Birds play loose finally and dominate

It was a cold evening at Simon Kenton with everyone bundled up for a rematch that SK couldn't wait to have after a disappointing 2-1 loss down at Lex Cath a few weeks ago during the Lex Cath Invitational.

Highlands jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after a nice cross from (FR) R. Wilkins to K. Jamie who did a little Mari donna move which put her on the ground but somehow was able to bounce back up and poke the ball past the GK for the goal.

Then after mainly Highlands handling the possession for the next 20 minutes we had some coaching drama, one of Highlands midfielders dribbling around the Center circle was having some issues avoiding the Ref who was positioned where the player was dribbling.  The player was able to avoid contact and was successful on passing the ball way up the field.  This was the tipping point for Norris who yelled to the CR "GET OUT OF THE WAY!!!!  THIS LITERALLY WAS LIKE THE 4TH TIME YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE WAY OF OUR PLAYERS AT MIDFIELD!!!!"  that wasn't good enough for Norris he then proceeds to add on to the fact that the CR was being way to far away from the play, basically saying he was lazy and not following the play down to the 18 box.  Center Ref blew his whistle to stop the clock to go have a chat with Norris and administer a YC to him.  The dialogue continued between the Ref and Norris which I can only imagine what was being said but apparently it wasn't warm pleasantries since Norris gets another YC, which means 2 YC = Red Card......exit stage right!

Immediately after Norris left the field the Birds finally playing loose for the first time all year, turned up the play level and absolutely destroyed the Pioneers. It was 2-0 at half.  

In the 2nd half the Birds just continued to connect the best they have looked all season.  Birds ended up scoring 5 goals in the 2nd half and gave up 2 for the Final score to end up being 7-2.  I really don't think SK realized what just happened.

Back to Norris though b/c unfortunately that is what people are going to be discussing for a few days instead of the 7-2 destruction these Birds did to Simon Kenton (who by the way was just Ranked #8 in the KY Maher Rankings just behind Highlands who was Ranked #7).  With the RC Norris received he will of course have some time to think about his actions since he will not be welcomed on the bench during the next game (Weds vs Roger Bacon) and who knows if there will be any more after that.  The mental breakdown of his actions has to have the administration to pause and think if this is a person they want to have as a Role Model for 50+ 7th - 12th grade young ladies.  This was NOT a situation where he blew up for a Ref not calling an infraction or calling one that Norris disagreed with, it was literally blowing up at a Ref for his lack of physical ability of not staying out of the way of the Birds players and not being in good position for the game.  110% uncalled for, I know some people who actually do ref out there and what I have been told is that the supply of refs were already a small group of people to begin the season and thru this season there have been way too many that have had season ending injuries of some sort to keep them from being out there doing games.  They are literally are being held together by knee, ankle, thigh braces and duct tape.  And you want these refs to try to avoid a bunch of 15-18 year old girls who on the Birds some of them run track and qualify for State events either in Individual or relay events......

I just don't know what can be said and done to make last nights antics something we can just move on from..... 

We will see.......

EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED BIRD!!!!!!!

This seems a harsh reaction to a coach getting booted from a single game.  Is there more to Frank's sentiment than just the happenings of this game?  Personally, I think refs are going to miss calls because they're human, but being out of position is unacceptable at the varsity level.  I wasn't at the game so just going by your recap, which I GREATLY appreciate for all the games.

Birds Win Big for Coach Norris

The Birds sneak a goal in early from a cross from R Wilkins to K Jamie to put them up 1-0.  Unfortunately, for the next 20 minutes the Birds attacks were nullified due to an out of shaped elderly man trying to be the Center Ref of this Varsity Girls soccer game.  It was so disappointing that the game got the short straw on not having the proper young strapping athletic soccer ref that we so deserve for Northern Ky High School soccer.  I literally know hundreds of people that are refs that do High School games and we somehow have to deal with this guy standing at midfield not moving and being in our way all game long.  

