Day 2 --
The Hoops began their second day in Spain at 9:00 a.m. with a buffet breakfast up on the hill in the Panorama Room. By 10:30, the team was back on the training field for the first of two training sessions on the day.
Training began with the regular group keep-a-way drill to get the legs moving. Next the team split up in sets of four for the length of the field and conducted passing, touch, and conditioning drills for the next 25-30 minutes. After a water break, the players were again split, with assistant coach Oscar Pareja taking the some of the younger players and Steve Morrow and head coach Colin Clarke running game offense and defense drills with the large group.
The group of field players was split into three sets of six, with four players running the center as neutral all-day midfielder. Two teams began at the top of each 18-yard box, and the third team began with the midfielders at midfield. The center team attacked one end, and if they scored, they turned around and went at the team on the other end. If the defense won the ball, they were required to get back to the markers near midfield. If they made it with possession to the spot, they would then attack the opposite end and the team that lost possession took the place at the top of the empty 18. Dario Sala was the 'keeper on one end, while Jeff Cassar and Ray Burse split time on the other end
In the meantime, the six rookies went through touch and endurance drills with Pareja, dribbling and juggling around the field before stopping to do isolated challenges. Goalkeeper coach Alan Knight ran timing and positioning drills with Cassar and Burse.
Assistant coach Marco Ferruzzi worked with midfielder Richard Mulrooney and defender David Wagenfuhr during the sessions on conditioning and ball drills. Mulrooney is recovering from an ACL tear he suffered last year while Wagenfuhr is recovering from an ankle injury sustained earlier in pre-season. The two are taking turns participating in the Survivor Challenge with rookie teammate Blake Wagner. Wagenfuhr took part in Day1a and Day1, while Mulrooney participated on Day2a - Chipping and Shooting.
