S.C. Genesee Lancers

Hello players and parents,

Well we're 1/2 way plus one game into our season;  after our first loss of the season the ties don't seem bad after all.

It's been an interesting several matches as the area of our game that seemed the sharpest early in the season is now giving us a challenge.  We can't seem to find a way to finish many chances and put the ball into the back of the net.  Honestly after the first few matches it seemed to me we had a pretty potent attack and needed to tighten up things defensively. 

Some of that may be that we are trying to force things a bit and not work together as well or as consistently as we did early in the season.  Early in the season we looked great working our give and goes and still have patches where we look fantastic.  However lately our passes are not possession passes; that is not to our teammates but rather to a unoccupied space in an area we don't have a chance to win the ball or worse yet to the other team.  Certainly we know how to do it, it's just a matter of relaxing a little bit and getting back to basics.

On the defensive side of things we've cleaned up most of the issues that caused us to give up scoring chances.  The players know what needs to be done under certain situations, it's just a matter of execution.  How do we know that they truly know you might ask?  At the last practice and then again at halftime of our last match we re-created the goals against and asked, we did not tell them, what went wrong and then what should have happened.  They are able to answer the questions and in practice walked through the proper rotations.  It's a matter of being exposed to the situations in a game setting and executing properly so it's something that just happens vs. them having to think about it.

Back to our lack of scoring of late.  We've been working on it both technically and tactically.  Technical is the physcial side and the tactical the mental side.

Technically we've used activities / games like power and fineese or world cup to teach them how to get shots off quickly and follow up on them to take advantage of rebounds.  Natalie's goal in our last match v. Bergen was a result of her crashing the net much like she does during world cup where she is an animal.  She and Maggie won the last world cup points match and got the start at striker becuase of their strong desire to get to the net and finish.

Tactially we walked through situations in the attacking 1/3 and discussed having balance across the field as well as making sure there isn't separation between our forwards, midfielders and backliners.  When we move up the field together  we are dominating opponents making it difficult for them to clear the ball from their end.

For great parts of matches we have dominated opponents and pinned them in their end and had our share of scoring chances.  We're just not taking advantage of our opportunities.  On the flip side it seems that when we make a mistake the other teams are cashing in.  I may be wrong but for our last match I believe we allowed (1) shot on goal beside the PK and they scored on both.  Our team goal is to have zero shots on goal against - (1) is excellent. Ari, Mary, Avery, Becca, Natalie, Kateri and Beth have all improved and doing everything we could ask. 

Emily has stepped up and asked for the opportunity to be our center-mid.  At last practice I told the girls we needed someone to play CM that wanted to dominate the middle of the field, battle for every ball and not allow their CM to have a good game.  I asked that whoever wanted to take on the challenge to come to me after practice.  I had two players come tell me they wanted the chance - Emily and Becca.  Emily is giving a great effort and we're working on her distributing the ball to the outside - mid or forward to the strikers. 

Becca has been a work horse wherever we need her and for now she's done a great job at stopper.  Watch her rotate behind Avery when she has to step up to make a play. 

Beth has been stuggling with her asthma for several matches which has limited her play but she has been giving it all she has when she can.  Her breathing seemed a lot better last match and her playing time should increase with her improved health.

Krysta, Megan, Chelsea, Maggie, Danielle, Taylor, Kateri, Eva and Natalie are rotated through the forward and mid-field positions and give great efforts.  We're trying to find the combinations that click and get us back to or better than we were earlier in the season.  We are asking them to ramp up their intensity and pressure the ball to create more opportunities.

Last but certainly not least  is Kayla - she's been a rock for us in net.  Hands down she is the best keeper in our Division.  She is one of the team leaders without a doubt; both by voice and more importantly by action.  When we run with the ball during practice or pre-game she will always, and I mean ALWAYS be 1st or 2nd.  She and Mary Purdy are always in a race to see who's first. 

Losing Lex to a hamstring injury was a blow as she was a great on field leader.  She's an intense competitor and you can never have enough of them.  She's determined to be the first player to complete the cadence challenge and take home the BIG trophy.

Also unfortunte was our pre-season losses of Alyssa and Alicia to knee / hip and ankle injuries.  That they continue to come to practices and games says alot about their desire and love of the game.

As a staff we're continuing to determine ways to unlock all the potential we and I am sure you all see in our team.  Changing formations, positioning, pre-game warm-ups, practice sessions, more one on one conversations with players, pats on the back, kicks in the butt (figuratively not literally for you lawyers out there), etc - were looking for the key.

As I told you during the player parent meeting you should expect a lot from me and I hope you and your player feel I and the staff are giving you what you hoped for and expected from us.

I encourage you to continue to communicate and questions and concerns you might have with myself or the staff.  Several of you have and I thank you for doing so.  Your support has been fantastic -thank you.

Here's to a strong finish over the next (3) weeks - yup that's all that's left believe it or not - starting with a strong showing in the Spencerport Tournament this weekend.

Coach Gupp