KC Kick

KC Soccer Blog

Author: Chase

  • Legends Maestro Program

    The Technique of the Stare, Point, Shout, and Fake-Shot or Pass

    It’s crucial to begin training our Maestro move series with the Fake Shot/Pass. This powerful stand-alone and pre-illusion makes three Maestro moves significantly more deceptive. My third book, Legends by Design, will discuss this topic in greater depth, underlining the importance of this technique in your training.

    Fake Shot or Fake Pass

    1.         With the ball about two feet in front of you, focus on and stare fiercely at an imaginary target downfield as if you have just seen something amazing for the first time.
    2.         Quickly raise your arm until it is parallel to the ground and aggressively point your index finger towards the imaginary target.
    3.         Loudly and aggressively shout a pre-selected one-syllable name, e.g., “Alf’ or “Ann.”
    4.         Place your standing foot 9 inches behind the ball.
    5.         Withdraw the thigh of the other leg away from the ball and bend your knee as if winding up for a powerful shot or pass.
    6.         Accelerate the foot forward rapidly as if shooting. Pull the toe up at the last split second and make slight contact with the sole of the forefoot on the ball. Note: Stay on your toes throughout the move.

    Please note: Once the “Fake Shot” has been well learned, always incorporate it when you practice the Spin Cruyff, Puskas, and L-Turn. Integrate its practice with those moves instead of practicing it separately.

    While we suggest practicing the Fake Shot or Pass as a pre-fake for the Spin Cruyff, Puskas, and L-Turn, it’s important to note that it’s not just a supporting move. The Fake Shot is a powerful tool, capable of outmaneuvering defenders and creating scoring opportunities. For instance, it can trick defenders into jumping or sliding to block a fake shot, leaving them vulnerable to your next move.

    Best game situations for the use of this move:

    When an opponent is approaching to tackle.

    Immediately before such moves as the Cruyff, L-Turn, and Puskas, to add an extra degree of deception and separation.

    When shifting defenders towards one sideline before reversing the point of attack.

    Fake Shot or Fake Pass and Puskas

    1.            Place the standing foot 9 inches behind the ball. Withdraw the thigh of the other leg back away from the ball as if winding up for a powerful shot.

    2.            Rapidly bring the foot forward as if shooting. At the last second, pull the toe up and make slight contact between the sole and the top of the ball.

    3.            Pull the ball back alongside the standing foot. As you pull the ball back, hop backward 45 degrees away from it so that the standing foot is always well behind it and approximately 45 degrees from its original position.

    4.            To complete the move, play the ball away from the line of the pull-back at a 90-degree or greater angle with the outside of the same foot you pulled the ball back with. Then, explode for 5 yards to complete the move. Stay on your toes throughout.

    Best game situations for the use of this move:

    Moving diagonally across the field at a medium to slow pace with some separation from a pressuring defender.

    In front of the goal with a fake shot. To get a defender to commit before changing direction and shooting.

    When an opponent rushes in to make a tackle on you, it freezes them or makes them flinch. This is because they think they are about to get walloped by the ball.

    The Fake Shot or Fake Pass and L-Turn

    1.            Place the standing foot 9 inches behind the ball. Withdraw the thigh of the other leg away from the ball as if winding up for a powerful shot.

    2.            Rapidly bring the foot forward as if shooting. At the last second, pull the toe up and make slight contact between the sole and the top of the ball.

    3.            Pull the ball alongside the standing foot until it is approximately 12 inches past the standing leg. Bring the inside mid-point of the foot you used to pull the ball back level with the mid-point of the ball. Keep the heel as low as possible and the toe up.

    4.            Use a “Donkey Kicking” action up and through the ball at a 45-degree angle that connects the ball with the mid-point of the foot. This moves the foot across the back of the standing leg at a ninety-degree angle or greater to the original pull-back direction. Stay on your toes throughout the move. Explode for 5 yards to finish.

    Best game situations for the use of this move:

    Moving diagonally across the field at less than full pace with a defender in proximity.

                    To make defenders commit before changing direction, shooting, or passing.

    The Fake Pass Spin Cruyff Turn

    1.            Stand on your toes one to two yards behind the ball. Step towards the ball and place the standing foot about 6-9 inches nearer to you than the ball and 1-2 feet to the right of the ball if using your left foot to stand on, or 1-2 feet to the left of the ball if using your right foot to stand on. As you place the standing foot, swivel your foot and body towards the ball at a 90-degree angle from your approach. If the standing foot is your left, it will be           90 degrees to your left, and vice versa with the right foot.

