Late July Friendlies

OK, OK.  I know good bloggers are supposed to blog daily, and I've been missing for a while.  My excuse?  Just a busy time all around.  I serve as the Technical Director for the MN Thunder Summer Soccer Camps, and camp season is in full swing.  Couple this with the fact that tryouts are just around the corner, and the new interest in expanding the BTFC Academy Program to the north and west metro areas, AND now that baby Emmri (my almost 10 month old baby girl) is now mobile and crawling around the entire house, and I have my hands full.  I know I'm probably preaching to the choir as many out there are in similar or worse situations, but just let me ramble on and seek some sympathy. 

Tryout time sucks, and it's energizing at the same time.  It's not fun to say goodbye to some players and families and it's not easy to tell a young player that they just aren't good enough at this time to make the team they want.  I think the parents take it harder than (and thus many times make it worse for) the kids, but that's the way it goes. 

As for the girls, most of them opted to take part in the Bangu Girls Camp this week, 10AM to Noon Monday to Friday.  The first few days were heavy on the fitness aspect, so the girls were in some severe soreness when they showed up on Tuesday evening for our friendly with the U15 Blackhawks team.  My old Thunder teammate, John "Sly" Sylvester, was the head coach of this group and since they had won their league and were heading directly to the State Tournament in late July, they did not have to play through the District Tournament and thus had a long time off.  Sly was looking for some games to keep his team sharp, and he had seen my team play the Bangu Tsunami White team in Bloomington a few weeks back.  I'm not sure if he realized that they were U13 as I told him at that time that he was observing a U14 Premier team game, but he wanted a game and I was all for helping him out.

The game was set to be played at the McMurray fields in St Paul, and I almost wrapped my car around a light pole as I came up to the fields.  I had heard about the new synthetic fields being developed here, but I was completely shocked when I came upon the complex.  It was a dream come true.  Three turf fields set deep into a grass bowl-type valley... fields marked only with soccer lines (as opposed to the great majority of other turf fields in the area absolutely vandalized with football lines).  Man, if our club had priority access to a complex like this it would be game over. 

The game was a decent game.  We were missing Ripper, Becs, Hannah, and Jilly (four legitimate starters), and had a girl named Maddie (a U13 who played with Coon Rapids U14 Premier team and who was a close friend of Getch) guest play with us. 

The field was large and the girls were completely legless.  The fitness camp in the heat had left them sore and drained, and their lack of sharpness was clearly evident. 

To their credit, after a marginal first half that saw us fall behind 1-0, the girls came back and played a gutsy second 40 minutes, giving everything they had left.  I was really impressed with their effort in a meaningless friendly game, but we were clearly the better team in the second half, actually playing more physically and tougher than the girls who were 2 years older, and though we gave up another goal, we had the better and more numerous chances, scoring once and unlucky not to put in the equalizer and then the winner.  I think it was a very positive experience for the girls involved.

Wednesday we headed to Eagan to play a friendly with the Eagan U14 C1 team, also to help them prep for the upcoming State Tournament.  They were in a similar situation that the Blackhawks were in, having won their league and looking for competitive matches prior to their State Tournament run.

We had Ripper, Hannah, and Jilly back, but Becs was still out, Tori (our GK) was gone, Maddie (from Coon Rapids) couldn't make it, and Getch's mom's car overheated in St Paul, so we had three subs.  Blondie's back was bothering her, Millie and Nash were both battling blisters, Ripper's back was still a bit sore (so she played GK).  Scratch had only played 10 minutes the night before because her back was bothering her as well, and all the girls were tired from camp.  In hindsight, scheduling these friendlies was probably not a very smart thing with the camp going on this week, but nothing I could really do about it now.

The game was played on a tiny grass field that couldn't have been more that 60 yards wide.  We played well, all injuries and tiredness considered, and I think the final was 3-1. 

We will likely not do too much else prior to tryouts, save for maybe one or two optional sessions next week.  I've tried to make it clear to the girls that I'm very willing to do some private or small group work with them if interested in prep for tryouts, and a number of them have taken me up on it.  I'm not sure what tryouts will hold for this group, but we'll know fairly soon.

I have also received some communication from other coaches and club directors about some of this current group of players already signed up for other club's tryouts.  I think most are looking at these other tryouts as back up plans, though I guess some may have already decided that our program is no longer for them, no longer meets their family's needs.  To each their own.

One More Year at the Helm

After the USA Cup Championship game on Saturday, I let the group know that I would be taking the team for another year.  My thought coming into this current year was that is was going to be my last with this group.  I had been "grooming" our current U10s in the East to begin with them full time this fall as U11s, looking to mimic the training program that the U13s had gone through the last 3 years, again with the goal of the current U10s to represent MN at the U13 age group in 2010 at Regionals.  However, though I did look for a qualified coaching candidate to take my current group next year, I was not able to find someone that I thought was experienced and knowledgeable enough to take these girls to the next level.

