Hello Parents and Players. This is a new section for us that should allow everyone to see what our goals and expectations are for this upcoming season. The goals between United and FC are going to be fairly similar because regardless of what team the girls are playing with the expectations for them are always going to be high and fairly competative. These goals will not just come over night and can only be attained through hard work and dedication through each practice, game, and individual work on their own.

Goals

1.  Control and win games through possession. Simply put we must find a way to gain confidence on the ball and learn to find the simple easy pass and making passes to open up space on the field instead of just kicking it away after winning it.

2. Create more goal scoring opportunities and put those chances away. Through all the games we have played at 11 a side, we haven't created enough goal scoring opportunities and because of that we haven't scored many goals. We have to find away to get ourselves into dangerous positions on and off the ball so that we can be there to score some goals.

3. Understand and be able to space ourselves properly on the field. Too much we are continuing to just simply be drawn to where the ball is instead of holding our position and/or getting ourselves into a position to make a dangerous run on the following pass or into a position to continue to keep possession of the ball.

4. Be able to use our bodies to fight off opposing players and hold the ball. We are too soft when it comes to our ability to hold the ball when faced with pressure from another player. We must be willing to use all of our bodies to hold off or win the ball from opposing players. This doesnt mean using our arms and elbows swinging wildly, but keeping our center of gravity low and keeping our arms up and being able to use our shoulders to push people off the ball.

5. Be more competative in practice and games. We have to step up our intensity level. Whether your goal is to move to the "A" team or win every game, the only way to show you want this is to fight for it in practice and games. This doesn't mean to fight with teammates and opponents, but it means to be determined to never lose any individual battles and push yourself to your limits each time you step on the game or practice field.

6. Fight for the team. Regardless of who you are playing with we need to go out there with the goal to do whats in the best interest of the TEAM, and not just ourselves. Instead of trying to prove that you belong on this team or that and trying to take on 4 people every time you get possession of the ball, the thing that would be more impressive is keeping possession, creating space for teamates or passing into dangerous situations for teamates which in turn will open up more and more opportunities for yourself and others. Recognize that you are just one small piece in a bigger machine and take pride in that fact that each thing you do enables this machine to do it's job.

7. Be composed when in possession of the ball. When we have the ball each player needs to be confident in their abilities on the ball. Rather than immediately kicking it in no certain area, get a touch and find a pass, or try and take a player on. Settle the ball and keep possession.

8. Improve our technical ability on the ball. This means, trapping, passing, dribbling, and shooting abilities MUST be improved!! This should be a non issue by now, and it is going to take us going out and working with the ball on our own and getting comfortable with it at our feet.

9. Don't be afraid to take a player on. This means in the right situation we want to see players taking a player on with a real move, not just a kick and run after it. It also means that this is done in the right situation and not in our goal box, or defensive third where if we do happen to lose it we are in a huge bracket. After saying that if we are trying to take players on then it is just a fact that we aren't going to beat the player every single time, but as long as you are trying I can't argue that and would love to see it being done more often using scissors, step-overs, inside outside cuts, etc...

10. Be determined. Every time you step on the field you need to be as confident in yourself as possible and be completely and wholly determined that YOU WILL WIN each and every individual battle with the opposing player and their team.

There may be a couple added or adjusted between now and the end of the season and it is totally expected for the girls to know these and put a real effort to achieve each and every single one. If we can make a true effort to accomplishing these then we are going to have a successful season!