    2.            As you place the standing foot, withdraw the thigh of the other leg back away from the ball as if winding up to strike it, and rapidly bring the foot forward as if to pass. At the last split second, hook the non-standing foot around the far side of the ball until the knee of the non-standing leg is turned inwards towards the knee of the standing leg, i.e., the knock-kneed position. Wrap the toe of the play-away foot entirely around the ball until the ball fits snugly into the concave indentation on the inside of the foot. Ensure that the toe and heel of the play-away foot stay at the same height. Start with your contact foot hovering above the field surface during the play-away phase.

    3.            Pull the ball behind and alongside the standing foot with an upward “Donkey Kicking” motion, i.e., from a slightly bent to a significantly bent leg position. As you perform the “donkey kick,” ensure that the toe and heel of the play-away foot remain at the same height.

    4.            Lean backward at a 45-degree angle during this move. Continue to turn to your left if using the right foot or turn to the right if using the left foot. Explode for 5 yards to finish. Stay on your toes throughout the move.

    Best game situation for the use of this move:

    Moving diagonally or directly away from the opponent’s goal or goal line with a defender in close contact behind one shoulder.

    The Double Scissors

    1.            Stand on your toes, feet shoulder-width apart, and both feet directly to the weaker-footed side of the ball. The knees should be bent at about 100-140 degrees.

    2.            Cut the grass across the front of the ball with the sole of the strong foot until it is 6-12 inches on the other side from where it started the cutting motion. During this cutting motion, the weaker foot cuts the grass behind the ball a fraction of a second after the stronger one cuts the grass in front of the ball. Keep the weaker leg and foot about six inches away from the stronger one throughout the initial scissors.

    3.            After a fraction of a second, get a little lower and cut more aggressively across the front of the ball in the other direction, but this time with the sole of the weaker foot until that foot is 12-24 inches on the furthest side of the ball from where it started the cutting motion. During this cutting motion, keep the stronger leg and foot about six inches away from the weaker one.

    4.            During the scissor phases of the move, the knees of both legs should never be more than 12 inches apart. To enhance the final scissor illusion, the one we want the defender to bite on, turn the chest 45 degrees and drop the shoulder furthest from the ball towards the direction of the final fake as close to waist level as possible to give the impression you are about to sprint in that direction. To aid children’s understanding of this shoulder movement, tell them to put the furthest shoulder from the ball into the “hip pocket” nearest to the ball. The knee of the final scissoring or “non-play-away” foot should now be bent at approximately 90 degrees.

    5.            From this low knees-bent position, turn the toe of the play-away foot (the foot that just cut the grass across the back of the ball) inwards and slightly downward, and play the ball away from the fake. The ball should be played away at about forty-five degrees from the direction the dribbler is facing and moving. Explode to leave the defender in the dust. Stay on your toes throughout the move.

    Best game situation for the use of this move:

    Attacking a defender head-on at speed.

    The Single Scissors

    The basic Scissors move is contained within the Double Scissors. Learning the Double Scissors is a two-for-one proposition. The Scissors is also used when attacking a defender head-on at speed.

    The Matthews

    1.            This fake is excellent because it has four distinct consecutive deceptive elements. These are the initial direction of body lean, the inside of the strong foot bait touch, a quick, low, and long sideways hop, and a chest and shoulder fake, like in the final stage of the double scissors. Initially, stand with the ball between your toes with your feet slightly behind the ball and about six inches on either side. First, lean aggressively sideways towards the direction of the fake (away from your strong foot) with knees bent at about 100-140 degrees.

    2.            With the inside of the strong foot, nudge the ball gently sideways 6-9 inches toward the fake.

    3.            Almost simultaneously, perform a “big low sideways hop” with the weaker foot in the same direction and land on your toes 18-24 inches from the ball on the opposite side from the intended direction of the final play away. During the hop, to enhance the illusion we want the defender to fall for, turn the chest 45 degrees and drop the shoulder furthest from the ball towards the direction of the final fake as close to the waist level as possible to give the impression you are about to sprint in that direction. To aid children’s understanding of this shoulder movement, tell them to put the furthest shoulder from the ball into the “hip pocket” nearest to the ball.

    4.            Finish by playing the ball away at a forty-five-degree angle past the opponent in the opposite direction from the fake with the outside of the ball-playing foot. Explode for 5 yards to complete the move. Stay on your toes during the whole sequence.

