First time coaching this year, our Lil one wanted me to coach so I took on the task. She plays on three different teams - mine (a rec team) and two academy squads (same club, different teams). She is a soccer nut - loves it. Even watches it on the Mexican channels.
We went undefeated this year - 10-0 and won a tournament this past weekend beeating three teams very easily. Infact by half time we were always up at least 7-0. Second half we instructed the girls to focus on passing only and only. One of the parents asked me afterwards if that was fair for me to do - they thought it was a little like throwing in the other teams faces that we dominated. I asked her "What should I do? Have them run up the score 30-0? How about play a girl short? I can't help the fact that we are killing the these teams but come on."
Our girls work really hard and they listen. We get kinda silly and goofy sometimes but when the whislte blows they run. They have been playing together for several seasons so they know each other real well. Half the team plays on the same academy club so these girls are playing year round.
In a country where every kid gets a trophy and a pat on the back for 'just trying' we have attempted to instill a sense of worth on winning and what hard work and focus will bring.
The girls do have fun but they also understand that score is kept during a game - that is to determine a winner and a looser. If you just wanna kick thats cool! Its called practice but if you want to compete and test your skill than you must be winning to play a game and take the chance that you may lose.
Consider the following two pics. This is her club team pic - the first is my lil one getting kicked in the gut and the second she has grabed the ball and stopped a goal. The team we beat won nationals last year. We beat them this year.
My little one wants to play in a World Cup as well as in College and the Olympics. Tall order...
