Reality Check Weekend in Lakeland

State Cup Game #2 vs Prior Lake 12s

Second of four group games for the U13 State Cup.

Prior Lake 2 is the other U12 team in the tournament. They play U13 in the South District and are here, I believe, like we are for the experience.

We've seen the Prior Lake 12s once before on the 11v11 field - last fall in a friendly we set up as a fourth game for the NSC Fall Cup in Blaine. They are well coached by an ex-NCAA DI player, but lack the overall athleticism and technique that the MTA girls possess.

My thought was that they didn't have enough defensive presence to keep us off the scoreboard, and didn't have enough punch in the attack to do us critical damage in our defensive third. But there's a reason we play the games, right?

We would start in a 4-3-3 today, really hoping to press the attack with a third forward and use that player to help pressure the PL defenders in order to try and win the ball back from them in our attacking third while also try to deny the PL defenders from easily clearing their defensive zone. The PL team knew we were a strong team. If we could jump all over them with pressure and get an early goal, we'd make the game easier on ourselves.

Like the 1/2 game vs SCV earlier in the week, we came out very, very strong.

2 minutes in, Vivi (Point - center forward in a 3 forward system) collected the ball about 25 yards out, dribbled through a couple PL defenders and found herself clear 12 yards out with just the GK to beat. Her shot cracked the crossbar and rebounded back over her head. 1-0 with a little more composure.

We played most of the first part of the game in the PL half, time and time again getting free on the right flank, sending dangerous crosses into the box, winning corner kick after corner kick, and causing some real trouble for the pinned in PL girls. We just lacked the finishing touch in the box, same as against SCV.

12 minutes in we finally got on the board. Vivi (Point) again got free in the PL box, this time on the right side of the goal. Her hard, far-post shot was parried by the PL GK but rebounded into the danger area in front of goal. Gia (LF) came racing in with her marking PL defender, and knocked the ball into the net. Great example of the benefit of shooting far post from angles (rebounds drop into danger areas), and very good work by Gia to fight for the loose ball.

5 minutes later, more pressure by us and allowed Mickey (CM) to pick up an errant clearance by a PL defender about 22 yards from goal. She took a good prep touch forward and hit a low, hard shot with her right foot into the lower left corner of the goal. I had just yelled out to her a few minutes earlier about being confident about her ability to shoot from outside the box. Sometimes things just work out well...

We continued to press and spent the great majority of the first half in the PL half, but could not manage to net another goal. The half ended 2-0.

Not much to say at halftime. We were clearly controlling the game, creating chance after chance, and PL hadn't managed a shot on our net. We talked about ideas to breakdown a packed in defense and I reminded them that sometimes in order to go forward we have to play backwards. I also reminded the girls about the value of getting the next goal in the game as it would effectively seal the deal for us. If PL got the goal, which they possibly could regardless of how we thought we were in control of the game, we would need to relax and work hard to avoid the panic and tension that could result from a close contest.

As the second have progressed, I started to feel myself getting frustrated with the little mistakes the girls were making. Looking back at it now, I wanted to us to score more goals and bury a team at our age group in this event. I wanted to send a clear message that we claimed the undisputed right as the top team at this age group. I tell the girls all the time that I'm not worried about the end result, though in this game I clearly was... for my own reasons.

I found myself getting on the girls for their poor decision making and technical breakdowns. I could feel the negativity in my body language and in my tone. My comments to the girls lacked the normal positive nature as my frustration must have been evident.

Don't get me wrong, we still created chances (a few cleared scrambles in the PL box, another shot off the crossbar), but not as many as in the first half as to PL's credit, they came out and played better. They still did not manage to threaten the goal with a shot, though they did earn a corner kick or two. They had one player in the center of the midfield, a tall athletic girl who played our mids tough. She helped change the game in the second half to help PL.

Anyway, as I should have known it would, the lack of positive energy from the coaching sidelines translated into a poorer performance on the field, which translated into more negativity from the sidelines, etc. Vicious circle that I preach against constantly.

10 minutes from the end of the half, PL was awarded a free kick about 30 yards from goal. I think it was the big midfielder who took the shot, a shot that just cleared the heads of all the players on the penalty box line. Phi Phi (GK) saw the ball late, but side shuffled to her left to get in front of the shot. She went down to scoop the ball up that was about to bounce 4 yards from the goal, and the ball squirted between her legs and trickled over the goal line. PL's first, and what would turn out to be their only shot on goal the entire game.

Game ended 2-1.

