Second time around

There are 8 teams in the league and for this season's format we play the same team 3 times; home and away, and depend on the team, home, away, or neutral.
we finished the first 7 games and now we enter the second 7 games. We are playing the INAC (http://www.inac.or.jp/), the team we opened the season. We lost 1-0 to a crappy goal.
Our lost also was, I reckon, caused by players' lack of trust. Coaches decided to revert back to 4-4-2 formation from 3-5-2. We did not have enough time to get things right and thus, INAC exploited that area of defense and midfield where indecision became fatal in that game.
Since that game we've played 6 more and we've done well. Last two game we scored total of 8 goals and only conceded 1. We are also looking to extend our winning streak to 3! Let's hope we can do it. They are missing key players (Brazilians) that are attackers so if we contain rest of their forwards, we should have a chance to win. It's away game, so we aim to get a point, which is standard tactic in playing away games. However, we lost to them, so I want to see a "W."
We are also playing at one of the J-league stadium, Home Stadium, in Kobe http://www.wingstadium.jp/syoukai/syoukai.html
It's my second time there. Once with rugby and now with soccer.

LEARNING

I am writing today about learning curve. I feel like not learning well. But friend of mine told me that keep trying, because that's when you really you are learning and once you get it, then you can move one to new things. But remember to go back every once in a while to keep yourself sharp.
Next week I will be going to Coaching Clinic for GK coach, so I'm looking forward to it.
Every Thursday, we have a spot GK coach come and help me and our players. He comes on a volunteering base and he's been coming to the team even before I interviewed for the team. He is very smart, has a good knowledge, and experiences. And he is only 25!! He is still playing, but he was coached by former National team GK coach, so I learn a lot from him. He and I had good chat the other day, and told me that I may be thinking too hard. So, I try but when National goalie on the team, it's bit hard when you don't have the experience.
Well, back to learning. I think I am getting the kicking skill back to where I used to have. I reckon, that is part of learning. Today, we worked on set pieces or set plays, however you want to call it. I was able to kick the ball the coaches wanted. So I was pleased. Just gotta keep working, eh?

two in a roll!!

First home game in more than about month, we beat Iga Kunoich (lady Ninjas) 4-0. Judging from the score line, we soundly beat them, but actually, especially in first half, we barely hold on to a 1-0 lead. Defensively, we looked shaky. Opponent, I reckon, had more possession of the ball, looked more fluid in attack. It's not like we were playing counter attack soccer, but we just kept kicking the ball. Iga had a chance to level the score at the end of first half, but we were helped by a poor finish. Second half started similar, but we still looked shaky, yet, we scored just about an hour into the game, we added another. But, still looked shaky.... Iga had players who can attack by dribbling and that caused us problem. We rolled a dice and insert Cynthia, the Brazilian and we began to posses better at the attacking half. goals came from Cynthia holding the ball and distributing. Unlike the Japanese soccer of one or two touch soccer, she dribbled, hold the ball and gave us time of other players to move forward. Risk of language barrier or fitness or understanding of our game plan were worth it. It will be interesting once she gets used to our style of soccer, language, and fitness. After the game, I went out and had few to drink. Winning, especially, blanking the opponent helps us and me easy to breath. I had my fun. Now, to the next week's opponents. Got to get ready.

U-19 joining the team

So now we added a Brazilian, we now added U-19 Japan National Team member, a goalie, to our roster. She is actually playing for a university, but through the National Soccer Association, she became designated player. Since her college is close by, she will come and train with us when ever possible. More likely, she will play if our National Team Goalie gets hurt. How Awesome is this!! Not only I have to train the Best Goalie in Japan, now I get to work with or take care of U-19 girl.... More pressure on me!! Yikes!!! I hope she's not a starter on the U-19....
And this challenge I gladly accept and try to do my best. She's tall and she's quite good. Mate, she got potential!! I can't wait to work with other categories' goalie!!
I need to keep working!!!

First training

So our Cynthia, the Brazilian girl, had her first training with the team. She stood out not just because she looks different, but also her skill. Different style of soccer, so she stood out. She played for Brazil National team for certain age category, so it would be interesting to see how she will adapt to our style. TV camera was here, and she told the reporters that she will try to do what she is told to do.
I am a GK coach, but I will do my best to learn Portuguese and try to teach her Japanese. I'm sure the players will do that, too.

Brazilian!!

We have a new player!! and she's from Sao Paulo, Brazil!
She has played at University games for Brazil! and she's a Forward! We currently lost two forwards to ACL injuries.
Boa Sorte! Good luck to her stay in Japan!! I hope she'll adjust quickly and adopt to our style of soccer!!

