Developing Force

What a game by the St Luke's North Bundaberg Under 9 side. The boys should be proud of Saturdays performance. We were short a few players, we beat the rain and we almost beat Moore park. In the end a 3-3 result was not a true reflection how well they played. 

What impresses me more and more everytime I watch the boys is their approach to fair play. Regardless of how we see the different opponents play the boys stick to the way they are trained and today showed great reward. They are passing better each week and today I also was impressed by the dribbling skills of every player. Special note to Dane who is showing more and more confidence in his ability and Riley also showed a great improvement with his speed on the ball. Alistair was a star in goal and made some crucial saves that frustrated the oppostion and can only be desrcibed as a match winning performance. If I recall correctly Jack, Chris and Aiden all scored goals and were well supported by all on the field. Aiden showed great fortitude in defence and his timing in tackles is ever improving. Jack also is showing more determination to cover the whole field and made some excellent covering tackles to force the all out. Sam was an enlightened player and showed defensive qualities that surprised me and knew when to push forward as well. Chris stepped up markedly and his goal was great reward for his continual involvement. Owen lead well at the front and was unfortunate not to score with the many raids he made forward. I cannot go past Hayden though. It always a difficult task to coach your own son and trying not to show favouritism on the field or in reports but today he put in yet again another great defensive effort with piercing attacks down the sideline.

We were also missing Alex, who is one of our solid three in the back and has the great ability to run down and attack with his great speed. Tihan who has found his confidence and is rapidly improving with his foot skills and determination and not to forget Clancy who is an intimidating force in attack and can always be guaranteed for a goal or two with his determination to get to the ball first regardless of what is in his way.

What I am liking is that every week we are not seeing the same player perform the best and more and more it is a team effort. When they start playing competition football is when we will see the fruits of this years development. You only have to take highlights from todays game and past games to see where other boys are being failed by their coaches and it is only good for us.  How often do we see an opposition have a player, usually 2, camped deep in our territory? Although it gets them goals now, imagine how confused these players will be once they are penalised for offside in the future. Then you get the players that still persist in using their hands when the ball is in the air or today we saw examples of a player using his hands when the ball was on the ground. The other worrying trend is unfortunately one that blights the game and that is shirt pulling and pushing in the back. It is hard to eradicate this from the game when it is at the top level, but I am proud of how our boys are not resorting to this tactic. Admittedly it does creep in occassionally but I am on their back to ensure it doesn't become part of their game. 

Today was yet again another performance that the coach is very proud of and hopefully the boys are aware of how happy we all are of their development this year. Half of the team I have only started coaching this year and some of them have never played before, so to see how quickly they are all coming together as a team and building on each others confidence is great reward. They are valuing the need of teamwork and this can be seen on the field. A goal scorer always thanks the players that set them up and many a time a congratulatory message will be given to a defender of the keeper after a great save or tackle. And individually each player is improving more and more every week, there is not much more  could ask for.