    Best game situation for the use of this move:

    Attacking a defender head-on.

    The Drag Maradona Turn

    1.            Set up a shielding position sideways to the defender.

    2.            Lean towards the defender, keeping all your weight on the foot nearest the opponent.

    3.            Raise the arm nearest to the defender. The hand, elbow, and shoulder are parallel.

    4.            Point fingers to ensure the barrier made by the arm and hand is as long as possible.

    5.            Bend knees and waist to get under the defender’s center of gravity during the shield.

    6.            Keep your arm nearly straight. This isn’t the advice during regular shielding training, where the shielding arm is bent at approximately 90 degrees.

    7.            Keep your arm nearly straight because you will drag the ball between 25 and 50 degrees away from your sideways position to the defender. The defender will not expect you to drag the ball to this vulnerable position. When a defender realizes that the ball is being dragged to a position where a tackle can be made, they will lunge toward the ball or turn their hips to follow the ball’s path. Your arm must be straight to block the defender’s lunge toward the ball and protect the ball position at the furthest point in the “Drag.”

    8.            While leaning forward, drag the ball approximately 25 to 50 degrees away from the sideways position to the defender. Here, defenders usually commit to tackle, lunge at the ball, or turn their hips to follow the ball’s path. If the defender doesn’t commit to a lunge, they will almost certainly turn their hips towards the ball’s path. As the defender commits to this lunge or hip-turn, the usual “Maradona Turn” technique begins.

    9.            As the defender lunges or turns their hips, immediately ground the dragging foot and bring the non-dragging foot forward over the top of the ball to a position where the first pull-back of the regular Maradona Turn begins.

    10.          Start to lean backward and place the sole of that foot on the top of the ball with the toe pushed down over the far side of the ball and the heel of the foot pulled up towards the calf muscle as much as possible to avoid slippage during this crucial phase of the move.

    11.          Place the standing foot 18-24 inches behind the ball. Pull the ball back 2 feet toward the standing foot and replace the ball’s initial position on the ground with the “pull back” foot while rotating that foot 90 degrees inwards and positioning the point of the hip of that leg towards the opponent as you turn. If using the left foot, turn the foot and body to your right. If using the right foot, turn your foot and body to your left. As you rotate, lift the arm nearest the defender and bend it at the elbow so the outside of the forearm can protect you from a defender’s challenge.

    12.          For your foot and body position during the final part of the move, lean towards the eventual direction of the play away and backward away from the ball. Use what was the standing foot to pull the ball back, replacing the initial position of the ball on the ground with the “pull back” foot. Put the sole of the Maradona Turn’s first “standing foot” on top of the ball with the toe pointed down and the heel pulled up in a wedge shape.

    13.          Explode to finish. At a point in the rotation approximating 270 degrees, roll the ball away with the sole on top of the ball at a 90-degree angle from the line of the initial pullback.

    14.         Finally, explode five yards to finish the move and catch up with the play away.

                    Note: Stay on your toes throughout the move.

    Best game situations for the use of this move:

    The Drag Maradona Turn is described from points #1 through #14. This move should be used from a shielding position.

    The Regular Maradona Turn

    The Regular Maradona is contained within the Drag Maradona. Learning about the Drag Maradona is a two-for-one proposition. It is described from points #10 through #14. This move can be used effectively while moving in any direction. Its effectiveness will depend on the defender’s position relative to the dribbler and ball. It exits at approximately ninety degrees from the original dribbling path.

    Note: The Stare, Shout, Point, Fake Shot, or Fake Pass all work well if individually or collectively used on the front end of the Maradona Turn.

  • 📝 Practice Recap – Wednesday, Oct 22

    We had a great practice this week. Each session we’re focusing on a few select moves so the players can master them through repetition. This week, we worked on the Body Feint, Double Scissor, and Puskás Move.

    Let’s keep building on these, try to practice them each night this week.

    ⚙️ Skill Challenge

    See how many repetitions you can complete in 2 minutes for each of the following moves:

    1. Body Feint
    2. Puskás Move

    Record your score and try to improve each time.

    🎯 Focus for Next Week

    We’ll continue working on goal kicks before the next game. These are difficult to practice on the red fields due to limited space, but we’ll make sure every player understands positioning and spacing when we’re playing out from the back. I want to make sure the players at the second and third level know what to do. Also that the kick can go long if there is an opening.

    We’ll also begin selecting team captains each week, based on Wednesday’s practice performance. Captains aren’t just chosen by who’s the best, they’re chosen for focus, effort, and improvement.

