LMSC Weekly

'Boks and 'Boys 

No Subs?  No Problem...Err...

An exciting weekend for both sides.

Both teams played without subs and it's very interesting the way the games played out.  Unsurprisingly, given that the physical talent (strength, speed and size) were fairly well cancelled out, both LMSC sides jumped out to first half leads of 4-0 and 2-1.  The second periods were similar too; the boys gave up three...then a PK for intentional handling of the ball (had CJ not grabbed it, it was going in.  Tough choice...) and the automatic red card.  Once down a man, the Quick Boys conceded one more...despite having a couple chances to re-take the lead after the PK.  The girls found themselves in a similar boat.  They lost the second half 2-1, with the second goal coming against us while we were also down a player due to a touch of overheating/dehydration.

In the end, a 3-3 draw for the girls was a pretty solid result against a good team of players with many subs.  Similarly for the boys, losing 5-4 (on a long road trip...) to a team with subs, while enduring a red card and a fraudulent second goal shows quite a bit of grit, even if the final result is a bit of a shock after a fine first period.



Defending...

But what takeaway is there that matters beyond the results?  For the 'Boks, the defensive effort and energy level was far more befitting matchday levels.  However, the emphasis on defending will continue, as players continue to tackle with a kick rather than stepping between ball and opponent and taking possession.  One area that is clearly uncomfortable is when the opponent is running at our goal with the ball...there is a distinct lack of comfort with stepping across her path to take the ball.  Understandable as this leaves the defender with the ball at her feet, running toward her own goal with an opponent draped across her shoulders!  But in time, we'll learn that this beats the alternative, the ever-disastrous poke-challenge and/or attempt to reach out a boot and pull the ball away from the attacker.  Both end up, almost every time, right back on the attacker's foot, and usually with the defender even further out of position.

Of course, as the opposing coach made quite clear, the physical nature of proper defending does appear over-the-top to the uninitiated.  To be very clear, I have never asked for LMSC players to use hands/arms or unnecessary contact.  However, as some families may have noticed on Sunday, it's not just the coaches: the ref actually asked Caroline and the Haverford player marking her on a set piece to stand apart from one another.  Now, we've all seen refs barking at players on the TV during corners and set pieces, but that hardly stops the contact...it may stop the pushing and grabbing, but not the other, legal, contact, bumps and so forth.  But this is the culture that has to change in youth soccer.  More on proper 1 v. 1 defending here in another post.

Fitness, Subs, & Technical Skill

With as much certainty as is reasonable, had both teams had three subs over the weekend, we win both games.  But more importantly, our level of play drops off much less, and the moments of really nice football we saw much of in the first halves continue to appear (at a higher rate, anyway) in the second halves.  But, lest we take our eye off the brass ring...

You won't catch me wasting time on fitness with our kids.  For one, to get them to the point where they can play 60 minutes with no subs would take a heck of a lot more than two days training per week.  Two, it's a further waste of time to take away those precious training minutes for fitness over technical skill.  Remember, in all likelihood, 18 out of the 22 (23 with Jordan, our new girl) are at the end of the window in their lives where learning new skills is closing.  A couple of these kids are slower on the developmental end, or just have a longer window for some reason, and will be able to continue to pick things up easily, but most kids lose that edge at age 12/13.  Fitness is pretty easy...run hard four days per week for 20-30 minutes along with a solid training regimen on the field and a game a week, and fitness pretty much takes care of itself.  It's not like being fit at 12 means someone will be faster, or fitter, or stronger at 18.  Fitness has more to do with the genetic material than any other aspect of sport...no need to specifically spend time on it with immature bodies.

More subs...?  Hey, if there is a kid on these teams who'd prefer to not play, I haven't met them yet.  So while we can expect to be at a disadvantage score-wise when playing teams with more players, those precious game minutes are maximized for each of our players.  Even if we have "all" three (four for the 'Boks, eventually) subs, most teams seem to carry more than that.  And the LMSC kids still don't spend very much time on the pine.  So that's a wash, too.

