Being a spectator this year at bluegrass interesting comments cicrled the fields.

NCC got the bronze medal.. which is a great accomplishment...rumor is that they only got the bronze because they didn't have a bench and minus a last year starter. Everyone knows one player doesn't define a team..especially an "ALL A STATE Champ team" and everyone knows ncc never uses its bench.

On the other State Champ team they recieved silver.. Which is a great accomplishment...but chatter says they were there to practice...

But in the championship game it didn't look like practice....

It looked as if she didn't use her bench... like she did in previous games that day... I am told. And like ncc ...highlands never uses their bench which is sad for both teams..with the kind of heat this weekend and rather larger girls playing for the previous state champ teams, they could have used some subs. Highlands so called starters look very slow in the gold meadle round with the exception of number 17. During the weekend her second team looked much faster and physical to attack. Not sure with the substition choices in the gold game..I was told they were freshman...you cold so tell there was no insinc with that team. And not using a flat back 4 defense with a new goalie is kind of dated and dangerous for a team...

Hats off to cchs for their efforts...!!!

Being a spectator this year at bluegrass interesting comments cicrled the fields.

NCC got the bronze medal.. which is a great accomplishment...rumor is that they only got the bronze because they didn't have a bench and minus a last year starter. Everyone knows one player doesn't define a team..especially an "ALL A STATE Champ team" and everyone knows ncc never uses its bench.

On the other State Champ team they recieved silver.. Which is a great accomplishment...but chatter says they were there to practice...

But in the championship game it didn't look like practice....

It looked as if she didn't use her bench... like she did in previous games that day... I am told. And like ncc ...highlands never uses their bench which is sad for both teams..with the kind of heat this weekend and rather larger girls playing for the previous state champ teams, they could have used some subs. Highlands so called starters look very slow in the gold meadle round with the exception of number 17. During the weekend her second team looked much faster and physical to attack. Not sure with the substition choices in the gold game..I was told they were freshman...you cold so tell there was no insinc with that team. And not using a flat back 4 defense with a new goalie is kind of dated and dangerous for a team...

Hats off to cchs for their efforts...!!!

 

Can not speak for NCC, but I know that every player on the HHS roster played in the final game on Sunday, save one who sat the last game after being hit in the head on a free kick in the match earlier in the day. May want to check your info. Not sure about your tactics either. Flat back 4 defense is probably not the style to play on a field where there are 3-4 foot undulations and mounds from one end of the pitch to the other, not to mention 6 inch long clover/weeds. You did get one thing right though, scrimmages are "practice". Winning/Losing starts to matter come August 13th.

Being a spectator this year at bluegrass interesting comments cicrled the fields.

NCC got the bronze medal.. which is a great accomplishment...rumor is that they only got the bronze because they didn't have a bench and minus a last year starter. Everyone knows one player doesn't define a team..especially an "ALL A STATE Champ team" and everyone knows ncc never uses its bench.

On the other State Champ team they recieved silver.. Which is a great accomplishment...but chatter says they were there to practice...

But in the championship game it didn't look like practice....

It looked as if she didn't use her bench... like she did in previous games that day... I am told. And like ncc ...highlands never uses their bench which is sad for both teams..with the kind of heat this weekend and rather larger girls playing for the previous state champ teams, they could have used some subs. Highlands so called starters look very slow in the gold meadle round with the exception of number 17. During the weekend her second team looked much faster and physical to attack. Not sure with the substition choices in the gold game..I was told they were freshman...you cold so tell there was no insinc with that team. And not using a flat back 4 defense with a new goalie is kind of dated and dangerous for a team...

Hats off to cchs for their efforts...!!!

A little bitter are we?

About the everyone playing for HHS during the final game, I guess you were not at the medal ceremony, where their parents and players talked about non playing time. And anyone who watched HHS during the three games prior could see that the team's subbing was not even close to what it was during the championship game. Rumor was they could field two state chmapionship teams with their roster. As for the not agreeing with me on my flat back 4 comment, after being involved in many OPD trainings and college camps, I beg to differ. You should protect your goalie, field conditions should not change your defensive strategy that much. Sacred Heart played a flat back 4 in the final, didn't seem to bother them. One should not take this personally, because I am a by-stander, but Sacred Heart's players may have been small in stature, but most appeared to be quick and mighty. Not bitter at all, just observing what I see and hear. It is amazing what you can learn by just standing by the concession stand, a parked car, or even just watching a game.

