papa-K

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It''s futbol time in Williamson County! Are any teams getting any training done in this heat?

I won't debate the post, it is a very strong district. District 4AAA is set in stone and probably will be until I retire.

Agree! I am assuming you don't retire for a few decades. I can't even imagine what other team in 4AAA could pull of an upset of Bearden or Farragut. That is the case with almost any other district in the state. Two "Goliath's" and a bunch of hopeful "Davids".

I guess I misunderstood the original post. I was poking fun at the first sentence of the post, not the second sentence. All in good fun of course.

The intent of the post is that you can take the a team that does not even make the semis in the 11AAA tourney and make the finals in many, if not most district tourneys. That team would have been Independence last year. Consider that IHS beat Centennial and lost to Bearden (State Champ) 1-2, and you have a hard time debating the "top to bottom" statement. I will agree that the 11AAA teams have uner-achieved in Chattanooga the past few years. But make a better argument for another district.

An off night or an untimely injury can turn the top five 11AAA standings upside-down. Ask Brentwwood & Centennial!

OK... we all know that top to bottom, 11AAA is the most competitive in the state. Never more illustrated than when Ravenwood made it's run to State last year. Will there be any surprises this year? Is Brentwood as good as all the love they are getting from the "Poll Master"? Let the "banter" begin!

in fact... many of the girls in Williamson County just got back from RegionIII & still have ODP. Even though this is a HS site... kudos do BSC Real Madrid who made it to the Region semis and are holding a National Ranking of 11.

Big G.... the "mediocre" comment is an over-all assesment.

Being a coach myself in another sport and having coached previously in a state where coaches are paid better and held to a higher standard.

I am curious if the state HS coaches have an association and offer clinic opportunities. My intention is not to "slam" the coaches, but rather challenge the HS soccer community to "raise the bar" regarding coaching and officiating.

Lucky for all, I am only a soccer parent one more season and will move my focus to volleyball.

It seems to me that some qualified college coaches like yourself could even earn soem extra income by teaching clinics.

I know as a parent, I would have no issue with raising some money for our coaches to get some continueing ed.

I think that someone can be an excellent coach without being able to do a good "stepover" or "scissors" or show a goalkeeper the proper way to do a collapsed dive. However, I do agree with the statement that someone should. Bring in trainers that can teach these things well. Someone who hasn't played the game is not going to learn to do the actual moves as well as most of their players.

 

A good coach will be a student of the game, in tactics, and strategy and teach these without being an excellent player. As a student of the game they must be constantly updating their knowledge. In my opinion a good coach will teach the players about the game, be an excellent motivator, read his players and the game that is going on and be able to make adjustements to referees and the other team. There are numerous resources avaialble in books, videos, clinics, and conventions where people who are serious about being a good coach can learn tactics, etc. However, being a motivator and being able to read players and adapt to them is probably something that they have or don't.

I said nothing about the coach being a "baller". But even you and I with our limitted "middle-aged" athleticism, can breakdown and demonstrate a basic fundamental skill/move. I see club players get lazy because the coach doesn't stay on the the simple fundamentals of receiveing the ball with your toe up. But if a coach has never experienced the ball "doinging" away off a "toe down" or "hard foot", then they just yell "don't lose it" not "get your toe up & soften your leg". Tactics aren't worth the paper they are printed on if your team can't exacute the fundamentals. HS play is sloppy often because there is very little time spent on drilling the fundamentals. Most coaches don't want to take the time to modulate a training session and simply spend most of their time scrimmaging where the majority of the players will watch 2or3 players involved in the play. Can you imagine what it would be like if our athletes speant even 20-30 minutes of the HS practice on individual and partner skills? But that would take some planning and be more demanding than sending them on a run and returning to some shooting drill or scrimmaging. Tactis are overated until you get to the highest level! The rest of the world dominates us because they are "more skilled". Give me 11 players who have great fundamentals and I will smoke your team of tactics in my "hoo...kah" pipe!

OK... I'll say it.... I am sick of watching HS "kick ball" and the "let's race o the ball" game. Keep-away anyone?

