US Youth Soccer

Region 1 ODP

1989 Girls

Technical Report

Interregional, Boca Raton, Florida

November 22 – 29, 2003

Coaches

Andy Biggs             Head Coach

Paul Halford           Assistant Coach

Team

Saturday, November 22

Morning and Afternoon

          The players arrived throughout the day.  Once they settled in at the hotel, they had a chance to get reacquainted and relax.

PM Training

          We had our first training session at Florida Atlantic University.

Topic: Attacking patterns and shape

Objective: To coordinate the team’s attack

Warm-up:

Jogging and Stretching.

Fun tag game -- helped to put the players at ease and get moving again after a day’s travel.

First Activity:

Circle Passing.

Coaching points -- takeovers, passing combinations, and reading teammates. 

This activity was part of our pre-game warm-up, and so helped the players to get comfortable with a piece of that routine.

2^nd Activity:

8v8 plus goalkeepers.  4-2-2 shape vs. 3-3-2 shape.

Coaching Points -- starting positions of the backs, forwards, and midfielders, playing early passes into the forward’s feet, and playing the direction that you face.

Third Activity:

4v4 plus goalkeepers.  1-2-1 or 2-1-1 shape.

Restrictions – games to one goal or 1 minute, team that scores plays again, two-touch/play the way you face.

Coaching Points -- starting positions and shape, playing the way you face, and finishing.

Cool-down:

Jogging and Stretching.

PM Meeting

          We discussed expectations, rules, team goals, and a tentative schedule for the week.  The players were told that each of them would play at least half of every game without being subbed, and that each would start a game and finish one.

Sunday, November 23

AM Training

Topic: Attacking patterns and shape

Objective: To coordinate the team’s attack

Warm-up:

Circle Passing.

Coaching Points: takeovers, passing combinations, reading teammates, quality of pass, angle and distance of support.

1st Activity:

8v7 + 1v2 to counter goals. (Building out of the back)

Coaching Points:  starting positions of backs and wide midfielders, playing early passes into forwards feet, safety vs. risk, keeping the ball rolling, changing the point of attack.

2^nd Activity

7v6 to counter goals. 5-2 shape vs. 3-3 shape. (Playing from midfield into the final third)

Coaching points: starting positions of midfielders and forwards, timing/organization of forwards’ runs, keeping the ball rolling, playing the way you face, combination play.

3rd Activity:

8v8 plus goalkeepers.  3-3-2 shape vs. 3-3-2 shape.

Coaching Points: starting positions, team shape, keeping the ball rolling, playing the way you face.

Cool-down:

Jogging and Stretching.

Evening Training

Topic: Team defending

Objective: To coordinate the team’s defense

Warm-up:

Jogging and Stretching.

1^st Activity:

8v8 plus goalkeepers.  3-3-2 shape vs. 3-3-2 shape.

Coaching Points: transition to defense, channeling centrally, cues to step and drop as a team, denying turns, coordination of the back four, and staying compact across the field.

2^nd Activity:

4v4 plus goalkeepers.  1-2-1 or 2-1-1 shape.

Restrictions – games to one goal or 1 minute, team that scores plays again, two-touch/play the way you face.

Coaching Points -- starting positions and team shape, transition to defense, playing the way you face, and combination play.

Cool-down:

Jogging and Stretching.

Monday, November 24

AM Training

Topic: Attacking Patterns and Shape

Objective: To coordinate the team’s attack

Warm-up:

Circle Passing.

Coaching Points: takeovers, passing combinations, reading teammates, quality of pass and run, bending passes.

          We also added passing and receiving of air balls and heading to get repetition of these techniques into the warm-up as well.

1st Activity:

9v7 plus goalkeepers (3/4 field). 3-4-2 shape vs. 2-3-2 shape. (Building out of the back)

Restrictions – team of 9 must play two touch, team of 7 has unlimited touch.

Coaching Points: starting positions of backs and wide midfielders, playing early passes into forwards feet, safety vs. risk, keeping the ball rolling, changing the point of attack.

2^nd Activity:

9v7 plus goalkeepers (3/4 field).  3-4-2 shape vs. 3-3-1 shape. (Midfield to final third)

Restrictions – team of nine must play two touch, team of seven has unlimited touch, if team of nine cannot shoot within three passes/must keep the ball for 8 passes before shooting.

Coaching points: starting positions of midfielders and forwards, timing/organization of forwards’ runs, keeping the ball rolling, playing the way you face, combination play.

Cool-down:

Pinnie tag in two teams of nine.  Stretching.