Phi Phi felt bad about the goal, but 99 times out of 100 she stops that with relative ease. I told her as much.

Good first half, poor coaching, poor second half.

* * * * *

I was frustrated by my frustration the entire rest of the day. These are 11 and 12 year old girls playing a game that they should love. I didn't help foster that passion this morning. I know the girls work their tails off during the games. If there are breakdowns on the pitch, these need to be recognized and addressed in training sessions. I can't expect the 12s to be at the level of my 14s last year. We talk about the long-term goals for this team and I have to remind myself that it's a journey and we're not there yet.

* * * * *

State Cup Game #3 vs Northern Lights

Out at the fields at 7AM for an 8AM kick off.  Refreshed and with a clear head from the lessons of yesterday's frustration, it was going to be only positive today from the get go.  Over-positive in fact, to try and make up from my Saturday attitude.

The girls arrived around 7:15AM.  I led them through a very fun and goofy warm-up, with the NL coaches staring over at us probably thinking we were a bunch of loonies.  Or, that we were super-over-confident.  Hope it wasn't the latter because that wasn't my thought at all.

Brought the girls in to stretch and apologized to them for my sideline behavior yesterday.  They seemed unaware that I was frustrated during the game, with Phi Phi making a comment that I'm too nice after I apologized.  I told them I believed that it was my more-negative-than-normal attitude that contributed to our sub-par performance in the second half yesterday, talked about the vicious cycle of negativity leading to poor performance, leading to more negativity. 

I told them today the goal was to enjoy the game.  They were going to make mistakes.  All of them would.  Gave them the Leave It Behind trigger to use when they made a mistake on the field.  Instead of dwelling on it, they would slap their own butt to indicate that the mistake was left behind.  The butt slapping idea made them all giggle and lol, but that's the point.  Laughter melts tension.

I also gave them the idea of Confidence Buddies, used to encourage (not patronize) players in order to help them play better.

Smiling because the girls were smiling all warm-up, I sat down on the bench to enjoy the game.

We came out on fire again.  Girls looked sharp, dangerous on the attack, and more composed under pressure.  There were plenty of butt slaps, but unlike yesterday when mistakes were followed by more mistakes frequently, today our high level of play continued.

We had a wind behind us to help keep NL pinned in their end.  That, combined with our pressure made it very difficult for NL to get out of their half.  We had over a dozen corner kicks in that first half, as well as hit two posts.  However, we could not find the breakthrough goal. B-Money (RM) had at least 4 or 5 good chances to finish, but many times pulled the trigger too early from distance. The girl has an absolute cannon on her right foot when she connects with the ball, but this leg strength and past success from scoring from distance has encouraged her to shoot from distance even when she has beaten the last defender and is alone to take touches forward and get closer to goal.  I'd need to work with her on that.

First half ended 0-0, but it was complete domination by the MTA girls. 

Halftime talk was all about the positives in the first half, comments on how relaxed the girls looked on the field, and encouragement to continue as they were.  A few of the girls playing on the far side of the field made comments about the vocalness of some of our team parents.  75 yards away and concentrating on the game, the parent comments were not in my mind at all, but I made a promise to try and listen for them this half.

With the wind behind them, NL was able to press the attack a bit more in the second half.  We still played well and looked the more dangerous team, but it wasn't the lopsidedness seen in the first half. 

Splitting my focus more to listen to the parent sidelines, there was not much to be heard from this distance except for the dreaded word "Shoooooottt!"  I need to make sure to address this soon with the parents as many times I don't want the girls to shoot when some parents think the girls should shoot.  I heard it once early in the half, actually at a time when I did want the girl in possession of the ball to shoot it, so I didn't think much of the comment at that time, though I would still prefer that parents didn't yell it out from their sidelines.

About 12 minutes in, B-Money (RM) flew past the NL left defender and cut in towards goal.  I heard the "Shooooooooooot!" call from the other side of the field (it wasn't even her own parents) and B pulled the trigger from 3 or 4 yards outside the top of the penalty box... on a breakaway.  "Parents!!!!  Please stop yelling SHOOOOOOOT!" I yelled across the field to no one in particualr and to everyone.  I subbed B out on the ensuing goal kick.  Though not in a negative tone, I did get on her.  "That is the last time I want to see you look to shoot from outside the box before looking to see if you have open space in front of you to get closer to goal."  She nodded.

The ref and one of the other coaches would both approach me after the game in separate instances and applaud the comment made to try and silence/educate the parent group.  Again, I'll need to address our parents about this soon.

