Day 6: April 24

This morning the boys welcomed the return of Behr and Leo at the Valkenswaard club pitch where they held training sessions in the morning and the afternoon. Schools are apparently on a two week holiday since Easter and there was a group of high school aged students holding a field day in an adjacent park.  It was sunny and mild here in the 70's and the boys were feeling the heat a bit on the turf this afternoon. They had two sessions today, then bid farewell to Behr and Leo with grateful thanks and spirit gear from Far Post. Both coaches remarked how well the boys responded to training and their tenacity in coming back from a deficit in both of their games thus far.

We had our best meal yet for dinner at the Stay Okay Hostels, which consisted of a pork stir fry and vegetable medley (no photo op tonight). The consensus was the meat was pork tonight, but half the group is convinced it was chicken. The boys then made their way back to the Valkenswaard club to warm up for their game at 6:30 local time. During warm ups, we counted 5 six-footers on the opposing squad (None of whom appeared to be present on the day the team photo was taken) and observed sharp passing and foot skills.  Despite some defensive miscues near our goal, Far Post held even at the half at 2 all. In the second half, it was clear that, while a talented and balanced team, Valkenswaard relied on their physicality to control the tempo of the game. Far Post ended up falling 4-2 with some great individual efforts. Bill Pelkey was pressed into service as a linesman on the Far Post end and performed flawlessly. Dr Sheeser's professional services were also required to examine a knee injury of  an opposing forward who went down hard in a collision with Wyatt. The Far Post team was then invited for soft drinks and bitterballen back at the Valkenswaard Canteen, who provided our thirsty coach and chaperones with cold beer and crumpets.

Back at the Hostel, the boys have been playing pool and a small contingent opted to go for a swim at at the Watervrienden at Valkenswaardl with Coach Sam and Mike Sheeser. The boys worked up the nerve to perform a series of maneuvers off the 3-meter spring board with varying degrees of difficulty.

  After a quick swim, the boys needed to quaff their hair under the dryer in the changing room.

At the pool, the boys were impressed with Coach Sam's 3-meter technique as well

Later Graeme and Ethan relaxed at the Hostel bar knocking back a few Chocomels. (Ethan says he really needs calories at night.)

In Holland, they display anatomically correct bathroom signage.

Finally, Sam in his H.M.S. Pinafore kit relaxing after another hard day of work in Holland.

Tomorrow, the team heads back to Amsterdam for training at the Ajax Academy and their final game

versus Watervijk based in Almare outside Amsterdam.