I do however agree with the "Psycho-babel" part... coaches who can pull on heart strings and create a healthy team environment have a BIG edge.

Clinics would be a big improvement, but I also think the USYSA licenseing process is flawed in that you must be able to actually play and perform the movements to get the license. You don't have to be able to play the game to be a good coach. You have to be a student of the game and have the skills to get players to perform at their best.

Any coach worth their "salt" will do their best to be able to grow in their understanding and teaching of the sport.... which involves being able to demonstrate at some level, the basic skill or concept. Even if that means taking the time to practice the skill yourself. The USYSA courses don't get silly like that until the C and above levels. Not saying the coach should still be playing on a team, but they should be able to do some basic domonstration. Or at least be humble enough to bring in an outsider that can.

How many high school soccer coaches are there in Tennessee?

Just seems the statement about "less than a dozen" seems to be a pretty arbitrary number. Any info that is a little more concrete?

precisely why the statement is preceded with "I would guess"

The mediocre statement is "as a whole". Of course, there are some coaches that grade at the top, but the curve is by far in favor of the bottom. How many HS coaches are doing anything to develop talent in the off-season other than say, "play club". To many of the schools credit, they have tried to get some local (licensed) coaches involved.

I would guess that there are fewer than a dozen coaches that even hold a license or attend any kind of clinics.

the last 3 seasons the AAA winner hasn't won their district or region tournaments

 

honestly i think its time that the tssaa goes back to 4 teams at state to insure a true champion can be crowned

 

instead of the best loser winning state

 

The problem with that mindset is that it penalizes stronger districts & regions. The fact that Bearden didn't win those crowns is that it only takes a few untimely losses.

 

A true Championship tournament creates a scenario where any team gaining an entry should have a chance to get hot and win. Kinda like "March Madness".

 

The facts are simple: TN has pretty good soccer across the board with a few "hot" spots thanks to some strong clubs. The HS coaching is mediocre at best, and the officiating is... I'll be nice... interesting. Mix in a few untimely injuries and the fact that we are talking about adolescent girls, and well... you get 8 teams in, AAA that is, that all could make a run.

 

This isn't like volleyball where a best of 5 match usually makes it hard for an upset. If it were, the Ravenwood's would be denied their "Cinderella" run.

 

Personally, I'd like to see an actual State soccer tournament:

4 x 4 team pools with the top 4 teams from Region play cross seeded

Pool play on W&TH, quaters & semis FR & Final Sat!

 

TSSAA could even make more moo...lah!

It's too bad that 11AAA has to sit 3 teams & send 2, but such is sports and the "one & done" of tournament time. That said here aremy "humble" 11AAA thoughts:

IHS- At times, flat out SCARY, too young and shallow to overcome the loss of a key defender, but will be a SOLID contender with another year of maturity.

CHS- On any given day, can beat the the best or leave us all scratching our heads. Aside from last year; the Dist. tourn. has not been kind to them. It will be a challenge to replace the class of '07. I'm a Porter fan, so I wish her well in her Soph. campaign.

BHS- Hard to lose 5 starters (2 before season & 3 at end). No doubt that they will reload WELL as they only lose 3 seniors (who, by the way, have given their heart & soul for 4 years!). If healthy, next year could begin a solid RUN as they have a solid talent pool for years to come. Dissapointed to be planning an early soccer banquet, but no shame in the way they overcame adversity time & time again.

RHS- WOW! Kudos to any team & their leadership that can pull the "upset of the year" off. They have been thought of as an afterthought in girls soccer in 11AAA (think again!). This is the type of win that can launch the whole program to new heights. I would love to see them make their first trip to STATE.

FHS A cunning win last night that showcased the tenacity & ferocity of #19. It appeared that even when she was off the field, that her team reflected her attitude (one that is often rebuked; but I'd like a "bottle to go" to pour in my teams punch). They have great young talent and I assume will only be stronger next season.

Go Rebels & Raptors! Represent well! Time for another 11AAA State Champ! That's hard to say for a Bruin fan. But with the Bruins out... so am I for another season!

