Transition Experience to Upper House - Clarendon

The team started in Microsoccer for K,1. Now we have been in UH for 2nd and 3rd grade, although COVID stoppage made the 2nd grade start and stop, although we trained a ton in that period. Eight players from Kindergarten team are still on team now. Although we are in 2012, we have 4 players that are 2013.

1. We joined the UH because we had four or so players that were advancing enough that warranted trying UH, we also had players that were not ready, but we went anyway and the stronger players carried the team.

2. Our first season included the 1st teams from Glens, United, Elite, GIMS, Seals, etc (because teams were not allowed to leave SF during that COVID period). We were losing most of the games, but were also surprising a few of these teams and snuck in a few wins. It was about what I expected, my objective was to finish in the middle of the table, but we finished closer to the bottom. 

Maybe because of COVID, but attendance at practice and games was excellent. At some points we were training 3 times a week (1 with the reservation thru the league, once on sand at Ocean Beach, and using the Presidio field you provide), and this started to show by the end of the season. The enthusiasm for more was there and we played in the Mission Summer League and continued to train at Beach Chalet during the week. 

In Fall of 2021, in UH, we did very well and finished at top of table and the players confidence went up and they understood that they could win games. We entered a tournament in February at the bronze level and made it to the final, losing to a bit stronger of a team. 

This season has started well and my objective is that we should be able to beat the 2nd team in our age category of any of the clubs in the city. 

Advice for teams/managers/players:

1. After fun, hard work, and being respectful, establish a goal to be generally competitive in a season, ok to get crushed once in a while or crush a team once in a while, but find the sweet spot.

2. Spend some time in practice on being organized and practical on defense - reduce giving the other team easy goals. Early on, so many goals were given up on our goal kicks or when our goalie distributed ball directly to opponent. 

3. The flip side of the defense comment above, try to pin the other team on their side and play the game up there.

4. Spend some time talking about how to play against a really good individual opponent. Incredible how many of my best players shrank against a player with skills. But talking about it at games and practices has helped - acknowledge that in life we will be competing against lots of people with unique talents (smarter, faster, stronger, bigger, more skillful, etc) and with confidence and hard work, we can deal with this challenge. Drills focusing on closing the space, don't jump in immediately, etc. have been super helpful as well. 

5. I find the UH as an excellent and convenient testing ground for the players in elementary school to be exposed to a bit of a more competitive environment and for players/parents to see if the skill, desire, and willingness to commit to a bigger time investment/higher level is appropriate.

6. Finally, 18 months ago, I gave the team a homework assignment to watch this video FC Barcelona U9/'09 vs. Malaga CF U9/'09 | Final | 3.30.2018 | Iber Cup Portugal  , under 9 Malaga v. Barcelona. I told them that this is how the best 9 year olds in the world play soccer. I just sent it to all the parents again and asked them to rewatch and I think some of them see that we have progressed, a little bit.