Collectively, A Thread To Celebrate Our Kids Athletic Accomplishments (1 Viewer)

[El Floppo]

He told him he was going to nominated him for the CCL all star game which happens in mid July which would have been quite the accomplishment.

Gally Jr was called yesterday by the GM and told he was selected for the CCL All Star game. Huge accomplishment for a D2 kid that no D1 showed any interest in. Now I hope he will actually be able to play. Over the weekend he stepped on a hot coal at the lake and burned the bottom of his foot. He is in some pain. Not sure if we will be able to throw on Wednesday.

Gally Jr pitched the 5th inning in the CCL showcase game. The game was televised on Fan Duel and on the CCL YouTube channel. He went 3 up 3 down on 10 pitches (the telecast showed 12 but it was only 10). Here is the last batter he faced:

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ETA: Just realized that you can scroll back from the start of that clip and see the whole outing. A bit disappointed that the announcers were interviewing someone the whole inning so they didn't really talk about Gally Jr much and he was just kind of in the background doing work. Still cool to see a professional video of his outing.

Just filthy. Dirty, dirty boy.

 

[The Z Machine]

Damn, Gally Jr. looked really good on the mound. Batters looked fooled. The D1 schools were sleeping on this kid.

 

[Fantasy_Freak]

Spoke of this in the HS football thread, but my Olineman son heading into his high school Junior year received his first college offer a few weeks ago from a D2 school in Minnesota. Since then his twitter page kind of blew up with followers from a number of schools in the same conference. On Wednesday a coach from a Big 10 school texted him wanting his transcripts, my guess is to ensure he has the grades to make it worth their time to have him visit. The D2 offer came out of a football camp his team went to and he had a very good camp. The coach pulled him off the field and made him the offer there. Very cool experience for my son. When I picked him up at school a couple of his teammates came off the bus and spoke to me about his offer, they were all excited for him.

A Mountain West college has contacted him a few times, they want my son and a teammate to make a visit this season. The issue will be trying to play a game on Friday night then fly first thing on Saturday to get to the college game then turnaround and fly home on Sunday. Also there are two or three FCS schools that have been in contact with my son. Things are going to get crazy over the next few months.

 

[El Floppo]

Spoke of this in the HS football thread, but my Olineman son heading into his high school Junior year received his first college offer a few weeks ago from a D2 school in Minnesota. Since then his twitter page kind of blew up with followers from a number of schools in the same conference. On Wednesday a coach from a Big 10 school texted him wanting his transcripts, my guess is to ensure he has the grades to make it worth their time to have him visit. The D2 offer came out of a football camp his team went to and he had a very good camp. The coach pulled him off the field and made him the offer there. Very cool experience for my son. When I picked him up at school a couple of his teammates came off the bus and spoke to me about his offer, they were all excited for him.

A Mountain West college has contacted him a few times, they want my son and a teammate to make a visit this season. The issue will be trying to play a game on Friday night then fly first thing on Saturday to get to the college game then turnaround and fly home on Sunday. Also there are two or three FCS schools that have been in contact with my son. Things are going to get crazy over the next few months.

that's awesome- congrats to you and Jr!

 

[Gally]

The coach pulled him off the field and made him the offer there.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the offer?

 

[Fantasy_Freak]

The coach pulled him off the field and made him the offer there.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the offer?

Good question. I say that jokingly because coach spoke directly to my son and my son came home and said he received a scholarship offer from the college. Nothing as far as terms (full or partial). He just stated he received an offer from the school. I think these things become more concrete as we get to the end of his junior year. We haven't received any mailings yet from the school, but I expect an invite to attend a game and meet the staff. I take all of this with a grain of salt, knowing full well the current conditions of college sports (NIL, transfers, etc.). There is a kid on my sons team accepted an offer and committed, but did not sign any paperwork who may very well take up another school's offer. The whole process seems dirty to me, but then again it may have been that way for years, now everyone is in the know on the activities.

 

[nirad3]

Spoke of this in the HS football thread, but my Olineman son heading into his high school Junior year received his first college offer a few weeks ago from a D2 school in Minnesota. Since then his twitter page kind of blew up with followers from a number of schools in the same conference. On Wednesday a coach from a Big 10 school texted him wanting his transcripts, my guess is to ensure he has the grades to make it worth their time to have him visit. The D2 offer came out of a football camp his team went to and he had a very good camp. The coach pulled him off the field and made him the offer there. Very cool experience for my son. When I picked him up at school a couple of his teammates came off the bus and spoke to me about his offer, they were all excited for him.

