Sunday, March 29, 2009

Great week

Hey girls,

Terrific week. We really got forward, and as Coach said, if we have two center midfielders scoring 6 goals, we are certainly getting them involved. Our outside midfielders should had a few themselves, including the sanctimonious soccer star who just couldn't find the net. I was also really impressed with the defense. Granted, it was not the most difficult of circumstances, but we picked up the shut - out, marked our opponents, and continued to witness improvement in our communication and coordination. Kylie, Katie plus ten, and the Catillionaire herself did a commendable job when we substituted our entire defense out.

I can't wait for next week. We need to continue this going forward. St. Catherine plans on shouting forth thirty more Hail Mary's in order to get her goal. Dominica the Destroyer, L-Box, J-Hutch, and Margaradinho are also itching for a chance to join the already extensive score sheet we have compiled. Fun for all!

On a more serious note, Kangaroo poaching is no laughing matter. Loose and ineffectual regulations regarding hunting practices, combined with a global soccer community's avarice for kangaroo leather on their shoes, have effectuated the decimation of many kangaroo populations. Most of our soccer cleats are manufactured with kangaroo leather. I hereby reject further purchases of kangaroo leather, and will instead pursue alternative synthetic man-made leathers. I have seen the light. Will you?

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Owls Go Forward Again, take Quantico 8-0

Great game yesterday team. We dominated from start to finish and came away with a very convincing conference win. We are a good team.

Izzy celebrated her birthday with a delightful hat-trick which complimented another hat-trick from mid-field partner Diane. Six Goals out of the central midfield is truly going forward. Demee chimed in with her first goal of the season and Savanah popped in number 2. Good stuff, front runners.

We played an eager, but outmatched team and we didn't let them hang around. In our rush to score goals however, we tended to be sloppy at times. We tried to force a few that were not there. We need to work on build-up and possession for times when our mistakes, and we made some, will be punished. We need to play with daring discipline. The passing was not nearly as crisp as against PJPG.

Congrats Maxx, on your first shut-out of the season.

Overall, a great outing. We play home on Monday. Remember the white shirts. 2-0. Good stuff!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Going Forward to a 4-1 victory

We scored the first goal of the game!

Great stuff yesterday in the Opening Game. For most of match we were in control of the ball and playing popcorn soccer. Right off the bat it was pop pop pop over-the-top GOAL!

We started going forward right from the opening kickoff and took the ball over the top to Savanna to grab a quick 1-nill lead. Diane and Izzy took control of the ball in mid-field and spotted the oportunity and delivered a brilliant ball to Savanna, which she calmly drilled between the posts for a quick lead.

PJPG, like all good teams, came storming back, and quickly knotted the score at 1. The equalizer came off an early mistake in the back and a scintillating top 90 strike from the PJPG midfielder. Maxx Rice, opening in goal, had no chance on the shot. 5 minutes in and it looked like a shoot-out was erupting, both teams going forward and scoring great goals.



Then Izzy and Diane began to dominate the central mid-field. Catherine and Gracie opened the wings. The five mid-fielder alignment simply dominated possession and carried the game to offensive third with sharp quick touch passes that only great goal keeping and good defening held off. On our second corner kick at 22 minutes (looked like a Brazil) Gracie cleaned up a rebound off a Demee strike for a 2-1 lead which we carried to the half. The pace was fast and furious and our conditioning began to tell on the other team. It is hard to chase and our passing and skills kept PJPG doing just that. The possession sessions on the training field were paying dividends.

The second half brought more of the same. Our defenders started to control the back line, learning to organize themselves as the match progressed. Alex directed them brilliantly, like Wellington at Waterloo, and we turned back some early pressure from PJPG. Sarah performed magnificently in the back, often bringing the ball forward with devastating effect. The mid-fielders came back to defend well providing double teams to the ball. Our second defenders took over very well when the initial defender was beaten. Katie came into the game to play in the goal and made some creditable saves, though the defenders keep her from being seriously tested.

After weathering PJPG's attemts to push forward early in the second half our mids took back the game for us and again dominated possession. The outside mid-fielders in both halves opened up very well and brought the ball into the center with crushing effect. Only great goal-keeping kept PJPG in the game. Diane took the game into her hands, which great players so often do, and got the ball to Gracie for a great goal and a 3-1 cushion. Diane then frosted the cake with nice goal, with help form Liza Wood. The final score of 4-1 was a fair result.

We played a good team, with two matches already played, and yet we dictated play almost from the start. That is what good teams do, especially to other good teams.

We have things to work on, however. We are still getting used to each other in the back, and that will improve as we train together. Our starting backline had only two training sessions on the field with each other and they developed a repor as the game wore on. Training will help that. So will playing in the games. Remember, when we have the ball everyone attacks. When they take possession EVERYONE defends.

