Those four little words....I'll pass the ball……

For the third year now I will be coaching two soccer teams, U9 Boys and U12 Girls. Most of those who have coached will agree that girls are more likely to pass the ball than their male counterparts. I have had just the opposite experience with my teams and although I drill it and drill it, over and over again…… The girls have only shown minor interest in passing. So I am trying something different this year. That’s what you do right? If something is not working you try to come up with a way to make it click in their heads. To believe that you truly will run less, that it is a quicker way to move the ball, to put more pressure on the opponent and make them tired. I want them to understand that if they are passing the ball, the opponent will be chasing and watching them score.

This year we have two age groups (actually three) ten, eleven, and one who will be twelve in a week or so. She is actually in Jr. High while the rest are still in elementary school. Her parents were a little skeptical about the age difference, but it seemed like she fit right in with the team. My daughter thought she was nice and got along with her very well. I hope that her being older will turn out to mean that she will take a leadership role and help me convince the rest of the
team? Time will tell. It seems like all the girls including the ten year olds have matured mentally since last season. They all seem to pay more attention, and seem eager to learn and master the drills we ran. It was tougher because my assistant Coach wasn't there so I had them all.

We ran some relay sprints and a team formation run at the end of practice so it was a pretty mellow first practice. I told them all that when LaLa gets back they had better be prepared to run. Running is something you need to do in Soccer and I also use it to curb any unwanted activities that might disrupt the practice session. This is recreation Soccer so the goal is not to make them into Olympic champions, but rather to give them the fundamentals of the game and the benefits of the team concept. That’s where passing comes in. Being unselfish, playing for the team and not your individual stats. Being the leader in assists on a team is equally as important as being the leader in goals. Getting them to really understand this is my goal for the year.(Again) Keep your head up and your eyes on the field of play. Know where your opponent is and pass the ball before they get to you. Give the "Team" every chance to succeed.

There are some really good teams at this age level and there are some who don't do very well. Getting the youth of today off the couch and out on the field is harder and harder to do these days with all that's going on. I learn so much from them and about them as we go through the season and I enjoy taking my children to school and hearing all the "Hey Coach" calls from my team members. I coach for all these reasons and because it allows me to spend more time with my children. At times it can be frustrating because I want them to do well and feel good about the effort they are putting forth.

While I don't Coach the "Winning is Everything" philosophy, I can't bring myself to ever tell them it is good to lose. Losing is a part of the maturation process for any athlete, it makes them stronger, it separates those who are serious about something enough to fight through the pain after losing and strive to get better. I don't know anyone who has gone through life never having lost at something. It is gut wrenching to those who are passionate about their sport, who have put so much time and effort into it. I can see it in the children I coach, the tears, the frustration the doubt. These are the times when coaching is important, the lessons that you teach, the times where you have to remove yourself from feeling as bad as they do and encourage them to put it behind them and learn from it. These are challenges you face every time you step onto the field, on any court, in any arena. These are the challenges that make me want to coach, to watch them grow not only as competitors, but as children.

There are many lessons that can be learned from playing team sports, most of which can be applied to the daily life and development of our children. As a father and as a coach, I can only hope that some day, on some field, I see one of my children, or one that I have had the pleasure to Coach, doing great things, putting forth the effort, showing the skills that I helped them to learn. There are few things greater in life than the feeling that you helped to point someone in a positive direction, whether in sports or in life. The hope for my team this year is that they have fun and learn, and can win in the process. I want to see those smiles, those high fives, the joy of success written on all their faces. As for my number one request, I want to hear them tell me one thing…. And then show me on the field! Those four little words, I'll pass the ball. BigBlogAlphaDog