Fall 2011 Select Season Highlights
The Fall 2011 season brought out many highlights for each select team, here's a list of the most notable for each team!
U11 Boys
-Increased interest and ability to share and circulate the ball multiple times on the ground
-Increased technical proficiencies in finishing, striking a ball over distance, passing on the ground and collecting balls out of the air
-Greater understanding of what good soccer looks like
-Playing against each other in tournament final
-Two first place finishes out of three tournaments
U11 Girls
-Increased interest and ability to share and circulate the ball multiple times on the ground away from pressure
-Increased technical proficiencies in dribbling, shooting, passing on the ground and collecting balls on the ground
-Greater understanding of what good soccer looks like
-Playing in tournament finals for two consecutive tournaments
U12 Boys
-Champion- JUSC Invitational
-Increased the technical abilities of the individual player in passing, receiving, finishing, turning and taking players on.
-Increased tactical understanding in playing different positions and the role that each position requires
-Gained insight as a squad of playing "soccer"; connecting, dynamic and possession oriented soccer
-Developing a strong technical base that enables individual success in the game
-More than competitive in league play, won far more than tied and lost.
-Players faced adversity with a fighting spirit
U12 Girls
-Competitive in the three 8v8 tournaments (two first places and one second place)
-Competitive in IPSL league matches vs U12G and U12B teams
-Improved individual and team ability to circulate ball in order to keep possession and open opposition defenses
-Improved ability to work in small groups to attack and defend
-Good practice and game attitude. Overall players come ready to practice, play and compete hard
U13 Boys
-Competitive in most of IPSL league matches
-Competitive at two last Tournaments
-Improved individual and team ability to circulate ball in order to keep possession and open opposition defenses
-Improved individual ball striking and finishing technique
-Good practice and game attitude. Overall players come ready to practice, play and compete hard.
U13 Girls
-Champion- Just For Girls Tournament
-Improved possession and ideas on how and when to get to goal
-Improved ability to organize defensive team shape quickly and efficiently
-Improved mental and physical approach to training and establishing better training habits
U14 Boys
-Finalist- NSC Fall Cup
-Finalist– Heartland Invitational Tournament
-Increased level of understanding in positioning and game strategy at an MRL level
-Increased level of passion for competition, not just passion for game
-Increased level of commitment to soccer sport specific development
-Increased number of ODP participants and pool players
U14 Girls Nike
-Increased ability to connect and keep possession with 8-10 passes, moving us from one part of the field to another
-Better understanding and implementation of high pressure defending and cues of good times for this to occur
-Ball-winning, challenging for 50-50 balls and tackling
U14 Girls Swoosh
-Improved ideas on when and how to get to goal and score
-Improving ways to manage games and finding ways to 'come back' after giving up a goal
-Improved team shape defensively especially against varying styles of attack from opposing teams
U15 Boys
-Champions- JUSC Boys Tournament
-Finalist- Halloween Havoc Soccer Tournament
-Undefeated IPSL season.
-Increased ability to make adjustments and improvements during game
-Became united as a team
U15 Girls
-Champions- St. Louis Scott Gallagher Friendlies
-Finalist- U15 Girls - Iowa State Cup
-Increased attacking urgency and willingness to push game at opponents backline to get behind and create goal scoring chances
-Increased gamesmanship and ways to hold lead, come from behind and strategize at a more mature and competitive level
-Increased speed of transition and decreased the moments players “shut-off”/ lost focus
-Much greater sense of “TEAM” and commitment to playing for teammates
U16 Girls
-Finalist- U16 Girls, Iowa State Cup
-Increased ability to recognize-in each game- valuable/dangerous spaces that was available for us as a way to get into the attack
-Improved runs off the ball to help the game and provide multiple options to the player on the ball
-Winning 4 games at the CSI Tournament with more sophistication to our system and style than any other team we played
U17 Boys
-Champions– Heartland Invitational Tournament
-Finished the season strong— 5 wins in last 6 games.
-Greater development of team leaders
-Competed strong with each and every team during fall season
U18 Girls
-Finalist- JUSC Invitational
-Won more games than lost and tied
-Continued to develop technically and tactically
-Successfully played a possession style of soccer
-Embodied a "team" aspect in playing with younger players in an older league
-Played through adversity having a limited number of players rostered and/or healthy
-Excelled in understanding of playing "soccer" rather than kick-ball
-Demonstrated the ability to play direct and indirect soccer
