We covered mechanics of striking the ball, defensive covering (how to play defense and keep a guy from the other team from being able to get the ball)
and, once again, positions.
While I had us moving too slowly through the drills, I think the boys did a great job getting what we were up to - and it's only going to go more smoothly as practices go along since we will be doing these (and other drills) and the scrimmages will always be like tonight's. What makes the scrimmages a little more challenging is that we
switch positions every couple of minutes: the keeper moves to right back, the right back moves to stopper (up front and center), the stopper moves to left back, the left back moves to keeper, etc. Please keep in mind these are all defensive positions and form what is known as a diamond defense. During games, we will be playing the diamond defense with two strikers (also wings, forwards, attackers, etc).
Soccer is a defensive game, so we will focus on defensive structure. (Soccer defenses have to be organized and hold their positions - so this is the most important thing for the boys to learn. Soccer offenses are less of a team issue and more based on individual skill, creativity, hustle and scrappiness - so it's less important for us to try to teach offense as much as encourage it at the right time.)
Our primary focus of the Shooting Stars' coaching staff this season is to teach the boys about positions. I ask all of you parents to talk to your guys about the positions to see if they understand what they are supposed to be doing when playing each position (let's focus on the defensive positions since this is what we're playing during the scrimmages: keeper, sweeper, left or right back and stopper). Please explain this to them if they aren't sure, or let me know so we can explain it to you and your little guy. The more the boys have a clue about where they are supposed to be in any position, the more they will have fun (since I think the biggest barrier to enjoying any team sport is not individual skills as much as having a sense of playing your position).
While we are going to "bring it in" numerous times during practice, I encourage parents to come listen to the comments during our first team gathering at every practice (when the boys take a knee and make a semi-circle) since that's when we talk about what we are going to cover during the practice.
Please let your boys know as well that we will single out players for making good passes and playing their positions more than we will give them props for scoring goals or making showy plays. I was most impressed tonight, for example, by Malcom since he put thought and effort into striking the ball with his left foot as well as his right foot even when I was not pressing him to do so.
I saw excellent stuff from every single Shooting Star, so I think we're going to develop great team skills this season.
Our next game is once again at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, so please try to have your guys to Twin Brooks at 10:15 a.m.
Coach Dan
239-7292
www.cnyushootingstars.
