Tag: life

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.

Pictures and Respect

Pictures went great! Those of you who could not be there, we will see when a make-up can be taken with the whole team again later in the season along with individual shots. Christmas City was prompt and efficient. Great job!

Our walk-through was unfortunately slightly tempered by a lack of listening/respect. Our second word of our core theme this year is HUMBLE. Good players hang on every word their coaches say in order to listen to how to be better or most importantly – how to be a better player for the TEAM. Would a college coach want to see players sitting plucking at the grass during a walk through? Would a community coach? Make your best impression every day. We have so many players who listen intently and want to be coached. If you were one of those parked on the grass, shoot me an email and apologize. We all make mistakes. Boys to men. I love you all and I want to see us win these victories over ourselves. These are life lessons and I’d be a lousy coach if we lowered our standards here. Our coaches love the team too much, have accomplished so much as players and coaches, and know way too much soccer to have anyone tune them out.

On Monday we will do the walk through again (We will report at 4:00 PM for this, earlier than the 4:30 PM time I had originally planned). Hopefully this time with EVERY soul all in – with ears, heart, and humility.

Looking Ahead:

Monday 8/18 Friendly – Pocono Mountain East (WAIS) – Wear BLUE home uniforms

4:00 PM Report and Walk Through

4:30 PM Support the girls soccer team

5:00 PM Warm-up

5:30 PM Varsity Scrimmage – We will either work in JV players as the game continues or run a separate JV scrimmage. I will need to see what the PM East coach says when I see him.

Tuesday 8/19 Practice

3:00-4:45 PM

Wednesday 8/20 Friendly – East Stroudsburg North (WAIS) and Dieruff (Tri scrimmage)

3:20 Report

3:30 Warm-up

4:00 Varsity Scrimmage and same thoughts as Monday on JV

Thursday 8/21 Light Practice

3:00-4:45 PM

Friday 8/22 @Kutztown 3:00 PM

Departure time from high school 1:30 PM

TOUGH – HUMBLE – TOGETHER