Anyway, as it turned out, things worked out pretty well.  22 minutes into the game, Bam Bam (CM) won the ball from a NL midfielder about 35 yards from the NL goal.  She took a few dribbles and passed the ball to B (RM) who was about 25 yards from goal on the right.  B split two NL defenders and found herself clear at the top of the penalty box, on the right side of goal.  I saw her begin her wind up to strike the ball, then glance up, and take another touch forward when she realized she was fairly open and alone.  She ran up and struck a rocket into the upper far post from about 13 yards out.  Perfect. Good for her!

We managed to hit another post and create some hectic moments for the NL keeper in front of her net, but couldn't manage to put another goal away. 

Could have been 4 or 5 against PR2, could have been 4 or 5 today.  In reality, we deserved to come away with max goal differentials in both games this weekend, thereby putting ourselves in control of the group with a win or tie against Prior Lake 1 next weekend.  Instead, PR1 has the goal differential (beating Eagan 3-0, beating PR2 2-0, and beating NL 3-2), and we need a "W" next Saturday to win our group outright. 

I'd like to make the semifinals against our 13 Blue team and give the girls the experience of that game, but I'm very happy that the girls have put together some good performances this last week (1/2 against SCV in league, first 1/2 against PR2, full game vs NL today). 

More beneficial to the team than the good performances was my own self reality check this weekend.  I'm no where near perfect, though many haters out there think I think I am.  I love that I continue to learn soccer and life lessons through the girls and my interactions with this team.  I don't do anyone any favors if I think I know everything there is to know about working with young players.  Our team will only be stronger because of this in the years to come.

We'll see what happens next weekend.

Couple Cool Pics

Though I haven't had much time to update this journal, I wanted to add a few pics that I've taken in the last few weeks.

The first is at the Thunder home opener against Vancouver.  It is so important for young players to watch high level soccer live.  We had 15 of the 16 girls able to attend which was great.

The second pic here I took with my phone at training this past Wednesday.  Really vibrant double rainbow, so we stopped to snap a pic.  I couldn't make it work to fit in the girls and both rainbows.  The one time I leave my digital camera at home...

League Game #1 vs St Croix

We were scheduled to open up the MYSA U13 Classic 1 league season against St Croix Valley (SCV) on Tuesday, May 5.

Last week, I found out that we'd be missing Normy and Bam Bam for the game due to school functions. I emailed Joaquin, the SCV coach and a friend of mine, last week to try and reschedule. He got back to me on Saturday and let me know that it would be difficult for his parent group to make a change at this time, so we had to make it work.

I couldn't go into the game with 14 players. I had seen SCV play our 13 Blue team in State Cup last weekend and was a little worried as they (SCV) looked to have some real pace that would cause us problems. Against a team like that and on the large fields at the Lucy Winton Bell complex (120x75), it wouldn't be good for me to come in with 3 subs.

I looked at my options. Since our 12 Whites were a Tournament Only team, we could not pull up girls from that group to join us. Our only option then for guest players was from our U11 team. Taylor from that group had already guested with us in West Des Moines and could hang with us athletically. I doubted anyone else from that 11 group could. Taylor did well in Iowa, but now we were talking about playing at the U13 age group.

So, I talked with Andy (East Director) and made the decision to roster Bridget and Neve from the 12 Whites with us for the summer. Bridget is an athletically gifted player that Andy and I had decided last fall was a year away from the Blue team. Neve is a solid GK, and the Blue girls would be more than happy to have her join us (and thus not have to play in goal themselves). We wouldn't have the two guests with us for every game, but they would be able to play if/when needed.

The two girls would still be committed to the White team tournaments and training sessions, though they might miss some training if they were suiting up with us for a game.

All this was finalized on Monday morning, which happened to be the last possible date to drop/add/transfer players through MYSA. Emailed the two families to make sure they were OK with things. Connected with our club president to sign the transfer forms and fax them back to me. Got them to MYSA that morning. Connected with our Registrar to get the players transferred in her database, allowing MYSA to expedite the printing of the player passes. Had Babes's dad pick up the passes from MYSA in Minnetonka, and we were rolling.

I also found out on Monday morning that apparently teams MUST reschedule games if the request came in within two weeks after the schedules were released. Had emails and phone messages into the East District Rep for clarification, with nothing resolved on Monday night.

Tuesday morning, saw an email come across from the East District Rep to SCV, basically stating that they had to reschedule the game as per MYSA policy. I was just looking for clarification on the mandatory rescheduling rule for future reference. We had the player passes in hand yesterday and had guest players lined up, so we were prepared to go ahead with the game. Called the SCV Coaching Director and Joaquin to let them know that we were NOT looking to reschedule the game and were ready to play. Caught them before they had gotten word out to their families about the cancellation of the game, so we were good to go for that night.