Afternoon Meeting

          The players met with Dr. Heather Barber, the Region 1 Sports Psychologist.  They turned in their individual performance goals and one teammate goal for the week.  Dr. Barber paired players with their accountability partners, and they shared their goals with one another.  The rest of the meeting was closed to the coaches.

Afternoon Training

Topic: Team Defending

Objective: To coordinate the team’s defense

Warm-up:

Circle Passing.

Coaching Points: takeovers, passing combinations, reading teammates, quality of pass and run.

1^st Activity:

8v8 plus goalkeepers.  3-3-2 shape vs. 3-3-2 shape.

Coaching Points: transition to defense, starting position and role of forwards, cues to step and drop as a team, denying turns, coordination of the back four, staying compact across the field, and bumping up a line.

2^nd Activity:

8v8 Free/Corner Kick Competition.

Coaching Points: setting walls, defensive starting positions, 1 long corner, 1 short corner, runs in the box, 1 indirect free kick, 1 direct free kick.

Cool-down:

Jogging and Stretching.

Evening

          The players spent an hour or so at the local mall in order to relax, shop, and have a bit of time out of the hotel.

PM Meeting

          Covered key points in our attacking and defending strategy for our game with Region 4.  In attack, playing into the forwards early, keeping the ball rolling, high/wide shape in attack, and getting the 1^st shot. On defense, meeting the ball at the 60, stepping and dropping as a team, staying compact and connected.  We also asked the players to approach the game as an opportunity – a chance to test themselves and our team against another region for the first time.  And we reminded them to focus on what they control --their warm-up, effort, striving for their performance goals – rather than what they do not – heat, jersey color and numbers, referees, opponents.

Tuesday, November 25

Game vs. Region 4

Scoring summary:

Region 1: 0

Region 4: 1

Lineup:

Weiss (Balogun, 46); Anderson (Mikula, 46); Cerrone; Regan; Rodriguez; Richards (McKay, 46); Ludemann (O’Toole, 46); Hurtado (Farrelly, 46); DaCosta (Gonzalez, 46);

D’Agostino; Knowlton (Schuyler, 46).

Match Summary:

          We started the game in a 4-4-2, and met our goal of taking the first shot in the game.  Prior to the game, we asked Hannah Cerrone to step from her center back position into midfield when our team had the ball, and she was very effective as an additional midfielder in attack. She was able to receive balls in the gap between their forwards and backs and effectively set the play from there.  Our team dominated much of the first half with our possession, and created several quality scoring chances, but failed to convert.  As the half wore on, we grew a bit impatient in attack, and started to turn the ball over too easily which helped to create a few gaps in our team.

          At half time, we congratulated the players on their effort and soccer in their first-ever half against another regional team, and we challenged them to use the second half as an opportunity to improve upon the standard they had set. In order to improve, we told them they needed to be more consistent with their possession, and we reminded them that as they tired it was even more important to keep the ball rolling and play the direction that they faced.  We also pointed out that after we won the ball, it was important for the entire team to move forward as a unit, so that we would have a good shape when we turned the ball over.

          Our team dominated possession for much of the 2^nd half, creating more quality chances than we had in the first.  Unfortunately, we struggled with our finishing; missing a breakaway and, on more than one occasion, shooting directly at the keeper from well inside the box.  Late in the second half, we gave up a free kick, and Region 4 converted to go ahead 1-0.  And while we played with three front players for the remainder of the game, we were unable to equalize.

          Despite the result of the game, we believe our players gave a great account of themselves in their first game at an Interregional.  They showed good ability to create quality scoring chances from their possession, and defended quite well – allowing only 3 shots in the entire game.  In the end, the game was decided on finishing, as we did not make enough of our 18 shots at goal.

Afternoon

          The players had an hour by the hotel pool to relax and unwind after more than two days of preparation and play.

Evening

          The players went to see Elf at a local movie theater.

Wednesday, November 26

AM Training

Topic:  Attacking from midfield into the final third/team defending

Objective: To improve combination play between the midfield and forwards

                Refine ability to force and win the ball in outer third of the field

Warm-up:

Jogging and Stretching.

1st Activity:

2v2 + 4v4 + 2v2 with goalkeepers. (Attacking)

Coaching Points: early passes into forwards, starting positions of midfielders, playing the way you face, finding the player who is facing forward, transition to attack, timing of runs.

2nd Activity:

8v8 with goalkeepers. (Defending)

Coaching Points: transition to defense, starting positions and role of forwards, cues to step and drop as a team, denying turns, coordination of the back four, staying compact across the field, and bumping up a line, playing with time and score.