First real away game trip

Traveling to Niigata for the first real away match and it was a treat. First we used bus to reach at the Osaka International, not the one on the ocean. Then we flew to Niigata. We left at 6ish in the afternoon and the view from the sky was spectacular. The sun was setting down and the color of the sky and the mountain ranges that still had snow on the top was a good contrast, to me. And I think for the first time I saw the sun set from the plane. Slowly setting into Sea of Japan, like it didn't want to say good-bye, but when the sun hit the ocean, it disappeared rather quickly, like it changed its mind and decided to go the other side of earth to say hello.
We trained that morning and for the training I thought hard to figure what would be a good drill for our National Goalie. The back up jammed her ring finger – left hand, pretty badly so we sent her to coach little kids. Saturdays we have coaching clinics for little ones. She was in charge was….. I don’t know. I guess it went well.
Back to the training, with trainings geared toward distribution – passing, but she wanted to do her drills so, instead of mine, the training was hers.
It turned out that we had similar ideas of what to do for that drills. Although her drills was more basic oriented, I was relieved that she wanted to do passing. I was going to ask her if she wanted to catch some shots and crosses but we did that plenty of that day before, so she already had in her mind that she was going to just work on her passing skills and simple basic catching drills. I’d have to say it went well.
As for game at Niigata, we won!! We came back from goal down to score 4!! They were very scrappy team, as using our head coach’s word, “typical promoted team’s style.” I hear that term quite often in reading soccer news for European teams. I was glad to witness the “typical” game.
The game started rather hectic with ball just being kicked up and down the field. Old fashion “Push and Run” and Niigata just being physical at the contact,; physically just touch. Sure enough, our players lose our purpose and play to their style. Had we had good skills we could have done better, I reckon, and I’m sure for a soccer fan, it became boring after both sides settled down, but still kicking the ball. We seemed to possess better portion of the game, but we get caught with Counter Attack from our own miss passing. And sure enough, just as the first half was winding down, they clear the ball and a lucky bounce, Niigata’s lone striker run through our defense and scores….. We have been attacking well, but we don’t get that break, until second half. Yeah, the locker room during the half time was pretty dark.
We get two breaks: penalty kick which our National team midfield converts, and second book-able offense to their #6, which she is ejected from the game. With 30 minutes left in the game with one player down for Niigata, we some how able to put 3 past their goalie. Niigata was determined and physical team. Yet, we rushed into thinking “we can score more!!” When we should have been thinking, “let’s move the ball, get them tired and take one chance at a time, one goal at a time.”
End result is good, but detail of the game leaves us with much to desire. Is this a right way to phrase it?
Beer after a win is always good, though. Travel back to hills of Mimasaka, country was alright. Win makes everything pretty sweet.

And here are some of the pics from the travel.

During my weekdays in the mornings I visit school and be TA. Teachers' Assistant. So far, I assist in PE class, but lately, I've been involved with other class activities such as computer class, and just the other day participated in "Taue" a rice field in planting of rice. After that we ate "omusubi" a packed rice ballSo here are some of the pics Enjoy.

Old gentelman teaching kids how to hold and plant rice

Kids and I are in the process of planting rice

We will harvest them in Autumn!!

we plant them in line. very organized, eh?

Becareful!! A kid get stuck in the mud and takes a fall in the muddy water

waiting in line to wash hands after the planting . Striking a pose.

After the labor, time for grubs. it was great!!!

busy week

Tuesdays are our day offs. Today I am going to visit one of our players who tore ACL. She had her knee operated last week. And looks like she'll be in hospital for about 3 week. 3 weeks???? Yes, in Japan, we have a universal health coverage, though, I'm not sure if it means anything, but I guess this is how Japanese do their Medical practice. Have patients stay at the hospital long. I'm sure there is pros and cons of longer stay at the hospital. I hope she is in better spirits.

As for the past week, busy, busy. Started working out more seriously, and this is causing me to sacrifice many fun stuff...... Thus I am taking care of my body more seriously.

Training without our National team Goalie is coming to an end. She'll return tomorrow for our team training and prepare for the game against Niigata this weekend. I hope to learn from her about the things she did at National team training. Welcome back girls!!

Trial match or Scrimmage

Yesterday, we had a game against Takatsuki. Depending on how you call it, some might call it Trial match or Scrimmage. Depending on where you're from. I personally used to call it scrimmage, but Now I call it Trial Match. I like the latter, because, some of the players, this is one of the few chance to showcase what they can do. Coach can then evaluate them and make the team better.
However, with our team, we are bit (nicely put) short on numbers of players so, it wasn't really a trial match, so you could call it Scrimmage for yesterday's game.
We won 4-2 but they didn't have a real Goalkeeper. I mean, they did not have a person who specialize in protecting goal. And the 'keeper can use its hands! So they used their field players to defend the goal. Takatsuki is in Second Division, but watching the game, you couldn't tell. Weather and the field were wet and we benefit the slippery field for couple of goal and their GK, but if it were played with a real keeper and good condition, I'm not sure if we won.
Game theme for defense was not to allow opposition to get in the vital area. In Japan they use the term "vital area" - between defenders (center backs) and midfielders (defensive midfield). it is natural that opponent's Forward will enter the "area" but we wanted to position ourselves so that they can not penetrate that "area" by either pass or by dribble.
Well, they were in that "area" all day and marking was too loose to consider "Marked." And they passed, they dribbled. Their final passing or controlling of the pass under the bad condition helped us recover. Still they managed two goals and one was a cracker, screamer, great goal helped by my keeper out of position. Second goal was indecision by keeper to come off the line. They took advantage of blunder and level the score. But like I wrote earlier, they didn't have a real keeper so we put two shot pass their 'part-timer'
Still lots of work to do with our back up keeper......

girls girls girls

Girls can be demanding. Don't we all know that. Since the girls I work with or for, are playing at the top division, they are very demanding. I try to provide as much as possible, but hey, I can do so much. I wonder if they know that.
And they are fickle. If they only listen for a second, or pay attention.... I reckon this can be said for my girlfriend, too.
I wonder if this could be said for all the ladies of the world....?