THE DYNAMO DIGEST – August 2024
Hello Dynamo Families!
We couldn’t be more excited to kick off this season with this community! If you are new to Dynamo, we wish you a warm welcome and are so happy you chose to begin a new adventure with us. If you are a returning family, welcome back! As a new year begins, we look forward to the times we will gather on sidelines, cheer our players on, and grow together as a program.
Dynamo has been through a season of significant and positive changes! We are grateful to be in one space together again this year at Butler University. In spring we launched a new Dynamo FC website, home to lots of important Dynamo information to help families navigate their soccer experience and pathways. Additionally, there are various upcoming opportunities we’d encourage your involvement in. Please take a moment to complete the Volunteer Interest Form, linked below, if you have not done so already.
See you on the pitch!
MESSAGE FROM RIC HUFFMAN
We know you have many choices when it comes to the activities and organizations your family is involved in. We believe that Dynamo is uniquely positioned to provide your player with an environment that challenges them physically, mentally, and emotionally to achieve their full potential. We call our approach The Dynamo Way. The Dynamo Way is a list of specific behaviors and commitments that we ask all players, parents, and coaches to uphold.
In a generation of instant gratification and a landscape of winning at all cost, Dynamo continues to hold strong to the values of hard work, development, and letting winning be a by-product of our values. Being a part of Dynamo continues to be a privilege for me every day.
Thank you for being part of this community and an example of The Dynamo Way. And thank you for entrusting Dynamo with your child’s youth soccer experience.
Field Update
Club leadership is continuing to progress on options for a future permanent home for Dynamo. As soon as there is more information to share, it will be communicated out to the club. If you have any questions, please reach out to Matt Carlstedt at 317-339-4721.
Directors’ Notes
From Geoff Miyamoto, Dynamites, Juniors, and Seniors Director:
Welcome back Dynamo families. We had a strong ending to the spring season. We had two teams place at Classic At The Rock. Our 2009G Black team were finalists, and the 2012G Black team were semi-finalists. The 2008B Red were semi-finalists in the President’s Cup and finished second in league play. The 2009G Red were President’s Cup finalists for the second year in a row. The 2010B Black team were ISL champs. The 2013G Red, 2009G Black, and 2009G Red finished second in ISL. We had several other teams finish in the top three of their league. I am looking forward to a great 2024-2025 season!
From Kevin Collins, Operations and Tournament Director:
Our first travel tournament is September 14-15 in Collinsville, IL to play in the Metro Alliance September Showdown. Dynamo will have a heavy presence as the following teams will be traveling together for the weekend: All 2015G, 2013G Red, 2013G Black, 2016G Red.
The Butler fields are serving our community well thus far this season. Drop off and pick up procedures are improving each practice, and we are happy to be in one location together. Here is a reminder of our storm protocol: If there is lightning in the area, the campus siren will sound. Coaches will take players to the tennis pavilion or the white tents on the turf field for cover. At that time, your coach or team manager will send out a communication to the team indicating the status of training. If there is to be an early pick up, your coach or team manager will provide this information. Coaches will facilitate early pick-up scenarios to make sure all players are accounted for and safe.
From Kris Dolinsky, Youth Academy Director:
With the start of the new season brings an exciting time for the Dynamo Academy. New and returning players are back to the fields, which brings a great amount of energy that was displayed in training and on the first CNC match days of the season. The coaching staff has been ready to hit the ground running which is exactly what happened with a fantastic group of players at hand!
From Mark Spiegel, Community Outreach Director:
We host lots of Community Events throughout the year and we would love to see you all there! The events are aimed at giving players and families space to grow their love and passion for this game through events revolving around play, fun, food, and friendship. We have worked hard and with great intention to create a culture where players from every age group have a place to belong and have the chance to interact with players from all age groups, and we want the same for all Dynamo families.
Geoff Miyamoto
Kevin Collins
Kris Dolinsky
Mark Spiegel
Important Dates and Event News:
Upcoming event – Pick Up Soccer and Pizza – TODAY, Friday, August 16th at TAB from 6pm to 8pm, come play some soccer and eat some pizza! With many of the teams having the weekend off of games, this is a chance to play soccer and hang out with teammates and friends from other Dynamo FC teams. Sign up HERE
Ongoing event – Pick Up Soccer Days – We love soccer! Kids and adults alike have the chance to get some extra touches in and compete at a skilled and fun level throughout the year at our Pick Up Soccer days. Parents and players are invited to play, as well as brothers and sisters and neighbors and classmates and friends from work. Sign up HERE to get on the email list and stay up to date!
Event recap – Jesse’s Soccer Party – A Dynamo Alum named Jesse did his school project on the inequity in youth sports, and his impact piece was organizing a soccer party to raise money for a Dynamo FC soccer scholarship. This soccer party happened over the summer and raised around $1,400 that will go towards fees for a player who needs them in order to participate at Dynamo.
Event recap – 1 More Epic Day of Camp – Each summer, to help us mark an end to our Dynamo Summer Camps, we have an extra day of camp to raise money for a nonprofit in an underserved community abroad. This year we had more than 100 people participate, and we raised close to $3,500 for Biya and Friends Academy of Zimbabwe, Africa. Biya and Friends Academy is a soccer club in an underserved community of Zimbabwe that pours into kids through sport and education. The money will help them provide programming for another year!
Fundraising for Dynamo FC:
We are working to create opportunities to raise funds for the future, through avenues such as events and Dynamo gear sales. Keep an eye out for more information, and remember, you can donate any time via the Dynamo FC website.
Dynamo Swag:
Looking to purchase some gear to show your Dynamo pride? We have two options for purchasing spirit wear, linked below. Please check back frequently as we are in the process of updating for the fall season!
Distribution List:
Know someone who isn’t receiving the newsletter that would like to? Please send their email address to mjdynamo138@gmail.com to be added to the distribution list.