3^rd Activity:

Crossing and finishing.

Coaching Points: quality of run, head up to find goalkeeper, side foot vs. instep.

Cool-down:

Jogging and Stretching.

AM Meeting

          Jeff Pill, US Soccer Women’s National Staff Coach and U19 WNT Assistant, met with the players of our ’88 and ’89 teams to show them the ACL Prevention program currently used by the US Women’s National Teams. The players had received the program via email prior to the tournament, and he led them through the series of dynamic stretches and exercises designed to reduce the risk of ACL injuries, so they would know how to follow through with the program once they returned home.

Afternoon Meeting

          The players met with Dr. Barber.  She spoke with them about self-evaluation, and asked them to evaluate their play in Tuesday’s game.  On the whole the girls were overly critical of their own play, so she suggested ideas that would help them arrive at an accurate evaluation.  The players then met with their accountability partners in order to discuss their progress relative to the goals they had set for themselves for the week.  Afterwards, Dr. Barber split the team into three groups of six and led them through a couple of activities designed to facilitate communication and trust, including a relay where players led a blindfolded partner through an obstacle course.

Evening

                    After dinner, we attended the game between the Region 1 ‘86’s and Scotland’s U16 National Team.  The game afforded the players the opportunity to see how US players stack up against their foreign counterparts, and at the same time allowed them to see the standard of play necessary to compete for our regional team at the U17 age group.  The game was also a great opportunity for the players to support our Region.

PM Meeting

          Covered key points in our attacking and defending strategy for our game with Region 3.  In attack, keeping the ball rolling, backs finding early passes to forwards, midfielders and forwards combining, and getting the 1^st shot.  In defense, staying compact and connected, stepping on balls that go back or sideways, and winning the ball in the outer 3^rd of the field.  We also spoke to the players about getting back to chest with their opponents on our punts and long goal kicks in order to position ourselves to win the first ball.

Thursday, November 27

Game vs. Region 3

Scoring summary:

Region 1: 4   D’Agostino, 20; Knowlton (Hurtado), 67; Hurtado (McKay), 72; Knowlton, 81.

Region 3: 0

Lineup:

Balogun (Weiss, 46); Richards (Anderson, 46); Cerrone; Regan (O’Toole, 46); Gonzalez (Rodriguez, 46); Mikula (McKay, 46); Hurtado; Ludemann; Schuyler (DaCosta, 46); D’Agostino; Farrelly (Knowlton, 46).

Match summary:

          Over the course of the week, we often reminded the players that their challenge was to improve their standard of play in each game.  And in our game with Region 3, the players were able to raise their game to another level.  We dominated the first half with our possession, and created several quality scoring chances, as our forwards and midfielders combined better than they had in the first game. Defensively we stayed compact throughout the half, and executed our plan of trapping the ball in the wide areas of the field.  Region 3 played out of a 4-3-3, so we chose to force the ball wide rather into the middle, as we had against Region 4, in order to eliminate their midfield from the buildup.  In so doing, our players showed the flexibility to adapt to different game plans.

          We entered half-time ahead 1-0, the goal coming in 20^th minute after a fine individual effort by Bianca D’Agostino (CT).  Heading into the second half, we instructed the players to play wide a bit faster than we had in the first, as we believed there was a good deal of space we could take advantage of with an early pass out wide.  With just the one major adjustment to communicate, we used much of the break to reset our goals for the 2^nd half. 

In the first half, the players on the bench had charted passes from backs to forwards, combinations between forwards and midfielders, and winning the ball in the outer thirds of the field.  And we met all of our goals except for the passes from our backs to our forwards.  A big reason was that the backs were, at times, struggling to read the defense, and were often forcing balls into the forwards, when we first needed a wide pass to create a channel before playing into the forwards.  Just as the rest of the team needed to read when the ball should go wide, the backs also needed to take their game to the next level by reading the game to decide whether the ball could go straight to the forwards or needed to go wide first. 

The second half started slowly.  With the substitutes adjusting to the game, we were hesitant to communicate, and it took about 15 minutes for us to find our rhythm again.  Once the players settled in, we began to play as well as we had all week.  We possessed the ball for long stretches, and scoring chances began to appear in bunches.  While we didn’t finish as many as we should have, the players’ effort was rewarded with three quality goals.  In the 67^th minute, Brooke Knowlton (ENY-N) combined with Jessica Hurtado (NJ) at the top of the box, and calmly slotted the ball past the keeper.  Just a few minutes later, Hurtado buried a header in the top right hand corner from a well-driven corner by Chloe McKay (CT).  And in the 81^st minute, Knowlton, free on the top of the box, scored on a wicked curling shot that rattled off the right post.

