Labor Day weekend found Pipeline 2007 Girls Black team competing in the Keystone Cup 2018 tournament.

Last week the team played in the 2018 Spirit United Kickoff Classic. They finished the weekend losing two games and tying one.

This weekend, the team finished with two losses and a tied game. The results are similar on the surface but much different. Last weekend the team played in the third division.

This weekend the 2007 Girls played in the Keystone Cup’s top division. Pipeline lost to two highly ranked teams from the Pennsylvania East Region. The third game was against a team highly ranked in Virginia. That team was a semi-finalist in the Virginia State Championship. Note, though, the competition at Spirit was fierce, but the opposition teams ranked in GotSoccer below the teams played at Keystone.

Tournament Takeaways

What to take from the two weekend tournaments?

The first weekend was against quality talent, but it was the 2007 Girls first competition together. The team was in every game, losing 2-3, 1-2, and tying 1-1.

This weekend the team learned what it meant to play club’s first teams. Pipeline’s second team in the age group needs more time together to develop their team dynamics. As girls settle in their role with the team, ball movement will improve and yield quality attacking opportunities. The team put up four goals in the tied game indicating they can score against quality teams.

This weekend, the girls learned how important it is to be able to play with intensity over 5, 10, and 15+ minutes. There were limited substitutes available, but rotation from the pitch to bench left some girls playing long minutes. Improving fitness is something the girls can focus on outside training sessions.

The girls need to improve their technical skills. The teams that beat the 2007 Girls had girls with very good technical skills. They controlled the ball better, winning most 1v1 situations against Pipeline, and made smart, strong passes. None of these are beyond Pipeline but must be cultivated and learned.

The last takeaway from this weekend is Pipeline improved from the first weekend. Playing strong competition is the way to find areas for improvement. This weekend highlighted things the team and girls, individually, can work to improve.

I look forward to seeing the girls in the coming league play as preparation for the Columbus Day tournament.

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It is interesting how parenting is similar to coaching a young sports team.

Parents guide their children to prepare them to be successful in life.

Coaches provide guidance and training to the team members to prepare them to be successful in competitions.

Common Objective

One commonality is the parent and coach try to inculcate the desire to learn into children. How to instill this desire is the challenge.

Parents have advantages over coaches. There is the unique relationship between parent and child, often loving. The parent provides subsistence and shelter. The parent also provides access to entertainment. Finally, the child and parent co-exist in an environment where contact will be regular and often.

Coaches have limited contact with players, usually during practice sessions. These sessions occur a limited number of times a week, but only for a few hours each session. Unlike the parent, the coach does not provide subsistence or shelter (unless it is a canopy when raining!)

Limitations

Parents and coaches have limits on how they can respond to children disinclined to listen and learn. Both can play on the child’s love or respect for them should it exists. This may not be enough though.

Parents can restrict access to entertainment and some types of subsistence such as sweets. Physical punishment may be an option if it is acceptable to the parent and complies with local and federal laws. Regardless, abuse is never proper.

Coaches are limited to what can be done during practice or during the game. This includes appealing to the player’s affinity for teammates, individual endurance training, and removal from training drills. Lastly, the coach can limit playing time during competitions.

Child’s Responsibility

The endgame is parents and coaches have goals for those in their care. However, it is incumbent on the child to take the initiative to make use of the experiences and knowledge parents and coaches provide.

How much responsibility for success do you think lies with the child? I would enjoy learning your thoughts on the relationship between parents, coaches, and the child. Comment form provided for your input.