Ohhhhhh, at last this group of eighteen women is happy and smiling once again!

Our trip down under has just begun.  We are embarking on a twenty-four day tour that encompasses twelve games.    In the International hockey world that schedule is a challenge against any side.  But, when the calendar reads such talented oppositions as Australia and New Zealand, it makes the challenge even greater.  It might be a physical test but it is one that ignites great enthusiasm and optimism in our preparation to London.

After arriving to our “home” away-from-home, it was impossible to be anything but excited.

Here in Queensland, we are residing on the beautiful sunshine coast at Grand Mercure Apartments, Twin Waters.

As the bus pulled up to the resort, you could not help but notice the smell of fresh flowers and overwhelming wildlife.  The gravel pathway that led us to our private villas (shared by teammates) was plush with beautiful trees and the sound of chirping birds.

At lunchtime, we walked around the resort lake, which illustrated beautiful views of sailboats and fresh blue waters.  Once into the main house, you could smell the fresh coffee at the café, the herbs permeating from the restaurants and see the true beauty of the building that was sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and the resort’s man-made lake.

Sounds like paradise?  It is!

But, it’s time to snap back to reality.  This is not vacation.  In fact, my family is back in the states and I am here with my friends, my teammates.  We have a mission and the beauty that surrounds us will help to keep everyone smiling, but will not allow us to forget what we are here to accomplish.

Stay tuned for more updates from the Sunshine Coast of Australia!

Keli

Heart and mind racing, palms sweating, Keli Smith took a deep breath and looked down at the little plastic stick in her hand. Just back to the U.S. after ringing in 2011 in Venezuela with her in-laws, she waited for confirmation in the bathroom of the Baltimore hotel room where she and her family were staying. Positive, the test read. Indeed, Smith was pregnant once again.

The rush of joy and delight over welcoming a second child into her family was overwhelming, but she didn’t burst out screaming the news. She didn’t even tell her husband until late that night, her excitement perhaps tempered only by the knowledge that this was probably it. After playing nine years as a striker for the U.S. National Field Hockey Team, the 31-year-old native of Selinsgrove, Penn., figured this might just be nature’s way of telling her it was time to retire.

“In our sport we hadn’t had anybody have a child and keep playing — let alone two,” Smith says.

It seemed like the obvious choice, and fully ready to walk away and close this chapter of her life, she told her husband her decision. He, however, was not so sure. A former member of the Venezuelan national field hockey team — and now head coach at Miami (Ohio) — Iñako Puzo understands the demands of the sport as well as his wife does.

“Not so fast,” he told her. “Let’s wait and see. Maybe it’s still attainable. Let’s not close the door on it quite yet.”

They sat down together and gave the situation a great deal of thought. Their baby was due in August 2011, about a year before the London Games. It wouldn’t be easy to get back into shape, to be ready for top competition so soon after giving birth, they both agreed, but it wasn’t impossible either. “I came to the conclusion that we’d see how it goes,” she says. “Give it a try or else maybe I’ll always wonder if I stopped too soon.”

Scheduled to fly out to California later that month for a training camp in advance of the Four Nations tournament in Argentina, which was held in February 2011, Smith joined her team with a secret literally growing in the pit of her stomach. It was too early in the pregnancy to tell anyone, but after the first week of training, she felt she had to clue in coach Lee Bodimeade. “I wanted to make sure he could still prepare for the future knowing that I wasn’t going to be there,” Smith says.

She was, however, adamant about keeping her news from her teammates until after the tournament in Argentina. She didn’t want it to be an issue or a distraction to her team — even if that meant darting back to her room under the guise of “forgetting something,” when bouts of morning sickness struck or excusing herself to another room when she wanted to change her shirt, afraid someone might notice her belly beginning to grow.

“It was,” she pauses, “interesting.”

But after the tournament in Argentina, in which she helped the U.S. to a second-place finish and played in her 150th career game, she finally shared the news with her team: she was nearly three months pregnant. It was a relief to end the weeks of secrecy, and yet in some ways, Smith knew that this was just the beginning of her road to London.

—-

The Smith-Puzos welcomed baby Ian on August 31, 2011.

About six weeks later, after taking a brief hiatus from the team, working out as much as her body would allow — “There is a point where you just can’t anymore,” she says — Smith returned to the gym and started training again. In December, she flew out to California and rejoined her team for training. “It’s different to be on a treadmill in a gym or lifting compared to actually being here and on the turf,” she says. “Even though it might seem quick, I needed to get the cobwebs out.”

