Our last scrimmage of our last practice day is not until 5 pm. We take Uncle Terry's advice and see a little of Spain. Hopped on the bus after breakfast, and took the boys to the beach. We arrive and they run into the sea and play like kids. Laughing, swimming, diving, they're having a great time.
After so much intense training, drilling, and scrimmaging, they have earned this break. Gustavo Pesce and Tyera's grueling sets are a distant memory as they frolic in the sea. Even serious mannered Tristan joins in with the building of sand castles. Or at least what we think are supposed to be castles....
We rinse off the sand at the public showers, have lunch at a local restaurant and arrive back at the hotel at 3 pm. "4:15, gear ready in the lobby", we tell the team. Back to the business at hand with France U19 Men waiting for us at the pool.
Last day's scrimmages are with pro Refs under game conditions. The French hit us hard. They score three in a row in quick succession. The boys are rattled. I call a time out, gather the boys. I tell the forwards to come back closer to help the backs who can't hold the goal. The forwards are waiting for passes that don't come. They're not attacking and backpicking to support the backs. We steady up but it's clear. We are outmatched and outclassed by this magnificent French team. Final score: USA 0, France 6.
We debrief and the mood is sullen. We review our mistakes but what does not change is that we know that as hard as we play, we cannot beat this team and the next three teams we face beginning tomorrow (South Africa, Colombia, and New Zealand). I sense the downbeat spirit of our team and tell them to huddle up and link arms. We are still standing poolside and I say on three, "TEAM!" They do and we startle everyone as their voices echo. The boys smile and we march out single file, in unison, gear bags shouldered and head for the lockers.
Usual Captains meeting held at our hotel. Tristan Reynard presents the issues, allows little input, and only entertains two questions. I must admit that he runs an efficient meeting and is thorough. The captains, Tom and I head to the dining room, and share our notes over dinner with the team. I announce who is sitting out for the first four games. Tom and I know that we must have our best team in the water for the games we can win, and sit our better players for the games we cannot. Only the captain and vice captain will not sit.
After dinner I wonder to myself how I'm going to keep the boys inspired when the burden is so heavy against these great teams. I still have to write about the crushing loss to France and I'm feeling a bit down. And just as I open my iPad to write, I see an email from Jennifer Smith. I open the letter and receive my answer. I will read Jennifer's letter to the boys before we play South Africa tomorrow and all will be right. Thank you Jennifer for inspiring me and tomorrow, the entire team.
After so much intense training, drilling, and scrimmaging, they have earned this break. Gustavo Pesce and Tyera's grueling sets are a distant memory as they frolic in the sea. Even serious mannered Tristan joins in with the building of sand castles. Or at least what we think are supposed to be castles....
We rinse off the sand at the public showers, have lunch at a local restaurant and arrive back at the hotel at 3 pm. "4:15, gear ready in the lobby", we tell the team. Back to the business at hand with France U19 Men waiting for us at the pool.
Last day's scrimmages are with pro Refs under game conditions. The French hit us hard. They score three in a row in quick succession. The boys are rattled. I call a time out, gather the boys. I tell the forwards to come back closer to help the backs who can't hold the goal. The forwards are waiting for passes that don't come. They're not attacking and backpicking to support the backs. We steady up but it's clear. We are outmatched and outclassed by this magnificent French team. Final score: USA 0, France 6.
We debrief and the mood is sullen. We review our mistakes but what does not change is that we know that as hard as we play, we cannot beat this team and the next three teams we face beginning tomorrow (South Africa, Colombia, and New Zealand). I sense the downbeat spirit of our team and tell them to huddle up and link arms. We are still standing poolside and I say on three, "TEAM!" They do and we startle everyone as their voices echo. The boys smile and we march out single file, in unison, gear bags shouldered and head for the lockers.
Usual Captains meeting held at our hotel. Tristan Reynard presents the issues, allows little input, and only entertains two questions. I must admit that he runs an efficient meeting and is thorough. The captains, Tom and I head to the dining room, and share our notes over dinner with the team. I announce who is sitting out for the first four games. Tom and I know that we must have our best team in the water for the games we can win, and sit our better players for the games we cannot. Only the captain and vice captain will not sit.
After dinner I wonder to myself how I'm going to keep the boys inspired when the burden is so heavy against these great teams. I still have to write about the crushing loss to France and I'm feeling a bit down. And just as I open my iPad to write, I see an email from Jennifer Smith. I open the letter and receive my answer. I will read Jennifer's letter to the boys before we play South Africa tomorrow and all will be right. Thank you Jennifer for inspiring me and tomorrow, the entire team.