7 on 7

Tonight Meg played in the first 7 on 7 soccer match of the summer season for Doug's girls' team.  They played two games and I was very impressed with Meg's soccer skills.  She has really improved in the past year.  She understands how to pass, where to be on the field and what she needs to do to help her team.

There were several other girls on the team that I felt really improved from last year as well.  They played in an indoor league over the winter and attended as many open gyms as they could.  Overall, however, I was pretty frustrated with the rest of Doug's team.  He had to leave for a county council meeting, so his new assistant coach was in charge.  With Doug gone the girls decided to change their strategy and reverted back to all of their bad habits of last year.  The midfielders stayed back and for most of the game there was only one person forward of the midfield line.  They made Meg play fullback which is not the position Doug normally puts her at.  Needless to say we got destroyed by an opponent that we should be able to play with.  One of the varsity girls even said at the end of the game, "Don't worry about it new players.  You'll get used to losing."

Doug talked to his assistant coach after the game.  She was a lot more positive about it all, but noticed a lot of what I did.  Doug was frustrated when I talked with him.  He will come up with a plan going forward and it will get better.  He has put a lot of effort into girls soccer.  I hope the girls realize that.