About the everyone playing for HHS during the final game, I guess you were not at the medal ceremony, where their parents and players talked about non playing time. And anyone who watched HHS during the three games prior could see that the team's subbing was not even close to what it was during the championship game. Rumor was they could field two state chmapionship teams with their roster. As for the not agreeing with me on my flat back 4 comment, after being involved in many OPD trainings and college camps, I beg to differ. You should protect your goalie, field conditions should not change your defensive strategy that much. Sacred Heart played a flat back 4 in the final, didn't seem to bother them. One should not take this personally, because I am a by-stander, but Sacred Heart's players may have been small in stature, but most appeared to be quick and mighty. Not bitter at all, just observing what I see and hear. It is amazing what you can learn by just standing by the concession stand, a parked car, or even just watching a game.

 

A flat 4 offers your goalkeeper LESS protection and increases the chances of having to face 1v1s due to the defensive backline not having depth and being more susceptible to those quicker players you spoke of. A sweeper/stopper system allows your defense to have that depth and force the quicker players to the sideline hence giving you more protection up the middle and more protection for your goalkeeper. Especially when you consider how direct SHA was playing, balls over the top of a flat 4 would have been very difficult to deal with. ALL conditions factor into tactics. If you are disregarding any of them, you are not being thorough.

 

I really do not need to debate tactics because opinions are like elbows we all have them. I think the record of each program speaks for itself.

 

Here is a website that might help you and the other bystanders out... I have not had to go there for quite some time but it might be useful for you. May want to take a look at bullets 6 and 11.

 

http://www.soccerhelp.com/Soccer_Tactics_Select_Travel_High_School_Soccer.shtml

Your are right that everyone has different opinions and tactics to every game and situation. But just hear me out on this one. A flat back 4 when used right can be even more effective then a sweeper and stopper defense. With the right rotation and movement a flat back 4 offers more support to the middle do the the flexiblity of it as well as the outsides due to the fact that an opposite outside midfielder should be tracking backwards and pinching in if one defender goes forward to attack and slow down the offense. That way if you do the math right instead of having just 4 back, you can get 6 defenders back with the help of outside midfielders, and even more when centermids track back. I appreciate your advice on the website, but after I have written and contributed to many soccer websites, I won't get into that with you. We are, after all, talking about a more college level play, which most of these girls go on to and play a flat back 4 in their colleges. And as you said eariler since Sacred Heart was playing very direct, a fast defense could have stopped the direct balls, as well as their fast front line, and since it seems HHS goalie was very active in coming off her line she also could have easily got to the through balls.

I guess I agree with gunnar-11 about flatback... although doubt the HHS goalie needs much protection...

When you use the flat back four "D" you had better hope that the AR is on the ball and understands what a offsides is. Far too many AR really don't understand the rule at all, and your team can get burned badly by one. I personally like using my fullbacks as a offensive weapon as most teams (unless of course they have a lot of quality players), never look for that fullback coming up from the defensive side of the field to score.....

 

and from what I understand soccerexpernot, you are correct about the new HHS goalie, she will need some help especially early in the season...

Oh gosh, I did it again! I'm so focused on spelling "goalie" that I can't get my sentences right. I meant to say, "From what I hear, the HHS goalie does not need any help at the goal." I hear she plays for some competitive clubs, and HHS should be fine in goal. Sorry my friend from Rabbit Hash; but how about any exciting girls games coming up that are worth watching?

Yes, she does play for a very good club team in Ohio. There are some exciting games coming up that should be fun to watch at the Girls Soccerama August 11th at Dixie Heights High School. I know that Brossart plays Notre Dame and New Cath plays St. Henry, I believe. I think St. Henry is going to be a team to watch this year. They are up and coming and young, but they have some good younger players on their team. Highlands plays Scott High. Definitely a tough draw for Scott. So, if you want to come and watch the Highlands goalie play, Old Guy, there is an opportunity. But, also keep your eye on that goalie for Scott. She is a very good goalie as well, and plays select soccer in the offseason as well for a very good select team.