Question Number: 17593

Other 10/30/2007

RE: REC Under 15

Mica Saunders of Lancaster, PA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17510

I've been on both ends of being romp. When my team was up by 5 goals, I had them shoot outside the 18 or shot with their weak foot. This makes them practice using their other foot as well as shooting long. I also had them pass 3 to 4 times before they shoot. I will not play keep away with the other team. I might even pull a player out.

When I am on the other side, I appreciate the coach doing the same thing. This helps eliminate embrassement to the team.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Spot on mate, while the lopsided score is not a reflection of anything watching someone score for the first time or see a well crossed ball headed into goal from a player who always closed their eyes maybe against a weaker opponent but it shows them they can do it! I had a u-11 (all ten year olds) who were the top in their house league unbeaten in fact play my elite u-12s (1 eight, 1 nine, 2 ten , 7 eleven, 7 twelve in an exhibition. I rested my 12s for the most part but sent them in on rotation which specifics things in mind.

It was obvious we could score at will and the u-11 kids really tried hard and were trying to move within the framework of the big field at 11 versus 11 for the first time we were a team built over 3 years on a big field 11 versus 11 and only 2 new players for this year the 8 year old who was incredible and a ten year old. We switched into our who has not yet scored mode and then all balls into the goal line crossed back headed goals only or cross back switches off the chest or dummied balls and drop passes into the late oncoming shooters .

Our players chipped ball passes and chest and thigh traps rather than balls along the ground. We were too fast and too widespread on this field for the 10 year olds we faced to chase the ball effectively if we stayed on the deck only. We constantly moved the ball one side to the other in a series of air passes to free the run to the goal line then crossed then headed we scored a lot but the u-11' s never lost heart and were very appreciative of the skill our kids displayed. The fact our leading scorer was 8 (almost 9) years old they were in awe of his play. He hit two curling blasts into the goal , plus three headed balls, 1 back heel off a dummy run and two scissor kicks for 8 of the 17 they scored. He had been knocked about in our regular tournament play because of his stature but man could that young fellow lean into a ball and send it on its way.

The u-11's especially the keeper began to anticipate our tactics and made excellent adjustments to come out and not make those crosses so easy to run onto. That keeper was hammered with so many shots it was incredible his arms were still attached. I did ask my players to over commit rather than delay and take away space and to go in single rather than double or triple team as they were trained to allow the u-11's to mount an attack and get some shots away. But life is not always about softening the blow but to see how a team works well by the team they play learned more in that lesson than beating up their house league teams.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I think playing keep away or not allowing a shot before 5 passes are horrible ways to play the game. It's more embarassing knowing the other team isn't even trying

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I agree with the philosophy. When I used to coach, I did the exact same thing.