12/2-12/7 Futsal and Training

On Tuesday we finally had a training session after a week and a half since the last time we were able to to train. Needless to say we were full of energy even to the point were on had to get on to the boys about their lack of concentration and focus. We started off with some agility drills in order to try and wear a bit of the energy out of them and work on fast foot work and balance. We then moved on to some ball control activities in which I stressed trying to do the skills at game pace, almost to the point were you lose control of the ball. We then ended our training part of Tuesday with a half turn activity that included some speed dribbling as we have struggled which this in the recent past. After 10 minutes or so I added some combination play to the activity and stressed developing a rhythm which out actually using the word "rhythm". We finished Tuesday out with some mixed team scrimmages with our U11 white and U10 blue teams.

On Saturday we looked to improve on our indoor league play as we lost the weekend prior and we were not sharp and the play lacked enthusiasm. The team rarely plays teams its own age and is relatively unknown to its own age group. So when we get a chance to play a team our own age the boys get pretty excited. This weekend we played a U11 team from Bloomington. I have known of this team for awhile as my U10 indoor team from last year would consistently play them for the championship. Going in to the game I knew we would be the stronger team and this proved correct since we carried play for the majority of the game. We ended up winning 16-6, typically in these games when we get up by a good number I try to find ways to challenge the boys in the game. For this game we tried to score goals off of headers. It is always interesting to watch them try to adapt to these challenges.

On Sunday we were very very sharp and looked like the team I know we can be. We will occasionally invite teams to come in and play Futsal against us. This weekend we invited the EP U11 team that was the runner up in the fall state tournament to MPLS united. Sundays are always a challenge for me as my U12 team plays 1pm indoor games in Burnsville and then I must get to Woodbury by 2:20pm for Futsal/training with the U11's. Since I wanted to be on time for Futsal this week I left the indoor game early. Well 40 minutes and 4 snowplows and 2 state troopers later I was able to make it late to start of the scrimmage, good thing I left early. We played very well against the EP team and we carried play but were not able to finish. There was a lot of great combination play and we were very confident in 1v1 situations. We ended up 2-2 after 35 minutes of play. A disappointing result for how we played but none the less it was great to see the boys play so well. After the 35 minutes the white team came in and scrimmaged while we moved to the small gym for a possession activity which I was so happy with that after 10 minutes I stopped it and we finished with a 4v4 + 1 scrimmage. Our creative and clinical play carried into the scrimmage. At the end of training I realized we had just played 70 minutes of consistent soccer for the first time since I have taken over the team. We have come close before but have had times were a 5 minute lapse has really hurt us. I am hoping we can carry this into next weekend especially with the game heavy (2 holiday tournaments and a scrimmage) end of the month that we have.