BUtifulGame

Bulldog - I disagree. I understand your passion for the high school game, but at this point, the girls in TN playing the highest level club ball understand that a D2AA state championship means you were able to outlast just 15 other teams in the state. While it is great to say you have won a state championship - TSSAA rulings have watered down the divisions and the level of competition, losing much of its impact along the way. True competition and therefore true pressure for results - at least for TN players - is in D1 club competition. It is in these tournaments that girls seeking to play college soccer feel real mental pressure to play their best. It should not be this way, but it is.

I was impressed with all three venues. My only criticism would be that I had a hard time finding the soccer field once I made it to the CCS campus. As for home field advantage - someone is going to get it regardless of where the games are held. Since the majority of the games are held during the school week, I would have to say that the headache of being the host (parking/admissions/concessions/ball girls, etc) would equal any advantage gained.

FutbalFan wrote:No disrespect meant to the Baylor girls at all. You are correct, they are young and all heart and never quit. Just don't like seeing the girls take the blame in the papers with excuses like "tired legs" and "they didn't play their best" during playoff time. It takes more than just the girls on field doing their part to win it all. St Agnes did a great job and had a game plan that won. Enough said. I agree with FutbalFan - the excuse about "tire legs" is TIRED. I have followed a number of these players through their school and club seasons. the majority if not all of the Baylor team play club soccer. Club requires them to play tournaments where they play one game a day and in many cases 2 games a day. In most cases the competition level in these games are at an even higher level than their school games. These girls are well conditioned and used to playing several games in a weekend. Its seems to me that in each final I witnessed this year, the team with the better game plan and on-field adjustments came away with the win.

Great game. Well played, well coached and well officiated. Congratulations to St. Agnes. Looking forward to more tomorrow.

"LOL..... I actually put a reply together and trashed it knowing someone would pick up on the Kegg comment. I usually am the bad guy for going first. " Dog, I can't believe I beat you to the punch. Good thoughts on humility. I would, however, like to know how post-season TSSAA honors are awarded.How are nominees selected, who votes, how many are chosen, etc. Is it an actual team (strikers, mid-field, keeper positions defined) or a list fo a per-determined number regardless of position?

Kegg - please share with the class! I can not find any All-State announcement posting. Do you have the inside track or were you drinking from a Kegg?

Would love to hear some thoughts on the games played in Mid and West this weekend, as I made the games in Chattanooga only.

Set pieces were certainly the difference in this match. Both keepers had run of play shot attempts covered and scrum in the box was the only true opportunities for a score. I was impressed by the foot skils and possession game of SD and the Riverdale ability to keep the pressure on. Great match.

Saw a good portion of this game and both teams should be congratulated for a game well-played. Silverdale is a team on the rise and ND has always produced a good season. I saw a lot of great instinctual players on both sides of the ball. The result was a good one based on the skill, strategy, and possession on the field, but I will be back to watch Silverdale as I forsee this will begin to be a more tightly matched division in the coming years.

No dog in this particular fight, but I really enjoyed this game the most of the 3 I watched yesterday. This was a battle between 2 different coaching styles. One team had a ton of talent and a singular game plan - get the ball to #22. The other team had less offensive talent but seemed to have a more flexible game plan that boxed in #22 and forced its opponent to go off-book. I would have to disagree with eastsoccer on this one. In my opinion this call came out of left field from the official. The slide was not late and the ball completely changed direction indicating good ball contact from the defender. The center official had not called foul on contact incidental to a ball play elsewhere in the game. I too was in line with the play and would not have called it. As the game wore on, the tide seemed to turn and frustration was evident on the Baylor side - players and fans alike at the inability to finish. The GPS side on the other hand, seemed to get more confident as the time ticked on. I am not sure that I would pick a different result to the game as GPS did not seem to have a clear striker, however, I would love to have seen who could have truly played to a finish in this game.

Been out of the HS loop thus far this season. There are some good teams in this group. Which teams won? Who tops the leaderboard?