    ⚽ Looking Ahead

    We have two games this weekend:

    • Game 1: Against the first-place team, a great opportunity to show we can compete at this level.
    • Game 2: A Paragon League match. It’s still unclear whether it will be 7v7 or 9v9, but it looks like we’ll be facing a 2015 team, likely due to the limited number of teams in the fall division.

    No matter the setup, let’s bring our energy, focus, and teamwork into both matches.

  • ⚽ Weekly Training Plan –Sept 30, 2025

    Five years from now, these kids will be trying out for their high school soccer teams. Our goal is to help them get there prepared and ready to compete for a varsity spot. That won’t be determined by how many wins or goals they had at age nine, but by the muscle memory and habits built from doing skills over and over since they were little.

    This winter, Legends has an outline that will bring in more passing and shooting. For now, we’re heavily focused on ball mastery. That doesn’t mean we want players doing a Maradona in our own goal box. Instead, we stick to Skill – Scan – Send. The skills allow us to scan, create space, and move the ball past the defender with control.

    To help track progress, we’ve put together an Excel spreadsheet for skills and stats. We’ll also be choosing two captains each week, based on standout performances at Wednesday practice or exceptional play during a game.

    Wednesday (Indoor) – Ball Mastery Session 5:00-6:00

    ⚙️ Ball Mastery (30–60 Seconds Each)

    • Moving Toe Taps
    • Inside Ball Taps (TikTok, Stationary)
    • Ball Shift – 3 Taps Left / 3 Taps Right
    • Rolls – Left to Right (Stationary)
    • Rolls – 2 Left / 2 Right (Moving)
    • Ball Shift (Stationary + Feint) – R & L
    • 2 Outside Touches / 2 Inside Touches – R & L
    • V Cut – Outside (R & L)
    • V Cut – Inside (Puskus, R & L)
    • L Drag Behind – Alternate Feet
    • 180 Turn Into Space (Cruyff)
    • Scissor (R & L)
    • Double Scissor
    • Matthews (R & L)
    • Ball Shift + Touch to Space (La Croqueta)
    • Stepover + Touch to Space (Opposite of Scissor)
    • Shield + Turn Into Space
    • Weak Foot Only

    🔄 Skills on Command (Group Work)

    Players move around the field and perform skills on command. They must keep doing the move until everyone has completed it.

    • Scissor
    • Maradona
    • Puskus
    • Wide V
    • Double Scissor
    • Roll
    • La Croqueta
    • L Turn
    • Matthews

    If time remains, quick 2v2 keep-away (no shooting).

    🎯 Focus is on clean technique, balance, and rhythm. Don’t rush control is more important than speed.

    ⏱ Box Training

    Box 1 (Solo Work) – Partner up and compete for high score

    • Wide V Cuts → Bounce off wall (alternate feet)
    • Puskus
    • Scissor

    Box 2 (Partner Work)

    • Point Battle: Shooter scores 1 point if the ball gets past defender and hits back wall (must hit plywood, not wire).

    🏠 Weekly Routine – Moves of the Week

    ⚙️ Home Assignments: 2-5 Times per week

    • 100 Wide V Turns – Alternate sides (50 left / 50 right)
    • 50 Scissors – Alternate left and right
    • 100 Bounce Juggles – Inside of foot only

  • ⚽ Weekly Training Plan – Sept 24, 2025

    Quick skills-first session with fast decisions and accurate finishing.

    What we worked on (60 min total)

    • Ball Mastery (20 min): Footwork and control to stay comfortable under pressure.
    • Skill → Scan → Send (20 min on field): Perform a skill, immediately scan, play the pass, receive across the body, then finish. Emphasis on shooting low and to the edges—not at the keeper.
    • Small Boxes (20 min):
      • 3-Wall game for quick combinations and clean first touches.
      • Back-Wall challenge: partners competed to “wall” the ball so it bounced to the back wall for a point (focus on pass weight, angle, and body shape).

    Notes

    • The Legends owner observed and recorded the session and shared concerns through Mark. I’m open to direct, professional feedback and will keep sessions aligned with a skills-first approach. We will not be focusing on drills, passing, shooting, or scrimmages. If we want to improve in these areas, we will need to work at in on the extra outdoor practices.
    • As for a follow up on the sideline conduct for the parents. The best way to help is to get kids to practice consistently and support the weekly skill work at home which is listed below.