I feel completely qualified to take these girls through U19.  Though I do relish in the challenge of coaching at the older age groups, my passion is for working with the younger players.  However, I care too much about this current group of girls and the parent group to just simply say "see ya later!" and leave them with a random coach who may not meet my personal standards.  Not that my recommendations and standards are the end all be all of decisions, but I know this group and I know what they need to continue to progress and develop at the pace they have all become accustomed too over the last few years.  The parents and kids have made a commitment to me and to our club, and it's not fair to them to place them with just any old coach.  Though my schedule will be hectic at times, I'm really looking forward to the next year with this group.

Mark Cook (BTFC Girls Coaching Director) will be co-coaching with me.  It will be great to have a full time partner in working with these girls, and Cook brings a wealth of experience to this group as he was the head coach with the Bangu Tsunami Stars through their U15 year.  He's seen what else is out there at these age groups and has a good idea of things that we need to address in order to be nationally competitive.  My goal is to also have Megan A help when she can, as she did this past year.

I would like to think that most of the girls are excited that I'll be returning.

On Sunday at the team party, I spoke with the parent group about the plans moving into the next year.  I mentioned to them that I realize that I, as their coach, can be guilty of pigeon-holing the girls into certain positions or into starting vs non-starting positions.  Though I do feel that I move the girls around more than most coaches at this age, especially coaches who deal with higher competitive teams, when push comes to shove in tight matches, the girls are in positions in which I think they best help the team get results.  I realize that all coaches see players differently though, so my comment to the parent group was that there would be a more heavy emphasis at tryouts this year of outside evaluators looking at this group.  Cook and I will make final decisions on team make up, but in the best interest of all the girls on the team, we will weigh unbiased evaluators opinions more than usual.  The other evaluators will be coaches within our club at the older age levels. 

I know parents, sometimes more than the players, are worried about tryout results.  I have never coached a team that has not has at least a few players turnover each tryout season, and I don't expect this year to be any different.  With this said however, I did not see very many U13 girls at State Cup this year who I though would battle for a place on this team.  There may be 1 or 2 of our White team players who will get a look, and I know there are a couple U13 girls who play up at the U14 age level who would stand a decent shot of making this team next year.  However, I have no idea who will be showing up interested come August 7th. 

Tryouts suck, and they're the worst part of youth coaching.  To tell a young player that they just aren't at the level they think they are or want to be at is tough, especially after the year(s) of commitment to this team/club.  However, this comes with the territory in youth athletics, and we are no different than other club teams around the country.  I do hope that girls who don't make our top team stay within the Bangu system, as I believe our White team's development path is far better than many other options in this area.  But I realize that sometimes parents want their kids to play on a "top" team, and if it's not possible in our club, then it may be off to another club to find a top team there.  People make choices.  We can only continue to offer programming that we feel is a solid development opportunity for those who choose to take part. 

USA Cup Championship vs Snohomish United Fury (WA)

I had seen the Snohomish United Fury (WA) team play in the quaterfinals against Dakota Rev’s team.  The Fury had control of the great majority of that game, with a few dangerous attacking athletes.  They had a #7 who could throw the ball in 25 – 30 yards and a couple of girls who could strike a ball well on set pieces.  Their #3 was also a dangerous attacking player around the box.  I did not think they were as strong in the back and played with a very deep sweeper.  It would be a decent match up, but again I came into the game giving us the overall edge.

We were dangerous from the onset, creating a number of solid goal scoring opportunities.  Again, we were just a little unsharp on some of our finishing technique.

We came out in our 4-1-2-3 formation that had served us so well in the event.  At Regionals, we found more success with the more standard 4-4-2 formation, but somehow in this event we just couldn’t find a good rhythm in that shape as of late.

We had the advantage of the wind behind our backs in the first half, but the girls were struggling to serve a decent ball, be it on corner kicks, free kicks, or longer passes from the back or across the field.  It was weird.

As the game went on, I also noticed that our midfielders were not going after the opposing GK punts with their heads, instead allowing the ball to drop in front of them and trying to control the ball with their bodies.  That was weird as well as Macky and Lily, two of our most proficient headers of the ball in the center of midfield, appeared hesitant to attack the ball with their heads.

After one of the substitutions, I asked Macky about it and she commented that the ball was too hard.  Huh?!?!  This coming from a girl who would likely have no fear of heading a coconut if it came at her.  I made a comment to the ref about it and he dismissed my complaint with a wave.  I can’t stand arrogant refs who think their word is law about every single aspect of the game and who won’t even give an appearance of listening to a coach’s comments.

So the half went on, and we continued to press the attack but were unable to find the back of the net.

