[lookout123]

This week's report shall be in two parts as I was thrust into the role of team coach five minutes before kickoff so I'll report on both games.

First will be our normal rec team with all my usual kids. I knew the team we were playing and they are by far the weakest team out there. Brand new first time coach, a few strong players, everybody at least decent, but no cohesion. I knew we would pick them apart and drop at least 20 points on them if I lined the kids up like normal, so I had already decided to line my kids up defensively and rotate my weakest kids through forward and goalkeeper. I got a phone call from the director about 30 minutes before the game begging me to do what I had already decided to do, because he wants this group of kids to gain some confidence. No Problem.

Before the game I ran into the other coach and found out he was a player short and no subs so I put Lil Lookout and another player in their colors and was about to send them out when I was told not to worry, their players had showed up. I didn't pay any attention at all and kep LL and my other top scorer on the side. I had a weak line up out there and had already told my kids that for every assist they'd get 5 chucky cheese tokens and for every left foot shot they'd get 10 tokens for our end of season party next month. Yes, I know bribery sucks but how else do you redirect motivations from a normal coaching point? I was still dealing with sideline issues when the whistle blew 20 seconds in and I thought to myself, "uh oh, we scored way to fast". Except it wasn't us. The other team had scored. I couldn't believe it. Cool. Then they did it again. I couldn't figure out who it was until the kid walked back to the center and I realized that they were using two of the players from the club team one age group up. Crap. Now mind you that the other team already has skilled players, just no real leadership - well now they have it.

I acted too slowly to sub though and had to wait until they had scored their third point before putting LL in as center mid with C and C on either side of him and B alone up front. I put my strongest defender in the back with one of my noobs and told her to lock it up. My kids fought it out and but couldn't get close to the net for an open shot. LL started getting frustrated and gave up two fouls back to back. Then the kids settled down and started passing. Unfortunately, the parents from our team got a little excited and started screaming at their kids to pass to LL every chance they could. But the two club players owned him. He'd get the ball and shake one only to get stuffed by the next one. So I subbed him out and gave him some rest. C managed to spook their keeper and allowed B to tap one in behind him so we went into the break down 3-1.

Seeing that my skilled players were getting closed down when they were near the box I changed things up and put my started rotating my unskilled but enthusiastic noobs into the forward slot and played a 3 person midfield pressed close in, LL right behind them and a strong defender back on her own with my strongest keeper in the goal. It worked pretty well as my noobs ran frantically around the goalbox distracting the defenders and the goalie, their club players were pinned deep because I had 3 solid midfielders harassing them from close in. That left LL time on the ball when he'd hover within about 10 feet the center line. My mids kept trying to blast the ball in only to see it bounce back out, but they kept at it. Finally things started to break loose after LL recovered the ball at the center dribbled up a couple yards and let loose. It looped just under the crossbar well out of reach for the keeper.

Now it's 3-2 and my kids have settled into a pattern of blasting it, recovering it, and shooting again. LL scored 2 more from the outside and B headed one in from close. We're up 4-3 now. Then the ball pops out and LL wasn't fast enough to recover and left our lone defender stranded so it is tied 4-4. At that point my kids pick up their 4th foul which results in a shoot out. Just our keeper against their best shooter, easy point for them. Except the keeper made a diving save and stopped it with his nose. No blood, no missing teeth, so he is ready to keep playing. At that point the game opens up. My keeper has the ball but instead of punting it he rolls it short to C in our own corner who dribbles a couple steps, waits for the other player to commit and passes it up the line, to B who does the exact same thing, so LL receives the ball about 10 feet from the goal, but on the line he has to cut in and thread it between the defender and the goalie. Instead he decides to be fancy and use that time to try a new trick. He takes 2 steps back, sucks the defender out and kicks the ball against the wall to the his right. The defender and the keeper turn to watch the ball, but LL has run out to his left where the ball bounces out and taps it in with his left foot. Lucky he made it or I'd have kicked his little but for that one.

It goes back and forth for awhile and the kids just kept grinding. The game ended 10-10 and the kids were exhausted. It was by far the most challenging game they've had as a group and it was fun to watch.