Representative Soccer Season Welcome Message
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	Dear players and families, We'd like to welcome everyone to the upcoming soccer season. We're looking forward to a great season of fun and development. We want to emphasize "smart soccer." Smart soccer recognizes that there are really only two situations in soccer: when you've got the ball, and when you don't. Master them both, and you're well on your way to mastering the game. 1. Who has the most impact on the game? Almost always, it's the player WITHOUT the ball. They're the one making the run to open space to receive a pass or the one tracking back on defense to shut down the opponent's attack. Let's look at those two scenarios in a bit more detail. When a teammate has the ball, you're either in passing range or you're not. Even if you're in range, that doesn't necessarily mean that you're a good passing option. So don't call for the ball in less you are. Being able to recognize the difference between being a good passing option or not, and acting on it, is a skill we'll be focusing on. Being a good passing option means being in the right position (in a lane splitting defenders, or moving into such a lane, usually moving towards the ball) so as to put the defense at a disadvantage or simply to possess the ball. When an opponent has the ball, your team's responsibility is to mark the most dangerous attackers: those in the middle, those with the ball, and those with strong skills. This means communicating--not always verbally--and moving as a team. The best defensive position is man-to-man and goal side (a second key skill); that is, close to your man and between him and the goal. And not just for a few seconds, but for the duration of the attack. In both cases without the ball, talk. Your teammate with the ball needs to know whether there's a "man on" or if he's got "time" (a third key skill; those are two phrases we expect to hear a lot on the field). And if you're on defense, let your teammates know who you're marking and if there are any unmarked attackers. 2. Of course, playing smart is also important when you have the ball. This means receiving the ball with skill so as to shield it from the opponents. The first touch is the most important touch by far (skill number four). If you don't know that you've got time to turn (but, you will, because your teammates will tell you!), put it safely back in the direction that you can see. If you've got time, turn and look for the pass ahead or to the side. With the ball under control, think pass. You may be fast, but a pass is faster. As a rough rule, you'll want to make three passes for every one time that you take a player on with the dribble (skill number five). The player who gets the goal may get the fleeting glory, but the player who made the assist get's the coach's attention. A worthy objective is to finish this season thinking we've played for the most unselfish team ever. Please share this email with your player. Throughout practices and games, they'll be tested on these concepts ... by the game itself! The better they understand the concepts outlined above going into the season, the better they'll love the game. Again, we're looking forward to a great and successful season. See you on the pitch. It's a beautiful game, Jeff Dieffenbach