Afternoon

          The ‘88’s and ‘89’s went to see Haunted Mansion at the local movie theater.

Evening

          All of the teams from each of the four regions, along with the US and Scottish U16 National Teams had Thanksgiving dinner at the hotel.  Prior to dinner, Tracy Leone, U19 WNT Coach, spoke to the players about the commitment and sacrifice necessary to play for the U19 Women’s National Team, and the showed them the film commemorating the US win at the 2002 U19 World Championship.

PM Meeting

          The players took part in a short birthday celebration for Charlotte Moran, and then Jeff Pill met with all four Region 1 teams to share his experiences from the past year with the U19 Women’s National Team.  Using a PowerPoint presentation, Jeff cited examples from recent training camps and tours to illustrate the unique qualities of players currently participating in the U19 National Team pool, and provided the players with practical suggestions in regards to developing these qualities in themselves.

Friday, November 28

AM Training

Topic: Attacking patterns and shape/finishing

Objective: To coordinate the team’s attack and improve finishing

Warm-up:

Jogging and Stretching.

1^st Activity: (20 minutes)

8v8 plus goalkeepers.   3-3-2 shape vs. 3-3-2 shape.

Coaching Points: starting positions, team shape, keeping the ball rolling, playing the way you face, attacking with time and score.

2^nd Activity:

4v4 plus goalkeepers.  1-2-1 or 2-1-1 shape.

Restrictions – games to one goal or 1 minute, team that scores plays again, two-touch/play the way you face.

Coaching Points -- starting positions and team shape, transition to defense, playing the way you face, combination play, finishing.

3rd Activity:

Crossing and finishing competition. (two teams)

Coaching Points: timing and organization of near and far post runs, driven, bent, and lofted crosses, shooting technique.

Cool-down:

Relay competition in 4 teams.  Stretching.

Afternoon

          The players spent an hour at a local beach.

Evening

          At the end of dinner at the FAU cafeteria, the players sang Happy Birthday to Deb Dooley, and presented her with a cake and birthday card.  After dinner, we attended the game between the US U16 National Team and Scotland.  The game afforded our players, some of whom will be invited in with the U16 National Team in the coming year, the opportunity to see two nationals teams prepare for a game, and provided them with a glimpse of the intensity of international competition at the youth level.

PM Meeting

          Covered key points in our attacking and defending strategy.  In attack, keeping the ball rolling, taking advantage of opportunities to combine, reading the game to decide whether to play vertically or wide, and taking the 1^st shot.  In defense, trapping the ball wide, denying turns, and closing gaps.  We also spoke to the players about the importance of finishing the week better than we started it, and encouraged them to refocus on their weekly goals.

Saturday, November 29

Game vs. Region 2

Scoring summary:

Region 1: 2   D’Agostino (Regan), 20; Regan (Mikula), 90.

Region 2: 2   38; 90.

Lineup:

Weiss (Balogun, 46); Anderson (Richards, 46); Cerrone; O’Toole (Mikula, 46); Rodriguez; McKay (Gonzalez, 46); Hurtado (Ludemann, 46); Regan; Schuyler (DaCosta, 46); D’Agostino; Farrelly (Knowlton, 46).

Match summary:

          The weather for our game with Region 2 was the coolest that we saw all week, as the temperature dropped into the low 60’s with a strong breeze that made it feel even cooler.  We decided to play into the wind in the first half; hoping to have the wind at our backs for the final half of the week.  We believed we could score an early goal, or at least go into half-time tied, and felt that if that turned out to be true, we’d have something of a psychological advantage heading into the 2^nd half.

          Over the course of the first half, we again showed great ability to possess the ball.  And as the half wore on, we began to combine with greater frequency, and created several quality chances.  Many of the combinations, we had 11 in the first half, involved our wide players, who were playing a larger role than in past games.

          Our 1^st half possession and combination play resulted in 7 shots at goal, and we entered half-time tied 1-1 after Bianca D’Agostino scored her second goal of the tournament in the 20^th minute.  Region 2 scored against the run of play in the 38^th minute after clearing a 2^nd ball over our backline for a player to finish on half-breakaway.

