Soccer Update

U10 Mutiny Soccer Update:

Kennedy's team has played several games. They're about .500 right now, but the key is, they are improving every game. I've enjoyed the coaching aspect of the game immensely, and my understanding of the game at this level has improved quite a bit.

The fun of coaching this level is this: the idea is to keep the forwards in front, the backs in back, and the mids in-between. Invariably, the players on my team will get one message from me and a different message from their parents. Especially forwards. I try to teach them to play "offense, offense, offense," yet parents insist that their daughters move back almost all the way to the penalty box to help out on defense. Así es la vida.

The other point about coaching at this level is that they are more apt to listen to their coach (yeah!), which makes their parents yell all the more loudly!!!

U8 Fire Soccer Update:

Natalie's team is doing well.  They've had several games, and are probably not up to .500 for the season currently. We very seldom have all our girls at any given game. Last Saturday we had five girls total show up to play five positions. They were worn out by the end of the game.

U8 is still in the realm of what I call "magnet ball." Imagine that the ball is a magnet, and all the players are iron shavings. They are totally and irresistibly attracted to the ball. We have been able to keep two defensive players on the defensive side of the field for most of the game. The danger there is, they are usually chatting or daydreaming when the ball comes down toward the goal they are defending. That makes for exciting moments.

We have just three more weeks of soccer left to play. And no fall soccer, considering the girls' league plays only in the spring. So, we're going to enjoy it while we can.

The U10 Mutiny - First Practice

Kennedy's soccer team, the U10 Mutiny, had its first real practice this past Saturday. I say real, because we practiced Thursday, but only for about 30 minutes (it was super cold and a little bit rainy).

So, Saturday was not rainy, at least. It was a little cold. And a tad bit muddy.

I (Michael) am coaching the team. My first foray into coaching soccer; I was an assistant for Natalie's U6 team last spring. Of course, U6 coaching basically consists of a) tying shoe laces, and b) pointing them toward the correct goal every now and then. U10 is different. So, this season, I'm focusing on developing better technical skills primarily, and we'll do some basic tactical skills.

See, I've learned the lingo. In soccer, there are two categories of skills.

• Technical. I define these as what you do with the ball by yourself, or almost by yourself. Dribble, pass, shoot, throw-in, things like that.
  
• Tactical. This would be things like, learning positions on the field, expectations for each position (forward, midfield, back, keeper; left, right, center), finding open space, triangles and diamonds, types of attacks and defense, etc. 

Anyway, back to Kennedy's team. They are twelve very fun girls. If individual creativity is essential to soccer, and I think it is, then we have plenty of it. So, I'm looking forward to my first year as head coach of a girls soccer team.

This Tuesday's practice was a different story. It rained all day Monday and Tuesday, and let up just in time for practice. Take into account that our field is low and flat. No drainage. Basically, we practiced in 1 inch of standing water. Some places had grass and others didn't (mud). The girls had fun anyway, even if the balls didn't roll very well.

There was supposed to be practice today, but I cancelled it. Practicing in mud is fun, but you can only do so much with it. Saturday might be better. We'll see.

Game schedules are due out this weekend for both Kennedy and Natalie. I'll post those here, and you're welcome to visit us and see a great game!

The Red Fire - First Practice

Natalie had her first soccer practice this Tuesday. She plays on a U8 (under-8) team known as the Red Fire. Michael is the assistant coach, and the head coach is Steve Carlile, an Evansville police officer. His youngest daughter, Erin, is on the team.

The Red Fire is associated with the North Evansville Youth Soccer Club. The NEYSC is the third largest recreational club in Indiana, and has a great philosophy of fun soccer. As a testimony to their recreational philosophy, they have fielded a Girls' U19 division, the only U19 division in the state. These are girls who are not playing on a school team or a travel team, just playing for the fun of the game!

At practice, we did some warm-ups, then some individual dribble drills from line to line, and some passing drills, first stationary, then with movement from side to side up the line. We also did a 2 on 3 keep away drill to help with spacing and passing. Then, we practiced scoring goals with a simple cross ball drill, and finished up with a fun scrimmage.

Look for more updates about the Red Fire later this month. When the season begins in the first week of April, we'll have some game pictures to post.

And, look for updates about Kennedy's soccer team later this week. Her first practice is Thursday.