Saturday Update

Calendar:

After Wednesday of this week, the regular season comes to an end. For JV, there are no playoffs so your season is over 😦 All double rostered players will continue with Varsity and I am likely to expand the Varsity roster to include a few more JV’s so we can continue to play full field in practice for training. I have posted the district schedule and my guess at the Colonial League schedule for playoffs. Please clear weekday calendar for the next few weeks as if we are not playing, we will be practicing.

Yesterday’s Game

The good:

  • Some nice combinations at times
  • Rocco getting that goal
  • Watching JV players linking up with Varsity
  • Another clean sheet

The needs to improve:

  • Our intensity – against southern lehigh and earlier in the season, we were on every 1st ball, 2nd ball, etc and that has dropped – one of my main goals this coming week will be to get back to that.
  • Our maturity – this goes with number one, but our warmups and our attention and focus must be higher as we prepare for games – I will work hard to improve that
  • Our passing in final third – we have gotten better slipping Gigi through from deeper (Braden had some nicely weighted passes again here) but we are still lacking consistent quality passes in that final third. Harnit did have a nice pass to the top of the 18 yesterday.
  • Our attention and anticipation in the back. We still have a tendancy to switch off from time to time.

Responsibility:

  • All responsibility for the team’s occasional shortcomings reside with me. Each loss, each performance. The boys are wonderful and the responsibility lies with myself and my coaches to try to get the best out of them each day.

Thanks:

  • I appreciate Brian Walsh for volunteering to operate the Veo camera and get the game recorded. I will upload it when I am done writing this up! Thanks so much!

Looking Ahead

  • Varsity Practice Monday will be structured differently. We will work with smaller groups at a time to improve play. Details on this to be posted later
  • Our goal is to improve every day. I am so excited for what this team can do in the playoffs. Let’s make dreams come true boys.

Tough Humble Together

Critical Game Tomorrow

Every game is the game to play your BEST soccer. Triangles, QUICK ball movement, COMMUNICATE. PRESS by anticipating and arriving to intercept BEFORE the player receives. Communication continues to be a trouble spot as well as togetherness. The team is a community – a family. POSITIVE ONLY BOYS. Think about how YOU can improve – as a player, a person. I do it every day. Outward expressions should be used to build others up!

Some changes to the line-up for tomorrow. I am looking for a spirited – purposeful warm-up and maturity.

I am convinced we have still not seen our best soccer yet! It’s just up the road though! I know it!

*Line-up is subject to change due to a variety of factors such as good warm-up, mature and purposeful attention to the game, and positive spirit. To retain your starting position, please email me tonight to confirm you have seen this. Side effects do occur – please consult your physician before attending.

LASTLY – WEAR YOU BLUE AND GOLD JERSEY TOMORROW!

Tomorrow and why do we all do it?

Tomorrow is listed as an off day on the calendar and will remain that. There is no practice tomorrow.

As for why we compete, it is of my opinion that the over-arching purpose of high school athletics is to use the exhilaration and challenge of competition to help us grow as people. Winning at anything in life requires:

  1. Self-confidence and belief
  2. Hard work and tenacity
  3. Strong and constructive reactions to setbacks
  4. Working collaboratively
  5. Reflecting on self and a growth mindset
  6. Sacrifice for something bigger than oneself.

Among others I am sure. It is my mission as a coach (however imperfectly) to continue to work these angles in the context of soccer – that winning at anything is a synergy of all of these characteristics. We have wonderful players – that never changes. I am particularly proud of:

  1. Gigi using his left to finish – awesome growth
  2. Yahriel and Ben playing meaningful minutes and playing them well. By that I do not mean mistake free but they did a lot of things nicely!
  3. Braden sent some beautifully weighted balls for those assists. What a talent
  4. We have guys playing hurt and sacrificing
  5. Jeff making some really remarkable saves
  6. Nolan Lutz coming as a JV knowing he would not play. Thank you!
  7. Harnit played hard and helped us in tough stretches in the game.
  8. Noah is nursing an ankle and played his heart anyway
  9. Rocco motivating the bench and being positive. I hear you.
  10. Dillard always works so incredibly hard.

There are others to mention for sure. Growth mindset, react positively to setbacks. Love each other. To everyone in Wilson soccer, thank you. Watch below please.

NWL Game Tactics and Analysis

Video shared via email. Everyone must watch – even if a JV not going to game today.

BTW – If you are JV and you wish to go to the game today – you may early dismiss at 1:45 PM with the rest of the guys. All double rostered players MUST come today!

Game Notes for Tomorrow

Bus Leaves at 2:00 PM

Early Dismissal at 1:45 PM

Lineup decided by commitment and preparation in warm-up. No predetermined starters.

We will likely feature in our setup used on Monday.

I want to play our best soccer of the year tomorrow! You CAN BEAT ANYONE!

TOUGH HUMBLE TOGETHER

Update and Notes 9/30

Analyzing the win:

It was a signature win for the program and a very important win for us now. It is CRITICAL that it be unpacked to see what is different about how we played compared to how we were playing. Some highlights and thoughts:

  1. Danny was very vocal in the back moving his pieces around. This gave us a lot of solidity.
  2. We won FAR MORE 1st, 2nd, and 3rd balls. We got in trouble when we didn’t. It is among the MOST IMPORTANT things we need to do and everyone was trying to do it, from Braden through the midfield to our backline.
  3. We played with an edge and a passion that had been somewhat missing in the last tough stretch. Focused, strong, passionate play is ESSENTIAL against any opponent.
  4. We played together and had each other’s back.

Never lose focus of what it takes to win. The formula NEVER changes. Personnel and shape might change to deal with what we have and what different teams bring but the formula is ALWAYS the same.

Looking Ahead:

  1. Practice today will be a recovery practice with focus on loosening the muscles and legs and refining our shape from yesterday. We will end a little earlier today – around 4:15-4:30 PM.
  2. SAME ENERGY AND FOCUS for Northwestern and we win again. You ARE AND CAN BE AN AMAZING TEAM WHEN WE DO THINGS THE WAY WE CAN DO THEM.
  3. Non-double rostered JV’s are NOT REQUIRED to attend the game with Northwestern tomorrow. We love having you and encourage you to come but it is NOT required.

Players with Injuries:

Please report to Trainer Room today at 2:15 to get treatment. Ben will be there.

Video from Game:

I am looking for a volunteer to help record games on Veo. I have tried but I am too busy with the team and my phone too old (maybe me too). If you would like to help with this, I can give you the login credentials and show you how to do it. Thanks! In the meantime I will work with our AD to try to get videos from other teams we have played including yesterday.

Here’s to the BLUE AND GOLD

Rock and Roll Gentlemen. I tip my hat to you. You were strong, you were tough, and we played as a team – each of you doing what you do best. You played as men today and when you play like this, you can beat anyone. I am a very proud coach tonight. Blue and gold forever.

Tomorrow’s Game and Notes

Our winning streak was characterized by a few things:

  1. No yellow cards – lets get back to that!
  2. Winning Individual Battles – first ball, second ball, third ball.
  3. All around balanced team effort.

If we get back to these core characteristics, we will win again. Tomorrow.

Wear Blue and Gold Jersey Tomorrow

I am excited to play tomorrow. Get excited too! Life is too short to live in the past. Look ahead at what you can do next! We have a great chance for a win tomorrow. I know you have it in you. LETS GO!!

Be at the fields NO LATER than 3:00 PM with a smile and full sized shin guards.