Some days are easier than others, she admits, but the support system her family has created makes sure that there are more good days than bad. And though it took a few weeks before she felt like her legs were under her and her touch on the ball began to return, Smith is feeling more and more confident, and her prospects for London are looking better. In her first game back on Jan. 14, she scored two goals to pull the US into a 2-2 tie with Australia, the 7th ranked team in the world. After tipping in a score on a penalty corner in the first half, Smith found a seam between two defenders and broke in on Aussie keeper, Toni Cronk. She faked left before shifting right and swept the ball into the net as she sprawled her body onto the turf.

Seeing the successes of her team while she was out seemed to invigorate her too. In October, she watched as the U.S. captured gold at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, defeating the top-ranked Argentinean team, 4-2, and secure a spot at the 2012 Olympics. Sitting at home on her couch with her two boys, she watched with great pride and perhaps a slight tinge of envy. “Part of me wanted to be with the team for that,” she says. “But then part of me looks at my boys and thinks, Well, life is amazing here, too.”

Still, it’s clear she retains that competitive spirit and the desire to keep playing. In fact, if anything, she has grown to enjoy the game more since having her first child, Xavi, in 2010. “For me, before having children, it was sometimes hard for me to turn [the game mentality] off,” she says. “The game ends, and I wouldn’t be able to turn off what happened. And over time, what ends up happening is that you take everything back onto the field. Instead of starting fresh, and feeling like you’re re-energized, you take some baggage back and it’s sometimes difficult and exhausting. But after [becoming a mother], I felt I was enjoying the sport more because I was able to turn it off when I was off the field.”

Her shift in perspective colors everything a little differently now. “I’m finally at a point in my life, with two kids and a husband at home, where if this all ends tomorrow, I would be fine,” she says. “It’s not like, ‘Oh my, what am I going to do with myself?’

“Going into London, I think I’ll just try and cherish every moment of the ride because for me, it’s over after [that]—and there’s no question about it,” she says. “Knowing there’s an end to this and it’s around the corner for me changes the perspective a little bit. I might as well enjoy it while I can.”

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/news/20120328/keli-smith-womens-field-hockey/#ixzz1qW9dYrkE

U14 Spring League 2012-1 (click here)

All practices this season will be held outdoors at Charlottesville High School.   We have a very exciting and talented coaching staff this season and each one is looking forward to working with our athletes.   Practices will be designed with 40% individual skill and team tactics and 60% game play.

Each player needs proper oudoor field hockey equipment.

1.     Outdoor field hockey stick

2.     Mouth guard

3.     Shin guards

4.     Clear face mask (optional)

This is a slogan that I have lived by during my athletic career.  But, after getting married two years ago, I was faced with a decision about what name to put on the back of my shirt.  Every time someone would pop the questions, they got my usual answer, “I really don’t care.”  For me, I never stepped on the field thinking about what the back of my jersey said or what name appeared in the program.  It wasn’t about me!

I watched Joe Paterno’s memorial service on television a week after his death.  Some critics thought it was too much for a man that got associated with someone else’s horrific crime.  But, for those people that watched that service or attended his funeral, you couldn’t deny the fact that he had an enormously positive impact on so many of his players’ lives.  And because of that, it made me think…did he have that same impact on my father?

If you ask my dad, he would not give Joe all the credit for his hard work ethic or his understanding of team before self, but for sure, he would get some.  I would guess that he would also give credit to the assistant coaches, his family and other mentors in his life.

If you ask me the same question, the first name that would leave my lips would simply be, my Dad.    He is one of the most humbled, hardworking human beings that I have met to date.

In fact, growing up, I would not have known that my dad was a successful football player if it weren’t for the life-sized portrait hanging in our hometown school or the random books that people sent to our house for him to sign.

My Dad lives in the present, not the past.  He gets up early, goes to work and stays until his job is finished, even if it means after hours.   When he gets home, he has dinner with my Mom and on most nights, they head to a sporting event to support a grandchild or a local team.

He has never wanted the spotlight and never accepted full credit for anything.  I did not know him in his football days.  But, I predict his athletic mentality simply by knowing him today.  I can tell you that he works everyday for his company, not solely to support our family but more importantly because he wants to help the company’s productivity and profitability.   He is honest, straightforward, leads by example and only speaks out when he has something important to convey.

