Soccer coaching dilemma

[Sharon A.]

It's kind of a high class problem, but it still is a problem.

Last season, the girls U-9 team I coach didn't win a single game. Over the off season, I set up weekend family drop-in games, told the girls about different soccer camps and coached them most of the year in indoor soccer. We even picked up three really good players when another team disbanded. Our weakest player went down an age group.

Anyhow, long story short, they put us in the bottom division this season because we did so poorly last season. The "bad" thing is we've improved so much that we're slaughtering the other teams.

So what can I do to challenge my players, not demoralize the other teams and still let everyone play as they should? We play four a side, plus goalie and I have nine girls on the team. Benching the stronger players would mean they'd get to play less than half a game. I play everyone exactly equally and have everyone play every position, even goalie. What else can I do?

Oh, I've also asked the VP of competition to bump us up into a higher division, but that's a real longshot since the season has already started. I suppose if another team is feeling overwhelmed in a higher division, they might swap schedules with us.

 

[amid chaos]

Look for tournaments and play them in another division or up an age level.

Congrats on all their (and your) hard work.

 

[NHAnn]

Sharon...I read your post to my DD, who plays for her high school JV team. On the various indoor and outdoor teams she has been on over the years, they've only occasionally been the "slaughterers" rather than "slaughterees" but it has happened. One thing she said to pass along (and she's not sure how it would go with young girls) is when the score is getting very lopsided, the coach says...all players on the field (on your team) have to have touched the ball at least once before someone can take a shot on the net. So it gets the ball moving around the field more, and if the other team gets a touch on the ball, then yor team has to start the "passing" thing again, and can't shoot on the net unless every player on the field on your team has touched it. So it gets your team working on passing and "keep away" rather than running up the score.

DD and I say "good luck!"

 

[Kallison]

I would say when the score gets really lopsided, just tell the girls to pass it to the player who has scored the least and let them score. Don't penalize the better players by making them sit out. Enjoy your winning season, you deserve it.

 

[Sharon A.]

Thanks for the great tips. I'm going to use them all.

 

[gepetto]

Talk to the coaches of the better teams and set up a couple of scrimmage games.

 

[Indyman]

Sharon,

In addition to the passing, you can put other restrictions on them. Before the game tell them if they get a 3 goal lead anytime during the game they can only shoot with their weak foot or two touch. Don't announce these restrictions out loud because they would be insulting to the other team.