WV State Soccer Making Strides

Here is an article written in the Charleston Gazette talking with WV State Director of Coaching and Marshall Head Men's Coach, Bobby Gray. Here is the link

I totally agree with what Coach Gray states, even though I have only been in the state for about `10 years now, and really only 7 of those years were spent working with youth soccer, we are definitely making strides. As a college coach you see the level of play (I have a much better view of the female side) has become much improved over the years.

In recent years the number of games won at the Region 1 tournament has increased, as too have the showings by the WV ODP teams over the years. Just this year we were leading ENY South and tied a very very good Connecticut team.

As long as they coaches in the state continue to look out for the greater good of the game of soccer and the development of the kids things will only continue to improve.

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US Men's National Team - Tale of Two Halves

Wow.. been a while since I have posted about the Men's National Team.. Last I did it was the three day stretch were they were smack by Costa Rica and struggled to get a win against Honduras... since then they entered the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

They opened with a loss to Italy 3-1, followed that by getting smacked by Brazil 3-0.. then came the game last Sunday against Egypt. The US needed to win by three goals and Brazil had to beat Italy by three goals.. Somehow by the grace of the soccer gods, thats exactly what happened..

So on to the semifinals, and a shocking win over the World #1 Spain 2-0.. Next up, a rematch with Brazil..

The 1st half was a dream setup.. 10th minute goal by Clint Dempsey.. wow, I thought to myself what a great start, then came the Brazil pressure as they gained numerous corner kicks... Then in the 27th minute off a Brazil corner came a 2v2 break out as Donavon would play the lead pass out left to Davies who would then slot a beautiful left footed ball in front of Landon. LD would chop the ball to the left with his 1st touch turning the Brazilian defender as he flew passed and then would slot the ball perfectly in the left corner for a 2-0 lead...

This however was were possession ended for the US and all they would do is try to hang on. Brazil would score 45 seconds into the 2nd half.. then again in the 72 and 84 minutes to win the Confederations cup 3-2...

Disappointing loss, but definitely a great showing for the US...

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US Soccer ODP Region 1 Tournament Draw

The ODP (Olympic Development Program) Region 1 Tournament pools are posted and all I can say is wow!!!..

Year in and Year out, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Eastern NY South and Eastern PA and Connecticut are usually the best Girls state ODP teams. Well the West Virginia 94/95 Girls team drew three of those six, getting much up with ENY South, New Jersey and Connecticut. We have a fantastic group of girls, who are going to have to play at an extremely high level for us to be succesfull. I am excited at seeing what kind of talent Region 1 holds again this year.

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How Do You Motivate Athletes Under This Circumstance??

So here it was, the final tune up practice my 1994 Girls ODP team before we head to the region 1 tournament next weekend.

We had 13 girls at training, out of a possible 17.. For WV this isn't to bad at all. However you could tell from the onset that this was going to be a struggle to keep them focused and motivated.

Off those 13 girls, 7 play on the same club team. A club team with a very loud, hard, demanding coach. I am on the absolutely opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to a coach. I am way laid back, as some will tell you, almost to a fault... but that is who I am.. I really have to work hard to develop good relationships with the girls so that they feel a level of personal hurt when they let me down, as opposed to motivating the girls out of fear.

But with this group, they are clearly the top 7 players on the team.. I only see them but once a month.. and they know they will play.. So my questions is how do you motivate a group of kids on a day like yesterday when they were tired, whiney and just being 14 year old girls. They have no fear of being cut or of losing playing time..What would you as a coach do?? Read more on this article...

Dan Tudor - The Parent Trap

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