So, it turns out that I actually the greatest coach of all time. J-V won 5-0. Lo. scored three goals -the first hat trick -and she had another called back that was spectacular. And it was a goal. But the refs took pity on the other squad. Still - was a goal. Nice game, squealing kids after the final whistle and all that. Coach happy.
And I'm a shitty coach. Lotta times when you are figgering out where to put who - believe me, the team was a tabla rosa when we started -it's all up in the air. But, play a few games, and by now, most kids have a set position. The defenders know their position, the midfield is set, as are - generally - the forwards. There are emergencies and such where a players gotta play somewhere else, But the team by now has some expectations, a a knowledge of what is expected of them, and the experience of all pulling to-gether. From here, we can start building a team's capabilities- the base is now set. We really didn't need a super effort this game. We played a proud school who's girls soccer team is on a downturn. Our varsity lost this game - even though we outplayed them the whole game. The J-V was clearly superior - hence the 5-0 result.
But that shitty coach intro to the last para -what's that??
A., who I had playing sweeper (last defender rite in front of the goal), had professor a great need to play forward. Right - every kid, when the season starts, wants to play forward- well, except for the kid who loves goalie- and a coach has to carefully explain how important the kid is for the team in the position that is NOT forward. A., however, kept asking for forward - and made a terrible mistake in an earlier game (Inexperience) - so I played her on top this game. She got two goals. Stupid coach for having her in defence this whole time? Nah - just a learning curve. I have to know my players even better.
I also had the grand pleasure of riding the bus for this game. In the old days, I'd be on the bus w/ the kids every game. The boys buses were riot houses - all sorts of 16 yo boys devising different ways of hitting and punching each other -for fun - the whole ride. The center piece would be the "pamba sessions". Part teenage aggression, part team initiation, part comedic spectacle - they are some of the things that I will remember the most about my coaching career.
And I'm a shitty coach. Lotta times when you are figgering out where to put who - believe me, the team was a tabla rosa when we started -it's all up in the air. But, play a few games, and by now, most kids have a set position. The defenders know their position, the midfield is set, as are - generally - the forwards. There are emergencies and such where a players gotta play somewhere else, But the team by now has some expectations, a a knowledge of what is expected of them, and the experience of all pulling to-gether. From here, we can start building a team's capabilities- the base is now set. We really didn't need a super effort this game. We played a proud school who's girls soccer team is on a downturn. Our varsity lost this game - even though we outplayed them the whole game. The J-V was clearly superior - hence the 5-0 result.
But that shitty coach intro to the last para -what's that??
A., who I had playing sweeper (last defender rite in front of the goal), had professor a great need to play forward. Right - every kid, when the season starts, wants to play forward- well, except for the kid who loves goalie- and a coach has to carefully explain how important the kid is for the team in the position that is NOT forward. A., however, kept asking for forward - and made a terrible mistake in an earlier game (Inexperience) - so I played her on top this game. She got two goals. Stupid coach for having her in defence this whole time? Nah - just a learning curve. I have to know my players even better.
I also had the grand pleasure of riding the bus for this game. In the old days, I'd be on the bus w/ the kids every game. The boys buses were riot houses - all sorts of 16 yo boys devising different ways of hitting and punching each other -for fun - the whole ride. The center piece would be the "pamba sessions". Part teenage aggression, part team initiation, part comedic spectacle - they are some of the things that I will remember the most about my coaching career.
The inition phase was the funniest. Everyone on the team would have to be initiated - the great supertalented seniors had to go through the process when they were freshmen. The last school I coached @ the sessions were as follows : Varsity in back, and one by one the freshman/ new players were called to the back of the bus. There followed a complete hush as the team leader asked the player a few questions, including a trick question. (think the part in The Holy Grail where in order to cross the bridge the knights had to answer three questions - the last an 'impossible' trick question). And I mean a hush - from a screaming wilde raucous to a total plush hush. From where we always sit - in the front - we'd look back @ this scence - darkened bus, varsity crowded around the sacrificial lamb, and an inaudible conversation between the captain and the lamb.
Can't hear...........
hushed words...........
then..........
the captain,
---with a raised "HUH??" when inevitably the kid answers wrong
---pandemonioum, with yelling and shouting breaking out in the back
---the varsity all crowding around the lamb to 'pamba' his head for the 4-5 seconds
---someone yells "THAT"S ENOUGH !!"
---then 40 men and boys, even the lamb, all cascadingly laughing like crazy (but no trouble we're in)
I always understood that these pamba sessions were crazy - some of you are reacting that way rite now, do not deny - but it was part of the culture, and it has always made me laugh. The worst was when someone would "ride" the lamb- basically the kid was lifted by his arms and legs, and a thin kids would jump on him for a few seconds. Always kinda crazy.
But
Not girls teams. Never. Not once. Ever.
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