OESA Spring Classic

I had a lot of fun at the soccer fields this weekend and thought things went very well. It is amazing how much you can learn about the game watching other players (and coaches). I spoke with several parents and encouraged them to take their son or daughter to watch an older Ohio Elite team. This enables them to see firsthand the skills they need to succeed at the next level.

The U-8 North Boys showed tremendous effort in their first game against the Ohio Elite U-9 Gold Team. I was very pleased with their work ethic and 1v1 skills. I was also very impressed with their ability to step up and match their competitors' level of play. The U-8 North Girls continue to improve and never gave up. The girls were more aggressive and felt confident taking players on. We will continue to work on staying in our positions and supporting our teammates.

Although we stress to our players that the outcome of the game does not matter, I still believe it is important that we teach them to be competitive. In the next couple weeks at practice, I will stress the importance of always giving 100% and having passion for the game. I believe these two attributes will allow them to become better soccer players (and have more fun!!!).

The player's energy coupled with the parent's support made coaching this weekend a blast. I thank you all for your efforts and look forward to next weekend's games.