          We again made our substitutes at half-time, and this time the players made a more seamless transition than in our previous game.  At half-time, we challenged the players to provide 3 pieces of information to their teammates in the 1^st ten minutes of the second half in order to overcome the problems caused by lack of communication in the early minutes of the 2^nd half against Region 3.

          Throughout the 2^nd 45 minutes, we continued to dominate possession, playing most of the half in Region 2’s side of the field.  Our wide players, both second half substitutes, continued to find space, and helped us to create more chances than we had in the first.  In the second half, we combined 19 times, and had a total of 12 shots on goal.  However, we again struggled with our finishing; hitting the crossbar from inside the six on a cross rolled back from the baseline from just outside the post, and shooting several directly at the keeper after breaking free inside the box from quality combinations.

          Despite struggling to finish our chances, our players kept their composure and continued to play well.  With 10 minutes left, we moved from a 4-4-2 to a 3-4-3 to see if we could find the winning goal.  Nicole Mikula (EPA) moved from center back to left wing, and quickly began to cause our opponents fits.  In the final minute, she beat her defender on the left side of the box, and played in a terrific cross which Chelsea Regan (NJ) volleyed home after a perfectly timed run at the far post.

          Unfortunately, we lost our focus after the goal.  And just seconds later, after a quick back pass and a long ball towards the top of our box, a Region 2 forward slid between two or three of our defenders to tie the game in the final seconds.

          While the result of the game was disappointing, the performance of the players was not.  They fought hard to win, and while we came away with a tie, we nonetheless achieved our most important goal of improving of our performance in each game of the tournament.   

Team Evaluation

          The 1989 group is a talented one, and exceeded all expectations with their play.  The players rose to the challenge of Interregional competition while living away from home for a week during the holidays.  The ‘89’s have a solid level of technical ability, a high level of athleticism, and, without exception, they compete well.  They showed great ability to possess the ball, and, tactically, this group is a bit more sophisticated than previous U14 teams in regards to their ability to penetrate in the final third.  The forwards were more comfortable getting in seams and “posting up”, and the midfielders and forwards were consistently able to combine to get behind the opponent’s backline.

          As this group moves ahead, some areas to improve are crossing and finishing, long passing, and reading the game in defense.  The need for improvement as crossers and finishers was very apparent in each of our three games and in training.  As crossers, the players need to improve in the techniques of bending, driving, and lofting crosses as well as the decision of which type of cross best suits a given situation.  As finishers, the players need to refine their technique under pressure and improve their decisions related to power vs. placement.

          Long passing was also an issue at times. Most often for backs trying to play balls into forward targets, but also for midfielders and backs who were unable to change the point of attack with a single pass. 

          As far as reading the game in defense, our team grasped the general ideas of steering the ball wide or into the center of our team, but as individuals, we sometimes struggled to read the game as the 2^nd defender.  At times, we could’ve been more adept at reading passes and stepping to intercept, and “bumping up” from the midfield and backlines to create double teams and traps.  So we often won the ball as a result of the athleticism and defensive tenacity of the first defender.

          Looking back, the week was a great success for the players and the team.  All of the players were a credit to their clubs, states, and to the Region.  Off the field, their conduct was exemplary.  On the field, they showcased their individual talents, Hannah Cerrone (ENY-N), Bianca D’Agostino (CT), Cassie Ludemann (ENY-S), and Nicole Weiss (CT) were selected for the U16 National Team pool, while playing as a team.

          Looking ahead, each of the players is suited to the demands of traveling and playing with a regional team.  Off the field, the players got along better than any regional team that I have traveled with, as they came together as a group of 18 friends.  And on the field, each player on the team played at least half of every game and the level of play remained high regardless of the combination of players on the field.

Notes

Paul Halford, Assistant Coach.  Paul was a great asset to our team as assistant coach.  Throughout the week he showed great ability to communicate with the players. And his input at training and games was undoubtedly an important key to the team’s performance over the course of the tournament.  

Deb Dooley, Team Administrator.  Deb worked tirelessly throughout the week, and quickly established an excellent rapport with the players, who developed a great affection for her. She was professional at all times, and her effort helped to ensure a smooth and memorable week for us all.

Jeff Pill, US Women’s National Staff Coach.  Jeff provided great support for our team over the course of the week.  He led the players through the ACL prevention warm-up, presented on the U19 National Team, and was always available as a consultant relative to training and team evaluation.

Dr. Heather Barber, Sports Psychologist.  Heather was am important part of our team’s success over the course of the week.  Her work with our players helped to bring them together as a team, keep focused on their goals, and achieve a state of mind where they were able to play at a high level throughout the week.