A Mountain West college has contacted him a few times, they want my son and a teammate to make a visit this season. The issue will be trying to play a game on Friday night then fly first thing on Saturday to get to the college game then turnaround and fly home on Sunday. Also there are two or three FCS schools that have been in contact with my son. Things are going to get crazy over the next few months.

What school, if it's OK to ask? I think our friend @Golden Gopher has some experience with D2 sports in Minnesota.

 

[Fantasy_Freak]

Spoke of this in the HS football thread, but my Olineman son heading into his high school Junior year received his first college offer a few weeks ago from a D2 school in Minnesota. Since then his twitter page kind of blew up with followers from a number of schools in the same conference. On Wednesday a coach from a Big 10 school texted him wanting his transcripts, my guess is to ensure he has the grades to make it worth their time to have him visit. The D2 offer came out of a football camp his team went to and he had a very good camp. The coach pulled him off the field and made him the offer there. Very cool experience for my son. When I picked him up at school a couple of his teammates came off the bus and spoke to me about his offer, they were all excited for him.

A Mountain West college has contacted him a few times, they want my son and a teammate to make a visit this season. The issue will be trying to play a game on Friday night then fly first thing on Saturday to get to the college game then turnaround and fly home on Sunday. Also there are two or three FCS schools that have been in contact with my son. Things are going to get crazy over the next few months.

What school, if it's OK to ask? I think our friend @Golden Gopher has some experience with D2 sports in Minnesota.

Minnesota State-Mankato

 

[El Floppo]

U16 L6 tourney this weekend.

Floppinha came in as the 2 seed with a first round bye. 1st match was against a girl she had beat 4-0, 4-1 a couple month ago. Big, athletic girl who looked the part with ok technique, hitting and serving really hard, but just hugely inconsisent...every kid last tourney wiped her out.

First 4 games of first set, the girl was on fire and floppinha looked like she'd never played before...literally couldnt hit or serve the ball in play. 0-4 pdq. Started hitting the ball a little better, but fell 3-6.

Looked like she started to figure things out a little at end of the set, and continued into the 2nd set. Not playing well at all- not dictating any points or doing anything she knows how to do, but just getting the ball in play with lots of short slices. Won 6-2. Other girl reverted to being inconsistent.

10 point tie break with both girls playing really tentatively. Nobody winning points- everythng on double faults or badly unforced errors. stayed tied until 7s. Floppinha played a good point and set herself up for an easy volley winner...that she shanked. Other girl had rhe same play in reverse next point, and crushed her volley winner (harder shot- she had to extend for it after floppinha tried to hit it down the line). Floppinha double faulted the next point to lose the match. :sad-trombone:

I asked her afterwards what happened, why she couldnt hit the ball. Shes never been very reflective on these things, but totally surprised me, explaining exactly why she struggled and what steps she tried to take to adjust. Other girl hit very hard, flat and low...just over the net with no spin. She was out of practice hitting against harder hitters and couldnt get her normal swing times with the pace and height of the ball. So she figured out she could slice it to return balls instead. Also why she wasnt getting the ball deep or to corners (shes still developing her slice).

Super proud of her for understanding in real time what was going on and trying make adjustments. I mean, she would beat this girl 19/20 times during regular practice sessions (shes barely played the past month plus of summer). But more important that she ls developing her understanding of the sport than winning every match, imo.

Had the consolation today and won 6-1, 6-1, doing all the things she know how to do in controlling points, and added a new shot she had been previously working on- short crosscourt tight angle. Won a few of those.

 

[Chadstroma]

U16 L6 tourney this weekend.

Floppinha came in as the 2 seed with a first round bye. 1st match was against a girl she had beat 4-0, 4-1 a couple month ago. Big, athletic girl who looked the part with ok technique, hitting and serving really hard, but just hugely inconsisent...every kid last tourney wiped her out.

First 4 games of first set, the girl was on fire and floppinha looked like she'd never played before...literally couldnt hit or serve the ball in play. 0-4 pdq. Started hitting the ball a little better, but fell 3-6.

Looked like she started to figure things out a little at end of the set, and continued into the 2nd set. Not playing well at all- not dictating any points or doing anything she knows how to do, but just getting the ball in play with lots of short slices. Won 6-2. Other girl reverted to being inconsistent.

