This is our final round robin match of the Tournament. France is strong. They will be a contender for gold. I don't think they can beat New Zealand, but anything can happen. We scrimmaged with the French in the practice round so we know their style. A fast, open wall to wall game.
It's less than twenty minutes before the game starts and no Team France. Maybe a forfeit? No such luck. The French march in and quickly gear up. Our boys are already in the water and Tristan is leading the warm up. We've already been gear checked and the French players are scrambling to get their gear approved and into the water. They manage and with an abbreviated warm up, USA and France square off.
By now, I know the strengths and weakness of each of our players. I ask Tom to coach from the water again and ask him to look for specific areas of performance of three players. Tom's assessment will help me to establish a game plan for our knockout round match.
With John Meisenheimer injured, our team is weaker, particularly in size and speed at the forward position. I bring the team in and ?"tell the backs to set the forwards up with longer passes in order to open up breakaway opportunities. Peter and Quantum have great flicks and it's time we upped our passing game. We cheer and curl out to "ready position" on the wall.
Buzzer sounds, game on. The French score but our boys put up a good fight. They score again. Quantum, Peter and Tristan courageously defend our goal but the French score again. It's not a rollover, the boys fight hard on each and every point. I shout encouragement from the deck and watch the subbing out of the box. I look to see who is not subbing out and make a mental note.
I'm not concerned with the score. I want the team to look for more passing opportunities and to condition our goal defense intensity.
Everyone contributes to goal defense. Eric and Jake attack the big French forwards. A Penalty shot is awarded to the French. Tristan defends but they score the penalty shot. Tristan will learn from these failures and emerge a stronger player as he is destined for future USA Elite Men's Teams. The second half is very much like the first. Final score: USA 0 France 10.
We gather off deck and team cheer. Then I use an old school tactic and lay into them. I tell them with the knockout round coming, if we don't win the next game, we will come in last and I want them to feel my intensity. I tell them that it's time to toughen up and find the "fire in their belly" which is missing. We march to the locker room and I whisper to Tom, how'd I do? Tom goes "whew!" The boys know me too well to think that I don't care about them, but it makes them understand that I need to increase their competitive fire which is necessary to win at the highest level.
Tomorrow is a break in the competition. We'll take the train to Valencia. We go sightseeing.
It's less than twenty minutes before the game starts and no Team France. Maybe a forfeit? No such luck. The French march in and quickly gear up. Our boys are already in the water and Tristan is leading the warm up. We've already been gear checked and the French players are scrambling to get their gear approved and into the water. They manage and with an abbreviated warm up, USA and France square off.
By now, I know the strengths and weakness of each of our players. I ask Tom to coach from the water again and ask him to look for specific areas of performance of three players. Tom's assessment will help me to establish a game plan for our knockout round match.
With John Meisenheimer injured, our team is weaker, particularly in size and speed at the forward position. I bring the team in and ?"tell the backs to set the forwards up with longer passes in order to open up breakaway opportunities. Peter and Quantum have great flicks and it's time we upped our passing game. We cheer and curl out to "ready position" on the wall.
Buzzer sounds, game on. The French score but our boys put up a good fight. They score again. Quantum, Peter and Tristan courageously defend our goal but the French score again. It's not a rollover, the boys fight hard on each and every point. I shout encouragement from the deck and watch the subbing out of the box. I look to see who is not subbing out and make a mental note.
I'm not concerned with the score. I want the team to look for more passing opportunities and to condition our goal defense intensity.
Everyone contributes to goal defense. Eric and Jake attack the big French forwards. A Penalty shot is awarded to the French. Tristan defends but they score the penalty shot. Tristan will learn from these failures and emerge a stronger player as he is destined for future USA Elite Men's Teams. The second half is very much like the first. Final score: USA 0 France 10.
We gather off deck and team cheer. Then I use an old school tactic and lay into them. I tell them with the knockout round coming, if we don't win the next game, we will come in last and I want them to feel my intensity. I tell them that it's time to toughen up and find the "fire in their belly" which is missing. We march to the locker room and I whisper to Tom, how'd I do? Tom goes "whew!" The boys know me too well to think that I don't care about them, but it makes them understand that I need to increase their competitive fire which is necessary to win at the highest level.
Tomorrow is a break in the competition. We'll take the train to Valencia. We go sightseeing.