Coaching youth teams.

[usscouse]

We're playing the "Irish Fireballs" (Only in America :) ) today. They've already practiced their post match "Rah" as a loud "...BALLS".
We can always explain they didn't hear the fire... first.
I suppose it's better than Bollocks...!!!

We have one slight 'little' red head on the team whose mother had to correct my spelling of his name to Cilian. (Bloody quick little Mick.) I spelt it like the beer, "Killian"

[liverbird]

MiniLB's lot lost 2-1. He played right back in a 3-5-2 and neither of the goals came from his side. Actually he played well and it might've been 4 or 5 to 1 if not for him. My favorite was his professional foul on a striker getting past him that he made look like he clumsily fell to trip his opponent up. Didn't even get a yellow. But of course losing isn't ever much fun.

[usscouse]

But of course losing isn't ever much fun.No shit!
Glad miniL had a good game though.

My guys lost as well...!!! It was just Like the Liverpool match, we had 60% of the play, hit the woodwork a bunch of times, had the ball scrambled away and even got called offside by some young girl of a linesperson who just did not have a clue. The offside was our striker pushing the ball between 2 defenders and running on to it for a shot.....:mad:
The ref and I had a chat on the touchline about her waiting for him to make a decision before she indicated with her flag. The ref wanted me to stop telling her...

Lost 3-0 on a game we could have won but I could just tell we weren't going to...buggers!

[usscouse]

Sad story: The little Irish kid cilian came for his first game with us, he'd missed a lot of practice with a cracked bone in his foot so he was raring to go.

The whole family came out for the event and you know the way you look at a family and immediately say to yourself "They're (in this case) Irish" (Just like when I first met LB!) Dad and boy red heads, mother and daughter with that attractive colleen look. (They all have the accent to go with it.
He was given his strip, new red shirt, black shorts and all so proud of him.

We circle up stretch out and then our first warm up drill is "Fish in the middle" a circle with 2 guys in the center trying to get the ball.
The kids like the way we do it, I want them not to get caught with the ball and to move it as fast a possible, show off a bit as you move it around, one touch is good, control the ball make your passes count,

Cilian gets his first pass....and pressure....and pulls his groin...!!! He did look good on the bench in his new uniform though... Sad.

[stanaccrington]

Cilian gets his first pass....and pressure....and pulls his groin...!!! He did look good on the bench in his new uniform though... Sad.

Not related to a certain H Kewell is he?

[USvsIRELAND]

Not related to a certain H Kewell is he?

Hahahahahahahaha
:D

[usscouse]

Not related to a certain H Kewell is he?
I shouldn't have started with this thread....now I have porridge on the screen...bastid!

[usscouse]

Got an interesting match on Sunday. A team we scrimmaged against and managed a 1-1 draw with were beaten 17-1 by the team we're playing.

What fun.

[liverbird]

MiniLB's side won their last 4-0. He played on the right in a three man backline. Obviously did nothing wrong as they kept a clean sheet. Games on Saturday and Sunday this week.

[usscouse]

MiniLB's side won their last 4-0. He played on the right in a three man backline. Obviously did nothing wrong as they kept a clean sheet. Games on Saturday and Sunday this week.Good going, sounds like he's doing well.

My kids asked me about playing a three man back line at last practice. So I thought "Hey, they're thinking" then they said "With a sweeper....!"

So I got the board out and explained that the idea is to bring the United States into the 21st century with sawker.....Sweeper....Sheesh!

Actually I was thinking of playing the guys in a 3-5-2 for this match, or more of a 3-2-3-2. Two holding mids with the attacking 3 mids playing deep until we see how good this team is we're playing. Sort of:

Keeper
RB--------CB--------LB
RDM--------LDM
RWM--------AM--------LWM
RS------LS

[usscouse]

Since the last tounament were we went 1-1-1 with the three matches (and never got to the finals) We've gathered momentum. Won, what on paper looked tough one, last week 4-1
Then yesterday we played the team that has averaged double digits goals per match all season and beat us 6-zip last time out AND BEAT THEM...!!!!!

We slowed and disorganized them in the midfield, then broke them with the back 4, our keeper pulled of 4 wonderful saves. One was a horizontal left handed reach to push away a shot that had their bench on their feet ready to celebrate.
Then we took it to them in the last 20 minutes, forcing a series of corners and finally putting one away.

Their coach was class and full of compliments after his first defeat.

Our guys went home with shiteating grins......

[Twenty26Six]

Since the last tounament were we went 1-1-1 with the three matches (and never got to the finals) We've gathered momentum. Won, what on paper looked tough one, last week 4-1
Then yesterday we played the team that has averaged double digits goals per match all season and beat us 6-zip last time out AND BEAT THEM...!!!!!

We slowed and disorganized them in the midfield, then broke them with the back 4, our keeper pulled of 4 wonderful saves. One was a horizontal left handed reach to push away a shot that had their bench on their feet ready to celebrate.
Then we took it to them in the last 20 minutes, forcing a series of corners and finally putting one away.

Their coach was class and full of compliments after his first defeat.

Our guys went home with shiteating grins......

Those are the good days that make all the bad days worthwhile. :)

[usscouse]

How true...! :)

[usscouse]

Double header this weekend. One on Sat at 2 and the other on Sun same time.
Two teams we've lost to but should have won, we need to keep our winning ways of late going.

