Last year, as U10, we practiced 2 times a week for 1 1/2 hours each time. This left me feeling like I definitely needed more time! My son's Spring lacrosse team went undefeated the last 2 years and I think a huge part of that success came about from WAY more practice time compared to others. Most teams practiced 2x a week and his practiced 3x a week for 2 hours each.
I bumped my U11 kids up to 3 days a week for 1 1/2 hours each this year, much to the annoyance of some of my parents.
So are we a much better team because we have that extra practice AND because we started 2-4 weeks earlier than everyone else? Or is that time not really necessary? I often wonder that.
We run the kids hard on Monday and Wednesday but very little conditioning (beyond practice games) on Fridays, before our games. I think the extra day of conditioning has also helped. They are usually soccer related such as "rob the nest", relay races, pass and run drills, etc.
Most teams I know only practice 2 times a week. Busy coaches only practice 1 time a week and that annoys both parents and kids who both feel like they are not getting enough time on the field!
I'm curious how much others practice and what your thoughts are on that. Drop me a response!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Official Scoring induces CRAZINESS!!!
So this is the first year my boys U11 team is officially keeping score. Of course, we all have those kids who have been keeping score, goal count and differentials since they were 4, but I'm talking about officially. Coaches have gone MAD! We've done well and won our first 3 games which puts us with 4 other teams out of 24 who have what a fellow coach called "perfect records". Really? We've been scored on 7 times and we've barely pulled off some of the wins. I don't think "perfect" is very accurate.
My kids spent one particular game getting cussed out. My son didn't even know those words were cuss words yet! At the end of the game, they informed me of the litany of words spewed at them (all in code... A word, S word, D word, F word, JA word, K word (???) ). After we shook hands with the coach I asked him to have a word with his boys about it and his response was "So?". I just laughed and said "Really? That's all you have to say?" Well, I could go on about this incidence but you've probably all been there. But I realized what was to blame.... his points had dipped almost off the chart with that loss... a tie for them the week before and now a loss to us. He's at the bottom of the pack!! And that FREAKED him out! I'm sure his kids left that game excited and ready for more (dripping sarcasm).
I can't claim to be exempt.... I am embarassed to say that I have a very detailed spread sheet that I update religiously every Saturday evening/Sundays after the games. I even email coaches who haven't posted scores online and ask them the scores so I can update my own spread sheet. I am writing this with my head lowered in shamefullness- I know how ridiculous it is. BUT I have a coach friend who ALSO does the same thing, but his spread sheet wasn't as pretty as mine- mine are color coded by division. Wanna see my spread sheet? Don't do it unless you want to become as ridiculously obsessed as many of us have become. I warned you....
Here it is!
I did have an epiphany last week though. My family does highs/lows at dinner. First my son said that soccer practice was his high. Then he quickly changed it to his low. We asked him what that was about and he said "Well, my coach is starting to panic because the game tomorrow so it wasn't as fun as usual." My other son said "Just like you do." OUCH. 2x4 upside the face. Not my proudest moment. I'm a work in progress...
My kids spent one particular game getting cussed out. My son didn't even know those words were cuss words yet! At the end of the game, they informed me of the litany of words spewed at them (all in code... A word, S word, D word, F word, JA word, K word (???) ). After we shook hands with the coach I asked him to have a word with his boys about it and his response was "So?". I just laughed and said "Really? That's all you have to say?" Well, I could go on about this incidence but you've probably all been there. But I realized what was to blame.... his points had dipped almost off the chart with that loss... a tie for them the week before and now a loss to us. He's at the bottom of the pack!! And that FREAKED him out! I'm sure his kids left that game excited and ready for more (dripping sarcasm).
I can't claim to be exempt.... I am embarassed to say that I have a very detailed spread sheet that I update religiously every Saturday evening/Sundays after the games. I even email coaches who haven't posted scores online and ask them the scores so I can update my own spread sheet. I am writing this with my head lowered in shamefullness- I know how ridiculous it is. BUT I have a coach friend who ALSO does the same thing, but his spread sheet wasn't as pretty as mine- mine are color coded by division. Wanna see my spread sheet? Don't do it unless you want to become as ridiculously obsessed as many of us have become. I warned you....
Here it is!
I did have an epiphany last week though. My family does highs/lows at dinner. First my son said that soccer practice was his high. Then he quickly changed it to his low. We asked him what that was about and he said "Well, my coach is starting to panic because the game tomorrow so it wasn't as fun as usual." My other son said "Just like you do." OUCH. 2x4 upside the face. Not my proudest moment. I'm a work in progress...
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