I know this is supposed to be a training journal for the U13s. However, part of the reason that I'm keeping this is to be able to look back on what I did with this group in order to maximize the training efficiency with age groups to come. So, as the U13s are a flagship group for our Academy program, it seems pertinent that I add in comments about this current program as well as it is all linked together.
I knew this event was going to be challenging for the traveling Academy teams, but I had no idea that our younger teams would be handled so easily in some matches. Granted a 6-1 thrashing on an 8v8 field is not as bad as the same result on a large field at the older age groups, but still... 6-1 is 6-1.
Our U11G East and U12G East teams are undoubtedly already among the top teams at their respective age groups here in MN. Our U11G South Academy team is also a strong MN team, and I have yet to see any MN team come close to giving our talented U10s a game. All of a sudden though, thrown into a mix of some of the biggest RII clubs in the Midwest, it is clearly evident that we are not there yet when it comes to fielding truly strong teams at the younger age levels. This isn't a bad thing though by any means as it is good for some of these teams to feel what it's like to be on the not-so-nice end of a 6-1 defeat, something that not one of these teams will ever experience at their age group here in MN. With losing come more life lessons that with winning.
I'm waiting for more detailed game reports from the coaches as well as the video that some parents were taking of the games as I'm eager to see (on tape) how the U10 - U12 teams from some of the Region II Big Dawg clubs play. In what ways are they better than us? Technically? Tactically? Physically? What skill sets to these top teams possess that we lack? How can we develop programming that can address these deficiencies in our local talent? This is what I'm interested in, and this the main reason (not being able to witness these young teams from other clubs) that I was really bummed about not making the trip.
Here are some of the results.
U10 Girls BTFC Academy 97
vs Warren County (OH) L 5-1
vs Cleveland FC (OH) L 4-1
vs Ohio Premier Black (OH) W 4-0
vs Sycamore Arsenal (OH) W 1-0
U11 Girls BTFC Academy 96 (East)
vs FC Pride 96 White (IN) L 6-1
vs Michigan Hawks 96 Black (MI) L 4-2
vs Ohio Premier Shox (OH) L 3-1
vs Warren County (OH) W 4-0
U11 Girls BTFC Academy 96 (South)
vs Ohio Premier Nike (OH) L 7-2
vs Warren County (OH) L 2-1
vs Vardar Elite (MI) L 5-1
vs Ohio Premier Swoosh (OH) L 6-1
U12 Girls BTFC Academy 95
vs GSE Cardinals (OH) L 2-0
vs St Louis Soccer Club (MO) T 2-2
vs Lexington Premier (KY) L 3-0
vs Michigan Hawks 95 Black (MI) W 2-1
| | U10 Girls | | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GD | GA | GF | |
| Group A |
| 1 | OP U10 GREEN | A2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 8 | |
| 2 | 97 Novi Jags Green | A1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 8 | 10 | |
| 3 | Sycamore Arsenal | A3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -9 | 15 | 1 | |
| Group B |
| 1 | Michigan Hawks 97 Black | B2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 17 | |
| 2 | GSE Cardinals | B1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 9 | |
| 3 | MTSC Freedom Blue | B3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 13 | 4 | |
| Group C |
| 1 | Warren County | C3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2 | Cleveland Fc | C2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 3 | Bangu Tsunami 97.e Blue | C1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 9 | 2 | |
| Group D |
| 1 | MICHIGAN GATORS | D1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| 2 | CUSC Academy '97 | D2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 6 | 4 | |
| 3 | OP U10 Black | D3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 6 | 3 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| U11 Girls | | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GD | GA | GF | |
| Group A |
| 1 | Novi Jaguars '96 Girls Green | A2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 13 | |
| 2 | Carmel United | A3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | -1 | 8 | 7 | |
| 3 | Westside Extreme | A4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 11 | 7 | |
| 4 | OP SWOOSH | A1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -5 | 9 | 3 | |
| Group B |
| 1 | OP SHOX | B3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 12 | |
| 2 | Michigan Hawks 96 Black | B1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 9 | 5 | |
| 3 | Bangu Tsunami 96.e Blue | B2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -7 | 13 | 4 | |
| Group C |
| 1 | Vardar Elite 96 | C2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 17 | |
| 2 | OP NIKE | C1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 12 | |
| 3 | WC United Blue G95 | C4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 9 | 3 | |
| 4 | Bangu Tsunami 96.s Blue | C3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -7 | 14 | 4 | |
| Group D |
| 1 | U-11 Cardinal Premier | D1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 9 | |
| 2 | KCFC FIRE U-11 | D3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 13 | 11 | |
| 3 | FC Pride '96 White | D2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -2 | 10 | 10 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| U12 Girls | | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GD | GA | GF | |
| Group A |
| 1 | Warren County | A1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 10 | |
| 2 | MTSC United Blue | A4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | -1 | 7 | 5 | |
| 3 | Eclipse Select | A3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 7 | 3 | |
| 4 | Michigan Gators 95 Black | A2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 5 | 2 | |
| Group B |
| 1 | Lexington Premier | B2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |
| 2 | St. Louis Soccer Club--Wipke | B1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
| 3 | GSE Cardinal Premier | B3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -4 | 7 | 2 | |
| 4 | Bangu Tsunami | B4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -5 | 7 | 2 | |
| Group C |
| 1 | JB Marine | C1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 7 | |
| 2 | Michigan Gators Orange 95 | C2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 4 | |
| 3 | LUSC Hurricanes | C3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 5 | 2 | |
| 4 | Cleveland FC | C4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -6 | 7 | 1 | |
| Group D |
| 1 | Michigan Hawks 95 Black | D3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 9 | |
| 2 | OP U12 GREEN | D1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | |
| 3 | Sycamore Arsenal | D4 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -3 | 7 | 4 | |
| 4 | Brentwood Apex | D2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -4 | 9 | 5 | |
A grand total for 4 wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie among the four teams, with a goal differential of -19( 23 for, 42 against). Not very stellar.
It will be interesting to gauge parents' reactions to this event in the coming days as I know more than one expects winning to be synonymous with our club. It is my hope that they see this event for what it was, a positive all around event for the young girls that has surely made for many happy lasting memories. Moreover, I think Andy and Garth (the coaches with the teams this weekend) will return to MN armed with new training ideas based on the performances they saw this weekend, training ideas that will go a long way towards helping the individual and team development of the kids in the program.
For me, I may have to re-think sending our teams to events like this in the future. Yes, as I mentioned, I do believe that there are many positives to be gained from an experience like this, but it's difficult as a program director to have the families go through the added expense and inconvenience of travel only to get hammered in many games. Parents are putting a lot of trust in my guidance regarding issues like this, and it's tough sometimes to always feel that I'm doing the right thing.
Sunday, April 29, 2007 at 10:14PM 
