When I write one of these posts I like to have my general observations of my team's play and development organized around some narrower observation, some small detail of a game or a training session that, I think, in turn will bring the overall picture of where the team is now into sharper focus. I'm not having much success though in finding such a theme for Girl Power right now. The obvious observation is that not only is this a new season for Girl Power but this is in fact a new team, a team yet to develop a consistent style of play or character. Among the players who left our roster last season there were a couple who really dominated our play, who set the tone for us as a high-energy attacking side. As we saw in Saturday's game returning players like Jolie, and Zoe are happy to dash boldly into the space left open by those departures as are our new players like Sophia. But right now there's a quality of recklessness and exploration to all these efforts. It will take time for this team to find it's rhythm and style, to get really acquainted with each other so that we can see better anticipation and cooperation.
The team isn't without some continuity of character though thanks to our returning players. Eileen, Ava and Peyton all know how to play that strong full-back wing role that I like and so our style of play will still tend towards a fully committed possession-dominant attack. Natalie's casual confidence in the keeper spot helps us in that regard too as she knows our attack begins wherever we regain possession and that informs her style of play. With the help of the core group of returning players I have no doubt that this new Girl Power will become a skillful, aggressively attacking side that plays with a real joy and creativity. In fact we're already seeing that so I'll let that be the loose theme for these early observations: "joy and creativity".
In no particular order:
>At training last week I worked with the team on a "pull-back-play-behind" move that is basically a combination of a pull-back with an immediate Cruyff turn. Izzy's efforts at it were nearly flawless from the start so I made a point of telling her that if she could pull that off in game situations she'd be able to get around anyone. I say that sort of thing to players all the time. "Oh, you're so good at that...I want to see it in the next game...that's you're move!" Sometimes they follow through...usually they need more prodding. But Izzy got to Saturday's game itching to try her move. She even asked me prior to kick off if it was okay for her to try it. "What! Of course it's okay. I insist!" Lucky for me I was just yards away from her when she did break that move out and she was nearly successful on that first try. After the game her attitude was still overwhelmingly positive. "I almost did it...the ball just got stuck on my heel." That's the attitude we want to foster, that desire to play fearlessly and creatively, even to show off a bit.
>Jolie is joyfully imposing herself on the game, seemingly filled with energy following her long injury layoff. For the first 20 minutes of Saturday's game she was everywhere across the attacking half, getting on the ball over and over again. Watching her play you can clearly see how happy she is to be back on the field.
>Zoe is testing her ball striking. It's been a long road to get her to the point where her technique is approaching an effective consistency but I think we're almost there and it was wonderful to see her making shot attempts from outside of ten yards Saturday. I think we had her for three such attempts and while they weren't thunderous strikes they were solidly struck. She's putting in the work.
>So much good communication going on on the field Saturday. I love that and I'm really trying to consistently encourage the players to be constantly engaged with each other in the game, to chat, coach, admonish, demand, whatever, just be connected. With Sophia and Lauren the team has two players who are never shy about communicating with their teammates. Lauren is good at both letting her teammate with the ball know where she is and at delivering the ball when a teammate calls to her. And with Sophia I think I have a true field general. She's constantly offering direction to the team and doing so in the right "coach's" tone of voice.
>Julia, Kennedy and Jayden gives the team a defensive solidity we haven't had before and these are all players, along with Lauren and Sophia, who recognize the opportunities for creating attacking play that can be had when your central defenders can possess the ball rather than booting it. That being said, I have to admit that Julia's ability to crush a moving ball has certainly saved our bacon a few times!
>Finally, I want to note, if it's not obvious from the parent's side, that the girls are really enjoying playing together. They are working hard at training and playing hard for each other in games and they all show up just itching to play. I'm a lucky coach.
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