Knowing what I know about my father, I can also guesstimate that he would never care what name appears on the back of my jersey.

So, when asked again this year, “what name I want on the back of the uniform,” I hesitated, stuttered and eventually knew that I needed to give an answer.   I pondered for a little about my options.  I could remain with just ‘Smith’ or keep my maiden name and add the married name.  And, my last option would be just a simple P-u-z-o.

The truth is, I could honestly careless.  Yet, I still needed to produce an answer.   So, like any wife/mother would, I thought of my husband and our children, Xavi Puzo and Ian Puzo.  And, in those two things, I found my answer.   And, that’s just how my Dad and Mom would want it!

Until Next Time…

Keli Puzo

The alarm sounded at 4:30am on Monday morning and as quickly as you can (with 2 children), I scurried out the door with my left hand pushing the stroller and my right hand hauling a carseat. In the dark, we made it out the front gate of the condominium complex and into our taxi.

We met up with the entire team at the airport. Before I knew it, Xavi and Ian’s “aunts” had arrived and one at a time, they were taking Xavi on his favorite past time ride, escalators, helping me feed Ian his formula and getting him to sleep. And finally, they made sure that I had a teammate to help me at all times.

It might have been 20 hours of travel time. But, it was one of the easiest trips to date thanks to the group!

We arrived in Barcelona and were greeted by family (my in-laws). The boy’s grandma and great-aunt picked them up at the airport. I quickly explained to them all the tendencies of each kid. Xavi is a picky eater. His favorite foods are pasta, pizza and fruit. He likes milk before he falls asleep and sometimes wakes up scared at night. Ian drinks only formula and eats rice cereal twice a day. He sleeps on his back but normally rolls to his belly within minutes.

After the quick recap, I helped them into a cab, kissed my boys good-bye and watched them drive away, as Xavi was crying on the other side of the glass window. It was sad, ok very sad. But, I knew that they would have a great time. And, lets face it, my husband, Inako was arriving in just three days and I needed a little rest. It was time to focus on hockey and the games ahead.

The final Puzo to arrive was Inako. He flew from Ohio to Barcelona and successfully landed on Friday morning. After picking up our sons at his Mom’s house, he made his way west to Terrassa. He didn’t quite arrive in time to watch our second game, but he was there to give us all a hug afterwards.

With two games down and the whole family here, we are getting ready to start the official 4-nation tournament. Today is a day off. I am heading into the city to spend the first half of the afternoon with my boys and then back to our hotel to get my legs up and rest for Sunday’s game.

I am off to the train station and looking forward to some wonderful tapas for lunch with my family!

Until next time……

Keli Smith Puzo #13

On Sunday night, the pretext was an allergic reason to Ian’s medicine. It was not your typical allergy; swollen body parts or a rash. This reaction was nothing other then diarrhea.

It is not fun being a parent and changing diapers every hour but it is much worse when your helpless baby is crying in agony because his little butt cheeks are red, raw, and causing him so much pain that he can’t sleep. Ughhhh!

But, we made it. Morning came and with the help of Destin, he was beginning to feel better. His little cheeks still showed signs of discomfort, especially in those cute little rolls that wash over his butt like waves, but it was evident that he was not in too much pain.

The next night arrives and my goal was bedtime at 7pm. I desperately needed sleep and I was sure that the boys could use a good night’s rest too.

At 8:30pm, I was woken, not by an alarm but rather the sounds and smell of puke. Not just any puke but curdled milk and beans puke.

Yes, I bet you want to gag just reading it.

This time it was my little Xavi. And, a viral stomach bug was soon-to-be the reason for the sleepless night that was on the horizon. There we were, mother and her sick little boy. Every hour we were both awake, as my weak rag doll was throwing up.

I tried to place a bucket under his mouth, as I knew what was coming. But, he continually pushed it away. Rather then change the sheets and scrub the floor every hour, I just picked him up and stood in the bathroom with him. Eventually, he puked on my shoulder and fell right back to sleep.

Yes, you read it correctly! He puked on me. Time and time again! I guess that is what mother’s do for their children.

I would rip my shirt off, through it away and then return my sick little man to bed. Clean myself up and eventually crawl back under the sheets waiting for an hour to pass until it was time to repeat that same scenario.

