Despite the April Fool's snowstorm yesterday, tomorrow is our "opening day," with our first games of the season scheduled.
It feels like we're less prepared than in previous years - we had less time inside in the gym (just 2 weeks as opposed to 3 or 4 previously), and only 2 practices outside. Not only that, we have many more new players than anticipated (16!) and 22 returning players for our two U15 teams, so the girls still have a long way to go before becoming comfortable with their sticks and the game.
Because so many girls are new, we needed to scrimmage on Thursday so new players would get a general idea of the game. It was a miserable practice! We began by handing out uniforms in a cold drizzle (and oops, not enough large uniforms this year. Last year we had 2 U13 teams and one U15 team. This year, 2 U15 teams; all those younger players are growing up and growing bigger. So on Sunday, girls who didn't get there early will be wearing very tight small jerseys! --more are on order, ladies!). The rain started coming down harder as we worked on a few passing drills, but too many girls were standing around, freezing during those activities, so we decided to plunge into a scrimmage. Despite the rain turning to sleet, several of the new girls said that they at least now had a clue of what the game was all about!
On Sunday we play Arlington, the next town over. Belmont has a bit of a rivalry with Arlington - at least in the youth league (I'm not sure we play in the same high school sports league) - and this year one of the Arlington coaches is doing the scheduling for MBGLL, so he has us playing our first games against each other. (I admit, I wish we were playing them a bit later in the season, but that's the rivalry talking!)
Having so many new girls is a bit of a challenge, but we have learned the hard way to mix the girls on the field up a bit - if you start with all your strong players on the field, when it's time to sub, you're left with mostly beginners, and (unless one is playing a much weaker team) you don't want that!
The biggest challenge in tomorrow's game, however, will be who plays goalie. I have no volunteers or girls who want to play the position, which means I have to assign someone to the position and no one will be happy about that! I can't pick a new player, so it has to be one of my returning 11 players. Whoever is picked will not be pleased--though hopefully someone will take to the position and actually enjoy it. I do think that being in goal helps players see the game in a different way; she can see who's not marking her opponent or passing in front of the goal. But for tomorrow, one girl will be unhappy! The dilemmas of being a coach.
It feels like we're less prepared than in previous years - we had less time inside in the gym (just 2 weeks as opposed to 3 or 4 previously), and only 2 practices outside. Not only that, we have many more new players than anticipated (16!) and 22 returning players for our two U15 teams, so the girls still have a long way to go before becoming comfortable with their sticks and the game.
Because so many girls are new, we needed to scrimmage on Thursday so new players would get a general idea of the game. It was a miserable practice! We began by handing out uniforms in a cold drizzle (and oops, not enough large uniforms this year. Last year we had 2 U13 teams and one U15 team. This year, 2 U15 teams; all those younger players are growing up and growing bigger. So on Sunday, girls who didn't get there early will be wearing very tight small jerseys! --more are on order, ladies!). The rain started coming down harder as we worked on a few passing drills, but too many girls were standing around, freezing during those activities, so we decided to plunge into a scrimmage. Despite the rain turning to sleet, several of the new girls said that they at least now had a clue of what the game was all about!
On Sunday we play Arlington, the next town over. Belmont has a bit of a rivalry with Arlington - at least in the youth league (I'm not sure we play in the same high school sports league) - and this year one of the Arlington coaches is doing the scheduling for MBGLL, so he has us playing our first games against each other. (I admit, I wish we were playing them a bit later in the season, but that's the rivalry talking!)
Having so many new girls is a bit of a challenge, but we have learned the hard way to mix the girls on the field up a bit - if you start with all your strong players on the field, when it's time to sub, you're left with mostly beginners, and (unless one is playing a much weaker team) you don't want that!
The biggest challenge in tomorrow's game, however, will be who plays goalie. I have no volunteers or girls who want to play the position, which means I have to assign someone to the position and no one will be happy about that! I can't pick a new player, so it has to be one of my returning 11 players. Whoever is picked will not be pleased--though hopefully someone will take to the position and actually enjoy it. I do think that being in goal helps players see the game in a different way; she can see who's not marking her opponent or passing in front of the goal. But for tomorrow, one girl will be unhappy! The dilemmas of being a coach.
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