Some players need to work on skills, some character, some positioning and some just need to mature more. When we are lucky we can see a team of players grow before our eyes. Sure, they may take one step forward and two back sometimes, but the realization that they can improve is good for both the player and the coach. Our ultimate goal, as youth coaches, is to understand the key to creating success for each player, which inevitably creates success for the team.

This weekend we were able to see each of our players achieve success. I saw a girl who, at the beginning of the tournament, would stop and pout when beat, turn in to a defensive force and make a number of goal stopping tackles. I observed another player, who had me questioning whether or not  “position” was in the English vocabulary, become aware of where she was on the field and began to make her own adjustments.  I saw a goalie who took so much command when she came after a ball, her “I’ve got it!” stopped the other team because she said it with such assurance.

Soccer is great because it teaches us so many things. This weekend reminded us coaches why it is so wonderful to coach youth players.

Our second loss came at the hands of Elk Grove – Everton FC at 2:40 in the afternoon with a mild temp of 110 degrees. The Elk Grove team had 4-5 players that were 5’10″ and not one was below 5’2″. My only thought here is that they are going to be a U13 team at the age cutoff date of July 31. Either that or the player passes are ornamental and just a formality to create the illusion of propriety. I was walking by a girl and she said to her parents, “They are only 10 and 11 year olds.” Which is an odd comment coming from an alleged 11 year old. The coach of the team restrained his team, but it didn’t stop his goalie, all 5’10″ of her, from dribbling from her goal, through our team and scoring. At this point the score was at least 10-0, so the drive through our exhausted and overheated players was probably unnecessary.

Although game 2 was a drubbing, our girls gave them a heck of a battle for a good 10 minutes. Stopping shot after shot and running as hard as their legs, lungs and hearts allowed.  Because of the heat, the game had been broken-up in to quarters. We talked at the last quarter and the girls went out and gave their all – there is nothing more we could have asked from our warriors.

Game 3 came at 8am on Sunday morning. Our girls learned a lot the day before and our defense was much better organized. We still were soundly defeated by Deanza Force, but the players had more respect for their coach and us when it was obvious they had the game well in hand.

Each of our players left a part of themselves on the field this weekend. Whether it was Beena, who was in so much pain when she ran that I could feel it, to the burning lungs of Zabrina and Amara as they pressured the ball in the hellish heat. Kayla, our 9 year old wonder, was a force and didn’t back down when challenged by the much older girls. Our goalies, unfortunately, couldn’t have gotten more practice and boy did they show-up. From Riley’s 1v1 dash at an Everton monster to make her miss the shot to Katherine’s “Kat” like reflexes to block shot after shot, we  were impressed.

Although it was a tough weekend, both physically and emotionally, we need to use this as a wake up call to the talent that is out there and that we have a lot of work to do. The girls definitely have the heart, now we just need to work on the game.