Just a quick reality check for Tennessee soccer: Here are the Division 1 National results. Not only were there ZERO TN region 3 champs, Region 3 did not fare well nationally (1 Champion - U16 Boys from N. Tx). There is a long way to go to develop this region and TN in particular. Under-14 and Under-15 champions crowned at 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 25, 2009 | Last Updated: 7/25/09 9:36 PM ET Under-14 Boys: West Coast FC (CA-S) Under-14 Girls: Mustang Blast (CA-N) Under-15 Boys: Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD) Under-15 Girls: San Diego Surf (CA-S) Under-16 through Under-19 champions crowned at 2009 US Youth Soccer National Championships July 26, 2009 | Last Updated: 7/28/09 9:18 AM ET Defending National Champions Under-19 Girls Colorado Rush Nike repeat Under-19 Boys Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD) win second National Championship (2006, 2009) Under-15 Girls San Diego Surf, Under-15 Boys Baltimore Casa Mia Bays, Under-16 Boys Dallas Texans all earn the "US Youth Soccer Double" Under-16 Boys: Dallas Texans 93 Red (N-TX) - Under-16 Girls: De Anza Force (CA-N) Under-17 Boys: CZ Elite (CA-S) Under-17 Girls: Eclipse Select 91-92 (IL) Under-18 Boys: DSC 90 Green (SC) Under-18 Girls: FC Bucks Vipers (E-PA) Under-19 Boys: Baltimore Casa Mia Bays (MD) Under-19 Girls: Colorado Rush Nike (CO)

"lack of a MLS type league (there are lower level professional leagues: the W league e.g.), " Where are our soccer fans? Again - WE DO have women's professional soccer. The new WPS has is in its first season back and is enjoying better fan support and media support than the WUSA. Despite tht fact, apparently many in TN have missed it. You mentioned the Brazilians and specifically Marta. How have you missed that she is playing HERE in the WPS for the LA Sol? This lackluster fan support is what de-railed the WUSA. Get on board and show your support - Atlanta adds a por team in the 2010 season!

Big G, I have been very quiet as of late - I enjoy reading rather than commenting. However, I thought I would interject this time as I think you are on the right track comparing our WNT performance with out MNT performance. I find it interesting that the national funding for ODP outspends for boys/men via academy residential programs, yet our women's program has more success. I did think I would mention that we DO have women's pro soccer. We are in the inaugural season of the new WPS. Unlike MLS, it has brought a large number of elite international players and coaches to the US to play. This will only serve to elevate the sport for our ladies. http://www.womensprosoccer.com/ In my opinion, we are isolating our young men too early by placing them in the academy bubble which limits the opponents they see. The MLS has not made a concerted effort to play in a "Champions League" type environment that would give the players experience opposing non-american playing styles. Just some thoughts.

Travel is expensive, but many teams are able to find sponsorship and grant funding to offset costs. Unforunately, I don't see the clubs in Tennessee pursuing alternate funding as much as in other states. again, this is mostly due to each club trying to keep its own piece of the pie rather than pulling together for the "greater good" of the sport and players. Even the tops team I see out of TN are without any sponsorship funding. Conversely, at CASL I saw teams sponsored bu huge corporations and small companies. I aspoke with one coach who said all of their airline travel was sponsored by one company and another company headquartered in their town covers their hotel accomodations for the team. You may find this elitist, but it is no different than sponsoring the Boys and Girls Clubs or YMCA programs. As for ODP - the Tennessee roster is 100% politically built. Most players from outlying areas have a difficult time even getting scouted and therefore invited to training camps. Last year even players from state championship and state finalist teams were not all invited to training pools. If these are the top 2 teams in an age bracket, shouldn't it go without saying that these players be invited to training pools? As a result, many elite players feel that ODP is not a good use of their time and money. When that happens, the pool is flooded with lesser players to meet roster requirements and the vicious circle continues year after year. I will reserve judgement on this year for now as only one training has been held thus far this year. However, I did not see many of the girls I expected to see in several age brackets. Middle TN is always over represented in deference to the state's relationship with the Murfreesboro championship and association office contracts. I state again emphatically that until a more a more streamlined group of larger clubs push local and state egos aside and take the leap into a more pro-active approach to youth player development in Tennnessee, soccer will remain stagnant. With that comes the re-alignment of schedules to mirror that of the rest of the region, off-seson training oportunities to increase stregth and fitness, the addition of higher level coaching year -round and more community/government relations to increase awareness of the economic impact of soccer. Until these theings happen, Tennessee will continue to be the rest of the region's/nation's doormat in elite play.

