DYSA Soccer Season Kicks Off

The 2013 Dixie Youth Soccer Association (DYSA) is back in action with the leagues teams returning to the Dixie fields, getting ready for the first games in early September. This year I’ll be coaching my 12 year old daughter Skylee’s U14 team, and I’ll be joined again by her best friend Katrina’s father Stefan in the coaches box. Last year our daughters and their U12 team had a great run, winning the first two playoff rounds and making it into the semi-finals in the 19 team Marin Interleague Soccer Association (MISA).

As good as that team was, this year’s squad looks even better if the preseason practices are any indication. Granted we have jumped to a new age level, but regardless I’ve been really surprised how much better the girls are at 12 & 13 compared to 10 & 11. They pass more and find the open space easier. They are faster and they kick the ball a lot harder.  The kids are taller and stronger. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a little intimidated by the talent, as most of these girls have years of experience and they are truly coming into their own, now just one level away from high school ball.

The MISA is a recreational league, not to be confused with the more competitive and serious ‘select’ league. I’d like to think that any of the girls on my team who wants to play in high school will be able to make the jump. I have a few goals this season, and one is to encourage the eighth graders on the team to pursue soccer and other sports in high school.

The first goal however will be to coach a safe approach to the game. I don’t want goalies or players on the field sacrificing their bodies: they need learn to avoid contact with other players, especially in practice. Soccer purists will scoff at this, as soccer is a contact sport. I don’t want my girls doing headers on any balls struck with any force or distance. I’ve read too much about headers that led to concussions in the still developing and vulnerable young brains. As opposed to my own developed and atrophying brain. I could probably bounce a brick off my head and it would do more damage to the brick.

The great thing about my team is that all the girls play other sports. Maybe most of them won’t play soccer in high school. That doesn’t matter so much. It would be great to see them prepared and inspired for their next steps. The most important thing is that they have a good time on the field.

As I see it my job is to inspire the kids to keep playing and to keep them safe. My daughter Skylee disagrees with me on this one, putting winning as the top priority, but I really don’t care about winning. I’ve been on a lot of different teams in a variety of sports in my life, and sure it was always more fun to win but as an amateur athelete that was never my main goal. I just wanted to have fun, get some exercise and try my best. If I can instill that attitude in my players the season will be a success, regardless of our record.