Once when the ball went out of play near our bench, I scooped the ball up and tried to push my hands against it to see how hard it was.  Usually, even with very inflated soccer balls you can still get some give in the outer panels.  This one was an absolute rock.  I made another comment to the ref while I was holding the ball, and now the AR started to get on me to sit down and get the ball back in play.  "Here.  You head it!" I told the AR somewhat jokingly.  I don't think he appreciated the comment.

At halftime, I told the girls I was proud of the effort and the level of play on the field.  We needed to try and play quicker from the back to take advantage of our midfield players and the space that was being given to them.  I had asked our central forward to stay deep on the Snohomish sweeper, forcing the Fury central defender to mark our forward, effectively having two of their girls mark one of ours.  The idea was to find this central forward in space in the corners to draw our the central defenders, or to make use of the gap left by the central defender as she was forced to mark our pushed-deep forward.

We also talked about changing the rhythm of our play, sometimes choosing to hold the ball and dribble or keep possession to slow the game up, while at other times trying to link up the field in quick, one or two touch passing.  Lull them to sleep, then pounce forward.

Lastly, I challenged the girls to still try and raise the level of our intensity in the second half.  We had come out well in the first 35 minutes (the final had 35 minute halves), something we hadn’t done in the previous two games, and I wanted the girls to play the second half like we had in our previous two games.  "How do you want to end your season?"  I asked them.  "No regrets, leave everything on the field."

I feel that our overall team strength has been a key factor in our success this summer.  When many other teams we face have 8 or 9 really solid players, the drop off when substitutions are made is noticeable.  I don’t feel that we drop much at all when we make changes, and I believe we wear teams down.  We’ve scored a lot of important goals in the final 15 – 20 minutes of many games this year, and it comes down to fitness, focus, constant pressure, and heart… all of which I think we have a lot of.

I asked our captains, Hannah and Lily, to talk to the refs about the ball when they came to the field to start the second half.  Again, the ref dismissed their concerns with a wave, telling them that both teams were playing with the same ball.

Um… duh?  I know that.  But just because both teams were playing with a bowling ball doesn’t mean it’s a soccer game.  These weren’t 19 year old guys, these were 13 year old girls.  Neither team could kick the ball and I heard both teams complaining about heading it.  But what the ref says, we have to do.

The second half was not much different from the first as I believe we were well in control of the game.  The Snohomish defenders, after absorbing wave upon wave of attacks, slowly started to hang back more and more when the ball was cleared up field.  This gave our midfielders a ton of space to work with when they received the ball from our defenders.

With about 20 minutes left, and after watching our girls struggle to serve a long ball or cross, I finally had enough.  Once again I made a comment to the center ref about the ball when it went out of play near our benches.  He waved me off again and made the same comment that it was the same ball for both teams.  This time, the AR had enough and began yelling at me to sit down or I’d be asked to leave.  I think I was pretty amicable, stating my case simply and asking the center ref to take a look at the ball.  The AR, who hadn’t probably even come in contact with the ball got fed up with my commentary and continued to threaten that I would be asked to leave if I didn’t sit down.

Luckily, the ball went out of play immediately after that right next to the AR.  I saw him pick up the ball and test it’s hardness, then I saw enlightenment dawn on his face.  Ah, this is what the crazy coach was complaining about.  The AR motioned the center ref over and must have said something.  The ref tested the ball, apparently for the first time that day, and motioned to the opposing coach for a needle.  No lie, they probably let a full 15 seconds of air out of the ball before allowing play to resume.  Thank you.

Five minutes later, and all because the ball was finally at playable hardness (just kidding) we scored one of our best goals of the year.  Sophie (LD) received a ball from the center of the field on the left flank, about 20 yards in our own half.  She hit a bending ball down the line to Maddie (LF).  Sophie and Maddie have been linking up well this tournament, connecting to score the game winner versus Tony Glavin in the quarterfinals yesterday.  Maddie came to the ball with a defender tight on her back (about 40 yards from goal), laid a one-touch pass the way she was facing to Getch (CM) and spun away down the line with an encouraging “Play and move!” from me since she was right in front of our bench.  Getch played a one-touch pass through and Maddie was off to the races. Maddie took a couple touches then served in a great bending cross into the area.  Bidi (RF) came streaking in, controlled the ball with her body, and volleyed home from about 10 yards out.  I turned around to look at Mark Cook (BTFC Girls Coaching Director) who was sitting behind me and we both smiled.  It was a great goal, worthy of about 7 seconds of goose bumps.

Six minutes later we put the game away thanks to a terrific individual effort by Maddie at left forward.  The move started with either Millie (CM) or Jilly (CF) receiving a ball in the middle of the field n a break from the back, about 50 yards from goal.  The ball was played wide to Maddie who had found some space down the left flank.  Without hesitation, she took on the defender in front of her, turned the corner nearing the endline, danced by an incoming supporting defender and ripped a right footed (weak foot for her) shot that the Snohomish GK made a great save on.  The GK was only able to parry the hard shot and the ball dropped in the danger area. Maddie fought off the third defender who had come to challenge her initial shot, and finished the rebound, again with her right foot.

