My first year coaching thread

[fernb8]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by bungadiri
[B]
Speaking as the father of a (really wonderful) 16-year-old, I'd have to say this is absolutely par for the course. I think I've mentioned before in this forum that this age tends to be a watershed, developmentally (having a child go through this is enough to drive you to do research) and the kind of apparently irrational inconsistency you describe is typical.

Thanks bungadiri
Sometimes it is quite frustrating to keep my cool when dealing with some of these players. I think what bothers me the most is that they are the minority but they take up so much of my time with their antics. It is also quite frustrating to see their attitude rub off on others; if player A isnt trying then why should ?

I am trying to focus my enery on the majority of the players who respond to coaching and want to improve by working hard and learning. Hopefully their attitudes will rub off on the bad ones.

[Elroy]

[i]Originally posted by fernb8

I cant agree more, sometimes its just as bad for the lads to blowout a team as being blown out. I like Elroys idea of negative shooting, but after working on finishing for a week I think it would have been difficult to ask the lads to miss deliberately.

[/B]

It takes as much skill to miss narrowly as it does to place it where the GK can't reach it. Try it in practice. Good Luck!

Roy

[pething101]

I had six players today.

After getting beat 4-1 ... and not hearing from any of them that they would not be there, I had 6 players.

Really not happy about this.

[pething101]

Also. I have lost my number 10 to the varsity. He only plays about 20 minutes a game. Kind of blows b/c without him, I only have one sub. Hard to have any continuity when you are putting players in positions they have never played before during the game.

[pething101]

Also, starting to lose kids to "open basketball" ... a precursor to basketball tryouts.

[bungadiri]

Sounds like a tough situation to be in, coach. Unfortunately, maybe some of the guys were using soccer to get in shape for basketball. Without knowing how much leeway you've got to do stuff (such as revisit the possibility of smaller sided JV matches with your opponents), I'd try to make the rest of the season as fun and productive for the remaining JV team as possible, with the hope it will boost the number of kids trying out next year.

[pething101]

JV score

Southview 6
EE Smith 0

Pretty fair result.

Stopped at Wendy's about 45 minutes before kick off ... not my idea. Came out flat b/c of that. Did not challenge for anything. Played very timidly. Got on them at half time and gave a better effort.

Odd, most that have seen the school over the years say that my kids have done a bang up job and are very pleased with the things we have done on the field.

I just want these kids to have the feeling of a win once before this year is over.

[pething101]

Varsity score

Southview 8
EE Smith 0

No comment.

[pething101]

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story.php?Template=preps&Story=5162374

[bungadiri]

Thanks Pething.

[pething101]

Random observation ...

Varsity gets waxed 6-0, 9-0 and 4-0 ... yet people tell me that they are much better than how they have played. I keep wanting to ask what team have they been watching.

JV gets waxed by about the same margin, yet everyone that talks to me says that this is one of the better jv team in recent times. I shudder at what the other jv teams have been like in the past.

[soccernutter]

Who tells you this about your jv team being better then others in the past? If it is parents, it could be the level of enthusiam you give the team. That is really what shows at home with the players when they talk about the team.

[pething101]

Originally posted by soccernutter
Who tells you this about your jv team being better then others in the past? If it is parents, it could be the level of enthusiam you give the team. That is really what shows at home with the players when they talk about the team.

Actually, the school resource officer (deputy sheriff) who has been at the school for a while and followed the game while stationed in Italy.

Also, tonight, the ref's commented on how far we have come. Both had done a game earlier in the year and were impressed with our progress.

That said, we lost 5-2. A very unfair result. I thought 2-2 would have been more appropriate but we only played for 64 minutes of a 70 minute game and got punished.

[pething101]

Varsity finally got off the snide ... winning 4-3. Should have been a much more lop sided result.

[pething101]

God, I hate losing 6-0.

I just hate it.

We are inmproving yet the scoreline does not reflect it. We keep making silly stupid mistakes. And players dont show up for practice.

I am just sick of losing. Odd, the players dont seem to mind it too much.

[bungadiri]

Originally posted by pething101
God, I hate losing 6-0.

I just hate it.

We are inmproving yet the scoreline does not reflect it. We keep making silly stupid mistakes. And players dont show up for practice.

I am just sick of losing. Odd, the players dont seem to mind it too much.
Just out of curiosity, what kinds of mistakes are you seeing. Is there any consistency to them?

[panicfc]

Originally posted by pething101
God, I hate losing 6-0.

I just hate it.

We are inmproving yet the scoreline does not reflect it. We keep making silly stupid mistakes. And players dont show up for practice.

I am just sick of losing. Odd, the players dont seem to mind it too much.

They are expecting to lose, apparently that is the mentality that has been ingrained for the past few years.

"We suck, but not as much as the other teams"

[pething101]

Originally posted by bungadiri

Just out of curiosity, what kinds of mistakes are you seeing. Is there any consistency to them?

Purely on the defensive side of the ball. Charging in, not playing smart. No goal keeper for that particular match. You name it we got it.

[pething101]

Loss. To Terry Sanford.

11-1.

Lost two players before the game ... one, I booted off for school related problems, another b/c of injury.

Lost one player after the match after he quit.

Down to 12 players.

[pething101]

I better understand John Feinstein's, A Season on the Brink now.