3/27 Training and Scrimmage vs 12 Blues

We only had 10 players for training tonight.  We have not had any soccer related event since the Sockers Tournament 6 months ago where we have had everyone attend.  This is becoming very frustrating as we are approaching our summer season for a team of this quality . . . more will come on this later.

I was upset going to training today knowing that we would not have enough players to scrimmage with 11 players from our team against the 12's when we were only 2 weeks away from West Des Moines.  It took me at least 10 minutes of training to settle in and focus on the kids that were at training.  I preach to the players that once they step on the field to just focus on soccer, but it took me a little bit to take my own advice.

The first 30 minutes of training we worked on our crossing and finishing.

I.  Ajax Shooting Drill: Crosses on the Ground

Set Up

• Line of players where the end line and the 6 yard box meet 
• Line of crossers outside the 18 on the side line
• Line of shooters 10 yards outside the 18 on the far side of the box
• Same set up on the other side of the goal

Proceedure

• Blue passer plays the ball out to the Blue crosser
• Blue crosser attacks the ball, dribbles end line, and crosses the ball on the ground to the top of the 18
• Blue shooter starts bending her run away from the ball when the passer plays the ball to the crosser
• When the crosser picks her head up, the shooter sprints to the top of the 18 for a 1 touch shot (we also did 2 touch shots)
• Red team passer plays the ball as the Blue crosser is crossing

II.  Ajax Shooting Drill: Crosses in the Air

Same thing, but now instead of the crosser attacking the end line, she takes 1-2 set up touches and plays a cross in the air to the top of the 6 yard box.

We really struggled with this from both the crossing and heading technical points.  We will spend a lot of time focussing on this over the next month.

The 30 minute scrimmage against the 12's went pretty well.  We moved the ball around well and kept really good possession.  The scrimmage definitely pointed out our resistance to crossing the ball into the box as every time we had the ball out wide we tried to go 1v1 or combine around their defenders.  This is fine with me at this point because we are just starting to work on the crossing and finishing.  It will be really fun to watch once we combine all 3 options from the wing.