Order of Events for International Games

ORDER OF EVENTS
Starting Promptly at 9:00am

a. National Anthem.

b. Pledge of Allegiance.

c. Welcome.

d. Games Pledge.

e. Introduction of Judges.

f. Countries will pass in review. 

g. Announcements.

MORNING EVENTS 

ENTRIES Parade 30

200 Meter Dash (girls) 2

200 Meter Dash (boys) 2

1600 Meter Run (girls) 2 

1600 Meter Run (boys) 2 

400 Meter Relay (girls) 4 

400 Meter Relay (boys) 4 

100 Meter Dash (girls) 3 

100 Meter Dash (boys) 3 

400 Meter Run (girls) 2

400 Meter Run (boys) 2 

500 Meter Shuttle (girls) 10 

500 Meter Shuttle (boys) 10

AFTERNOON EVENTS 

Standing Long Jump (girls) 3 

Standing Long Jump (boys) 3

Football Throw (girls) 3

Football Throw (boys) 3

Soccer Kick (girls) 3

Soccer Kick (boys) 3

Running Long Jump (girls) 3 

Running Long Jump (boys) 3 

Tug-Of-War 16 (8 girls and 8 boys)

Event Schedule

Here is the VERY TENTATIVE schedule:

8am-8:45am:  Teams arrive at Soquel High School 

9am:  Parade Starts/Opening Ceremony

9:30am-11:30am:  Running Events

11:30am-12pm:  Lunch

12pm-2pm:  Field Events

This is the goal timeline, there is a chance it could be off 30 minutes or so. :) Families, wear your yellow, black, and green, bring lots of water for yourself, sunscreen, and a hat!

Athletes of the Week - Full Interviews Below - Skylar, Summer, Alex, and Ryder

Name: Skylar

International Games Event: "The soccer ball kick, Tug-of-War, 4 x 100m Relay, and Shuttle. My farthest distance is 39 1/2."

Favorite Thing About Practice: "The partner run up Cow Hill."

Why do you like it? "Because it just gives you a really good work out! It's fun!"

Favorite Food: "Clam chowder."

Favorite Sport to Play: Soccer

What position do you play in soccer? "Goalie and forward."

What team do you play on? Aptos Tide

How long have you been playing soccer? 8 years

Favorite Athlete: "Carli Lloyd, Team USA."

Fun/Funny Facts: "That Summer is my really annoying twin, and I get hurt a lot."

Name: Summer

International Games Event: 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m Relay, and Broad Jump

Favorite Thing About Practice: "Running."

Why do you like it? "I like it because I get to run by myself."
Favorite Food: "Pizza."

Favorite Sport to Play: "Soccer."

What position do you play in soccer? "Right defense."
Aptos Tide

How long? "8 or 9 years."

Favorite Athlete: "I don't have one."

Who is your role model? "My mom because she plays soccer too, and when I'm older I want to play soccer too."

Fun/Funny Facts: "I can do weird things with my eyes. No, no, no, I can make weird faces."

Name: Alex

International Games Event: "100m, 200m, 4 x 100m Relay, Football Throw, and Tug-of-War."

Favorite Thing About Practice: "I like running in the 4 x 100 in practice."

Why do you like it? "Because I'm fast."

Favorite Food: "Burritos."

Favorite sport to play: "Baseball."

What position do you play in baseball? "I pretty much play all positions, except for pitcher."

What team do you play on? "Aptos Diamond Backs Majors."

How long have you been playing baseball? "About 3 years, I think."

Favorite Athlete: "Rickey Henderson."

Fun/Funny Facts: "I can hit out of the park home runs."

Name: Ryder

International Games Event: "100m, The mile, 4 x 100m Relay, and the Shuttle."

Favorite Thing About Practice: "Running."

Why do you like it? "I am good at it."

Favorite Food: "Cake.

Favorite sport to play: "Surfing and soccer."

What position do you play in soccer?

What team do you play on?

How long have you been playing soccer?

How long have you been surfing?

Favorite Athlete: John John

Fun/Funny Facts:

Athletes of the Week - Full Interview Below - Malia & Luke

Name: Malia

International Games Event: "I really like the 4x100. The 400m relay."

