BAYS UNITED FURY 6 - LAKEHILL FC 0

Another great game fellas!!

This past weekend we faced a team with a lot of pedigree and hard working guys: Lakehill FC. As always we went into the game with the mentality to work hard and respect our opposition. The game was interesting from the start. Defensively, Lakehill was difficult to break down despite our pressure. Strategically it was an interesting game too as we knew that Lakehill had some very skillful players and some very tough players. But the boys worked hard and were able to have a successful game after all.

Mr. Clarkson taking control of the middle

I will start with the defenders. Our backline is becoming more astute and composed as our season goes on. Aaron did not rush things and made a couple of important saves to keep the team calm and focused. It may seem ironic but often, having an inactive period of time actually works against a goalie as he may need to spring into action suddenly and without much warning. So I am glad to see that Aaron kept his focus during the entire game. Well done Brasileiro!

Aaron passing to his teammate Marcel

Our center backs were solid again: Pierce and Jonathan took control of anything that came their way. They shifted sides when needed and maintained possession when needed. Pierce and Jonathan also showed their savvy when in two different occassions they shielded the ball and let it run out for a goal kick despite having a very ambitious and strong Lakehill forward on their backs. Well done fellas!

Pierce clearing things at the back

For their part, Brandon and Marcel not only provided security on the wings but also joined the attack. I counted at least 4 times that Brandon destroyed the attack from our opposition and immediately started a counter attack. Clearly, this boy is determined to meet the opposition head to head in any game ~ I think we all must give Brandon great credit for his game ~ it was fantastic. Marcel again showed why we rely on him as a defender but also joined the attack and eventually played as a winger, only to be robbed twice on two very well taken shots ~ Bravo Marcel, keep up the good work - it is coming!

Marcel starting another attack down the line

Justin and Hamish also did very well at the back. Hamish was particularly effective on making passes down the line and setting up our strikers in more than one occasion. He also moved well and his touch was instrumental in several of our wing attacks. Atta Boy Hamish - keep that up my friend. Just remember to be careful with your offsides. No worries though, we are gonna work on that and I have full confidence that you are going to be even more amazing soon. For his part, Justin again set control in the middle (both as a midfielder and a center back). One thing I love about Justin is that he'll play wherever I ask him to play and does his best to do it well. You are a rock JC and we appreciate it.

Justin running thangs!

As for our midfield and forwards? Well what can I tell you, I think they are doing great. I can only hope that the goals they have been scoring serve as a springboard to bigger and better play rather than as a stagnant in their progress and work ethic.

Offensively, our game started with a little bit of frustration. However, after our corner kick specialist Tyler set another beauty up, we broke the deadlock of 0 - 0 when Gabriel was able to find an open net and coolly score. Not long after Tyler took a great free kick from outside the 18 yard box and found the smallest of spaces to put the ball in the top corner ~ great piece of skill. Despite that, Lakehill continued to break our attacks down and made it difficult for us to score during that half. When the half time whistle blew, Darcy and I knew that we had to readjust.

In the second half, we continued the pressure but this time we added more speed up front. This created more attacks for us. Around 10 minutes into the second half, we won another corner kick. This time it was our skipper Jonathan who latched onto the ball and despite Lakehill's defenders blocking the initial attempts, Jonathan put the ball in the back of the net. This made it 3-0 for us. Then came two great plays by the same two guys. In one, Robbie received the ball and after controlling it set it back for Koby to take a one time shot to put it just under the cross bar. 4 - 0 and another great display of skill by Mr. Greaves (an almost exact copy of the goal he scored against Peninsula after Robbie set him up too). Then, in another one of our attacks, Koby took the ball into the box and this time, after cutting away from the defender, he returned the assist with a low ball to Robbie who took a one time shot to slot the ball into the opposite bottom corner. 5-0.

