What a Difference a Year Makes

As I sit here about to relay to you, are loyal Lady Generals and Generals football fans, I can't help but think of one year ago. A year ago at this time Samantha Sloan was in severe pain having taken a a shot (kick) to her funny bone.... not so funny. I myself was pondering the barrage of shots and goals that the Lady Crusaders had layed upon us. The young lady's that took to the Trinity football field on a Friday night a year ago are not the same ones that took to the pitch tonight. Sure some of the names are the same, but the women that represented GCS on this night did so properly.

An early goal by the Lady Crusaders did not crush the spirits of the Lady Generals. On this night I believe it inspired them. The Lady Crusaders were a much more seasoned and experience side and it showed, but the Lady Generals would not back down. On the first substitution of Sam Mehr she showed she belonged on the pitch. She provided a deep throw from our own defending half into space for Rachel Swilley to run onto. I guess we will have to start calling Miss Swilley Pledge or Minwax or Polyurethane or something because she can finish.

The Lady Crusaders would manage two more goals on the night coming from well played combinations and powerful strikes. The entire Lady Generals squad was used in the effort. We received quality play from them all. Amie Clonce had one of if the not the best nights I have seen from her. If you would have told me a years ago that she would develop into a quality back I probably would not have believed you. Kailynn Jeffords also had a great night providing quality balls into space for our strikers. Erin Redshaw held down our back line with Talisa Sampson. Rachel and Rebekah Swilley gave the Trinity backline trouble all night as veteran Samantha Sloan was crucial in our midfield to prevent chances for the Lady Crusaders. As well Sam Mehr provided us this another option in the midfielder and going forward. As she gets better aclimated she should add another dimension to our attack.

Tomorrow looks to be a a great day for the beautiful game and I look forward to watching our Lady Generals on the pitch in the morning.

Sloan To Redshaw To The Back of the Net

(Also the capabilities of the Tiftarea Scoreboard)

Lady Generals Kick Off Season 10 with a Win

"... I am a soccer player... even in the rain." - Lady General

It was raining in Chula (Tifton) Tuesday afternoon as the Lady Generals battled the Tiftarea Lady Panthers, but that did not stop the Lady Generals. Two minutes into the match the Lady Panthers struck first with a well placed ball coming in from right to left and then finding its way into the back of the net leaving all on and off the pitch a little dumbfounded. The Ladies would not be denied as two and a half minutes latter Rachel Swilley would find Rebekah Swilley (or was it the other way around ???? oohhhhh) for the Ladies' first goal of the season.

The fifteenth minute would bring a strange site and the Lady Panthers' go-ahead goal. As keeper Augusta Guthrie fell out of bounds she and all of her basketball player prowess decided to toss the ball back onto the pitch... in front of goal. This decision resulted in a Tiftarea goal as well as a great learning opportunity for Guthrie.

Eight minutes into the second half, rain still coming down, Erin Redshaw came in from the backline to head in a well placed Samantha Sloan corner to pull the Lady Generals even. The score would remain so until a handball in the box in the 60th minute for the Lady Panthers would result in a Lady Generals PK opportunity. Veteran Samantha Sloan was called on and she did not disappoint playing a low hard ball to the keepers right that would be enough for the Lady Generals to ride back to Dasher with there first win in hand.

Although the last 20 minutes bore no goals it was probably the best for the Lady Generals as Rebekah Swilley and Kailynn Jeffords sent great strikes to the Lady Panther keeper. Some great give and go touches resulted in Lady Generals chances. It was a great effort by all on this opening day, this cold and very wet opening day. The eighth graders more than pulled their weight and the veterans showed improvement from a year ago. There is much work to be done and much football left to be played. Now... on to Dublin.

JV Brave the Valiants the Eagles and the Wind!

It was a blustery morning on the pitch in north Valdosta, Georgia. I set a few balls up at the top of the box while the girls stretched and when I turned back they were in the net! Quite a windstorm to say the least.
The wind nor the Lady Valiants were a match for the Lady Generals JV in the first match up. Some good touches early on allowed the defense to rest and for the front line to get some chances. Rebekah Swilley earned a penalty kick in the first half and keeper Augusta Guthrie put the JV Lady Generals on the board with a great strike. But Swilley and Sam Mehr would not be outdone, contributing a goal a piece. The JV Lady Generals were caught on there heels twice in the match. The last goal coming late due a lack of spacing and communication in the back line
As the first match came to a close the Lady Eagles came walking up suit clad and ready to meet us on the pitch. This time the Lady Eagles struck first as a well placed ground-ball across the front of the box (left to right) allowed the Lady Eagle to place a powerful strike past Guthrie. The whistle would not blow on the first half before Sam Mehr would get loose and bring one back for the JV Lady Generals. Having almost played 80 minutes solid the JV Lady Generals were nursing the draw when a poor goal kick with 2 minutes to go resulted in a Lady Eagle go-ahead goal.