Favorite Thing About Practice: "Well, I like practicing the 400m relay. That is my favorite event!"

Why do you like it? "Because usually the running events are one person, and I like to run as a team."

Favorite Food: "Macroons, the French cookie."

Favorite Sport to Play: Teakwondo or soccer

What position do you play in soccer? "I usually play right midfield."

What team do you play on? Aptos Tide

How long have you been playing soccer? 8 years

Favorite Athlete: Alex Morgan (USA Women's Soccer Team)

Fun/Funny Facts: "Well, let me think. There are so many. I am really jumpy, and it takes an effort to get myself in bed. I am always doing cartwheels around my house and upside headstands on the couch. I never watch like everybody else. I am usually outside or on my trampoline."

Name: Luke

International Games Event: Football Throw & Shuttle Run

Favorite Thing About Practice: "Running up Cow Hill."

Why do you like it? "You get to train and get better at events."


Favorite Food: Pasta

Favorite Sport to Play: Baseball

What position do you play in baseball? Shortstop

What team do you play on? Rockies

How long? 7 years

Favorite Athlete: "Mike Trout, he's a Major League baseball player for the Angels. He plays centerfield."

Fun/Funny Facts: "I'm a god at Fortnite."

We TEAM JAMAICA

www.rdmteamjamaica.blogspot.com

2018

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Parent Drivers Wanted for Two Dates!

Save the Date: International Games Full Dress Out Practice at Aptos High School on Wednesday, May 9th
12:30pm - 2:00pm

Save the Date: 45th Annual International Games @ Soquel High School on Thursday, May 17

Please sign up to drive on the field trip form. Insurance paperwork needs to be up-to-date to drive.

Game Day Event Volunteers!

We need parents who would be willing to help out with the running of the actual event if needed.  
Responsibilities might include measuring the distance for long jump or the football throw or working a stopwatch
for some of the races. Any parent support is always appreciated by the coaches, our school, and especially our
kids who love seeing their parents being an important part of the team with them!

Team Jamaica Equipment and Uniforms

Students will be receiving a wonderful opportunity to build athletic skills, conditioning, and an unforgettable team
experience from two experienced coaches! In order to run this athletic program and build our legacy we are
asking for a minimum donation of $25 that will cover the cost of purchasing shirts, shorts, socks, and snacks and
drinks for game day. Students will get to keep their uniforms! Scholarships are available, if needed. Thank you
for your support of your son/daughter and their commitment to being a student athlete.

Questions?

Coach Sweet @ martin_sweet@pvusd.net , Coach Birchall @ brittany_birchall@pvusd.net , or Coach Kurek
@ bryan_kurek@pvusd.net

***Please make checks payable to the Rio Del Mar Parent Alliance

Memo Line: "Team Jamaica" account.***

Coach Sweet

• 8 years experience as International Games Coach
• Hockey Director-Kruz Kidz-1999-2008
• Baseball Coach-Aptos Little League-2008, 2009
• Basketball Coach-AJHS 2000, 2001
• Soccer Coach-Aptos Soccer League-2010-2014
• Girls Softball Coach-AJHS-2000-2002

Coach Kurek

“Coach K”

• 5 years International Games Coach
• Track and field coach at South Tahoe Middle School, specializing in long jump, triple jump and high jump.
• ​Assistant coach of middle and high school level cross country running and skiing teams
• PE teacher 6yrs
• Former administrator at Mt. Hermon's Outdoor Science School

Coach Birchall

“Coach B”