Robbie getting ready to set up things up while Hamish shows for help

Last, as we continued to pressure Finn took a shot from outside the box. Although he tried, the goalie could not hold control the shot and this made it 6-0 for us. This was to be our final score.

Finn forechecking a tough Lakehill defender

I cannot go without saying how Thomas was great in holding the ball up front and being in the right place at the right time. I want to give special props to this boy who plays his best every time he is on the field. Thomas you are showing you have the skill to roll with the best. Ben, you had a very good game in the center mid. You looked for incisive passes and showed for your players very well. Just remember to get a touch on the ball when it is going by you too fast ~ once you do that, you will do even better ~ great game though! And good ol' Koby was again instrumental in our game. Bad ankle or not, this boy knows his game and shows it every time.  Last, I want to give props to our other forwards Gabriel, Finn and Robbie for providing a diverse set of skills that compliment one another. Just remember: it's not how many goals YOU score, it's how many goals OUR TEAM scores that matters.

Ben taking a shot from far out

In the end, the boys played well and showed that they have the capacity to do well. My only concern is that high scoring games in our favour may hide the things we need to work on. So please keep this in mind: we are not out of the woods yet. We must continue to be diligent in our practices and focus during each game. If we lose sight of that, we may bring upon us our own demise and lose grip and what can be a season to remember.

WHAT WE DID WELL: we moved the ball from side to side well and maintained calm when needed. I was particularly impressed with our defenders joining the attack and ensuring that we did not sit back no matter the score.

WHAT WE NEED TO WORK ON: Movement off the ball, LESS turn overs and communication. There was a very scary long period of time where we did not talk to one another and hence we gave the ball away needlessly. That is not a good sign fellows. Don't get too comfy. There are teams that will test our core and if we cannot communicate well, we will fall under pressure.

Ok, for now, back to practice ~ see you Monday night guys!

Roberto

FURY 9 - JDF 0 ~ Great win but keep your humility boys

Saturday September 22. Sun is out. Temperature oscillating around 20 Celcius. Bear Mountain stadium ready to cradle another beautiful game. Cold bottles full of water, glistening under the sun. Timbits all warm and fluffy. Orange slices juicy and ready to refresh.Turf waiting to be steeped on. And the Fury? No doubt, ready to go. Yes, that was the scenario this past weekend when our boys were able to surpass the fight from Juan de Fuca's Gold team.

The first half saw our boys dominate the game. Yet, we could not score. We hit the post 3 times. We shot 6 times but their keeper made save after save. Our forwards began to get frustrated. Yet, our team kept working hard and finally, after a nice set up by Finn, Robbie sidestepped the ball into the back of the net. That marked our 1-0. Soon after, Mathew, who was having a great game in his natural wing position, cut through the middle and slotted a low shot to the corner. Two nothing. The game continued with Fury taking the attack seriously. Soon after, we got a couple of free kicks. After some close calls (post again!) Robbie was able to put a third goal in. Half time came.

In the second half, we made some positional changes. This injected some new energy to our team. More goals were imminent but we still continued to struggle a bit. Three posts again, and another 6 shots. But yes, the goals finally came. It started with Justin taking a shot from far out on the 18 yard box. Top far corner. Clearly this boy has been practicing ~ well done JC!! Not to be outdone, Tyler then did a similar shot but at speed. And what a beauty shot it was from just inside of the 18 yard box. Not long after, Gabriel got tripped in the box. Penalty. As our captain, Jonathan showed his class and skill by taking a wonderful penalty kick. Not long after, another penalty kick. This time Tyler followed suit with his own decisive penalty kick. As the game progressed, the boys began to play more freely and this was clearly shown when Robbie turned a defender beautifully, passing the ball to Thomas who with great skill took the pass at speed and cooly slotted home another goal. Gabe and Finn continued to cause problems for the defenders of JDF with their speed and agility. This culminated when almost towards the end of the game, Finn got past a defender and sent a low shot to the corner to also get on the score sheet.

