5th grade at Jackson Park
Athletics Update [February 8, 2008]
The Varsity boys basketball team will be playing in the league playoffs, as the number two seed, against Kipp Academy next Tuesday, February 12th at 5:30 p.m. in the Chinese American School gym. If the boys are able to beat Kipp Academy for a second time this season, they will then play in the championship game on Thursday, February 14th at 4:30 in our home gym at UCSF Mission Bay. The team has played and functioned at a high level this year and has earned their number two ranking. I hope you will all support the boys as they enter into the playoffs next week.
Futsal season starts the week we get back from February break and the practice schedule is as follows:
Tuesdays- Varsity team practice from 3:30-5:30 at UCSF
Wednesdays- Varsity team practice at UCSF, J.V. “B” team practice at UCSF, and J.V. “A” team practice at Jackson Park. All teams practice from 2:30-4:30
Thursdays- J.V. “A” team practices at UCSF and J.V. “B” team practices at Jackson Park. Both practices run from 3:30-5:30.
Your child will know what team they are on after the first week of practice, and the season will end on May 8th. If your child is interested in playing this year please remind them to sign-up.
Athletics 2007-2008
Welcome back to school and another year of Live Oak sports. All students in grades 5-8 are eligible to participate in all of the sports that Live Oak offers throughout the year. The fall sports consist of co-ed volleyball and cross country, the winter sport is basketball, and the spring sport is co-ed futsal. All teams are divided up by ability, and students are placed where there skill level will best develop. Students may only sign up for one fall sport at this time.
This fall our volleyball teams will practice at the UCSF gym in Mission Bay on Tuesdays from 3:30-5:30 and Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30. The varsity team will be coached by Kathy Taylor, and the junior varsity team will be coached by Damian Canny. The first volleyball practice will be held on Tuesday, September 4th, for 7th and 8th graders. On Wednesday, September 5th, there will be a practice for 5th and 6th grade students. Both of these practices will be held in Live Oak’s gym and will help Kathy and me to place the students on the appropriate team that best suits their skills. The regular practice schedule will then begin the following week. All players are required to wear knee pads and sneakers and will not be allowed to practice or play in games without them. We will allow the students to practice the first week without knee pads but hope they will have them by the second week of practice. Team members will be issued shorts and jerseys at the beginning of the season and will be responsible for wearing them to games and returning them to me at the end of the season.
The game schedule for the volleyball season has not yet been set, but there will definitely be a need for parent drivers when the teams play away games. If you are interested in helping to coordinate rides or just transporting the students please let me know or click here to download a Parent Coordinator form. Kathy and I will be able to get the kids to and from practice, but we will not be able to drive all the kids to and from the games.
Live Oak's other fall sport is cross-country and will be coached by Live Oak's middle school math teacher, Liz Caffrey, and any parents who might want to run with the team when they practice should contact myself or Liz. The cross-country team will participate in four 1.5 mile races throughout the season. All of the races are held on Mondays and the venues and schedules are listed below. Students are required to wear sneakers while running and will need to purchase a Live Oak athletics t-shirt for $5 to wear on race days.
Practices for the team will be held on Mondays, when there is not a race, and on Thursdays. The team will practice from 3:30-5:00 and will do so at various locations to be determined. There will be a need for parents to help with transportation on practice and race days, so please let Liz or me know if you will be able to help drive. The first day of cross-country practice will be Thursday, September 6th.
I'm looking forward to another positive year for Live Oak athletics, and if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.
