December 12th

Women’s Training League: 2nd Week

Already players are becoming familiar with the flat, smooth surface of the gym floor and how it favors a faster roll and a higher bounce than does our outdoor field. Since the ball is behaving quickly, so must players; so we continue to shorten our steps and stay light on our feet.  Since we are flexing at the hips, knees, and ankles, we are like tigresses, low to the ground and patiently awaiting the moment to pounce.

Maybe that moment doesn’t come, but regardless, if the player positions herself well, she can benefit her team without ever touching the ball (Isn’t this game cool?).  There is an entire strategy behind where a player ought to be, when, thus the game is played on an intellectual, as well as, a physical level.

One of the intellectual items on today’s menu, was the notion of a defender “forcing” play in the proper direction.  So as a defender, I defend against the ball penetrating the middle of the field. As the attacker approaches my goal, rather than run in a beeline toward the ball, I curve my run so I approach the ball nearer the center of the field than the attacker.  Effectively when the attacker approaches from the left side, my job is to keep play on the left side, keep play in front of me, apply constant pressure to the ball, position myself so to block the passing lane between the attacker and her team mates, and if and when the ball is available, to attack it and clear it wide and down the touchline.

Oftentimes, when I have a covering defender, I continue my run forward after playing the ball, as though I expect to get it back.   I sprint into the other half of the field, running at an angle, staying behind the ball.  I sense a gap opening between two defenders, through which I run and, “yes!” get the ball back. Now only to get the footwork timed correctly to get the support foot next to the ball and to strike the center of the ball.

No one said it was easy….but who can deny that we are getting better?  Tonight Lydia made a “recovery run”.  I bet my shoes that Lydia hasn’t a clue what a “recovery run” means precisely, and the beauty is…she doesn’t need to know what to call it, just when to do it.  Lydia, and, Shannon, and the other Shannon,  and Natalie are all developing the awareness  of what to do, when.  They are developing soccer awareness, soccer intelligence.

Who saw Lisa’s goal tonight? Not me.  I heard it, and I knew it was a quality strike on the ball, but never saw it or expected it. Judging from the time I heard contact with the ball, and the ball slam the back wall, my guess is she scored from a ways out, indicative of an intelligent choice.  Lisa has soccer intelligence.

Watch Lisa closely and you will see that she oftentimes knows before she gets the ball what it is she wants to do with it. The decision is made as the ball is somewhere on its path to her, so when she gets her touch (and all it takes is one touch) the ball is gone in an instant, impossible to defend.

What would be the Cliff’s Notes on soccer intelligence are the archetypal soccer plays Tad talks about.  These plays are situations that occur repeatedly in a game.  One of these plays would be the give-n-go, another would be a diagonal ball sent backward from the goal line.  With the understanding of some of the repeatable plays, comes the beginnings of identifying them during dynamic play.

That is where Lisa and Sheri gain a step on most right now.  They have a “pre-programmed computer” alerting them when the archetypal plays are developing.  Your “computer” is being programmed every time you play.

Tomorrow night we train at Beacon. And last I heard there is a 6:15 group forming for Friday (contact Tad, Shauna, or Amy if interested).  We are “on” next Sunday.

Starting next week, We will enter and exit the front door of the building.  Please do not enter the door to the private business “Sound Health”.  Our door is on the opposite (south east) corner of the building. The entrance is safer (sidewalk) and well lit (yeah, safer).  We also will now park in front of the Albany building.

Watch some soccer this week. Comment on what here you have read…and see you Sunday ready to play!

 

 

 

Indoor League First Week

Sunday December 5^th kicked off the first ever Women’s Indoor Soccer Training League in Albany, Oh. Once players found their way into the backdoor of the old Albany Elementary, things went smoothly, people learned and had fun. The 3:00 pm-4:30 session had 12 players train and the 4:30-6:00 pm session had 6 players. These sessions are designed to combine skill training with 3v3 games, and while more than half of the participants had never played soccer until this past summer and had never played the game indoors, there were some stunning performances from veteran players and those new to the game.

Two of those players, Eddith D and Karen B showed how a high pressure attacker can create turnovers and scoring opportunities in the opponents’ defending third of the field. Intelligent, aggressive, and controlled runs at defenders in possession, created chaos and some near costly turnovers. Caitlin W exemplified how a finishing touch can happen from unexpected locations on the field. Caitlin has a calm serenity about her upon receiving the ball, then she explodes past you and sends a ball, like on a hot taught wire, into the upper right corner, known as the “the upper 90” of your goal. Players like Caitlin have a gift and have many years on the ball; players like Eddith and Karen show that players can impact the game with your decisions and your work rate.

Speaking of players with a gift, Sheri H contributed at both ends of the park. She so adeptly reads the game and has such a phenomenal touch that she can intercept an attack in her defensive third then carry the ball forward slicing through defenders to unleash a laser of a shot. Sheri can “drag” the ball, by drawing the inside of the foot over the ball, while moving laterally across the face of the goal. Sheri drags the ball three, four times moving right to left, stopping and starting again until she moves you just out of position and she has created a gap of just over 7 inches through which she sends the ball, now a laser, into your net.

On a different day of the week, Monday, there has been a steady flow of players congregating at Beacon School gym from 5:00-7:00PM for the Women’s version of pickup training. The idea is you show up when you want to, with whom you want to and train from 5:00PM (or whenever you can arrive, start) till 7:00 for 5 bucks.

The Monday trainings start with somewhat rigorous floorwork without the ball. Players are jumping rope and performing step routines through grids and mazes on the gym floor.

Then there is some individual ballwork, typically followed by team passing and teamwork training; we have begun to juggle as a cooldown and our record is somewhere now over 100.

If you have been around live music and you know how a band can groove together, takes time working together, practice, and each time they become more streamlined, tighter?

Well the same process happens both with individual players and players working as a unit, and it is happening out at Beacon on Monday nights. The group can inter-pass with the beginnings of a rhythm. At the far end of the gym the shots are slamming the wall and lifting the Pugg Goals to sail.

A player of noteworthy development has been Eva. Technically she has worked, listened, and improved. Tactically she is growing by the session. She is just one example, and there are quite a few like her.

Monday and Friday night Beacon details are posted on the website, Sunday still has openings. As The New Year approaches, we like to keep our acquaintances near us and in the game!