But what we don't have* - or are restricted in - is space. There are two types of space i'll write about here: gym space for winter and off season conditioning and outdoor grass space - you know, a soccer field.
Getting back to that this is the fourth high school Ive coached at/but first as head coach thing. @ Saw H.S., our field was rite in back of the school. Huge open park. @ Lit, our field was a bit of a walk away - maybe 6 blocks, and through a very segregated and rough part of Chicago. but we were never hassled, so again - nice open field to play on. My last HS team was the big one: Nek. And again - we had a huge park in back and always a place to play. In the off season, we also had places to play. @ Lit, we had a small basketball court where we played we and Friday from 3-6 after school when we were not inseason. @ Nek, we ran in the halls and used the gyms when the other teams in season left (so, f.ex, when the basketball team ended it's workouts, we'd take over the gym.
But here: we are a step child. My school has a big park in back of the school - but it's totally earmarked for baseball and softball in the spring. Since we are such a large school - we also have tonnes of teams for every sport. And space - fuck what a premium.
Indoor Conditioning / gym
When we start - now - we use gyms a lot until - well, you know, until it's not January and we can take on the Continental winter taking us on - but our gym space is severely limited. So - i've had to be creative. There are three main gyms here - two small, one expansive. When the girls basketball team ends - here's wishing them best of luck as I know lots of the girls and of course I wish the best for them - we get one of the little gyms. Seeing the State playoffs schedule, I see that we (girls BBall) will play in first round through the week of the 16-20 Feb. If the team is ousted in the playoffs, then we get the gym then. But that's a bit away.
So, for rite now, we are restricted to two places. The first is the park where we practice outdoors @. They have a small field house w/ a gym, and because I have been respectful, the park manager has opened it up to us when they can. They are socked u w/ programs for kids and seniors in the afternoons - but since we get a lot of 1/2 days and off days, I asked the park district if on those days we could get some space. So - every other Wednesday here is a 1/2 day for the kids. Since I am still a sub, I can kinda k out and watch the girls play for the 1.5 h we can squeeze in. Friday is a day no kids come in either - nor do subs. So, again, this Friday we got the gym from 10-noon.
It's important to maintain a good relationship w/ the park manager. We also play outdoor in his park (but more on that later- much more). When I first approacahed him about some indoor gym time, he was very hesitant. This problem and that thing. He let us in once, told me these rules etc etc etc.. and after the second time we conditioned** - when he saw me in control, barking and directing, he opened the doors to us. He knew we were serious, and responded in kind. A big deal w/ girls soccer is that all the boys hang out. The park manager was very certain about this - no boys except for a helper or 2. Our soccer boys are beyond great, however - they see the need for the girls to have playing time, and they are totally on board with me in trying our best for the girls. When the manager saw the boys all in the stands and not fucking around (100% not fucking around - these boys really will be a help to me this season in a number of ways). After the season, if things remain as they are, I will make sure the whole team will thank him in .... so we get treated rite next winter as well. I'm so glad he's working with us - we really need it.
Indoor conditioning/ the halls
Oh shit- the Halls? Simply put, soccer players have an enormous need for being in shape. Yes, these are 17 and 18 year old girls I am coaching. I don'y think they smoke. They should be in shape to run to the top,of Everest or Denali and back in 45m flat. They are young. But the fact is, they are going up against other 17-18 yo girls WHO ARE IN SHAPE. I can fucking say for sure that the gils @ Uoy, Nik, etc etc are all running queens who will be able to go for the entire 80m game. And we need our girls to have that same training. Our girls are just as important as any other program - and we need to be in shape.
That means we have 'track' practice in the halls in the gym building. My plan is to use the park gym next Wednesday and Friday, but the week after that, we will run 2m (maybe 3m) on M-W-F for 2 weeks, then 3m the next week, then 4m th week after, By then - we should have an indoor gym. So- lots of running around the gym building to build up stamina. In 2 weeks - M-F. Boring.
But, if we want to beat........
Indoor conditioning/ the red gym
The red gym is a third option we will use. it's rally not a gym - think in terms of a weightlifting area. Lots of padding, however, and enough space where i think we can get some use out if it as well. It's too small to play a proper game of soccer - but I can use it - my thinking takes me rite now - for two purposes. One is to train the goalies. Simply put, I am to try to create an atmosphere where the goalies will get maybe specialized training twice a week. In the red gym, I can have the 2-4 kids we earmark for goal to have reaction practice etc using those small, size 2 or 3 balls they are smaller than regulation balls (they look like toy soccer balls, but are actually great for training). And, finally, I hope to use the size 2-3 balls so the girls can use them a bit in the red gym for ball handling purposes.
I'll have to test the viability of these options for the red gym. We have never used it before.
......................................