Bean, I don't see that our positions are all that different. The pressure to play scool ball in Tennessee has put elite club teams at a disadvantage because they are not allowed to do both at the same time - a rule that most states abandoned years ago. I agree that it is not the ideal situation to do both, however, to stay competitive with the other elite teams - it is necessary. As for player development, we do disagree. Tennesse is years behind in getting high-level coaching in place and in developing support for a club environment that delivers solid basic skills and puts politics aside. Instead, politics inside local clubs and in the ODP program have watered down player development. Tennessee has created an environment where "who you know","how much you give" and "where you are from" are more important actual talent or potential. Until these things change, Tennessee team in elite play will remain easy prey for other states.

TOUGH weekend all around for the elite teams out of TN. This weekend's play highlighted the continued need for player development in TN. Teams from TN were playing thier 1st tournament of the season against teams that were ending their club season. TN is also up against the un-necessary obstacle of the "school ball" rule from the TSSAA that does not allow club players to play during their school soccer season, putting them at a major disadvantage. Here are results: Girls U15 BRENTWOOD PREMIER TN (Competing in Premeir B#1 Bracket) - did not make tournament bracket Girls U15 REDOUBT FUTBOL REDBOUBT FC 94 BLACK (FORMERLY CHATTANOOGA ASSAULT) TN (Competing in Elite A#1 Bracket) - Shut out in all 3 games Girls U16 FC ALLIANCE 93 BLACK (FORMERLY VELOCITY PREMIER) TN (Competing in United C#1 Bracket) - lost in semis Girls U16 BRENTWOOD '93 GIRLS PREMIER TN (Competing in Elite A#1 Bracket) - did not make tournament bracket Girls U17 COLLIERVILLE 92 LADY LOBOS TN (Competing in Premier B#8 Bracket) - true showcase play, ended ranked #4 of 4 Girls U19 EAST RIDGE EXPRESS 91 TN (Competing in Premier B#8 Bracket) - true showcase play, ended ranked #1 of 4

Congratulations to the two TN teams that played today. The Collierville Lobos beat the NJ Freedom 1-0 and the East Ridge Expresse beat the FC Frederick Premier (MD) 2-0 and the KC Metro Dynamos (KS) 1-0.

My Coach pick would be Moises Drummond from Soddy Daisy. They were not state champs, but from the first game I caught from them against a tough Riverdale team to the end of the season - hands down the most improved short game I saw all year! They had the legs, but were not booming the ball into the box from their 18 and letting a forward clean up with a quick shot (Since coming to the state, I have learned this is a favorite offensive strategy.) Instead, Coach Drummond taught a methodical short-pass strategy that was flexible and kept the entire team involved. Fom first viewing, it seemed a rocky start, but his efforts were evident by the end of the season and these players will be the better for it. Teach new skills, create an all-in attitude, get everyone's buy--in and leave with a more talented group of players - now that's coaching!

A very few TN teams were accepted at the big college showcase this weekend (only 6 - only 2 accepted in elite play). No TN teams competing in the new National League. I hope these teams will take advantage of the tickets to the NCAA semis! CASL SHOWCASE Premier Classic & Select Teams Girls U15 BRENTWOOD PREMIER TN (Competing in Premeir B#1 Bracket) Girls U15 REDOUBT FUTBOL REDBOUBT FC 94 BLACK (FORMERLY CHATTANOOGA ASSAULT) TN (Competing in Elite A#1 Bracket) Girls U16 FC ALLIANCE 93 BLACK (FORMERLY VELOCITY PREMIER) TN (Competing in United C#1 Bracket) Girls U16 BRENTWOOD '93 GIRLS PREMIER TN (Competing in Elite A#1 Bracket) Girls U17 COLLIERVILLE 92 LADY LOBOS TN (Competing in Premier B#8 Bracket) Girls U19 EAST RIDGE EXPRESS 91 TN (Competing in Premier B#8 Bracket) Good luck Tennessee!