I met Babes's dad in St Louis Park to pick up the passes, met Bridget at her school to get her's signed and snap a head shot pic, cruised over to Woodbury to meet up with Neve and her mom at Kinkos to get Neve's signature and head shot photo, spent 30 minutes in Caribou Coffee across from Kinkos cropping Bridget's head shot from a team photo I had on my computer because I forgot the download cord for my digital camera at home, spent another 30 minutes at Kinkos as the unqualified Kinkos guy could not figure out why the color printer was not working from the laptop station, dashed home to see my wife and little girl for 30 minutes, then off to the fields for the game. Man, that was a lot of work...

* * * * *

Back on field #22, same field we played Eagan on for our first State Cup game a few weeks back.

Weather looked foreboding with some thunderstorms blowing through the area most of the afternoon.

Girls arrived 45 minutes prior to the game. Pre-game talk was all about looking for that killer pass when it was on, the pass that would get over or through defenders and allow us to attack the space behind them. This has been my focus for the last month. Soon, it will change to attacking the space in front of the defenders (forwards checking back) in order to draw defenders out of position, leaving gaps in dangerous areas for third runners to attack.

There was a strong wind giving the team attacking the north goal a big advantage.  Asked our captains to take the wind if they won the toss, but SCV won it and elected to take the wind.  Could be a tough first half for us.

Started in a 4-4-2.

We came out on fire and spent the first 15 minutes in their half of the field. Not only were we in their end, but we were dangerous.  3 or 4 corners and just as many crosses that were served in were either not connected on, or dropped to players' feet in front of goal and were scrambled away by SCV as we seemed a bit slow to act.

SCV eventually settled in a bit and the game became more of an even contest.  On their first real forray into our end, we won possession in our defending third on the right flank but gave up a throw in with an errant pass.  The resulting long throw took Mal (RD) by surprise and sailed over her head, to be picked up by a SCV attacker at the corner of our penalty box.  Neither of our CDs (Meg or Phi Phi) were in a good enough position to apply pressure, so the SCV attacker got a volley shot off that looped high over Neve's (GK) hands into the far side netting.  Very similar goal to how SCV scored on our Blue team in State Cup, with the ball almost traveling vertically straight down across the goal line.  No chance for Neve on what I would consider should not have even been a half chance at goal.  Tough to give that up after we had been playing well.  But that's soccer...

10 minutes later, the girls battled back to pull level on a great goal.

Bargsy (RM) won the ball back for us by using her body to step in front of and shield off the SCV outside left defender who was trying to dribble past her.  She played the way she was facing and laid a good ball back to Cal (RD).  Cal hit the served up ball first time with her right foot, crossing the ball to the top of the far side of the box.  Gia (LM) ran forward to contain the ball (not let it get outside of her) and deflected the ball to Mickey who was also up trying to get around the ball.  Mickey took a touch and passed a neat little ball to Babes (LF).  Babes held off her marking defender and hit a left foot bomb into the upper near post of the goal.  Really well worked goal, a goal that just makes me grin from ear to ear. 

Halftime came and saw the game deadlocked at 1-1.  I was very happy about how we were playing and began to give the group some tactical ideas for the second half when I saw the weather coming up from the West (I had been facing east the entire half).  Black clouds thick with rain. 

15 seconds after the second half whistle, the ref called the game due to lightning seen in the approaching clouds.  We could wait 30 minutes from the last lightning strike we saw, but it was already 8PM (late start to to the 7:05PM scheduled kick off) and we would be out of daylight soon.  We would have to reschedule.  Imagine that...

Got into my car in the parking lot as the hail hit.  Good call ref.

State Cup Game #1 vs Eagan

Excited to start our State Cup Experience this year!  Same thing I've done with past teams (current U17 Woodbury Inferno, current U15 MTA Elite 94 Blue) - play up to U13 State Cup as U12s for the experience.  The idea seems to be catching on, with Prior Lake's U12s following suite, as are 3 or 4 U12 boys teams this year.

For me, this year it's all about (as you might have guessed) this year.  The long-term goal is to earn the right to represent our State in the 2010 U13G Midwest Region Championships by winning the 2010 MN State Cup.  Short-term goal is to compete and get acclimated to the nuances of the event this year.