Brentwood 3 Ravenwood 0

mjuhb:

 

My personal opinion, at this point in time, is that ODP does not help goalie's in TN during the initial eligibility period.

 

I could see this being true, but I will say that watching my keeper daughter in the last eligible year ('89), the benefit was facing the highlevel attacks in training and competition. Even though her club team (best in TN and committed to playig in the highest level tournaments) went to Little Rock this summer (where they played the best teams and played well), she would say that the Region camp was a challenging assesment and "wake-up" to where she is and can be. I strongly agree tha for a keeper, it's all about their local keeper trainer... and then getting in environments that allow them to face the best possible attackers.

carly newman (9th) had two

guess I'll have to drop by and breathe in the mahem

score?

bhs6 shs1

Didn't have any exposure to the TN ODP scene until my daughter's last year of elligibility (she's an '89). Didn't know if she would get a good look, but being in the mix and training with and against the best talent in TN & surrounding states was good for her. As a keeper, she got to be around one of the best in Kelly Dyer, and take her licks (and give some) in the process of selection. That said, the program is for development, and she surely has done that. As a result of the experience on through the Region camp, she is getting college interests that may not have happended had she not gone through the process for both development & exposure. I can't imagine it was political (both coaches from local colleges), seeing how we had never been in the program the prior 4-5 years eligible. In the end, if an athlete wants to be courted by colleges, they MUST play on a club team that plays in "exposure" tournaments and stay in the ODP mix if possible. If the state only takes 23 girls in each birth year, surely there should be know shame or hard feelings if you're not in that mix. i know we were not counting on being on the state team when we started. That said, maybe the system is getting better.

In my humble opinion, you could put the names of the 11AAA semi-finalists in a hat and any 2 will show well in Chattanooga this year. I will say that after last night, there is no doubt that a healthy CHS squad with the size,skill & saavy through the middle; back to front (Tessa, Devin, Jamie, Fish & Shelby... & more I'm sure); is sure to redeem the poor showing that 11AAA had last year at State. That said... go 11AAA!... whoever that ends up being (even though my loyalty goes to the Lady Bruins!)

After watching Hannah Phillips (soph) on Horner in the B-wood-Franklin game, I would have to rank her among the top defenders... great athleticism & poise to weather the wrath of Horner... I think Hannah even got in her head a little!

By the way Charity Hardison for JPII is a Jr.

so you degrade and insult 20 girls in response?

I wonder if the board will react to that as strongly or if this is really just a Brentwood-Franklin thing and not really about the girls at all.

No shame in being the second team in the strongest age group in the strongest club in the state.

Just wanted to give an extra stir in the pot to see if it would set the "cook" off. Looks like it worked! The "Board"? As in...? The CoachT board...? TSSAA? ... of eductaion...? Supreme Court...? Please tell!

It really is all about FHS & BHS in this stream... HINT

That said... good luck v. Ryan!

Hey is the Pride still the "JV" squad for the much acclaimed "other team" that we can leave un-named. Now I see where the "cred" comes from. I'm sure he just fired that comment not taking into consideration how it might sound.

I thought the Franktown keeper played outstanding considering the pressure of that game and the intensity of the night. It will serve her well, as she has great size and athleticism.

Too bad BA isn't invited to the 11AAA dance...

Good game to watch. A packed house that also included the Centennial players gearing up to play BHS, FHS & Independence. It's the kind of environment that is hard to get at a "club tournament". Noise, "trash talk", TV cameras, only thing missing was a riot. Very intense at times. Probaby too intense for a 2 man crew that blew an offsides call for the first BHS goal. Justice was served as Franklin's goal came on a rare miscue in the back. The Bowen goal was simply amazing... one of the best I've seen as a game-ender with time running out.

That said, Brentwood dominated possession and shots on goal and did a great job of controlling the midfield. Horner and Mace a scary for Franklin if they get enough touches up top.

No doubt, the 11AAA tourn. will be another "nail-biter" for the top four... sorry Ravenwood.