A Soccer Dad's Story...

[M.D. Holloway]

You can learn a lot from a youth girl’s soccer team. I’m the assistant coach for my daughter’s soccer team. The 12 girl team has had a great season so far. They have yet to loose. Last year the mighty D-Bugs went undefeated as well. The head coach plays a very regimented field and the girls are expected to execute with precision and discipline, a tall order to ask from a bunch of 8 year olds but the proof is in the pudding. I think I was asked to help out to provide comedic relief. We are fortunate to have a core 4 girls who have played together for over 3 years now and also play on a select team - Mouse (my Emma), Cat, Magic and Twinkie. The girls all go by special nicknames they came up with.

This past Saturday three of the four core girls had a conflict with their select team and couldn’t make the D-Bug game. Mouse elected to play for the D-bugs instead of going with the other three girls to play select “To give us a fighting chance Dad!” she told me. Mouse is our Center Back, also known as Sweeper. She makes sure nothing gets to the Goal Keeper. She knows it’s a tough job because she played Keeper all last year. She is tough, has the most powerful foot on the team if not the whole league and passes with the chops of a seasoned Brazilian. Her only draw back is her lack of eagerness to run. Hense the Brazilian reference. Our two scoring Forwards – Cat and Magic as well as our Keeper Twinkie were not going to be at this game. Cat and Magic are about as good as you can imagine. The only issue with them is the fact that they don't pass enough and like to blast the goal. This game was going to be interesting. With a full roster the opposing team lost to us at the beginning of the season 4-0. They are fast and good. I just hoped we could survive.

I put our third string Keeper in, Claire Bear to guard the net. Bear has never played before and is new to the team. We tried her at Keeper during blow-outs in order to give her some experience, exposure and allow Twinkie to play in the field. She did respectable in the past but saw little if any action. Claire Bear was going to be my starting Keeper on this day. She seemed a little scared but agreed to try. I assured her Mouse would be there to help her out and Mouse gave her a hug and told her she would do fine.

I played the girls at their respective posts. Two Forwards, two Mid-fielders and two Backs and the Keeper. The girls understand field positions for the most part and pass well. The only opportunity for scoring would be from our Left Forward Speedy. She was third in most goals scored behind Cat and Magic. Speedy is quick (like her name suggests) and also is left-footed which can be a blessing or a curse depending on what minute of the hour it is. The girls played well. It was evenly matched. We were scoreless at half time.

During the half time break we sat in a circle and as the girl’s gulped water I asked them what they thought it would take to win. “Passes!” Comet yelled, “Teamwork!” Screamed Poodle (again, they came up with these names not me!). “Girls, your right but let me ask you differently, what wins games?” They looked at me with blank expressions. After Mouse had finished her long gulp of water, she wiped her chin and said, “Dad, goals win games.” Bingo. We needed goals.

I love to win like any soccer dad but I think I also have things in perspective. They are only 8 years old. “Mouse, you are absolutely right. While passes and teamwork are very important, if you don’t score you can’t win.” It took a microsecond for almost all the team to request to play the forward position. After I calmed them down, I looked at Mouse and said “What do think Mouse?” I asked her not because she is my daughter but because she takes a leadership role on the team when the girls are on the field. She has a very calming effect with all of the girls which is a tall order for an 8 year old girl. “Put Speedy in at Keeper.” “OK, that’s interesting, why would you put one of our scoring Forwards in as Keeper? You were the one that said goals win games.” “Because that’s where she wants to play second half. She told me so.” Mouse explained. “Is that true Speedy? Would you like to try playing Keeper?” I asked. “Well ya, it looks fun.”

Now this was interesting. I had a decision to make. Run our typical field positions or try something new. I decided to mix it up. “OK, Speedy your in goal, we shall run five forwards and Mouse do you mind playing back to help out Speedy?” “That’s fine Dad, I don’t want to play forward anyway. I like playing back.” With bright eyes and a huge smile, Sid Kid asked “Coach, you mean I get to play Forward?” “Yes Sid Kid, you and Comet and Poodle and Emu and E-Bet will all play Forward. Claire Bear and Audi will take a break but will also go in. I will get them in second half as soon as I can sub.” Sid Kid’s mom played soccer in college as well as playing on an adult rec team. She was a star mid-fielder for UCLA. Sid Kid is new to our team and is also the smallest. What she lacks in size she more than makes up for in tenacity and grit. Her style of play suggests she would be a fantastic Full back – and she is. For her to want to play Forward was surprising. - almost as surprising as Speedy wanting to play Keeper. “Coach Mike, can I play Forward too?” Claire Bear asked. Now this was getting real interesting. In practice Claire Bear had not shown any true ball skills required for such a post. She seemed comfortable playing defense and we tried her in goal to ‘find’ her a spot. “Sure you can Bear!” I said. Secretly I thought the best we would do is end the game in a 0-0 tie.

Never let it be said that miracles don’t happen. Actually, I can’t say that any miracles happened that day save for the fact that a Soccer Dad got schooled on the passion and enthusiasm 8 year old girls have for play. It was 3 minutes in when Sid Kid scored. She powered her way through, passed, received and kicked in a beauty. Her smile was visible for 80 yards. The five girl front was creating havoc on the opposing team’s strategy. A few minutes later and Sid Kid scored again. The girls were on fire and Sid Kid gave a royal wave to the cheering crowd. She was now in her element and had the swagger of a World Cup Forward.

It didn’t take long for the other team to jump on our success. They took advantage of the D-bugs thirst for goals and found out quickly that our defense was lacking. Four girls went past our Forwards and attacked our defense. Mouse charged their forward in an attempt to take the ball but a brilliant pass resulted in a ball bobbling around in Speedy’s hands. Speedy didn’t understand that the Keeper can wrap herself around the ball protecting it with her body and if a player touches her it’s a penalty. She got spooked. The ball popped out and another girl scored. It was now 2-1.

I knew there was maybe 4 minutes left in the game. If we could hold them off we could win. “Defense girls! Defense!” I yelled. “Let’s go D-Bugs!” I’m sure I yelled more than that. It was a blur. Claire Bear who had been rather non-descript all of the game got the ball deep in our territory. She began to dribble the ball up field. With the confidence of a seasoned hunter and the willingness of a well aimed bullet she brought the ball deep into their territory past three defenders. She kept the ball within three feet of her foot at all times. She made it through all the defenders but one and their Keeper. I am still not sure how but their defender twisted around and fell backwards leaving Claire Bear aiming squarely at the goal.

During drills, when I have the girls take shots on goal I enforce the rule “Shoot at the Keeper and take a lap”. The girls don’t like taking laps so instead of kicking right at the Keeper they do well at sneaking one in a corner. Claire Bear learned her lesson. With the precision of a surgeon she popped the ball into the corner. The crowd went insane. Who would have thought! Not me. Claire Bear knew all along.

Final: D-Bugs 3, Shooting Stars 1

[M.D. Holloway]

Forgot to mention - Cats Dad is the head coach. He played Soccer at A&M and is hard core. Next game should be interesting...

[Seahawk]

Mike,

These young women will remember you in ways you may not know.

In my minds eye, I can see my baseball coach when I was 12 years old with more clarity than my college coach.

[masraum]

I tried to post earlier, but either PP was having an issue was or something on my end was wonky.

It sounds like everyone had a REALLY good time. It was probably really great for the girls to get to mix it up a bit and to shine without 3 of the "stars" around. It sounds like the soccer dad may have learned a thing or two as well.

Congrats!