    Next Session (Outdoor)

    Focus on defending: pressure–cover–balance, 1v1 body shape, win it and play the simple pass out.

    Level 1 Routine

    ✅ 100 toe taps moving
    ✅ Skill of the week: Matthews — 10 left, 10 right
    ✅ 100 bounce juggles

    Do this 2–5× per week depending on overall activity load.

  • 📝 KCL Liverpool Game Recap – Sunday, Sept 14th

    Thanks to everyone for coming out today. We lost a close one, 2–3, against a strong opponent with a winning record. This was a competitive match that showed we belong at this level. We’re not placed too high in the division, we can compete here.

    ⚽ Key Takeaways

    We’re playing at a high level and will continue to focus on the attacking portion of the game. This means the players need to have a strong understanding of two important habits:

    • Offsides – forwards and midfielders must be aware of positioning and timing runs.
    • Scanning – players need to constantly scan:
      • Before they receive the ball
      • After they receive the ball
      • Even when they don’t have the ball

    These small habits will create better awareness, spacing, and opportunities to attack.

    🔄 Coach’s Note

    I want to apologize to all the parents for the first goal we conceded — that one was on me. We’ve been working with defenders and the goalie to play the ball out of the back instead of just kicking it down the field. In that situation, I should have had the goalie play it to the outside.

    I will continue to coach this, because it’s an important part of developing our team’s style of play. Here is a link to our goal kick strategy:
    https://youtu.be/BjZ6oNk9Dnw?si=ZK9tz3E4RgtWCpEC

    📅 Looking Ahead to Practice

    Next week’s practices will be similar to what we ran last week. One of the highlights was the breakaway drill, which gave players repeated 1v1 opportunities to finish with a shot.

    📌 If your child plays forward, Thursday’s practice is especially important to attend.

    🏆 Upcoming Tournament

    For our next tournament, we will be playing in a lower division. This will give us a chance to build confidence and put together wins. I fully expect us to come away with some victories next weekend.

    Weekly Training Program for September 15

  • ⚽ Weekly Training Plan – Sept 15, 2025

    This week, all players will continue with the Level 1 routine at home 2 to 5 times, depending on their schedule and other sports. Players do not need to complete the routine on days they have a team practice or a game. The goal is to build consistency and keep developing good training habits through the fall season.

    🥅 Practices This Week

    There will be two practices with Coach Chase this week and one practice on Monday with Coach Mark.

    Here are links to the practice plans:

    • Wednesday, Sept 17
    • Thursday, Sept 18

    If you would like to review earlier sessions, you can find them here:
    👉 Practice Recaps

    🟢 Level 1 Routine

    ✅ 100 toe taps (stationary)
    ✅ Skill move of the week — Cryuff Turn (10 left, 10 right)
    ✅ 100 bounce juggles (ball can bounce once between touches)

    📌 Skill Move of the Week: Cryuff Turn

  • 🗓️ KCL Liverpool Practice Plan – Thursday, Sept 11

    1. Basico Drill – 15 min

    • Passing rhythm, spacing, and ball control. Increase distance

    2. Split Groups – 15 min

    • Group 1: Finishing Drills
      • Quick release shots, use both feet, focus on accuracy and pace.
    • Group 2: Overlapping Passes with Finish
      • Work on timing overlaps, passing into space, and finishing runs.
    • Rotate groups halfway.

    3. Shoot, touch post, then go to defense.

    Drill #1

    4. Play Through Thirds game scrimmage

    Drill #5

  • 🗓️ KCL Liverpool Practice Plan – Wednesday, Sept 10th

    We’ve got two practices with Chase this week. Our normal Wednesday practice will be held indoors at 5:00 PM, focusing on ball mastery and finishing. On Thursday, we’ll have an outdoor practice at 6:30 PM.

    We may only have 40 minutes on the field, so we’ll move with purpose. Please arrive early so we can maximize our time together.