And, if games like this past weekend's bring a higher degree of competitive fire to our players, now that they realize no lead is safe, well, that's a very positive development, too.  Staying focused on execution no matter how far ahead we are is important; finishing every chance we can muster in front of goal; and seeing games off under fire are all skills players must develop.  Tough to watch the kids give up big leads and lose to teams that we're pretty clearly better than, but every moment is a teachable one.  Games like these offer much to hold the player's attention.

Play Of The Weekend

Not just because it ended with a goal, but because it was a perfect summation of everything I have been asking the players to produce.  The QBs defended a move by the opponent, with the ball ending in Max's hands (big kudos to Max, Isabella and Ellie, by the way...a really good trio of team players who put in great efforts in goal).  Max was composed and patient, threw a terrific pass out to Alex Kades on the right wing, who turned, and found Jed Burde, the forward, checking back toward him.  Alex played the ball into Jed's feet, and Jed (showing remarkable discipline...I ask this from all my forwards, and it really is so much more difficult in practice than theory!) took a touch, and just dropped the ball back to Alex in a simple 1-2.  Alex did as we have talked about in pre-game and training, and ran the ball down the flank, beating his marker, and serving a ball across the penalty area.  Cole Sanchez, our left mid, came hauling in from his far-side position with perfect timing, and unselfishly touched the ball back into the middle to CJ Ransome, the center mid who had run forward into the space cleared by Jed when he received the ball from Alex way back at mid field.  CJ buried the chance for a wonderful team goal.

Remember this, loyal fans: while we take, quite happily, the goal from a direct rush, most of our goals feature an assist (of the 7 LMSC goals this weekend, 5 were assisted or created from combinations).  U12s tend to score on raw speed or really catastrophic defending (think about the two goals against the LMSC Fire, 'Boks, and how our GKs pretty much rolled the ball out to their attacker!) That our teams score team goals, not all like the one described above, but many, is a pretty firm indicator that not only have we the players with the speed and brains to get in front of goal, but the teamwork to actually create such opportunities.  No one should turn their nose up at the importance of that distinct trait these teams are exhibiting.  Even if it means that we take some lumps here and there.

The REFS

Some bad calls.  'Nuf said.

But more importantly, these guys and gals see a lot of soccer.  And while I certainly won't cede that they know overmuch of that which they speak, there have been a couple themes that I am proud to have heard about several times.  Both sets of officials this past weekend, as well as officials going back to Labor Day, have made a point to say to me that the team played "the right way."  Mind you I don't much advocate for "the right way" but the the point is, well, gratifying.  We've been complimented for our ball movement, the lack of punting, running off the ball, even the players communication (which I laughed at...whooee have we got work to do in that department!).  It is a great credit to the players that they play hard, do things together, and have very good spirits on the field; we haven't yet seen an LMSC player cross the line from good, hard soccer to foul conduct either physically or verbally, and that's a mark in the "win" column in my mind.  They will...but they haven't yet.  Every player crosses that line sooner or later.  Hopefully just the one time.

Of course, it's a lot easier for them to be so gracious when our sideline (fans and coach) aren't having hissy fits over every little call.  Yes, those calls all matter (see the discussion above re: the QBs second goal conceded!) and I do chat quite a bit with the refs throughout the game.  So far, I can say the fans have done themselves proud in their conduct, and I encourage that to continue.  It truly does make my job easier...and more importantly, my work more effective with your kids!

Lastly, as the boys left the ground Saturday, the coach of the next team to play stopped by to tell me that he was roundly impressed with our play.  I've never met him, didn't even get his name at the time...but he certainly didn't owe us that compliment, and I was very proud that our boys, though exhausted and frustrated and under siege, never stopped trying to play good football and conducted themselves with dignity throughout the trials of that second period.  A proud moment for me, and I hope, for the parents/families/fans.