Again, late goals to give us the win, one of them a fantastic group combination effort, the other a terrific individual effort.  The game ended 2-0 and we were off to the sports hall to hoist the Cup!

It was a perfect ending to a memorable season.

USA Cup Semifinals vs NSSA (MN)

Our semifinal match up saw us come up against the NSSA group.  The north suburban team had run away with the U13 girls North district league, thus qualifying for a U14 Premier spot for the 2008 summer MYSA season.  NSSA beat the Unionville team from Canada in the other quarterfinal game in PKs.

I was looking forward to the game.  We had seen every other semi-decent to decent team at our age group except for these guys.  I felt confident that if we played well we would get the result, and I was more interested in seeing if they had anyone in their group that might be considered an impact player for either our Blue or White teams.  A couple of the NSSA girls had come to our tryouts two years ago, and there was one hard working forward for them that I had seen play in last year's summer State Tournament and this past year's State Cup.  I was interested to see how these players would match up against the competition I was sure our girls could present.

I knew the game would be a tough one.  The NSSA team surely knew about our group and it would be easy for them to get up for the game mentally.  I think our girls were excited about the match up as well, energized by the good second half performance of the earlier game that day.

The only little disappointment I had was that we were scheduled on one of the "F" fields.  These fields were in decent shape, but were not as large as some of the other ones on the complex.  I had scouted the NSSA team in State Cup in May and noted that they liked to pull an offisdes trap.  It was very effective against some of the lesser tuned-in teams, but I thought that we would break the trap for a number of goals if they pulled it against us.  They also liked to push up and trap opponents off free kicks from the midfield area.  I educated the Goo Girls about these things prior to the game, asking the girls to remember how we wanted to break the offsides trap against Javanon at Regionals. 

The game started out OK for us.  We missed two breakaways and two good chances inside the six yard box off crosses.  The NSSA GK played well, their defense caught us a couple times on the trap, and they managed to attack down the field a couple times.  Tori (GK) wasn't forced into anything too difficult, but we could not seem to finish any of the chances we created. 

The half ended 0-0 and it was neat to see how excited their parent group was at the tied score.  They knew what level of competition they were up against and I'm sure wanted to praise the efforts of their team to keep the game deadlocked.  "It was only a matter of time." I thought. 

I said as much to the girls at halftime.  I knew our overall team strength and believed that the NSSA group could not keep us off the scoreboard for much longer.  I told the girls we would likely score 3 goals in the second half, and just needed to concentrate on doing some of the little things correctly. 

We were getting a ton of crosses from the right side, but many of these were played directly into the GK's hands.  I wanted our wide players to either pull the ball back away from the GK, or drive the ball lower and harder into the box.

NSSA had a dangerous forward and we were caught diving in on her a few times.  Patience, delay with pressure, communicate with your teammate so they know when they have cover and can safely go in for a tackle without the risk of being the last defender. 

Keep up the intensity.  They can't match us technically, but they can out work us.  Match their work rate and effort and our skill and game intelligence will see us through.

It took us 17 minutes to finally break through and score a goal, then the flood gates opened.

17th minute we go up 1-0 as Sting (RF) drove in a low, hard crot (cross shot) that squeaked under the NSSA GK.  Lucky goal, but the all count.

19th minute, GK punted a ball from the top of the box and didn't get a hold of it all.  It fell to Brownie (LF) about 30 yards out.  Brownie controlled the ball nicely, took a touch, the hit an intelligent, early shot that sailed over the retreating GK into the net for our second goal. 

90 seconds later, Ripper (CF) found Brownie (LF) down the left flank.  Brownie crossed the ball too deep and Jilly (RF) ran it down at the far side of the box.  She spun her body around the ball and sent in a floating cross back to the far post area that Blondie (CF) headed home.

90 seconds after that, Jilly (RF) broke the offsides trap, ran down a through ball, and drove in a low, hard cross the Blondie (CF) tapped home.

All in all, I'd say that was a pretty effective shift for those girls.

4-0 in a good, but not great, performance. 

* * * * *

A U14 boys team from Mexico City had befriended some of the girls earlier in the day and had come out to watch.  It was neat for the girls to see the Mexican group go wild in celebration after we scored our goals.  The would all dance around, sing and chant, and waive their shirts over their heads in pure glee. 

After the game, the girls were more interested in posing for a picture with their new found loves instead of listen to my post-game spiel.  Oh well, I didn't mind.  The girls will likely remember the dancing Mexicans 10 years from now, not the result of the game we just played.  It's all about positive experiences with soccer, and one of the reasons that I love this event so much.