Great game yesterday, if we only look at our performance. Incomprehensible the final score, 1-1. But that is why soccer is the most thrilling game ever. The structure of this sport, with the defensive phase overcoming the attacking phase of the opponent in 98% of cases as an average. makes the definite score more unpredictable than other sports, e.g. basketball, American football, hockey, volleyball, etc.
Well, 3 posts and more than 7 clear chances vs 2 goal opportunities for Dallas Kicks, should have caused the game to end in a different way. However, at this age the most important thing is to compete well, to do something extra in every game, grow as a soccer player and to add something to your team and individual soccer backpack.
What did we add yesterday to our teaching/learning process?
1. More agressiveness in the 50/50 balls
It was a shame that the referee did not have enough background and knowledge of the game of soccer to distinguish legal duels ( e.g. shoulder to shoulder or shielding the ball with your hips and legs, etc). As a result, the game was absolutely broken up. Lots of innecesary interruptions.
2. Defensive corners set pieces
We implemented a mixed marking (GK + 4 zonal marking players inside and one the top of the box + 3 individual markings also inside the box + 2 players ready for counterattacking and short plays). In upcoming posts I will breakdown the characteristics of each one.
The proof is in the pudding...
3. More Give and Go´s, Wall passes or One- twos
Mainly in the creation zone (middle third). Nevertheless, I am still waiting for one of those in between my 10-9, 8-9, 11-9, etc. in zones 13, 14 or 15 in order to break up their 4 back line and commit in a One-on-one with the keeper. I mean, some like below, enjoy!... ; D
What do we need to improve regarding yesterday´s game?
1. I am still waiting for my goal poacher
When the ball is in the penalty box the goal poacher comes alive. She scores goals in anyway she can. Her reading of the game allows her to get in exactly the right place to make the most of every chance. Speed of mind and body in the penalty area is the key to the goal poacher´s art. Be first to the crosses, through balls and rebounds.
When 04 White find this player (probably is growing inside one of you) we will start winning 4-0, 5-0, etc. Life will be easier and the sunshine will be amazing (Sarcastic Mode on).
Ladies and gentlemen, ntroducing "Miss Everything I Touch Goes Back to the Net".
2. Diagonal runs in attack
The modern forward is fit, fast and ever alert. She has to be. During every game she makes countless runs but gets the ball only a small percentage of the time. Diagonal runs are one of the most clever ploys in the game. The striker moves across the field in front of the defense to stay onside, taking her marking with her. Then, with perfect timing, she darts forward diagonally. As the ball is played into space, she meets it with a speedy run.
3. Finishing into the far post. Finishing with Accuracy
Yesterday we had 3 or 4 clear chances from wide of the goal that we missed because we did not pick the correct shooting technique. As a reference, most of the time you do not need power to finish a goal opportunity, you just need to open your hips and with inside your foot place the ball low and far from the goalie...let´s say to the far post!
Overall, great game.
- Which of these tips are you going to focus on over the next few weeks?
- What else did you think you did well during the game individually? And as a team?
- What other suggestions do you have for how you can improve your individual performance?
How about the overall team´s performance?
Buenas noches, munchkins. I am so proud of EACH and EVERY one of you!
Coach Pablo.
Diagonal runs and finishing to the far post
ReplyDeleteI think I had pretty good passes and as a team we worked together very well
What I can improve is my finishing skills and as a team we can work on getting forward
I want to work on anticipating when the other team will pass and intercept the passes.
ReplyDeleteAlso getting into the box more to take shots and score.
Another thing I will work on is doing more 1 2's with the people around me to work the ball until we have a chance to score.
-Alexis
Diagonal runs and shooting to corners
ReplyDeleteI think I had ok passes and as a team we were good on defense and I can improve my work effort and as a team we need to work on going forward
This is Claire.
ReplyDeleteIn the next few weeks I will focus on picking the correct shooting technique and making more diagonal runs. I think I did well at creating opportunities during the game (need to finish) and battling 50/50 balls. As a team, I think we did a good job building up through the midfield and maintaining possession. I also think I need to continue to work on my first touch, giving angles, finishing without panicking and speed of play. As a team, I think we need to increase the intensity and speed of play. As an example our give and go's are usually not fast enough.
Making runs and finishing shots. I think my passes were ok. As a team we did good on defense. I can I'm prove my work effort. As team we can work on finishing
ReplyDeleteThis is Tatum.
ReplyDeleteI will focus on shooting in the far corners,and having more accurate shots. Also, I am going to work on my diagonal runs with a purpose. I think I did well at giving angles of support to my teammates. As a team we did a GREAT job at give and go's, and 50/50 balls. We were aggressive and ball hungry. I also think I will keep developing at my speed of play. I can anticipate the play faster to help the team. As a team we need to work on the arc more because we lost it and we need to work on finding a layoff to shoot.
