Black Pearls: Blissful Training Week 10 of 11, Fall 2015

We are in a blissful place as a group; we have a very good system of friends who work together as mates who combine as a team, and today, 10/19/2015, Athens Soccer Academy Under 10 Black Pearls put that all on display in one of the most memorable training sessions of our season so far.

Athens Soccer Academy Black Pearls Under 10 Fall 2015

It was a simple plan to start with 2v2 small sided games, before combining to play a larger "scrimmage".  We organized onto 3 fields, and had very close results after two 5 minute halves.  Then at the water break, we voted to play as one big game--still on the small fields. This was a very close affair as Orange and Green traded goals.

Sully navigates through traffic

We rested again before moving to the larger field with the same sized goals we play our games with.  Again the game was close; Coach Tad played for Team Green, then Team Orange.  At the halftime break of this game we organized for a team photo, and that appears above--what occurred immediately after that appears as a timeline below--see Second Segment to this post.

A Boy and his Goal

Finally we played again before sounding out our cheer for the second time, and tossing the pinnies in the air.  Players will stay a few extra moments to pick up equipment, kick a few balls, or just chase a friend.

Alex cuts the ball back into space as Maggie closes him down

We know we have serious games left on our schedule, including an end-of-season tournament, and we want to be a loose in Mind, Body, and Spirit--hoping that and the training we have done all season long will permit us to play our best soccer.

Arbor looking for a forward target

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This next segment serves as a metaphor representing the challenges teams encounter throughout an eleven week season, including week by week, game by game, half by half, and moment by moment.

As you can well see and understand by following the photo display below, establishing and maintaining team discipline are two separate and valuable goals. Notice the slow deterioration in order as only a few moments pass after this perfect window of focused attention.  This moment alone took prodding, encouraging, maintaining, and correcting.

This is an important part of the season, for teams progress or decline as the season matures, and the overall morale of some teams at this late point in the season has shifted.  Witness our discipline and morale, and imagine what these moments sound like.  We are friends who have soccer in common and have grown in athletic, emotional, and social ways.  This is what it means to play the game of soccer.

Take 1--Attention and Focus

Take 2--Some minds straying away

Take 3--The personalities begin to Appear

Take 4--The personalities begin to Shine

Take 5--Everyone gets into the Act

 Alright! That's enough!  Don't let me catch you having fun!

Back to the order we know best.

This has been a great season with a great set of parents and players. I will miss the team, as in only a few short weeks our outdoor schedule in 2015 will conclude.

I want to keep the magic in each moment with them, before they really "mature", and some won't want to have fun at soccer anymore.  Hopefully I have a few seasons left with them before they earn their place in our competitive rosters.  Then when they are older I hope they return to me in the winter for indoor.

Those seasons are always fun!

Half-Team Half-Training

The weather conditions today reminded coach of yesterday, reminded me of the warm gyms we have been training inside all winter.  It was a tough day to suffer harsh weather conditions, because we are about three-fourths of a team, and only half showed today.

These conditions make it harder to establish firm morale.  If one kid looks around, and decides this season won't be any fun, then that spells no team.

Adidas Bonded Travel Sr. Jacket (Google Affiliate Ad)

So coach's job is to make it fun, and go home and work the phones.

I want to see our new player handle the ball and try to stop our dribblers.  I talk to him later about staying on his feet when he is defending.  He is not the type of player we typically have on a roster, but he will serve this team well, if he stays.

There is so much wind, we spend about twenty-five minutes of the sixty crouched behind the only wall.

1st Day in the Grass





We quit the field about ten minutes early and huddle in the van for the parents.

Their coach wants to hear about the effects of wind on their game, but when we pick up this video below they are talking about escaping the cold by living in the industrial garbage can behind the shopping mall.

This conversation takes unexpected turns like an experienced ball-handler.  This coach takes it all in with glowing admiration at the dexterity of these articulate children.

And leaves the field determined to find the players this team needs.




I Got This Stapled