I was looking through training videos on youtube and came across this. Check it out. The kid has some nice skills. Not saying he's a future pro, it's just fun to watch a kid who has clearly put some effort into developing his talents.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Week Eight. End of an Era.
What a great final game. Both teams played so beautifully. The Sharks were all grace and power and the Bears were all tenaciousness. The highlights of the game are here.
I went back through the old posts here trying to find the first appearances of Sam E., Jackson, Austin and Elizabeth. This Saturday was their last game on the U6 team and seeing how far they'd come I wanted to have a look back at where they started. In that final U6 game they played with a team unity that was too graceful to simply be called "cooperative"...it appeared choreographed. These four play with energy, even exuberance and yet also with calmness and assuredness, dominating the play, and they also lead their teammates in subtle (and in Jackson's case, not so subtle) ways and have, over the last few sessions, introduced new players on the team to the Sharks' signature style.
I would describe that "style" in one word: "fearless". You'd assume that by fearless I meant their willingness to crash into other players for the sake of getting the ball. Certainly every player on the team has that quality. But what I'm thinking of is a fearlessness when trying new things, when daring to use a new move or learn some new skill or trusting your teammate to play his position while you play yours. In short, they don't fear failure. They take chances and risk stumbling over their own attempts to expand their skills all for the sake of getting better at the game they love, and it seems that for them, for these four players, that has always been their natural attitude. If the Sharks have a style it is "fearlessness" and the foundation of that style is joy. Like Ernie Banks, the Sharks would always say "let's play two."
I went back through the old posts here trying to find the first appearances of Sam E., Jackson, Austin and Elizabeth. This Saturday was their last game on the U6 team and seeing how far they'd come I wanted to have a look back at where they started. In that final U6 game they played with a team unity that was too graceful to simply be called "cooperative"...it appeared choreographed. These four play with energy, even exuberance and yet also with calmness and assuredness, dominating the play, and they also lead their teammates in subtle (and in Jackson's case, not so subtle) ways and have, over the last few sessions, introduced new players on the team to the Sharks' signature style.
I would describe that "style" in one word: "fearless". You'd assume that by fearless I meant their willingness to crash into other players for the sake of getting the ball. Certainly every player on the team has that quality. But what I'm thinking of is a fearlessness when trying new things, when daring to use a new move or learn some new skill or trusting your teammate to play his position while you play yours. In short, they don't fear failure. They take chances and risk stumbling over their own attempts to expand their skills all for the sake of getting better at the game they love, and it seems that for them, for these four players, that has always been their natural attitude. If the Sharks have a style it is "fearlessness" and the foundation of that style is joy. Like Ernie Banks, the Sharks would always say "let's play two."
Week Eight. Bears and Sharks One Last Time.
The skillful play of the Sharks was a pleasure to watch and we saw an organized attack that was the culmination of all the work the team has done together over the last two sessions. Sam and Austin played with perfect spacing most of their time in and always seemed each to know where the other was. Thanks to that organized play Karolyn was in position to get her first goal of the session off of a beautiful pass, from Elizabeth I think. And among the younger players Jagger was a real stand-out too, playing some of his best soccer yet. He was playing more "heads-up" than ever before.
It was great to have Trey back and he seemed to be playing "heads-up" too. Of course, he did get caught off guard by the blast off his shins from Jackson that resulted in an own-goal. Jackson's grin and shrug after that incident was priceless.
The Bears aren't yet able to manage the kind of team-attack the Sharks have but what they do have is tenaciousness and determination. In the third and fourth quarters especially they played just brilliant defense against the best the Sharks had to offer. Micah pitched a shutout in the third and then Zyckik was rock-solid in the fourth. Ava and Maddox were chasing the Sharks out of their goal repeatedly and smartly turning up field for runs toward the Shark goal. Carson had a great game too and he and Ashley both had their moments of ball-control grace but just couldn't penetrate the Shark defense. I was thrilled to see how un-intimidated the Bears were compared to their previous matches with the Sharks and especially given that in this game the Sharks were more effective than ever before. That was a great game for both teams.
I've said this at the end of sessions before but I have to say it every time. It's an honor to work with your kids. When I see them play well and really enjoy themselves, really give themselves to the joy of the game, I feel grateful for having had the chance to work with them. Thanks.
It was great to have Trey back and he seemed to be playing "heads-up" too. Of course, he did get caught off guard by the blast off his shins from Jackson that resulted in an own-goal. Jackson's grin and shrug after that incident was priceless.
The Bears aren't yet able to manage the kind of team-attack the Sharks have but what they do have is tenaciousness and determination. In the third and fourth quarters especially they played just brilliant defense against the best the Sharks had to offer. Micah pitched a shutout in the third and then Zyckik was rock-solid in the fourth. Ava and Maddox were chasing the Sharks out of their goal repeatedly and smartly turning up field for runs toward the Shark goal. Carson had a great game too and he and Ashley both had their moments of ball-control grace but just couldn't penetrate the Shark defense. I was thrilled to see how un-intimidated the Bears were compared to their previous matches with the Sharks and especially given that in this game the Sharks were more effective than ever before. That was a great game for both teams.
I've said this at the end of sessions before but I have to say it every time. It's an honor to work with your kids. When I see them play well and really enjoy themselves, really give themselves to the joy of the game, I feel grateful for having had the chance to work with them. Thanks.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Sharks, Week Seven.
Something strange happened before this week's game. As we were warming up Sam E. asked me who we were playing. I told him it would be the green team and his response was surprising. "Aw, this'll be easy." He didn't say it in a bragging way but rather with a tone of disappointment in his voice. The Sharks like winning but they've become so dominant against their competition that some of the kids are feeling a bit restless. I don't think our four goal keepers had more than six touches on the ball combined in this game.
Obviously the Sharks are a team with several very talented players up and down the line-up. Certainly we have players who can completely dominate a game when they are in, combining great ball skills, drive and field awareness. But beyond our team's individual talents what makes the Sharks so formidable is their teamwork. On offense the foundation of that teamwork is the team's general understanding that they need to stay spread out and trust each other to handle the ball. At the beginning of this game the threesome we had up front were bunching a bit but you expect that early in the game as the kids are so anxious to play. By the final quarter they were spreading the field beautifully and Sam looked like a Beckham back there in fullback distributing the ball to Elizabeth and Jackson on the wings. Even in the first quarter they had their tempo by the end of the period and Samuel and Diego were both keeping their distance from Sam and then dashing into position for shot opportunities. Samuel had a two goal day, in fact. The extent to which these kids "get it" already is remarkable.
more after the break
Obviously the Sharks are a team with several very talented players up and down the line-up. Certainly we have players who can completely dominate a game when they are in, combining great ball skills, drive and field awareness. But beyond our team's individual talents what makes the Sharks so formidable is their teamwork. On offense the foundation of that teamwork is the team's general understanding that they need to stay spread out and trust each other to handle the ball. At the beginning of this game the threesome we had up front were bunching a bit but you expect that early in the game as the kids are so anxious to play. By the final quarter they were spreading the field beautifully and Sam looked like a Beckham back there in fullback distributing the ball to Elizabeth and Jackson on the wings. Even in the first quarter they had their tempo by the end of the period and Samuel and Diego were both keeping their distance from Sam and then dashing into position for shot opportunities. Samuel had a two goal day, in fact. The extent to which these kids "get it" already is remarkable.
more after the break
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