As always though, none of those goals would mean anything without the tireless precise work of our defenders and midfield. I was particularly impressed with Ben's improvement in the middle. Your passing was much better and your protecting of the ball was fantastic. Keep it up Benny!! Justin, your control in the middle of the park was also great. Keep moving that ball from side to side and run the show. That's your job ~ keep it up. 

I cannot finish without giving mass props to the defenders: to Pierce for running the center back position like a pro. Brandon, Tyler and Marcel once again showed that in order for anyone to go by them, they need rockets and ninja skills. Hamish, you played a very solid game. You made some great passes from the back and I think that you are settling into the rhythm of the game quite well. Aaron, sorry that the game did not bring much attention to you BUT remember, the busy ones are coming!

Koby we are holding your position buddy ~ get better soon. 

Parents? Thanks for your support, especially to Mark and Jim who always run our lines. I hope others help these guys out. I would love it if they could take a break here and there so that they can watch their boys play too.

WHAT WAS RIGHT: our tenacity. Despite the fact that as the game progressed a win seemed likely, the boys kept their determination and did not take JDF lightly. Respecting your opposition is a must.

WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON: We are still collapsing into the middle (our wingers need to stay out), we need to make more penetrating passes from the middle to the forwards and although it was much better, we still need to move the ball a bit quicker from center positions to the outside.

Ok, for now, let's keep improving boys ~ hard work will bring you rewards. Cheers!!

Roberto

A Successful Soccer Season

 

As our season enters its third week, I think it is important to re-emphasize the goals of our team and what we are aiming to achieve this year. 

For parents and coaches, it’s a great time to look ahead and ask: at the end of the season, what would success look like?  We spend a ton of time, energy, and money on youth soccer, so it can be helpful to think about expectations. After all, in between the practices, uniforms, tournaments, carpools, and orange slices, there are millions of young people having a variety of different experiences playing soccer this fall.

As a coach, I will ask these questions at the end of the season:

1. Did the boys improve?
2. Did they have fun?
3. Are they excited for their next season?

If yes to all three, the season was a huge success! But how do you get there? Here are a few thoughts and strategies for us that I think will help your son have a great time this season.

Tangible Improvement One of the most effective ways to get players excited about soccer is to show them that they are improving. When players can see individual improvement, it builds confidence, momentum, and optimism. Hey, I’m getting better at this! After all, playing soccer is fun, but playing soccer well is more fun!

What I will do: provide players clear and objective feedback. I will also foster the ability to see for themselves tangible improvement that in-game performances can't always provide.  So practices are a must!! I'll add that if parents recognize and reward this improvement, it’s even more powerful.

Camaraderie
Team sports are inherently social, and feeling “a part of the team” is a big component of a successful season. When a player feels like they are contributing in some way, it has a huge impact on their overall enjoyment.

What I will do: In youth soccer, sometimes it's hard for everyone to make a big contribution in games, so setting team goals is one way to help every player feel included in the team. When everyone has to raise their performances, no matter what those performances are looking like, it can build a group mentality that strengthens camaraderie and gets everyone working together. Every improvement has to be noted.

Winning
Let’s be honest - everyone likes to win, and players usually have more fun when they are winning. However, it’s important to remember that more often than not, focusing on improvement and camaraderie leads to winning, not the other way around ~ so if we lose but the boys are playing well and maintaining camaraderie, losing will not matter much in the long term. As a matter fact, it may help.

What I will do: even though we don't think winning games should be the most important aspect of youth soccer, we want everyone to experience success on the field. My focus will be to ensure that the boys learn that even the best teams lose and that in the end learning to bounce back from losses is a great lesson we all need to learn for life.

Thanks for your support and see you Saturday ~ Cheers!! 

