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| Hockey Girls U10 Team 'Blog' |
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U10's V Edgeborough
Wednesday 26th January 2011 U10 A V Edgeborough Won 5 - 1 Goals scored: Holly 4 / Louisa 1 Edgeborough Girl of the Game - Zara Anichebe Coaches Girl of the Game - most defintley Louisa Atherton A wonderful game to watch girls - well played! I haven't seen you play for ages and it was a real treat to see how well you all play together now. Great stick work from Holly who managed to slot the ball into the back of the net 4 times, with good support from Lulu. Edgebough did not really get to see much of the ball as Louisa worked her socks off running back every time to defend, intercept the ball and then drive the ball up the pitch - outstanding play Louisa well done! A note for the rest of the team - you need to remember that you also need to get back, defend and provide back up for your goalie. Edgeboroughs goal came from when everyone stood watching us the oppositions CF and CM broke away and it ended with Isabelle trying to defend the whole circle on her own. If you lose possession you must get back, don't leave it for someone else to do - everyone is responsible for defending. Keep up the great play girls...... Mrs Creighton
Holly and Lulu storm up field in another attack A happy team is a good TEAM Solid at the back, - sticks down, watching the ball, ready to defend Hall Grove A 1 Eagle House A 2 There are days in sport when you play very well, yet you come away without the success that you deserve, and there are days when you do not play at your best, yet you come away with the honours. The latter was true today. Our practice on Monday was not our best as we lacked focus and the self discipline to practise the skills which we needed today. Hall Grove passed the ball strongly and their stick control was good and they had a storming second half to equalise and possibly could have scored the winning goal. We did start well, keeping our shape as we passed the ball wide to both wings. Our tackling was solid and we put the opposition under pressure when they had the ball. This led to our first goal from Holly who again was working well with Louisa. Zara and Ellie were solid in defence, with Ellie stopping several Hall Grove attacks. Zara worked hard throughout the game moving up in attack and running hard to get back to help out when our efforts failed. Lulu linked well with Amy and this led to Amy's second half goal towards the end of the game. Our first half was fair, but for some reason we switched off from the starting whistle of the second. We lost our drive, stood off the tackles and too often were caught out of position. Again Ellie and Zara stopped a number of Hall Grove attempts at goal and Holly and Louisa helped out in defence to keep Hall Grove out. Izzie had a good first outing for the side, making a couple of good saves and there is some good potential here. The result was good for us, and a little unfair on Hall Grove, but it is in the book, as they say. We must work much harder over the coming sessions, listening to the explanations of and working on the areas which we must improve. We must have our sticks on the ground and we must put pressure on opposing players when they have the ball. We must pass the ball more quickly and more accurately, and we must control the ball more positively. So, girls, you have to work hard on Mondays as you can play better than this as we showed at the Oratory and at Wellington towards the end of last term.
Hall Grove B 3 Eagle House B 0 (Sorry this is rather late - it became drowned in my inbox tgw) The match set off to a good start as the girls started to play the ball to the wings and getting into good spaces which reflected their hard work during training. The score at half time was 1-0 to Hall Grove but the girls didn’t let that dampen their spirits as they went back onto the pitch with determination. The girls had their team chat and decided that they needed to pass more and to tackle as soon as possible. Unfortunately Hall Grove scored two more goals leaving the score as 3-0. Well done girls for your hard work and determination. All of your training will definitely pay off soon. Miss Brewster Eagle House 3+ Lambrook 0 It is always good to finish a term on a positive note and against a slightly weakened Lambrook team, we did indeed put together some good and exciting hockey. That being said, we must always take on board the areas in which we can and must improve. We must release the ball quicker to the wings who must either drive at pace down and in to pull the ball BACK to the spot or release and run themselves. We must shut down the self hit of the opposition, as putting pressure on opposing players can lead to mistakes upon which we can capitalise, again by releasing the ball early to the players attacking out of defence. On a positive note it was good to see us shut down possession of a couple of Lambrook players who potentially could have been rather useful, with our sticks on the ground, often winning the opponent's ball as they hit to our stronger side. We all should look at the square ball both inside and outside. Louisa controlled the ball well in the midfield, working well with Lucinda who has improved much this term especially in her confidence with the ball. Holly on the right and Amy/ Maddie on the left gave us better width (but when will you have your hands in the right place?) and caused great problems in the opponents' D. Ellie had a better second half when she controlled the ball before moving it out of harm's way. Zara had her best game especially defensively and enabled attack time after time linking up with Holly. Ellis and Izzie had little really to do as our out players controlled the game positively. So the snow is coming and skis will serve us better possibly during the next few weeks. It is important, however, to keep work at the skills, especially the drag back. There are lots of astros around; how about an hour's practice on one at some time to get rid of the excesses of the Christmas pudding? There are some good little players in this group, but if you sit back, you will be overtaken. We will work even harder after the break, but for now look at the improvement over the term, enjoy the washing up and keeping your bedrooms tidy, and have a good well-earned rest. Merry Christmas.