We had great fluidity of motion today and the whole team moved together which is why everything seemed to work. Only once did PJPG come in on goal free. Alex did a great job directing things in the back which is what a central defender needs to do. There was some confusion at times but that will happen. We need to make it happen as little as possible.

We also need to work on our through balls on the grass. The over-the-top ball was working today so we might have stayed with it a bit too long. A great note from my point of view, is that we did not dribble much through the mid-field but passed and passed and passed. We made some great grass passes to the touchlines and we need more of thoses. We also need to make the other team defend centrally. Our front runners need to stay a bit more central and start making diagonal runs from off the ball through the heart of the penalty area. We will play keep away keep away keep away.

A great opening victory!

First Star- Diane and Izzy
Second Star-Gracie
Third Star-Sarah, Alex

Again, a great opening victory. We now have a chance to win two in a row.....lets do it!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Monday Training



We are backj and we have the opening match tomorrow against JPII, I am excited and anticipation bulids everywhere. This should be fun

Training today is important. We need to train hard.

3:45-4:00 Warm Up get yourselves warmed up.

4:00-4:20 Passing games

4:30-4:45 full field keep away (two touch max)

4:50-5:30 Set Plays
Kickoffs
Throw-ins
Free-Kicks (dfk-ifk)
Corner Kicks

I hope everyone noticed that a game was added to the schedule on Friday of this week against Quantico. We have three matches now this week--Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. We should be fit by the end of the week:). This is a tough opening week but it is the hand we were dealt. Go FOs!

PS DC United scored a 2-2 tie yesterday against the LA Galaxy away. Their home opener is Saturday night at RFK.

The Washington Freedom, DC's women pro team opens their season March 29 in LA. Maybe we can get together and watch the games.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Message from the Coach



I hope that you enjoyed this little video blurb. I would like to do more and more of this if I can. The whole world is communicating in new and imaginative ways. Go Wakefield School!

Remember that we open the season on Tuesday. This should be a real test for us especially since our fitness may present a challenge to us. We need to play through it. Lace them up for 80 minutes.

Booge

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Scrimmage

Great effort yesterday girls....it was fun watching you guys play. Booge is 100% right - if we play with five in the middle, our outside mids have to - I repeat HAVE TO - stay wide. The alternative is a constant traffic jam in the middle of the field. It was good to finally get the defense to play together - AH - you have to accept the fact that you are going to have to bring the volume frequently in getting your defense to roll with the gameplan. All in all, a great start and something we can build on.

David

Good Stuff in the Full Sided


Good stuff on the field yesterday. We scored goals. We possessed the ball well when we were fresh. We talked to each other and learned how we play together. We owned the midfield which is critical to going forward.

The front runners have to play more central. We have five midfields so much of our outside support will be provided by them. Outside inside is our game. We would love the ball in the middle of the field but we need space for that to happen, which is why we play the ball outside on the attack. We also need to change the field to help create space for our central midfielders.

The defenders were not really tested. Remember to not panic when under attack. Wild clears do not help us. Use the midfielders. Midfielders play back to the ball. Cooperate with each other.

For most of yesterday we had three around the ball which is positive. If we continue to play like we did yesterday we will continue to improve. Play hard. We are not game fit yet. It showed towards the end of yesterday. We need to increase our speed of play. As you move up levels in this game, the speed of play is what separates the great teams from the good teams.

We did well on the corner kicks. We scored one goal off the corners. We had shots off some of the others. Super Duper:)!!

One last note, Katie was brilliant in the goal!!!


Booge and Dave

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Full sided today.....




The shooting training yesterday went very well. We have some scorers on the team. Scoring is the greatest feeling on the soccer field. Scoring against Highland may be the greatest feeling you will have this year!

Remember that our goal is for every team member to put one in the back of the net during a match. Take care of the ball, keep it away from the other team, and go forward. We will score goals if we do that.

Remember the corner kick calls. England-back post, Italy-out side the goal box, Brazil-top of the penalty area and of course SUPER DUPER!!!!!!

I am sorry that I forgot the "kewl" down skipping yesterday. Ring around the Rosey was also missed by David and me. Do not let me neglect it today!!

We will try to combine forces with the MS A team today and go full sided for about an hour. This will allow us to solidify our thinking about an initial eleven for the opener on March 24, 2009. Start spreading the word. We want a crowd there!!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

GoalKeeper Solution??


Friday was a great training day. The team pictures should be wonderful and I cannot wait to see them. I will email the individuals to you all as quickly as I can. Moving to the fields we looked great training in the unis.

The passing drills worked very well. We have good touch on the ball. Remember, however, no "hospital passes". Strike the ball with authority and get it to the receiver. It is the receiver's task to collect the ball. Make that task as simple as possible with good crisp passes. WE SHOULD ALL BE ABLE TO MAKE A 10-15 yard "daisy cutter" pass one or two touches. Practice it whenever you can with a friend whenever you can. Nothing will make a better team. Make the other team chase the ball!!!

We trained with field change passess on Friday. We can execute them. We did it pretty well in the drill. Please try it in field play. A field change pass is to an area on the field where play is not taking place. It is really a pass to space which we will talk about some more next week.

We may have found a goalkeeper. Katie had a wonderful day in the big net Friday afternoon. Her goal kicks were strong and she made several significant saves. I was sure that Izzy's free strike was going in top corner but Katie got there somehow. Brilliant!!

Everyone played well in full field. We made mistakes for sure, but we always contested the ball, and shared well all over the field. DL's rocket shot almost ripped my hand off. Defenders played well and the midfield was always contested. When players lost the ball everyone on their team, for both sides, played hard to get it back. We are starting to approach game fitness.

It was wonderful to get Alex Holcomb and Savanna Booth-Enoch on the field with us. Very solid players. Keep training hard and we will be a good team. Play as fast as you can!

Keep training hard and we will be a good team. Play as fast as you can!

Booge and Dave


ps Dave will be making his own entries now that I have invited him to the be an author of the Blog. I apologize for the delay.

pps The photo is just a random one I found on-line. I thought it showed the beautiful athleticism of our game.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Outside is great

We trained very well today and discovered several strenths and weaknesses about ourselves. I loved the feel of grass under the ball and we all played very hard for 70-80 solid minutes. Another week of this kind of sustained effort and we will approach game fitness levels. Fitness is worth a goal or two against anyone especially in late minutes of a match.

Continue to play with the joy and dedication that you demonstrated today and we will truly have an extraordinary football season whatever our wins and losses record. Thank you to everyone for sharing what you know about this beautiful game that we play with each other and with me.

Remember today is picture day. Come to the computer classroom to pick up a uniform. I would like everyone to come at noon (right afterschool) so we can distribute the unis and settle all of the number issues. I am sure it will not be a problem. I guess I am not used to women sizes but they look very small.

Still looking for a goalkeeper.

Booge and Dave

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Great Trainning Session Today

Great Training Session today girls. We started to fall in love with the ball today. Great dancing, great shuffling, great dribbling, and most of all great play in the Upper Gym. Tomorrow we may have our five team-mates back from the Basketball tourney and that will give us 16 players.

We have skills out there. Diane had a great day and lived up to her hype. She is the real deal! Izzy is as smooth as silk on the ball and should prove herself to be a wonderful partner to eveyone on the team. Everyone did something good out there this afternoon and everyday we need to do more. Demi and Catherine did lots of good things in attack zone. Julie and Katie were strong defending. Jesse and Nia made their presence felt. Max stood strong several times which promises to help us a great deal. Sarah was good on both sides of the ball and played hard out there. Margaret showed some signs of samba football several times. Coach M helped a lot, doing things, demonstrating things, helping us all at every turn.

The Ball, The Ball, The Ball is our emphasis this week. We are scheduled for the Lower Gym tomorrow afternoon so we will most likely not be able to have an inside venue. Depending on the weather we may be able to go outside. Let us meet in the Lower Gym at 3:45. We will then decide what to do. Please dress for outside play. Cleats, should be worn, if we go outside, sneakers if we stay inside.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Futsal in the Upper Gym


Hi team

The snow ruined our kickoff on Monday and tomorrow the snow will keep us inside. We have gym time from 4:40 through 5:45. We are in the upper gym. Please remember to bring sneakers for playing on the gym floor.

We will play 5 v 5 futsal games. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futsal . We will warm up together where ever we can find space. Remember to wear your shin guards. Don't forget red and white t-shirts. Remember that Friday is picture day.

Somebody remind people who have not sent me an email to do so.

Do not forget your sneakers!!

C

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Day 1 !!!

Hi everyone,

Monday is the first day. We should all be very excited to get back on the pitch for a new season. Coach Metcalf and I are looking forward to playing with you all and developing a great team spirit. When we win we will do so with grace and if we lose, we will lose with dignity. This game reveals character and I am sure our virtues will shine through.

Tomorrow will be cold. Dress warmly. Be sure to bring a water bottle. I suggest a gallon plastic bottle which you can use over and over again. Even when it is cold, you need to hydrate. Please also bring running shoes in case we are forced inside by the weather conditions. We will try to play some futsol if we have to stay inside.

Remember the Blog-- http://wsws-coach.blogspot.com . I will try to update it everyday. The mail list will also be a primary source of information. I am so excited to be a part of your program. We are going to have a great time.

Everyone who comes out will be part of the team. We have 12 players who have sent me emails. More would be nice.

The schedule is on the Wakefield Webpage, http://www.wakefieldschool.org . I will get it up on the blog as soon as I can. I am not sure if it is final yet. We open March 24, 2009 against John Paul the Great at home. Lets get ready!

Remember, Go forward, Go Forward. Go Forward!

Coach C