• 3 years International Games Coach
• CrossFit Level 2 Trainer
• CrossFit Football Trainer
• CrossFit West Coach (current)
• CrossFit Watsonville Coach
• CrossFit Watsonville Olympic Weightlifting Barbell Coach
• Head Travel Softball Coach, Carmel Mavericks 14s
• Santa Cruz Strength, Strength and Conditioning Coach (adults)
• Santa Cruz Strength, Youth Strength and Conditioning Coach
• Strength and Conditioning Coach, Women's Water Polo, Santa Cruz High School
• Varsity Girl's Softball Coach, Santa Cruz High School (Tie for first place in League 2011-2012)
• Junior Varsity and Freshman Softball Coach, Clovis West High School
• Over fifteen years coaching youth and high school level sports that include baseball, soccer, softball, cross country, track and field
• Youth strength and conditioning coach
• Trigger Point Performance Therapy Certification
• NFHS Concussion in Sports
• CPR/First Aid Certified
• Coached with former professional softball player and Cal Berkeley MVP, Jocelyn Forest.
• Trained under world renowned former USA Olympic Weightlifting Team Coach, Jim Schmitz
• Trained by USA Olympic Medalist and Ski and Snowboard Hall of Famer, Eva Twadorkens
• Trained with Louie Simmons, world renowned strength coach, American powerlifter, holder of multiple Elite world records, and owner of the private powerlifting gym Westside Barbell in Columbus, Ohio.

“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.” – Arnold Palmer

Dear Parents,

What an exciting Team Jamaica season! We can not thank you enough for your generous support to the program and the legacy that is Team Jamaica. With your donations we were able to purchase medicine balls/wallballs, which have a variety of training uses and new batons. We had a blast learning something new and training with the new equipment!

Team Jamaica Pizza Party TBA!

Team Jamaica Takes Silver!

Team Jamaica takes Silver at the 44th Annual International Games!

Team Jamaica took the silver medal at the 44th Annual International Games at Soquel High School on Thursday, May 18th, 2017. It was a team effort that earned this placing amongst the middle schools and elementary schools in our county. Congratulations to "England", a.k.a New Brighton Middle School for their Gold/1st place finish and "USA", a.k.a Scotts Valley Middle School for their Bronze Medal/3rd place finish!

It was a fun day of team camaraderie, sportsmanship, and 100% all out effort! We could not be more proud of all of our student athletes that made up Team Jamaica! A huge thank you to our parent volunteers for driving and organizing cars, as well to our parent volunteers Kristen Barrett, Tammy Abraham, and Christy Tall for helping with the football throw station!

Please congratulate all Team Jamaica athletes!

Trent earned "Outstanding Male Athlete" of the day with his overall scores! Avery from "England" earned "Outstanding Female Athlete". 

Event Results Will Be Posted Here Later! Stay Tuned!

“There are only two options regarding commitment. 

You’re either IN or you’re OUT. 

There is no such thing as life in-between.” – Pat Riley

Proper Form for the Russian Kettlebell Swings

Proper Kettlebell Form

Samantha from Rio Del Mar's 2016, Team Jamaica is executing the dynamic Russian kettlebell swing with a fifteen pound kettlebell (appropriate for her bodyweight and height) with perfection. The picture on the left shows the athlete in the start of the kettlebell swing, the athlete's weight is in her heels, her chest is up, her knees are bent, and the kettlebell is held with her arms in extension. The picture on the right shows the athlete at the top of the swing, with her ankles, knees, and hips in extension, and the kettlebell is swung to eye level with a tight grip and arms in extension at the top of the swing. This is a dynamic movement that builds core strength, muscular endurance, and power.

Click on the link below to learn more about the kettlebell swing.

Kids and Kettlebells: Is it Safe?

Team Jamaica Takes Bronze!

Congratulations to Team Jamaica for taking Bronze at the 43rd Annual Soquel International Games on Thursday, May 19, 2016!

Team Jamaica athletes earned a variety of medals and the team earned Gold in several events. Team England (New Brighton Middle School) took the Silver by earning 78 points to Team Jamaica's 77. Congratulations to Team USA (Scotts Valley Middle School) for earning the Gold! The talent, athletic potential, camaraderie, and sportsmanship displayed by all teams made the spirit of the International Games come to life.

Congratulations Team Jamaica for all of your hard work and dedication that earned a top three finish!
And a big THANK YOU to our coaches!

Team Jamaica Takes Gold in the Tug-of-War!

Team Jamaica vs. Team Japan fighting for Gold!