    ⚙️ Ball Mastery – 30–60 Seconds Each

    • Inside Ball Taps (TikTok)
    • Ball Shift – 3 Taps Left / 3 Taps Right
    • Rolls – Left to Right (Stationary)
    • Moving Rolls – 2 Left / 2 Right
    • Ball Shift (Stationary + Feint)
    • 2 Outside Touches / 2 Inside Touches – Right
    • 2 Outside Touches / 2 Inside Touches – Left
    • V Cut – Right, then Left
    • Wide V Cuts – Inside of foot, pivot to open
    • Short V → Touch Into Space
    • L Drag Behind – Alternate feet
    • 180 Turn Into Space
    • Scissor + Touch Into Space
    • Ball Shift + Feint (La Croqueta)
    • Stepover (Opposite of Scissor)
    • Shield + Turn Into Space
    • Weak Foot Only
    • Free Combo – Player’s Choice

    🎯 Focus Moves of the Day

    This week we’ll highlight and review two key skills during warm-up and drills:

    • Cryuff Turn
    • Finishing Drills

    Our finishing work will be inspired by a training video, emphasizing game-like actions:

    • Cryuff turn into a finish
    • Two rolls left or right into a finish
    • Two inside touches and two outside touches leading into a finish

    ⏱️ Scrimmage or Box Drills

    If the field is available, we’ll close practice with a scrimmage. If not, we’ll move into box drills:

    Box 1 – One Player Per Box

    • Wide V Cuts then bounce off wall, alternating feet
    • Wall Juggling: Inside of foot only, catching the ball every other bounce

    Box 2 – Two Players Per Box

    • Wall Passing Challenge: See how many clean passes pairs can make in 60 seconds
    • Point Battle: Compete to bounce the ball off the wall and past the defender. If the ball hits the back wall after passing the defender, it’s 1 point for the shooter.

  • 🏟️Youth Soccer tryouts in Kansas City for 2026

    What the Switch from Birth Year to Grade Level Means for Families

    Over the next couple of years, youth soccer will see an important shift: teams will begin organizing by grade level instead of birth year. While this change may look small on paper, it’s going to affect how teams are built and how families think about tryouts.

    Why the Change Matters

    • Birth year today – Players are grouped by the year they were born, which often mixes two grade levels on one team.
    • Grade level tomorrow – Teams will align more closely with what kids experience in school. A team may be primarily 3rd graders or 4th graders.
    • New opportunities – The change means more balanced teams and a chance for kids to play alongside classmates.

    What Parents Should Expect

    1. Tryouts will feel different – Teams may shift around as clubs and coaches adjust to the new rules.
    2. Closer peer groups – Grade level rosters will make it easier for kids to play with other kids of the same maturity level.
    3. Roster changes – Some players may play up, others may stay with their grade, and in many cases new rosters will be created.

    What This Means for Players

    For some kids, this will mean staying on their current team. For others, it could mean joining a newly formed roster or finding a better fit within their grade level. Either way, families can expect more movement than usual at the next round of tryouts.

    Preparing for Tryouts 2026

    • Stay informed: Ask your club how they plan to handle the change.
    • Talk early: Connect with other parents in your child’s grade to understand their plans.
    • Keep an open mind: The change may feel disruptive at first, but it also opens doors to new friendships, new teams, and fresh opportunities for development.

    At KC Kick, we’ll continue sharing updates and resources as this transition gets closer. Tryouts in Summer of 2026 will look different, but with preparation, families can turn this change into a positive step forward for their players.

  • 🔴 Liverpool Game Recap – Sept 6

    There was a scrimmage on Wednesday, Liverpool had a double digit victory at Soccer Nation. Today dropped a tough one today 2-3 loss, one of the closer matches we’ve had. The kids played hard, and there were plenty of chances to take control.

    There was an early penalty kick that felt a bit harsh in the moment, but after reviewing the video, it was actually the right call. The foul wasn’t on #14 it was the initial contact by another player that triggered the call. The whole game was uploaded to our private Facebook group for anyone who wants to take a closer look.

    At halftime, I made it a point to keep things focused. We weren’t behind because of the ref, we were behind because of missed opportunities. And we had plenty. The size of the field is still something we’re adjusting to. With only six players on the field, covering that much space requires stamina, awareness, and smart positioning.

    📋 What’s Next

    I’m working on individual feedback reports for one or two players each game that I can. These will include what your kid did well, and a few areas we might want to focus on. It won’t be a list of negatives. There will be a short highlight of the players performance. I will also provide a separate report for the parent on things to focus on.

    🟢 Looking Ahead to Practice

    Next outdoor practice, we’re going to introduce a new drill focused on 1v1 breakaway situations. We are 90% there but just not getting enough good shots.

    We ran a 2-3-1 formation in this game:

    • 2 defenders
    • 3 midfielders
    • 1 forward

    That means our outside midfielders need to cover the entire length of the field. If we find that’s asking too much, we’re open to adjusting back to a 2-2-2 or even experimenting with a 2-1-3. The formation should fit the players not the other way around.