* continued, more or less, from this post
Getting back to that this is the fourth high school Ive coached at/but first as head coach thing. @ Saw H.S., our field was rite in back of the school. Huge open park. @ Lit, our field was a bit of a walk away - maybe 6 blocks, and through a very segregated and rough part of Chicago. but we were never hassled, so again - nice open field to play on. My last HS team was the big one: Nek. And again - we had a huge park in back and always a place to play. In the off season, we also had places to play. @ Lit, we had a small basketball court where we played we and Friday from 3-6 after school when we were not inseason. @ Nek, we ran in the halls and used the gyms when the other teams in season left (so, f.ex, when the basketball team ended it's workouts, we'd take over the gym.
But here: we are a step child. My school has a big park in back of the school - but it's totally earmarked for baseball and softball in the spring. Since we are such a large school - we also have tonnes of teams for every sport. And space - fuck what a premium.
Indoor Conditioning / gym
When we start - now - we use gyms a lot until - well, you know, until it's not January and we can take on the Continental winter taking us on - but our gym space is severely limited. So - i've had to be creative. There are three main gyms here - two small, one expansive. When the girls basketball team ends - here's wishing them best of luck as I know lots of the girls and of course I wish the best for them - we get one of the little gyms. Seeing the State playoffs schedule, I see that we (girls BBall) will play in first round through the week of the 16-20 Feb. If the team is ousted in the playoffs, then we get the gym then. But that's a bit away.
So, for rite now, we are restricted to two places. The first is the park where we practice outdoors @. They have a small field house w/ a gym, and because I have been respectful, the park manager has opened it up to us when they can. They are socked u w/ programs for kids and seniors in the afternoons - but since we get a lot of 1/2 days and off days, I asked the park district if on those days we could get some space. So - every other Wednesday here is a 1/2 day for the kids. Since I am still a sub, I can kinda k out and watch the girls play for the 1.5 h we can squeeze in. Friday is a day no kids come in either - nor do subs. So, again, this Friday we got the gym from 10-noon.
It's important to maintain a good relationship w/ the park manager. We also play outdoor in his park (but more on that later- much more). When I first approacahed him about some indoor gym time, he was very hesitant. This problem and that thing. He let us in once, told me these rules etc etc etc.. and after the second time we conditioned** - when he saw me in control, barking and directing, he opened the doors to us. He knew we were serious, and responded in kind. A big deal w/ girls soccer is that all the boys hang out. The park manager was very certain about this - no boys except for a helper or 2. Our soccer boys are beyond great, however - they see the need for the girls to have playing time, and they are totally on board with me in trying our best for the girls. When the manager saw the boys all in the stands and not fucking around (100% not fucking around - these boys really will be a help to me this season in a number of ways). After the season, if things remain as they are, I will make sure the whole team will thank him in .... so we get treated rite next winter as well. I'm so glad he's working with us - we really need it.
Indoor conditioning/ the halls
Oh shit- the Halls? Simply put, soccer players have an enormous need for being in shape. Yes, these are 17 and 18 year old girls I am coaching. I don'y think they smoke. They should be in shape to run to the top,of Everest or Denali and back in 45m flat. They are young. But the fact is, they are going up against other 17-18 yo girls WHO ARE IN SHAPE. I can fucking say for sure that the gils @ Uoy, Nik, etc etc are all running queens who will be able to go for the entire 80m game. And we need our girls to have that same training. Our girls are just as important as any other program - and we need to be in shape.
That means we have 'track' practice in the halls in the gym building. My plan is to use the park gym next Wednesday and Friday, but the week after that, we will run 2m (maybe 3m) on M-W-F for 2 weeks, then 3m the next week, then 4m th week after, By then - we should have an indoor gym. So- lots of running around the gym building to build up stamina. In 2 weeks - M-F. Boring.
But, if we want to beat........
Indoor conditioning/ the red gym
The red gym is a third option we will use. it's rally not a gym - think in terms of a weightlifting area. Lots of padding, however, and enough space where i think we can get some use out if it as well. It's too small to play a proper game of soccer - but I can use it - my thinking takes me rite now - for two purposes. One is to train the goalies. Simply put, I am to try to create an atmosphere where the goalies will get maybe specialized training twice a week. In the red gym, I can have the 2-4 kids we earmark for goal to have reaction practice etc using those small, size 2 or 3 balls they are smaller than regulation balls (they look like toy soccer balls, but are actually great for training). And, finally, I hope to use the size 2-3 balls so the girls can use them a bit in the red gym for ball handling purposes.
I'll have to test the viability of these options for the red gym. We have never used it before.
......................................
* continued, more or less, from this post
**"conditioning" is allowed by state rules only in March. We are..... conditioning.... yeah, yeah, that's the word......conditioning... right now... just like our football team is, 10m before their next game. hey -you wanna play? Ya gotta work. Like life.
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