Who would ever believe this story? Certainly not my friends/teammates because it is definitely something that only a parent would understand. I know that to be true because I can assure you if someone were to tell me this same story 3 years ago, I would think it was nuts.

When the alarm sounded at 5:50am, it was time to replace my motherly hat with the hat of an athlete training for the Olympics. For the next 8 hours it was about hockey. I was tired yet so happy that my boys were there with me (regardless of the past two nights) but I couldn’t wait to get back on the turf and take a little break from motherhood.

This scenario sounds normal for some working mom’s. But, as I drive to work (aka: national team training), I knew that the day is going to be physically exhausting. It also occurs to me that the events of the prior night are one’s that none of my teammates could truly relate with.

Then it dawns on me! I don’t “work” with any other parents.

For a split second, it was a very lonely feeling. When I arrived at the Chula Vista training center, I saw the faces of my friends and teammates and realized one thing. They might not truly apprehend but they care!

The last few days have been packed with numerous logistical concerns; concerns about how to balance the life of a field hockey athlete with a team in San Diego and the responsibilities of motherhood with a family in Ohio.   I would be lying if I said that my anxiety is not raised by merely typing such a sentence.

As my heart begins to pound harder, I remind myself that “where there is a will, there is a way.”  At least, I will try to prove that old statement true.

Now, back to focusing on “the way.”

There are two solid facts that will not change in this equation.  First, if I want to play, I have to dedicate myself to full-time residency in San Diego.  Secondly, I have to see my kids.  I struggle being away from them for two week and two months is simply not an option.

Many people tell me that they are too young to remember much.   But, the reality is that I will remember and I will certainly not enjoy this process without them in my life.  And, after all, it’s all about the process, right?

So many people have asked me how this will all work.  The truth is, I am not 100% sure yet, but I will give you an inside look on some possible options.

First, I need to find a home in San Diego.  Some place that I can unpack my bags and more importantly, allow my children to comfortably sleep at night.  This is a short-term stay and I would prefer not to purchase new furniture for a five-month visit?  So, my apartment criteria is; “furnished, short term.”  Needless to say, this severely narrows my options.

Secondly, who is going to watch the kids while I am training all day?   This factor has yet to be solidified.  I have some wonderful options and need to get commitment from all parties involved.  With a small budget, I am not able to hire someone full-time, but I am extremely lucky to have people in my life that are willing to help.  All I can do is cross my figures that it all works out.

Thirdly, the flight arrangements need to be planned and orchestrated.  This piece of the puzzle is more difficult.  The boys will not be here all the time, so who is going to bring them west and who will fly them back east.

I am so grateful for a supportive and loving husband and amazing parents.  Both parties are willing to do all they can to help put this puzzle together and I can assure you that I will add to their frequent flier miles over the next few months.

My Mom wants to fly out here and get the boys settled.  My husband will have to fly back out and transport them east when necessary.   And, so the story goes!!

And finally, I must ship the car…and don’t forget the car seats.  I never thought I would say this, but I actually miss buckling the boys in their Peg Pergo seats right now.

So, there you have it.  I brief glimpse into the logistical puzzle that has yet to be completely marshaled.  I will keep you posted as all the pieces unravel and I certainly hope that you enjoy this crazy ride with me.

My best,

Keli

I arrived last Tuesday and it’s been a whirlwind, until today, that is!

The training schedule has increased as the London Olympics are just on the horizon and the Australian national team is arriving in less then a week.  We pushed through the week; a three-day week that consisted of four practices, one lifting session, two conditioning sessions and one dreaded running test.

I find the week very hectic and physically exhausting, but it’s only been four mouths since Ian’s birth and I need to be patient.  I wake-up early and stay on east coast time.  Mainly because my stay is less then 3 weeks long but more importantly because the morning is the best time to catch up with my family.

I can talk to Inako over my morning coffee, tell Xavi that “I love him” before he arrives at daycare and send Ian kisses over the phone before his morning bottle.  But, also because the days seem extremely busy.

We have tough trainings and this old lady needs time to take care of her body.  So, in addition to everything on the schedule the last three days, I had one message, three ice bathes, one contrast bath (1 minute in an ice bath and 2 mintues in a hot tub and repeat 5 times) and three sessions in the “magic pants” (30 minutes in the amazing invention of NormaTec Pants).  I am not embarrassed to say that this is what an athlete at the age of 32 years old with two kids needs to do to stay healthy.

So, to use the word “busy” to describe the week is a bit of an understatement.

