Lessons From Virginia

The main reason that I take the team to events like the Jefferson Cup is to be able to find top level competition at our true age group in order to best highlight our team's strengths and weaknesses (see You're Planning On Taking This Team Where?!?!).  Armed with this information, I am able to design training sessions that address needed areas of improvement which leads to accelerated player development (see Key To Accelerated Player Development).

Though I didn't think that we played our best soccer this past weekend, it was evident in our games and in watching other games at this age level that we have a number of areas in which we need improvement.

• Simple passing technique under pressure
• Proactive movement off the ball to create good passing angles, support options, and forward passing channels (as opposed to reactive movement)
• Continued technical work seeking comfortability on the ball
• 1v1 composure
• Changing our playing rhythm as we are, in most cases, a very direct team
• Finishing breakaways
• Pouncing on the ball in our opponents box
• Keeping the ball "alive" in our opponent's danger area
• One touch defensive clearances
• Aerial ball control
• Overall aggressiveness and intensity around the ball

Here's what I thought we did really well on the field at this past weekend:

• Not much

I'm kinda kidding.  Though I didn't see much I was really please with on the field of play, the girls had a great attitude, gave 100% effort, and showed good sportsmanship the entire event.  I preach to them that these are the 3 things we have full control over, and I was proud of how they handled themselves (see Controlling the SEA)