Throwing Technique

Ashley is a skilled and experienced athlete who will represent Team Jamaica for the football throw. She is a shortstop and pitcher for the Tremblers travel softball team. We can't wait to see Ashley crush it at the 2016 International Games. 

Team Jamaica Tug-of-War Team is STRONG!

Athlete of the Week

Julianne will be representing Team Jamaica in several events. One of her strengths is the soccer kick.
In this picture Julianne is executing excellent form on her drop kick for distance.

Name: Julianne

International Games Event: Tug-of-War team member, 400m relay, 1 mile run, soccer kick, 100m sprint

Favorite Thing About Practice: "The CrossFit"

Why do you like it? "Because it's fun, and I know that I'm getting in shape."

Favorite Food: "Hmmm, there's so many...Mexican food."

Favorite Sport to Play: Soccer

What position do you play in soccer? goalie and midfield

What team do you play on? Santa Cruz Breakers Travel

How long have you been playing soccer? 8 years

Favorite Athlete: Hope Solo or Alex Morgan (USA Women's Soccer Team)

Fun/Funny Facts: "Whenever I score a goal in soccer, I run with my arms out, like an airplane. Whenever I do good in something, I say, "Crushed it". I am really hard on myself when I play baseball or kickball, when I mess up."

Did You Know...

Coach Sweet competed on Team Italy, when he was a 6th grader at Valencia! He is also our veteran International Games team coach with 8 years of dedication and experience!

Athlete of the Week

These two athletes are known for their hustle, positive attitudes, and ability to push hard at practice!

Congratulations to our first two athletes of the week for the 2016 season!

Name: Riley 

International Games Event: 100m sprint, 400m relay, shuttle run, long jump

Favorite Thing About Practice: "My favorite thing about practice is doing the conditioning workouts, like the burpees and box jumps."

Favorite Food: pizza

Favorite Sport to Play: baseball

Favorite Position in Baseball: 2nd Base and Centerfield

Favorite Athlete: Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants, catcher)

Name: Kylie

International Games Event: 50yd team relay

Favorite Thing About Practice: "When we do the strength and conditioning with Coach B."

Favorite Food: pasta

Favorite Sport to Play: Gymnastics

Specialty in Gymnastics: Bars

How long have you been doing gymnastics? 10 years

Favorite Athlete: Simone Biles (World and national champion gymnast)





Funny Facts: "I'm really injury prone. I have had twenty plus major injuries, like I have Osgood Schlatter's and Sever's disease. I count how many words I say in my head whenever I say a sentence. Whenever I go upstairs, like any stairs, I like to end on my left foot."

Did You Know....

Did you know that Coach Kurek used to be the track and field coach at South Tahoe Middle School, specializing in long jump, triple jump and high jump? He is also a three year Team Jamaica, International Games coach! We are so lucky to have his coaching expertise!

Team Jamaica Strong!

Team Jamaica Day 3

 10 Min. Partner Workout

100 Jump Rope Single Unders

30 Burpees

30 Box Jumps

Partner A works/Partner B rests and visa versa.

The athletes strategize to decide how they will break up the reps 

to achieve the total number given per exercise.

The athletes complete the number of repetitions per exercise as a team. 

You cannot move on to the next exercise until you 

and your partner have completed the work at each station.

Each time the team completes all three exercises in the round one point is earned. 

Additional points are given for additional reps in the final round. 

“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.” – Babe Ruth

Russian Kettlebell Swings

Proper Kettlebell Form

Samantha from Rio Del Mar, Team Jamaica is executing the dynamic Russian kettlebell swing with a fifteen pound kettlebell (appropriate for her bodyweight and height) with perfection. The picture on the left shows the athlete in the start of the kettlebell swing, the athlete's weight is in her heels, her chest is up, her knees are bent, and the kettlebell is held with her arms in extension. The picture on the right shows the athlete at the top of the swing, with her ankles, knees, and hips in extension, and the kettlebell is swung to eye level with a tight grip and arms in extension at the top of the swing. This is a dynamic movement that builds core strength, muscular endurance, and power.

Click on the link below to learn more about the kettlebell swing.

Kids and Kettlebells: Is it Safe?