Observations on Saturday games

Hmmm, interesting day at the pool. Hormones, teens, skill development and competition make such a colourful mix. It's nice to be involved with players who are passionate and skilled. It's frustrating when they are not all on the same page at game time and when they don't trust their learning in times of stress. But, there is hope from what I saw in today's games.

The Bantam girls had a really nice practice at 5:00 after acting like deer-in-headlights during their 4:15 game. That group has come so far is such a short time that there are no reference points for what they are going  through. However, the experience they are gaining now is wildly beneficial and will be paying dividends in Calgary for sure.

Open Women don't need to change anything, just need to get a few more bodies out to the pool so there is a bench. Toward that end we have now added Shelagh P-A to the squad, expect her at the next game (maybe Kelci will actually show up too).

The next 2 weeks the Girls are going to spend Wednesdays and Thursdays planning how they will play on the 16th vs the Neptune Senior team. There will be a playbook given out this week, a summary of the offense and defense we have worked on to date. Nothing new to be taught, just refined while we work on speed, strength, confidence and timing.

Youth Boys, no big changes by me, just an attempt to get the whole team through 2 weeks of 100% attendance, what a dream that is. Neptunes were asking today if we could add a few Monday night games in a bigger space, with less public around. I am all for it, once we have practiced as a team for a bit. Totally in the hands of the boys, work for it or pass it by.

Cadet boys have issues similar to the Girls. Play is up and down and depends on who is in the water not on what our team tactics are. Two huge improvements in the pool today; Luc was countering and taking the ball to the net, Bon! Huge props to Dylan for doing EXACTLY what he is being taught. Steal, pass, go to the net, receive pass, score, simple! And, he did this more than once so we know it wasn't a twitch or a fluke, no it was skill. Plus, he stepped out when the ball came to him at 2m before he shot, nice change. Honourable mention to Pizey for helping bring leadership to the Neptune Cadets for a very close game.