All in all I was very pleased with what I saw from the touchline on this very brisk morning. Talisa Sampson and Caitlin Brown held down our back line quite well. As time passes there communication will improve and so will there overall play. Our triple threat up front of Savanna Gordon, Sam Mehr, and Rebekah Swilley put together some great combinations and as they compete more together should be a pleasure to watch. Casey Alley showed great presence in the midfield and really bailled us out in the Terrel game. Augusta Guthrie is finding her place between the pipes and as her confidence grows she will be harder and harder to score on. The biggest surprise of the day was the play of Lauren Redshaw. Lauren showed great poise and toughness for the majority of the day. The late clearance that nearly resulted in an on-goal showed that she is still learning, but we were definitely pleased with her efforts on the day.

A great day for football if you were appropriately attired and we thank all of those who attended the matches to today. A special thanks to Mrs. Nicole Lynch for the headband-ear warmers. A nice touch to the white kits worn over the blue hoodies. Next on the Lady Generals calender will be our Varsity match up with the Tiftarea Lady Panthers. We will be traveling on Tuesday for this region match so if you will not be making the trip please keep us in your prayers and if you are planning on going we will see you at the pitch. Go Lady Generals!

What is expected of our players?

There are two things that you can control
1. Be On Time
2. Work Hard

Punctuality is very important because…
1. Our time is limited
2. You are not only on your time but on our time as well

Hard Work will facilitate your goals (maybe not in your time frame)

Example: The work you do this year may pay-off for the team next year, but you may not be here.

You are part of something bigger than yourself.

What will be the structure of our training?

The coaching staff here is going to train you to the best of our abilities and utilize all available resources to do so. This means that the practice scenarios that you are used in other sports are not necessarily the same scenarios that you will be involved in football.

Example: The Varsity Squad (8-12 grade) and the Junior Varsity Squad (6-8 grade) will train together. This will allow for more realistic drills and playing situations for everyone as well as the opportunity for less experienced players to be challenged by our more experienced players. (If a 7th grade forward can beat a 12th grade defender in training then she should be able to beat a 7th grade defender on match day) It is also the case that some, if not all of our eighth grade players will be playing in Varsity matches. By training as a whole all players will be able to interact with one another.

The Segments of training

We must make the most of our time. It is important that the players (as well as parents) are aware of the time that we will be training and therefore we can all plan the other aspects of our life with respect to that. We as coaches want the most out of our players while they train and by knowing just how long the players will be required to train will assist them in approaching training from a mental standpoint. The framework for our training will be broken up into the following segments:

I. Meditation

II. Stretching and Conditioning

III. Skill Training (Position Specific)

IV. Skill Training (Game Scenarios)

V. Live Play


I. Meditation
For players and coaches the day can bring many distractions and emotions in our minds. For everyones benefit well will use a portion of our time at the beginning of practice to clear our minds and focus on our training and what we can do to best help our team.

II. Strectching and Conditioning
To prevent injury all players will be required to stretch properly and be in capable condition to play the beautiful game. Players owe it to there teammates to be in the best shape possible so that they can compete at their highest level. This will require a conscience effort to push oneself beyond ones comfort zone. A team of superior physical fitness is capable of defeating a team of lesser fitness and superior skill level in the closing minutes of a match.

III. Skill Training (Position Specific)
We will condition as a group, but skills training will begin with players separated in their respective positions (Forwards (Strikers), Midfielders (half-backs), Defenders (full-backs), and Goalkeepers).



