Soccer season is back in action and for the Hays Rebels their season kicks off Jan. 4 against Akins.
Under longtime head coach Jason Burnett, the Rebels aren’t wasting time and are ready for the upcoming season.
Finishing the 2016-17 season with a 4-13-3 overall record and 0-10-2 in district, the Rebels are motivated to start the new season off right.
“We have spent the offseason focused on possession and passing,” Burnett said. “The boys have been working very hard and are more determined than I have seen in quite some time. We are not returning a whole lot of players so we have also been focused on getting to know each other’s style of play.”
“We are really hoping to stay healthy and injury free ... Last year was rough with injuries, concussions and [yellow and red] cards. Pretty sure the second half of district we never finished a match with 11 on the field and still were competitive in every game.” Jason Burnett, Rebel boys soccer head coach
Staying healthy is something important to work on this year. With multiple injuries last season, Burnett said he just wants his team happy and healthy for the new season.
“We are really hoping to stay healthy and injury free,” Burnett said. “Last year was rough with injuries, concussions and [yellow and red] cards. Pretty sure the second half of district we never finished a match with 11 on the field and still were competitive in every game.”
Having a family environment is important to the Rebels to keep the chemistry going. With their first game only two weeks away, the team is spending more time together.
Burnett said these individuals are all special in their own way and he could not be more proud of them.
“We have always had a family dynamic here with the boys,” Burnett said. “We find we spend more time with each other than we do with our own families that it really brings us closer together. These young men are very special in their own individual ways both on and off the field. I am proud to call them my team year after year.”
Getting ready for the new season is all the team has focused on in December. They hope to put it to the test against a consistent Akins team that is a perennial playoff power.
Burnett said Akins is very competitive and has won the Rebel Cup tournament several times, but this year the Rebels will be ready to take the win in the first game of the season.
“We will have to win the battle of the midfield with crisp quick passing and we will have to disrupt their quick counter-attack by keeping numbers behind the ball,” Burnett said. “After we focus on our set pieces, our transitions and keep taking shots from both long and short range, we will come out with the first win of the tournament.”