The Oratory Under 10 A 0 Eagle House Under 10 A 2 We are getting there! There was some super hockey today. Louisa was a mountain(not meaning to be rude) in the middle winning much 50-50 ball and then releasing it much more quickly to both wings. Her tackling and that of Lucinda and Zara showed much much greater commitment and heart. Zara and Ellie were generally sound, but they must drive off the sixteen yard hit much more forcefully and above all they must not hit straight to the strong side of the defending player. It was good to see Zara working with Holly up the right and several times they opened up the wing for Holly to drag the ball back. Holly and Lucinda were excellent, and between them, Amy and Louisa, they created many many chances. Holly drove up the wing time after time and laid the ball back. However, their goalkeeper was outstanding and must have saved twenty or so shots. So where were our players on the rebound or deflecting the ball past the keeper? We must not wait to see what is going to happen at any time on the hockey pitch. We must be proactive. That means that we must think about what could happen and then be there to make sure that we benefit from it. People should be moving in from the left if we are attacking from the right; people should be moving in onto the pads in case it is deflected and so on. We all must work at trying to lift the ball in the scoring shot. There were minutes during this game when the potential you have was being realised and the hockey was outstanding. We will work on so that we can improve our skills, tackle our weaknesses and build upon this pleasing outing.
The Oratory Under 10 B 3 Eagle House Under 10 B 0 I know that the score looks a little bleak, but this was really a much improved performance on those we had seen during the practices. We were much more competitive and our tackling was much more strong and positive. Lucky especially won much ball, but like the others, she was let down in the pass. We must pass to space or to one of our players and not to the strong side of the defending players. We fought hard and really should have scored two or three goals. We must get the ball in the 'D' and shoot as soon as the ball crosses the line. We must then have someone on the goalie's pads to fire in the kick or rebound. We cannot just watch to wait to see what is going to happen. Isabelle showed great presence in her goal and undoubtedly has the place her own. Emily and Kaisey were much more positive around the top of our 'D', but they must work at their stick skills so that whey can move the ball to the right. This was a good game in many ways and although there is much that we can improve, there is also much with which the girls can be pleased and proud.
Holme Grange 1 Eagle House 1 This was a very well contested match between two sides who fielded a number of very skilful young players. Eagle House started positively, moving the ball wide to both wings and created a hard fought goal towards the end of the first half. From then on it was movement from end to end and both sides could (and should?) have scored a number of goals. Zara and Ellie grew stronger as the match progressed. Louisa controlled the ball well in midfield and often released Holly to drive to the line and drag the ball back; this was when we were at our most dangerous and we needed to do this much more often and with much greater speed. Too often we were caught with the ball by the Holme Grange players who were quicker in the tackle and quicker in the pass. We must not take so much time, but move our feet to be ready to pass before the ball comes. Two minutes from the end we literally stood and watched Holme Grange score an easy goal on the narrow side. It was certainly a fitting reward for all their hard work and a draw was a fair result. We fought hard, but we have to practise the skills in game situations much more often preferably against the Under 11s. It will also be important that we regard the practices as match situations, as the headmaster said. We must turn up on time and try to get as much out of the skills sessions. Above all, we must expect to work hard; hockey is a tiring game at the best of times, but it can be made easier by getting the basics right (slap passing, hitting, dribbling to the weak side, passing the ball with speed, cover tackling). You must get into the right position. You must listen to what is said to you individually and as a group. Above all, you must work at what you personally need to improve. It really is up to you, and I know that there is much really good hockey in you for you to realise and above all to enjoy. Let's work hard and build upon this outing.
Marlston House 3 Eagle House 3 After a long journey, we walked down to the grass pitch, warmed up, ran around a little and started the match. Hmmmm, actually, with one or two exceptions we sort of forgot to start the match properly until after the half-time talk. After the push back to start the first half, we won the ball, drove into the 'D' and promptly forgot which way we were playing. Marlston were competitive, winning nearly all the fifty-fifty ball in the first half, and deservedly scored three goals to lead by that margin at the half time whistle. Louisa and Ellie were our better players, with Kaisey in the second quarter, in the first half and even they took too long over the ball as Marlston terrorized our possession. We have to move our feet, drive and pass into open spaces. So three nil down, raining hard, pubs are shut in sympathy, hmmmm, but wait a different team pushed back at the start of the second half. Zara was moved back to back/midfield, which released Louisa to work with Lulu in the midfield which in turn enabled Holly and Maddie to work up the wings and in the D. From the first minute Ellie, Amy and Zara stopped waves of attacks, solidly behind the ball and much more quickly and more powerfully did they release the ball to the midfield. Lulu and Louisa were working tirelessly with much greater support from Holly and Maddie, who either filled in behind or found space up the wings. One goal, two goals and yes a third - three all. A game of two halves, but one in which both teams played some really positive hockey. If we had won, it would not have been fair on Marlston House and if they had won, it would not have been fair on our efforts in the second half. It was very pleasing to hear that we gave the opposition their first good game for a year! However, as I said it takes two teams to make a good match. The team now looks about the right balance and now we must work really hard during the practices to increase our confidence and competence with the ball, to move our feet much more quickly(football is a different game and you were all guilty of playing football), and to put pressure quickly on the opposition and if we lose possession fight like Marlston did to win back the ball. Please note that you should be ready to start games at four o'clock each day. So it was a good match, and you showed good heart to fight back as you did, playing together as a team. Congratulations to both teams. |