And then Saturday arrives……errrrrrkkkkkkkk.  Everything came to a streaking halt once I finished my Saturday morning 85 minutes jog, that is!

Now what?  My life is back east.  My husband and boys are over 2,500 miles away and here I sit……

….so, my attention walked 800 meters down University Avenue in the cute neighborhood of North Park.  First to a funky salon where I got my haircut and dried.  It’s tough to do something as simple as this with two boys under the age of two years-old.  Then, I proceeded four additional blocks north to Starbucks, where I sat for four hours.  I logged onto their free wireless connection and sat down with my cup of coffee, love it!  It was time to focus my energy on my girls in Charlottesville, the girls from my club that I am also unable to be with this weekend.

So, there I sat for hours, online doing administrative work and on my phone trying to keep up with every detail of their tournament.  Which, by the way, I am very proud of their improvements!  They played great today!!!

Then, I walked back home and spent one of the best hours of my whole week, on Skype with my boys.  Just watching them play and every once in awhile, throwing me a kiss through the computer screen.

Everything is a juggling act at the moment but I am very happy for my weekends!!  And, very thankful for all those in my life that are helping me and supporting me through this exciting but difficult time!

Love to all,

Keli

My last blog concluded with the team in Argentina back in February 2011.  I posted that blog the day before we played the home nation in the finals.  We lost the final by one goal.  And upon returning to the hotel, I revealed to the squad that I was three months pregnant with our second child.

It was a celebratory night for two reasons.  First, because everyone was excited that Xavi was about to become a big brother.  And, lets be honest, anyone that knows him can testify to the fact that he needs a playmate at home.

The other reason for celebration was the fact that we scared Las Leonas on that day.  They felt their Pan American rival closing the gap.  For so many years they have never felt threatened by our side.  But, on that night, something changed.  You could see it in their eyes.  It was a very exciting note to end the trip on and begin hibernation for baby number 2.

I did not actually hibernate.  In fact, I flew to San Diego to spend a week with the team the following month.  I wanted to keep training with them until my belly grew too big.

That week in March came to a quick end and it was back to Charlottesville.  Back to the family and time to seriously start organizing my first season of our new club team.  FH Life was starting the spring season that April and I was looking forward to meeting new faces, our future new stars.

With two season behind us (almost!  the fall season wraps up on Sunday).  Our first winter season is about to begin.  We have excellent coaches working with the group this year and a lot of exciting things coming down the pipe.

Finally, my personal life has been uprooted too since last February in Argentina.  My husband, Inako, was contacted by Miami University in Ohio back in April and asked to interview for the head coach position.

After much consideration, we decided to take the job and move the growing family to Oxford, Ohio.

It was an absolutely hectic few months to follow.  I had a commitment to the club, as well as my summer camps.  Inako had also accepted the position as head coach of USAFH’s high performance Mid Atlantic team and was commuting back and forth from Virginia to Ohio.  We would see each other only in passing.

Somehow, we made it through those months and that is the primary reason for my absence in writing blogs.  It was so hectic that I was lucky if I got my hair brushed and the laundry done.

Now it’s 11-11-11 and here I sit in our new living room in Oxford.  We bought a new house, established new roots in the Mid-West and most importantly, we have a place that we not only call home, but it feels like home.

Ohhhhhh and wait.  I forgot the most important news of all.  Remember at the beginning of this blog when I told you that back in February, we sent a clear message to the Argentine team?  Well, it was spot on!  The gap was closing in and this October the National Team sealed it!

With my boys on the couch (Ian was just 6 weeks old) and nerves in my throat, we watched and cheered for the girls at the Pan American Final.  The message was marked with a 4-2 victory and automatic qualification to the London 2012 Olympics.  Wow, it feels great to write that.

I am not sure what my future will hold but one thing is certain!  I better get off the couch and into the gym.

FHL CLUB Spring Season Registration – U19 & U16 (click here)

All practices this season will be held outdoors at Charlottesville High School.   We have a very exciting and talented coaching staff this season and each one is looking forward to working with our athletes.   Practices will be designed with 20% physiology training, 30% individual skill work and 50% game play.

Each player needs proper oudoor field hockey equipment.

1.     Outdoor field hockey stick

2.     Mouth guard

3.     Shin guards

4.     Clear face mask (optional)

GET EXCITED…. Field Hockey Highlights can be viewed here: