First "proper" fixture of the season

We rocked up to Upper Eden with 25 players for our first "proper" fixture for the season, to match up with the 8 UE players. Common sense prevailed and a plethora of volunteers put their hand up to play for UE - teams were evened up and game on.

From very early in the game, a pattern of play started to present itself. Part of each team put in a full shift, part of each team dipped in and out and part of each team drifted around the pitch like a lost soul in search of a cause !

We played 4 x 15 min games, mixing up the players/teams and trying to change the emphasis in each mini game.

Some things worked, some thing didn't work, but the players were able to identify for themselves that when their team is "carrying passengers", the opposition spots it very quickly and soon sends attacking play directly down that particular channel.

Ball handling, passing and game awareness was much better, but the players (overall) are still trying to attack the ball, rather than tackle the player.

I hugely enjoyable morning and it was good to renew friendships with the players, parents and coaches from Upper Eden again.