First I want to thank Robert at the PRF for all his help.
For me this was a great weekend. After a month of training I was real anxious to see our teams play and see first hand where we are as a club. One thing I've learned in youth soccer is that when things are going well they are never as great as they seem and when they aren't going well it usually isn't as bad as it seems. I approached the weekend with that in mind and with the understanding that ODP and Spring Break had a negative effect on our rosters.
We had to scramble a bit with a couple roster to make sure we could have enough players due to so many being out of town. I am proud of the club's ability to support itself and make sure each team that applied would be able to play versus forfeit.
Report Card - For the players
(1) effort/competitiveness - I look at this on three different levels - (1) working hard/smart; (2) willing to work hard, but not understanding how; and (3) lazy. I was generally pleased with the player's effort. Our kids did work hard. Because of our roster sizes for the weekend, fatigue definately was a factor, but it was only because they had worked so hard early in the tournament. That said it is our responsibility to continue to push our players in training and teach/show them what maximum effort is and what it feels like.
(2) technical competence - like any club or team, the results here were mixed. The goups I've been able to work with in training the least are the U9 & U10's. I was very pleased with the skill they exhibited. Now they must learn to perform those skills under pressure of time/space/opponent. Player need both quality training and the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a quality game.
The reason the Buckeye Premier League and then the Midwest Regional League and now the US Soccer Development Academy Leagues were formed is to provide that higher level of soccer. I am really excited about the soon-to-be-launch U9-U10 Academy League because it will allow us to more frequently place our players in competitively appropriate matches. As coaches we will be able to manipulate the environment to ensure kids are challenged more consistently. That combined with the skills they have and are learning in training are critical to player development. The current U9 and U10's won't have the benefit of the league so we will continue to be creative in finding competition to challenge them. I really like the decision made at U10 to forgo playing in a league this spring and simply seek out quality competition for friendlies and play in an extra tournament.
The U11-U14 age groups were a bit more mixed. As a club it is important for us to place an even greater emphasis on technigue for these teams. I was pleased with their effort and desire, now it is our responsibility at OESA to give them the tools.
(3) small group principles - There is a direct correlation with what I saw relative to principles of play and what I saw regarding technique by the players. It's easier to be aggressive with the dribble if you have the skills to be successful more often than not. If a player's first touch is quality, it gives him the opportunity to find support and for his teammates to actually get to in a supporting position. The challenge for any coach is to continue to develop all players on the team relative to their abilities. Most teams have a wide range of skill and understanding within their players. We are no different. What is unique about OESA is that I do not view our program as a collection of teams, rather we are a club of players. Therefore, we must create a training and playing environment that works toward the individual player within the framework of the team.
Now if Mother Nature will finally cooperate with us!
