Girls/Parents,
Thanks for a good weekend.  If I were to judge this weekend on what we've spent the most time working on, then it was a success.  And that was possession out of our backfield, and switching fields out of our backfield.  Our defense did a very good job in this.  Their spacing was very nice.

Game 1:
We played with very little effort the first half of the first game.  We were thinking too much and not simply playing the game.  We were keeping possession more than the other team, but we were keeping it too much on the wrong half of the field!  They were pressing us hard, and we continued to want to "play to feet", when we had opportunities to play a little more direct, and play some "through balls" into space for running strikers or outside mids.  I know we have been stressing "play to feet", but that team was playing very very tight defense, and there fullbacks were playing very "flat" and pressing extremely high.  We also were forcing possession/switch of fields from out backfield/defense, when a few times clearing the ball would have been the best option due to the high pressure.  At halftime we discussed these things, and how we need to look for those opportunities to play "though" their defense and expose how flat and tight they were playing, and also give a lot more effort on winning 50/50 balls.  We then came out that next half and put tons of pressure on the other team, but simply couldn't finish.  But, we were like two different teams each half.  I was happy with the adjustments.  We definitely increased our effort/hustle, and our backfield was also making better decisions on when to clear versus try and possess.   It was a tough 1-0 loss knowing we controlled the game, but valuable lessons were learned.

Game 2:
We proved that we understand the game. We proved that we understand spacing, when to check to, make runs, etc.  We played possession very very well.  We were making good decisions.  Great switch of fields beginning with our fullbacks.  Girls were checking to the ball instead of waiting on it.  We possessed the ball and moved in nicely up the field which gave us great scoring opportunities which we capitalized on!  After we went up a few goals, the other team pressured us hard--they pushed "numbers up".  We did a very good job in staying compact on defense and not giving up a goal.  That shutout was nice.  for a 3-0 win.  Shutouts give extra points, and sometimes that extra point can be the difference to enable a team to make it to the championships.

Game 3:
We came out a little slow.  We didn't have the effort the first half like we did the previous game, but it was still much better than our very first game of the tournament.  The team we played had good speed.  We made a few mental mistakes and gave up back to back goals at the beginning of the second half.  I was very happy we didn't quit.  The effort the 2nd half was very high.  We scored two very nice goals, but giving up the third proved to be too much.
Outside of hustle (which has to always come first), here is the biggest difference of game 2 and game 3.  Please read and think of this very carefully...  In game two, we played against a less athletic and slower team.      We moved really well in getting open and receiving passes in game 2.  In game 2, if our first touch wasn't perfect, we were quick enough to make up for the bad first touch by correcting it with our second touch.  In Game 3, we got into position with lots of movement just like in Game 2.  BUT, in game 3 when we  had a bad first touch, the other team was faster--which meant we weren't getting the time to correct our first touch with a second touch.  Lesson to be learned:  we need to get much better with our first touch.  Fast and athletic teams (like our team), will expose a bad first touch.  This comes with practice and practice.  We will continue to work on perfecting our first touch in all different situations, using both our right and LEFT feet.  

When we went down a few goals, we did have to change our style of play.  Being down, and needing to win (not tie that game) for any possibility of advancement, made us change our style of play to a very DIRECT style of play.  We were working against the clock needing a couple goals, so building it up from the backfield I felt was not our best options.  I know we scored a couple of goals this way, but we also gave up goals by doing this.  I know as both Parents and Players, it's easy to fall into the trap of "direct play is better than perfecting possession".  Here is what you need to understand.  Against ELITE teams, you will never win with this style of play.  ELITE teams will have 11 extremely good athletes on the field.  They will expose that style of play and shut it down so quickly.  We will never compete with ELITE teams with that style.  We will continue to build on our possession style of soccer, and continue to work on perfecting our first touches.  By doing so, I believe (I KNOW), that we will be that ELITE team playing in ELITE tournaments in the near future.

Thanks Girls for your hard work and Enjoy the rest of your weekend!  Comments are always welcome from parents and of course players!

Brian