[Twenty26Six]

Our high school season was a small disappointment. We were division champions and sectional semi-finalists two years ago. Last year we were 7-2-3 in the league and finished tied for 2nd.

This year we had a returning team made mostly of juniors, two sophmores and one freshman. The main junior is a regional [North-East] ODP player and the freshman is also an elite travel player and local ODP player.

The boys were without a doubt the closest "team" group we have had in maybe 10 years. Every starter makes the rest to feel equal and they all pull for each other in the games.

We had a rough start to the season with a 4-3 OT loss in a preseason semi-final tournament. Playing some great soccer, but just not finishing chances [maybe they should wear red ;)]. We lost an All-area striker to graduation and haven't had anyone to fill that role.

We played are first few league games on par with or better than our opponents but could not convert chances. Once we were down 1-0 and pressed we were ripped open by the counter and punished for not having an experienced back-line.

Attacking team without a goal scorer and small/inexp. defenders... it doesn't matter how great our pass and move is with those circumstances at times.

We had a horrible rainy October and with the HUGE snowstorm WNY got, they cancelled the second half of the league season and we lost a chance at growing and redeeming ourselves. Going straight to sectionals we played a team that was in our division that we had lost to 4-3, after blowing a 3-0 lead.

The boys played their guts out and I was extremely proud of how they responded to going down 1-0, and 2-1, to tie at 2-2. Our second was a wonderful penetrating dribble by our NE Region 1 ODP player and holding mid. Very Gerrard-esque as he took it past a midfielder and defender to invade the 18. He drove it home with force and tied the game at 2-2, only a minute after THEY had gone up at the 75' mark and celebrated like they won the game.

By this time it was raining a torrential downpour and we came close 3 more times to win it in regulation, but came up short. Going into overtime we all felt confident, but a loose ball led to an open forward who smashed it toward goal. Our sophmore keeper tipped it away, but it landed in mud and did not roll around the far post. An opposing player got their first and slotted home. Golden Goal, Game Over.

The boys were destroyed for the most part. They all collapsed to the rain soaked pitch and were immediately in tears. You really got to feel for something like that. It's a shame that sometimes, the best kids you ever coach don't succeed.

It is a cliche, but this was the best 1-6-2 team I've seen. We could have easily been 5-2-2. I look forward to seeing most of them next year. 9 starters return. We only lose 1 CM and 1 FB, not a huge loss. If they continue to improve we will definitely have a good season next Fall.

[liverbird]

MiniLb finally moved up to striker. Got the second goal in a 3-1 win. Made another. Team finished in 4th in a ten team divison. Just missed promotion. A 2-1 loss on the opening weekend was the difference.

[usscouse]

It was a bitter sweet end of season Saturday for us. Sweet because we won our final match 13-0 (Yes you read it correctly) Thirteen to nil.
What made it extra sweet with cream and a cherry on top was the opposing coach was the head coach of the local high school. He was having the same sort of feelings knowing that the team that took his team apart will for the most part be on his roster for varsity next season.

I was following your comms on BS that morning and decided to play 3-5-2 myself. Taking my best center back and playing him in the right slot in the mid 5 and playing with 2 offensive mids behind the strikers in an M formation.

Goalie

Right back-----Centre back-----Left back

Right wing-------------holding mid------------Left wing
R off mid---------L off mid

Striker
-------striker----- (free floating)

The first 8 minutes brought us 4 goals, three from headers from the free striker, with the ball coming from the mids to wings and crossing. The 4th was the another cross with the goalie flapping the ball down to the Cale's feet, the same striker for his 4th.

Six at half time with the guys all stoked up so I took the back 3 and put them up front and the strikers and OM back to slow the tempo and the goals. Right away though, the Guy who was playing CB took off by himself after 2 loverly passes through the slots and gets 2 more goals... so I took him off to cool down!!!!

It was hard to keep them reined in so I passed the word on just take the ball and play keepaway along the half way line.

Anacortes, the team we were playing ,had beaten teams that we had lost to. We managed to beat them 3-1 last time out with just about the same players. So who knows maybe that 3-5-2 was the answer.

The high school coach came and congratulated the team later and asked me for a breakdown on the kids for his staff. The ref even came over and said what a change from the 'kick and run' he'd been reffing lately. Triangles is the answer!

The "Bitter" part was me announcing my retirement from coaching at the Pizza Fest later. All those young Mums where broken up about the thought of not seeing me yell at their kids next season (The only discipline they get!) If one should want to know, it was the thought of the young Mums on the sideline that's kept me in it for so long.

Nice way to end up the season...!

[usscouse]

The team was supposed to look like this

Goalie

Right back-----Centre back-----Left back

Right wing-------------holding mid------------Left wing
R off mid---------L off mid

Striker
-------striker----- (free floating)

My idiot Goalie had to go to hospital instead of the Pizza Party. He told us 'after the match' that he got into an argument the night before and punched a steel post instead of a guys face.
He said it felt broken when he did it a second time.

[CCSC_STRIKER20]

I haven't been able to follow this entire thread, but I might be getting into coaching this summer. What age groups do you all coach?

[Twenty26Six]

I haven't been able to follow this entire thread, but I might be getting into coaching this summer. What age groups do you all coach?

U-10 for both boys and girls at my local elite club.
Varisty and JV High School
Microsoccer [u8, u6]