KC Soccer Blog

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

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.

Tournament Recap – Lee’s Summit, MO

This was our first real chance to play together as a team, and we’re still learning our players’ strengths and positions. Unfortunately, this tournament didn’t have the level of organization we would normally expect. We also ended up facing 2015 teams, and it seemed like some guest players may have been even older. Player cards were not required, so anyone could go onto the field. There was also some inconsistencies with the officials.

As a Dad, I’d prefer to avoid tournaments in extreme heat where kids are pushed to play 3–5 games in a weekend. There’s a good perspective on this from a popular YouTube channel, and I agree, we want our players to develop a love for the game that lasts.

That said, our boys played incredible soccer this weekend. They gave everything they had, and we saw major improvement, especially when we faced the same team again on Sunday after playing them Saturday.

My coaching focus has been on building a solid defense. We’re putting stronger players there. They are learning how to move the ball to the outside, when to delay versus when to press, and how to stay focused on the whole field, not just the ball. Moving forward, we’ll shift more attention to striker and midfield roles. We experimented with both a 1-2-3 and a 1-3-2 formation, and may continue trying different setups.

Thank you to all the parents who braved the parking, the schedule changes, the delays, and the extreme heat. I wish we had better information regarding game times and field locations to keep everyone up to speed. Your support means a lot. Look forward to seeing everyone at practice this week.

-Coach Chase