Roberto


                                                                                                                                      

Bays Fury 0 - Gorge FC 0

First Big Test passed ~ now onto more training

Mathew fights for the ball against Gorge's center mid captain Cole

This past Saturday September 15 we played one of the top teams of the division: Gorge U14 Gold. The game promised to be a nail biter and it did not dissapoint. During the first half, Gorge was commanding. Most of the play was entertained in the Bays United half with some counter attacks surmounted by Fury as the half went on.

During the half, the boys rested and settled a bit more. The change was immediate. During the second half, with fresh off the bench players, Fury began to dictate the game and chances began to show. Quick and precise runs down the wings began to produce opportunities for the strikers and attacking midfielders. We hit the cross bar and had two open chances that unfortunately did not materialize. That is not to say that Gorge did not keep our defenders busy. Our Goalie Aaron made an amazing save on a breakaway from the top Gorge striker that gave the boys confidence to continue attacking.

Jonathan and Koby block passage by the Gorge's center mid captain

However, in the end, after an exhausting game, the result was a tie. The game was a good test for the boys. It emphasized our need for more movement off the ball and for quicker passing in the middle. It also showed that the boys do have the capability to go toe-to-toe against serious teams and strong midfielders.

I want to praise the boys for their work. Now, we go back to practice with some renewed focus on areas that we need to improve on.

Fitness and skill go hand in hand - we will aim at perfecting the two as we along.

Cheers and see you at practice!

Roberto

Our season has begun ~ Let the games begin!

Bays United U14 Gold Boys on September 16, 2012

Welcome all! - Let me start by congratulating the boys on wining the first ever Island Premier Cup tournament on the Labour Day weekend. The boys won their division after going an exciting final against an amazingly talented U13 Gold Bays team ~ Well done guys!

After that, we began our season with a great game on Saturday September 8 against Peninsula FC. The beginning of the game was a without a doubt a bit nerve-wrecking. But that is understandable. First game, first time playing together as a team, first time all the parents are out, etc.

The jitters were palpable and within 15 minutes we saw a good goal by Peninsula. Despite that, the talents of our team began to show and not long after we tied the game after a great pass from the wing found a wide open Finn who put the ball at the back of the net after getting away from his defender. Soon after, we found ourselves taking the lead. Robbie received a ball through the middle and even though he had the shot, he passed a through ball to Gabe who with only two touches put the ball in the back of the net.  Moments after, a bad clearance by the goalie landed at Robbie's feet. He quickly took on the goalie and despite having a defender by his side, Robbie scored our third goal. Half time arrived.

In the second half, the boys settled more. The passing was much better and the amount of turn overs decreased. Movement of the ball was a bit better too. It was through this movement and passing that during an attack, the ball was cradled by Robbie who quickly set the ball for Koby to take a shot ~ and what a shot it was. Koby scored from about 25 yards and hit the top left corner. It was indeed a great goal and gave us the 4 -1 lead. A bit later, Gabe took on the outside players of Peninsula with another display of raw speed and scored yet again. His second, our fifth. Last, towards the end of the game, as Thomas controlled the ball inside the box, he was pushed off the ball. Foul. Koby stepped and put the goal away. Our sixth of the day.

I am sure the boys enjoyed the win and in my view they deserved it so. I want to make sure that all of you understand that even though only some of you scored, the team can only win if the entire team works hard. I think we have to give big props to our amazing defensive line: Brandon was outstanding in destroying any play the other team tried to put around him, Jonathan was solid with distribution and reading the game, Marcel and Tyler showed their speed and understanding that they have to attack as well as defend; Justin worked hard as always and set an example for all the boys to follow. Ben and Hamish also worked hard and adjusted to what the team needed, showing that they are all about the team. And of course, Aaron, was as always, reliable and solid in goal. His drop kicks were fantastic.

So with all that I hope that you  continue to read our blog every week to find out how things go in each game we play. Through this blog, I'll also post my views of the game and give the boys some tips on what we did well and what we can improve on.

Cheers and see you at practice!

Roberto