Do I want to win games?  Of course.  And I plan on working to not only give the girls the needed experience, but also plan on working to get out of our group. 

* * * * *

At the fields in Lakeland 2 hours ahead of kick off in order to complete some final paperwork and get the team through the initial team check in and welcome words from the tournament director.

Lots of down time then prior to kick off, and I hoped the girls would be able to maintain their enthusiasm and not have a pre-game let down due to a buzzkill.  Spent the next hour goof around with the girls, walking through some set plays with our free kick takers, and playing a little Duck Duck Grey Duck.

We had seen Eagan a couple times in the D-League this winter.  They were missing some of their multi-sport athletes in the Jan/Feb months, but I felt fairly confident that if we came to play, we'd get the result.  That is taking nothing away from the Eagan team, coaches, or the club.  I just feel that we're a more talented group.

My main worry, as it always is when I've got a U12 team playing U13, is that we get beaten by high lofted shots from distance or by simply being out-paced and having a super fast 13 year old run through us.  If we're beaten by good soccer, I've got no problem with it.  But this is my third cycle through with a group of 12 year olds playing up, and I know what I know based on experience.

The field was large.  120x75.  Huge area for little 11 and 12 year old legs to cover.

Started in a 4-4-2.

Got on the board in the 9th minute when Meg (RD) served in a good corner kick from the right side.  Babes (RF) battled with an Eagan defender at the near post and volleyed in a rocket from 8 yards out.

We doubled our lead in the 17th minute as Cal (RM) sent in a very good cross from the right flank that found Mickey (LF) with her back to goal in the Eagan penalty box.  A nifty lay off back to Quicksy (LM) and a good first time left foot shot found the back of the net.

4 minutes from halftime we effectively put the game away as Babes (CM) found B-Money (RM) on an Over the Top through ball.  A great change of pace from B to beat her defender and a Slot Cross found someone (ladies, help me out here).  The shot was deflected past the Eagan GK who didn't have a chance to react well to the ball's change of direction.

Midway through the second half we got our 4th goal when Mal (CM) found B with another Over the Top ball.  B battled past her marking defender and hit a powerful shot past the diving Eagan GK.

4-0 final.  Decent game, though our play was not as sharp as I would have liked overall.

We have a bye for the second game, so I'll get a chance to scout the other 4 teams in our group tomorrow.

Minnesota Thunder 94s Two Wins Away from History

Cool accomplishment for my previous team if they can make it happen this weekend!

From topdrawersoccer.com

Written by ESNN (Elite Soccer News Network)
April 30, 2009

The Minnesota Thunder U15 Girls continue to progress through the competitive trials of elite youth soccer. This weekend could be their next big accomplishment, as winning two of three matches will make them the first Minnesota team to win the Midwest Regional League Premier division.

Coach Mark Cook cited team balance as a primary characteristic of the squad.

"This is a pretty solid group. All in all they don't have too many weaknesses," Cook said. "They were regional champions at U13 and then lost to Michigan Hawks in overtime of the semifinals of U14 last year. They've had good national success already.

"We primarily focus on playing quality possession soccer," Cook continued. "We still spend time on the technical part of the game including receiving, passing and ball-striking. I'm a big fan of watching professional games and I like for us to try playing the beautiful game. We are trying to make them better players down the road. Sometimes it comes out in the game and sometimes we struggle, but in the end it forces them to be better soccer players."

The Thunder lineup starts with regional-level goalkeeper Tori Fuglister, who is a good shot-stopper that Cook credits with having improved her game in the air.

The starting defenders, right-to-left, include Jillian Richgels (quick and tough), Rebecca Roberts (great in the air and the team leader in the back), Brianna Stelzer (a move-in this year from Houston club Eclipse) and Rachael Van Keulen, a technically proficient left back. Rachel Gratz is a fast and physical defender who completes the unit.

In midfield, Bianca Diaz and Madison Nelson provide good service from the flanks, with Hannah Werth's solid ball-striking and Lauren Nash, just returning from a long-term injury, providing depth. Centrally, Mackenzie Lewis is dominant in the air and in disrupting the opposition attack, with Kaelyn Korte a technically-gifted possession player and Taylor Brownrigg a mixture of the two.

U15 Girls National Team player Lauren Miller is a stalwart in the forward line, with the fast and hard-working Kylie Schwartz complementing her up front, and Mallory Getchell providing support as a good distributor of the ball.

Cook said an MRL title would also help his team relax heading into the Minnesota State Cup schedule.

"We're hoping to win the league and go into the State Cup being able to to work on our game and not having to worry about results."