Quote:

OK, now that the JV seasons are over, what will you do differently next year to make your program better?



Okay, I didn't really have a grip on the fact that I was going to be coaching my school's girls' JV team this year, so here's what I'm going to make sure of next year.

1. Identify and train a keeper (actually two) with lots of individual time (potentially using time after the official practice for this). It's the key position as the last defender and the first attacker and director of the defending half (not to mention being the only player who can see the entire field from her natural position).

2. Have a plan to spend lots of preseason practice time on individual skill development. So many of my girls this year had no previous experience, and a lot of focus on first touch, crisp passing, developing multiple ways to strike the ball and so on will be the the core of creating players who will mold into wonderful team players.

3. Developing team chemistry. I felt that a lot of our girls didn't like each other too much this year. I don't mean to say they disliked one another, but they seemed distant in that they seemed to just be together for the hour and a half practices and the hour and a half for games. Team building exercises are part of my program for next year.

4. Watching my own use of players and allowing players to play as many positions as possible. This will allow me to make players work hard in all facets of practice and create versitile players.

I could continue to list for ages, but these are my big four. Great question. And yes, we got our butts kicked this year, but watch out; we're coming for y'all next year!