Away - Tells a defender to get the ball out their end of the field.
Back and face - Drop back into position and face the opponents ready for a counter attack.
Balance - The presence of coverage by a team in important areas on the pitch.
Ball watching - Defender loses site of his mark because he is looking at just where the ball is.
Body Position – Turn body so that you can see the whole field or if central the ball and goal.
Caught square - When defenders have been beaten by a through ball because they were positioned in a straight line or square to one another.
Channel/Lane - Space between center half and full back into which a pass can be played for an attacking player.
Check In/Out - To come back or move away to space to receive a ball from a teammate.
Cover - To provide defensive cover for the defender pressuring the ball.
Cross - Pass the ball across the mouth of the opponent's goal.
Drop - To pass the ball back to a supporting player.
Drop and mark - The defending team needs to move to their goal, picking up and marking opponents.
Dummy - To let the ball go past or through your legs to a teammate.
50/50 ball - A loose ball contested by players from each team.
First time - Shoot or pass the ball with the first touch.
Get Depth - Asking the central defender to drop and support in the center of pitch as not to get caught "flat"
Get up/out - Clear defense out of box.
Goal-side - The defender positioned between the goal and the offensive player.
Hold - Usually means hold the ball while a player moves into a supporting position for a pass.
Hold the ball up - To keep Possession of the ball, or an instruction to do so.
Jockey - slow down the attacking player who has the ball with your back to your own goal.
Keep It - Maintain team possession of the ball, don’t force it.
Long Ball - When outclassed in midfield to play hopeful long passes to strikers.
Man to man - Follow player everywhere.
Mark up - Telling your teammates to leave no one unmarked.
One more - Let a crossing pass through or pass to the next player.
Open out – provide width in support (curved run)
Over the Top – Play the ball over the defense into space for the forwards to run on to.
Overlap - When a player runs around and ahead of the ball for a pass into space.
Pinch in - Two players closing from the left and right, squeezing the field together.
Play feet - To pass a ball directly to a teammate's feet.
Play space - To push a ball into an open area of the field for another player to run on to.
Play the way you’re facing - Keep soccer simple and pass the way you are facing then move to space.
Play passes - Get head up and keep the ball moving to a teammate.
Pressure - Refers to a defender placing pressure on his opponent with the ball.
Push-up – To move defenders away from goal area to engage in the attack or attempt to draw the opposing team off sides.
Recover - When a defender gets beat he turns and sprints to get between the ball and the goal.
Second ball - Loose ball after initial challenge.
Shape - The players positioning on the field in relation to the formation and the ball location.
Show - Move from a position with an intervening defender to a position with a clear line to the ball.
Simple – Do the easy things well, don’t over complicate and lose possession.
Split - Pass the ball between two defenders.
Square - A lateral pass (straight as in the lines of a square)
Stay Central - Defend the center of the field
Support – Players in position to help keep possession of the ball.
Switch – Changing the point of attack to expose more space.
The Hole - Space between an opposition defense and midfield, hence for an offensive midfielder or defensive forward to play "in the hole".
Through ball - Serve the ball through a flat defensive alignment into a forward space creating an opportunity on goal.
Time/Relax - Having enough time to control ball and look around before a defender can pressure you.
Transition - When team gains possession (goes on offense) or loses possession (goes on defense) of the ball.
Turn - Telling your teammate he has time to control the ball and turn up field.
Turn and face - Turn around and get ready for the kick.
What you see - The player with the ball has no one marking them, in other words, they are unmarked.

(Terms Compliments of Valdosta Lowndes Soccer Club)

A Fallen Soldier for Football

I believe that football is powerful and I believe the fact that it is so powerful allows for even greater good to be done rather than just cheering at people kicking a ball. If you were watching Sports Center on ESPN of Sunday Night (1-28-2008) then you may have seen the story of the fallen US Army soldier and the fulfillment of one of his last wishes. Watching this was very tough. See (click here) for more details.

What to come in 2008? (in terms of the beautiful game)

One of my favorite movies is Back to the Future. Dr. Brown, Marty McFly, what a great trilogy. I don't have a De Lorean to travel back in time or into the future with, but it is still fun to think about. Of course I am very excited about our upcoming girls season at GCS as well as spring practice and summer training for the guys fall season. Although they have not been showing great form as of late I trust that Rafa Benitez will get Liverpool (my club of choice...Go Reds! "You'll never walk alone." sorry) back to form for the Champions League and who knows maybe they can hang on in the premiership to keep things interesting for everyone. Hopefully the Euro will be exciting this summer as I am sure it will (even though England did not qualify). We will see if the Houston Dynamo can Three-peat in the MLS and if the quarter of a billion dollar chap from across the pond, aka David Beckham, can lead the Galaxy into the playoffs.