Finally, Norris politely tries to give the Center Ref some very well deserved constructive feedback to try to move a little faster around the field to avoid our players that seem to find him in the wrong place every time they dribbled through the middle of the field.  The elderly gentleman unfortunately took Coach Norris's feedback in the wrong manner and decided to pull his papyrus yellow colored ref card and gave Coach Norris a YC.  Coach Norris tried to explain that he was simply trying to help out a fellow man by telling him to stay out of the way of his players because he might get hurt.  He already had a knee brace on so he must be frail and Coach Norris was simply looking after his safety.  I guess due to the time spent discussing the reason why Coach Norris was trying to politely explain everything to the hard hearing individual, the Center Ref decided that time was up and he had heard or maybe not heard enough of Norris's information so the Center Ref pulled out his other weather worn Red Card that looked like it was folded 20 times in his billfold prior to coming to the game.  It is such a shame to have to deal with these people that are trying to go out and ref a game.  They need to just stay home and watch Wheel of Fortune or something of that nature.

Well Norris collected his belongings and walked off the field shaking his head in disappointment due to his misinterpreted good nature communications.  

Coach Andy and the other Coaches collected their thoughts and gathered the players around and really pumped them up by igniting some fire in their belly to the overwhelming chants of "Win One for Chris".  I mean did they ever!  They came out with such fire and aggressiveness, which I have never seen before in the 2 years of Coach Norris's tenure.  This was exactly what was needed for the Birds.  Goal after Goal after Goal were scored and all I could think about was "What a great thing Coach Norris did tonight!  He died on a sword which might have been strategic on exactly what he wanted to do for these High School girls to get fired up and play with some passion FINALLY".

#GOBIRDS!!!!

This a better version???  Maybe my write up should have gone this way instead.

Let's just be real here.  Highlands isn't getting back to the state championship with his style of coaching.  He may be the nicest guy in the world, but he isn't going to lead them to a deep playoff run.

The one thing that has separated NDA and Highlands from the rest of NKY over the years is their style of play (last year for NDA you can say just sheer talent as they were loaded).  They play possession soccer.  The same can be said about the teams that play in the state championship game each year.  This kickball style of soccer that SK now plays along with many high schools work against most inferior teams, but they're not going to win you the big games.  Yes, you may get lucky once, but you're not going to get lucky twice. I haven't seen Highlands play yet this year, but sounds like they're tending this way at times too.  Making negative passes and playing the ball back to your keeper are not bad things.  Give your defenders outlets instead of just having them kick it out of bounds.  Switch the field by making that negative pass back to your 6 or centerbacks.  I know some will say you need the players to play possession soccer, but I've seen plenty of teams over these past few years that have had the talent, but coaches continue with this old school, kickball mentality.

2 hours ago, nees1212 said:

Let's just be real here.  Highlands isn't getting back to the state championship with his style of coaching.  He may be the nicest guy in the world, but he isn't going to lead them to a deep playoff run.

The one thing that has separated NDA and Highlands from the rest of NKY over the years is their style of play (last year for NDA you can say just sheer talent as they were loaded).  They play possession soccer.  The same can be said about the teams that play in the state championship game each year.  This kickball style of soccer that SK now plays along with many high schools work against most inferior teams, but they're not going to win you the big games.  Yes, you may get lucky once, but you're not going to get lucky twice. I haven't seen Highlands play yet this year, but sounds like they're tending this way at times too.  Making negative passes and playing the ball back to your keeper are not bad things.  Give your defenders outlets instead of just having them kick it out of bounds.  Switch the field by making that negative pass back to your 6 or centerbacks.  I know some will say you need the players to play possession soccer, but I've seen plenty of teams over these past few years that have had the talent, but coaches continue with this old school, kickball mentality.

Confused.  You said you have not seen Highlands play, but criticize the coach style of play?  Then most of talk is about Simon Kenton.  
Highlands had their coach and ran him off after taking them to state.  Sometimes what goes around comes around.

14 hours ago, Jack of all Trades said:

Confused.  You said you have not seen Highlands play, but criticize the coach style of play?  Then most of talk is about Simon Kenton.  
Highlands had their coach and ran him off after taking them to state.  Sometimes what goes around comes around.

That's what I get for typing out 1 paragraph, going to a meeting, and then typing out the 2nd without reading the 1st paragraph.  Completely disconnected post.  Yesterday was just one of those days.

31 minutes ago, nees1212 said:

That's what I get for typing out 1 paragraph, going to a meeting, and then typing out the 2nd without reading the 1st paragraph.  Completely disconnected post.  Yesterday was just one of those days.

I get it.  Thanks for clarifying.