Tatum
ReplyDeleteI will work on my accuracy for my shots and the speed of play in which I do. I also need to work on my diagonal runs with a purpose. I think I did well with giving angles of support to my teammates. As a team I think we did good at anticipating their passes and intercepting their balls. Also we had good give and gos I also need to work on battling the 50/50 balls and becoming a more aggressive player. As a team we need to look for layoffs instead of one touch shots.
This is Sarah Bates.
ReplyDeleteThe next few weeks I will work on my quick and easy passes to create scoring opportunities and making diagonal runs to get open on the side lines. As a team I think that we did really well creating the scoring opportunists. We had really good possession in the midfield and on the outside with the wingers. I think I did really god at getting the 50/50 balls that were within reach and not being as afraid of the ball as much. I can work on my speed dribbling down the sidelines and not losing the ball. That will help us keep possession. I think the team can work on finishing more accurately so we get more goals. We can also work on fakes to move a defender so that we can dribble around them.
I think we did VERY well and I enjoy playing with each and everyone of you!
This Is Mack
DeleteI think i need to work on being a goal poacher and going to win those 50/50 balls. If you watch professional soccer you will sometimes see a box pop up about the percent of possession each team had. If we had that i would say we would get about 92%. Basically what I'm saying is our possession was spot on and every time we lost the ball we won it back immediately with determination and no hesitation. Personally I feel I did very well at calming the play down when we got freaked out and giving good passing angle to players who had the ball. I'm not trying to say nobody else did these things and if you feel this statement is untrue please tell me personally what you think I should work on. As a team i think we need to work on obviously scoring more goals, but also we have a tendency to think the defenders are just going to let us go through easily. We don't start off strong and hungry for a win, we get that way once we lose the ball a few times. We need to leave those fields with our tongues on the floor as Pablo would say.
We all did very well on Saturday and when you get the chance stop Anna and thank her. That was a huge favor to ask of her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the next few weeks, I will work on my speed of play and learning new skills to use while playing. During the last game I think I was good at using the arch to switch and keeping the defense in one line. As a team, I think we did well winning 50/50 balls once we lost it. We didn't lose the ball and wait for the other team to make a mistake to intercept, we would press right away and gave depth if needed. As an individual, I think I should work on my dribbling and confidence when on the ball. When I get the ball, if I have the chance to in a game, I will try to dribble. For as the whole entire team, I think we need to work on better communication, and weaving in and out of the other team, basically just doing one twos. I think if we all work really hard and accomplish what we said, we can become the best in the division and possibly move to division 1. We already have amazing talent as individuals and as a team, but I still think there is more talent to be uncovered!!!!
ReplyDeleteIn the next few weeks, I think I should work on my speed of play and learning new skills for when on the ball. I think I did well with switching the ball through the arch and keeping the defense in one line. As a team, we all did well with winning 50/50 balls. Once we lost the ball, we wouldn't wait for the other team to make a mistake we would press right away and give depth if needed. I will also work on being confident on the ball. I will do this, so when playing if I get the ball, and have a chance to, I will try to dribble people. As a whole entire team, I think we all need to work on communicating, running to the ball when we get passed to, and weaving in and out of the other teams players, basically make o twos and threes. I think as a team if we work on all these thing we said we are going to work on, we could be the best in the division and possibly move up to division 1, there is still a chance. As a individual and team, we have amazing talent, but I still think there is more talent to be uncovered to make us even better!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAva
This is Paige
ReplyDeleteIn the next few weeks,I will work on my scoring accuracy on corner kicks. I also think that as a team we need to start looking and crossing the ball to the other side. I believe if we do this we will score a lot more goals. And as for me, I think I covered well in the back and as a team we talked really well.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS!
This is in remembrance of Johan Cruyff. He died March 24, 2016.
ReplyDeleteCruyff was known for his technical ability, speed, acceleration, dribbling and vision, possessing an awareness of his team-mates' positions as an attack unfolded.
He was the incredible guy who created the Cruyff turn if you hadn't figured that out.
This is a video link showing how great his skills were.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Srx8rZc1jcs&ebc=ANyPxKqu5D8S9J3yDU5Q292xxvrPr8IygiHdmn3kefz5u7PWlULZx3vhgRD5aHvXFyIJmY_9Y-mPQN4TYGXlV4gYCgMXmdPeDQ
We should all work on this urn in memorization toward this brilliant soccer player.
Hannah Elliott
ReplyDeleteIn the next few weeks I am going to focus on being consistently aggressive. Fighting for the ball all the time and not giving up. Keeping my mind in the game at all times and anticipating passes and plays. Last game I hustled throughout the whole game. I had a faster transition from offense to defense. As a team I think we positively communicated well and played a lot faster. I think that I can improve my throw ins, keeping my feet on the ground and getting the ball thrown out faster. I think as a team we need to work on faster and harder passes, by communicating to one another.