SC Soccer

The U18G Premier team at CESA has two seasons of strong defensive efforts—lowest GA in PLIIIEast last season, only one allowed this season so far. At the RBC, this team won its bracket, but won two of the matches, including the final, 1-0. A GA message board seems thrilled at the 1-0 finals by Concorde (which lost to the same CESA team 5-0 in the first match of the RBC). Now—do high quality teams HAVE to be high scoring, or is a winning record with many clean sheets enough? I think the AMERICAN way of thinking keeps us from appreciating 1-0 wins. Any comments?

I agree, but I think the american way of thibnking also keeps us from respecting 1-0 losses to Premiere/top level teams. It can be quite a defensive accomplishment to lose 1-0 to a superior team. I can understand GA being thrilled...They must have felt they played well even in a loss....I think that is a healthy attitude for athletes.. I am all about winning, but there is someting to be said when you know you are playing a better team and you make them earn it...

Sorry—I only mentioned the GA site because it made me think about my own reaction to the 1-0 wins! I agree that there should be some accomplishment felt for the 1-0 loss. Just wondering about how we view defense v. offense in the US—and how that affects our soccer culture.

Two very good, athletic, well-coached and well-disciplined teams can engage in a competitive 0-0 draw.

But where is the creativity? Are we teaching any of our attacking forwards to go 1v1 to goal? If the defender is just as fast as the forward.....will the forward ever score?

There were college coaches out at the RBC this weekend watching very good teams, but coming away disappointed. They didn't see much 1v1 skill. And truth be told, those same college coaches don't have very many (if any) players on their current rosters that can go 1v1 versus a good defender.

We tend to put together good, competitive teams.....that can get good results......but are we teaching our young ladies what they really need to succeed at the next level? I know a lot of this depends on what they do themselves outside of a structured club practice. Are they working on their own to do the things it takes to become a good, creative, attacking player?

Personally, I like to see an attacking style, but often the good teams have to be patient. I both respect and hate when the weaker teams play 11 behind the ball. However, if they tried to play and attack, they would probably get opened up and the level of talent would be exposed. I see alot of young girls who can take people on 1v1, but when the opponent has a decent keeper and 8 girls waiting in the box who dont pass the forty yard line the whole game, 1v1 wont cut it. It is like they have to be 2-3 players before they are in a dangerous position. You have to be creative, create opportunities on crosses, set pieces, etc. unfortunately, it can be frustrating to watch, but I think it happens alot. I will agree a crafty 1v1 player who might draw a PK or look dangerous will get a college coaches attention. Anyway, just some random thoughts on all that.

Hurst66—great comment. I hear the frustration you noted very often from top coaches in the club and from others. It is interesting. Having coached soccer for more than a decade now, I learned that a soccer coach CAN make a team competitive in soccer because you CAN keep a score down. I think this distinguishes soccer from other sports. I admire "weaker" teams that can keep a match 1-0 AND "stronger" teams that can survive 1-0 when they have low offensive outputs. With girls soccer, I believe I have seen too few players who are aggressive on offense, but many fine and aggressive defenders. I wonder if that is gender based (???) or the result of a coaching trend with females?

p&y,

I don't think you see many good, attacking, creative female forwards because:

1) most coaches don't teach it
2) players don't take a lot of time away from club practice to perfect it

There are very few trainers available in South Carolina who are good at teaching these skills. Often you need to work with attackers individually, or in very small groups, to get them to perfect these skills. If a trainer is working with a whole team, there isn't time to concentrate on this when you are only given 90 minutes.

Just my thoughts.

>>[Hurst66] There were college coaches out at the RBC this weekend watching very good teams, but coming away disappointed. They didn't see much 1v1 skill.<<

Fascinating stuff...in terms of this observation, I don't know which games the coach you talked to attended; but of the several games I attended of which there were between 4-6 smaller college coaches attending there was actually discussion concerning several girls 1v1 skills [I tended to sit way at the offensive end which is how I overheard the conversations.] By the way -- I was surprised at just how many how many college coaches seemed to be out there -- I mean I expect it in RIIIPL-East play, but was pleasantly surprised by the numbers at a South Carolina tournament.

In the most competitive U18G-U19G bracket, I believe that the championship team had a goal differential of +12. I sure didn't see every goal scored; but I saw quite a few that were based on individual 1v1 (and 1v2, and 1v3) play or in which the assist was set up by the same. I also some superb 1v1 defending by that same team.

But again, maybe the coach you talked to wasn't at the games I attended...or maybe I'm just all wet!

Or maybe your game was the exception, as opposed to the norm.

Thus the beauty of the sport.... "one does not enjoy it you suffer it"

It takes individual creativity in a team environment for a player to be a factor in a game.

Too often 1v1 is viewed entirely as a speed issue, very seldom is it seen as intelligence, patience and the striking speed of a snake. By striking I mean not shooting at the goal, but to make the move that gets you past the opponent with a quickness which leaves them flat.

Of course speed only helps, but most fast player are not taught to "play" the game early on and become very reactive instead of proactive. There are many good teams but it is those individuals within the team that can turn the game in a moment of brilliance that are the impact players. I have been known to preach selfishness once a player is within a certain range. It is this "keep them guessing" routine that makes the player dangerous. And the last factor, if you have a perfectionist as a striker you have to work with the player to help them forget. True strikers only talk about their last goal not their last miss. They KNOW they will get another chance (kind of half full/half empty)

1v1 is very important part of the game....now I will step on it....girls are more likely to play team ball than the more individual play. The exact opposite of boys, therefore boys need to be taught WHEN passing is required and girls WHEN selfishness is required.

Thus the right coach is needed.