Q: Your team stands at 0-12-1, does this record show what your team is really capable of when playing on the field?
A: Of course with zero wins, I do not feel this record shows what my team is capable of. However, I feel many coaches with a loosing season will say that too. There were games where we deserved to lose, but we happened to play a better game/style against the better teams and sloppy games against the weaker teams. If we were able to have the better performances against the lower teams, I think we would have had a couple results by now. The one tie we have would have definitely been a win with that said. Luck, bad calls, and other conditions have not been in our favor so far, but that is how it goes sometimes.
Q: As your record stands this year, do you fear that your team will fade and become part of the "losing streak" again? Why or why not?
A: There is always a fear of a loosing streak. No team wants a loosing streak, especially knowing there was one in the past. I think that is what keeps us motivated to keep fighting and pushing forward. Do I think we will fade? No.
Q: After last years seniors Tyler Basse and Jarod Boardman graduated, did you feel any sense of difficulty coming to the team this year?
A: Yes, they were key players with huge roles in the team. The team relied on them to step up and make big plays and they did. Basse was the defensive key player and Boardman was the offensive key player. Defensively, Zach Sims stepped in and filled that gap quite well, but offensively we are still hurting a little bit without a big offensive player. Other players did not return or moved which also hurt us offensively.
- Q: In the upcoming years do you feel like your program will build and become a "team to beat" like Athens or Wellsboro?
- Q: What do you believe are the keys to building a long term successful program?
A: Time will tell. It will take a while to get to that level. Those teams have a style of play and a great program existing and developing that consists with a high number of players. It starts with mentality. Those programs most likely have more respect throughout the school and with the kids involved. This can be due to a number of reasons, such as record, history, other athletics, location, etc. The strong mentality of a program makes more kids wanting to be "part of the team". This, then creates more competition between the players, which can lead to better skills, challenges, practice and preparation. It takes 11 good players to have a good team, not just 3 or 4. Building a good program also starts before the high school level at the youth level. More knowledgeable coaches and involvement to keep those players playing from a young age all the way to high school. Bringing back the junior high program like baseball is doing would help as well. When the jr. high soccer team first started, there record was best in the league winning every game except one. This would create more practicing and coaching to prepare for the high school level. Players that come in trying soccer for the first time at the high school level struggle. Being athletic, strong, tall, fast, etc. will help you but will only get you so far. Some of the first time players definitely helped out with the team now and in the past but even those players can't deny they could have had a lot more goals, better control, and passes if they would have had spent years growing up playing more soccer before high school.
- Q: And lastly, if there was one thing that your players should take away from this season what would you want it to be or have them remember?
A: Keep pushing forward. The results may not always be what you want but when you work hard, eventually they will come. Excuses will slow you down. Remember the good things that worked well, like the pass plays combinations, tricks, and goals and not to dwell on the bad things. Those good things happened, not just because of you individually, but because you were a part of a team that made it work. Always enjoy the game. There is no better feeling than scoring a goal. "Soccer in a simple game, but it is difficult to play simple". "Hard work beats talent, when talent does not work hard".