After watching every state tournament qualifying team each division this year, I would have to put the defense at GPS and Baylor at the top of my list. Both played strong schedules (Baylor had arguably the strongest in the state.) and the GA on each was good. GPS had a rough year in the win-loss category, but without the strength of defense they showed accross the back line and in goal, it could have been MUCH worse. The GPS back 4 rarely if ever rotated. Baylor, on the other hand, had a strong back line and great goalkeeper but had depth in those positions and with an equally strong offensive line-up was able to rotate defenders regularly. On the offensive side of the ball, I would give Baylor and Soddy Daisy top nods with siegel and Bearden coming close. Each showed depth of bench, good strategic understanding and great foot skills. Each team had standouts, however, in my opinion, the most talented player I have seen this year would have to be Baylor's Freshman , McKenzie Thomas. I saw her first last spring in the D1 state championships and again in the Region 3 championships. In both she was a spark plug. However, the 4 times I watched her with Baylor this season, I saw her become a more mature and well-rounded player by improving her short game, giving up the shot when necessary and taking more accurate shots when available.

BGA struggled throughout the season with consistency. My opinion is that in recent years they fell into the trap of relying too heavily on the skills of one or two players. This method does several things to a team. First, it devalues the contributions of the other players on the team, causing resentment and giving less driven players an excuse to give less than their best. Second, it creates an inconsistency in player development as a program's young players learn one system of play rather than developing an understanding of the many styles of play in soccer. Third, it creates a style of play that gets easier and easier for opponents to read and develop a defense to combat. Susannah IS a very talented player and would be an asset to any team - but one player is not capable of carrying a team in this division. There are simply too many great coaches and too many strong, experienced club team players in D2.

"Valley," forgive me in advance for using your post as a springboard for discussion. I mean no ill will toward the team or player mentioned above, however, I fell your post can be used as a cautionary tale for parents and players that become overly consumed with the numbers. While no one faults parental/coach/fan pride, be careful when speaking with your player about stats. In my opinion there is too much emphasis on gaining stats in the high school soccer game. Each season I hear kudos about goals-scores that have posted huge numbers of goals only to research the quality of opponents played and learn that the competition was not up to par. Each year I hear from parents of players with impressive scoring numbers only to learn that the coach's strategy on the team was to give that one girl the ball and let her take it to the goal. Inevitably, this strategy only lessens the quality of play in the rest of the field and does not allow for the skill development or strategic decision-making of the player in question. The posted statistics in the media and the spouting of numerical data attributed to a single player has reduced the overall understanding among youth players of the real beauty in soccer - teamwork, strategic thinking and finesse. I am sure that the player mentioned above is a talented player; however, I am as sure that the ten other players on the field with her contributed to each of those goals. THAT is soccer. Youth players that are conditioned to feel that they must put numbers on the board to prove their value to the team or to a coach decrease the number of girls that concentrate on defensive skills, accurate possession and distribution and goal-keeping. Without strength in these integral aspects, any team is one-dimensional and easily overcome. My advice - and I understand it has not been requested - when talking to your players about each of those important goals, ensure that they have an in-depth understanding of what worked: from pass to pass, tackle to serve, cross to cover. Discuss each person's role in the success of the shot and all will be the better for it.

I have seen both teams play this year and I give the edge to the strong short game that Soddy has used to blow through defenses this year. Both teams have striking power and great back lines, but in my opinion Soddy has the upper hand on taking chances that pay off in front of the goal. I also think that the 2 keepers Soddy has had this year have great instincts and will be able to handle Farragut's more deliberate approach style. All in all this will be a good game with a goal differential of no more than 1. SD 1 Farragut 0