10 point tie break with both girls playing really tentatively. Nobody winning points- everythng on double faults or badly unforced errors. stayed tied until 7s. Floppinha played a good point and set herself up for an easy volley winner...that she shanked. Other girl had rhe same play in reverse next point, and crushed her volley winner (harder shot- she had to extend for it after floppinha tried to hit it down the line). Floppinha double faulted the next point to lose the match. :sad-trombone:

I asked her afterwards what happened, why she couldnt hit the ball. Shes never been very reflective on these things, but totally surprised me, explaining exactly why she struggled and what steps she tried to take to adjust. Other girl hit very hard, flat and low...just over the net with no spin. She was out of practice hitting against harder hitters and couldnt get her normal swing times with the pace and height of the ball. So she figured out she could slice it to return balls instead. Also why she wasnt getting the ball deep or to corners (shes still developing her slice).

Super proud of her for understanding in real time what was going on and trying make adjustments. I mean, she would beat this girl 19/20 times during regular practice sessions (shes barely played the past month plus of summer). But more important that she ls developing her understanding of the sport than winning every match, imo.

Had the consolation today and won 6-1, 6-1, doing all the things she know how to do in controlling points, and added a new shot she had been previously working on- short crosscourt tight angle. Won a few of those.

What is L6?

Sounds like a good learning experience and way for you to reinforce her thinking through the game as it plays out.

 

[Chadstroma]

Regional Meet this weekend. 11 year old in 12U.

Swam 6 individual events and a relay was added for him. He dropped time in all but one event that ended up a slight add- since it was last event, I am wondering if he was a little fatigued. He made podium at 8th place in this 50 Fly. He placed in double digits for all the other events but if you took out the 12 year olds then he was top 8 in all events and third in fly.

The big news is that he made two state cuts as we were hoping with the 50 Free and Fly. This makes his third state meet but the first one he qualifies for two events. So, we will be hitting that up next weekend. That and that he made regional cuts for every event he swam this season is super impressive for a kid that misses as much practice as he does and has swimming as a low priority compared to other sports. It really makes me wonder what he could do in swim if it was his top sport and he focused on it. But it is his journey to take... I am just here to help.

 

[El Floppo]

What is L6?

L7 is entry level and uses bottom up rankings for entry to help promote them for lower ranked, less competitive kids. Gets more competitive as you move up. L6s and up are top down entry, and then invitational for higher Levels. She was winning L7s and getting ranked out of them (her ranking got too high). She started winning 14u L6s. This was a 16u L6. The final was happening during her consolation match...she was capable of beating both girls- but also capable of losing to them. Theres a 12yo girl in one of her weekly clinics (during the school year) who travels around the country playing L2s and L3s...all invitational

 

[Instinctive]

Regional Meet this weekend. 11 year old in 12U.

Swam 6 individual events and a relay was added for him. He dropped time in all but one event that ended up a slight add- since it was last event, I am wondering if he was a little fatigued. He made podium at 8th place in this 50 Fly. He placed in double digits for all the other events but if you took out the 12 year olds then he was top 8 in all events and third in fly.

The big news is that he made two state cuts as we were hoping with the 50 Free and Fly. This makes his third state meet but the first one he qualifies for two events. So, we will be hitting that up next weekend. That and that he made regional cuts for every event he swam this season is super impressive for a kid that misses as much practice as he does and has swimming as a low priority compared to other sports. It really makes me wonder what he could do in swim if it was his top sport and he focused on it. But it is his journey to take... I am just here to help.

Have you read the book "Range" by David Epstein? Focusing on a bunch of other stuff may be helping him.

 

[SwampDawg]

Covered in the Youth Soccer thread but currently in Orlando for the USYS National Championships. My sons team is one of 16 remaining in the country in his age group (U19). Training today, group play starts tomorrow. Goal is to be playing Sunday on ESPN U for the championship.

 

[El Floppo]

Covered in the Youth Soccer thread but currently in Orlando for the USYS National Championships. My sons team is one of 16 remaining in the country in his age group (U19). Training today, group play starts tomorrow. Goal is to be playing Sunday on ESPN U for the championship.

So awesome- congrats again!

Was wondering about this- handled differently than my day. We'd get one out of our state, who would go to Regionals to play the other 12 or so states there. Iirc each of the 4 regional winners would go to nationals...i think straight into a semi. sounds like a more interesting system now. More opportunity to play teams from all over the country.

 

[Chadstroma]

Regional Meet this weekend. 11 year old in 12U.

Swam 6 individual events and a relay was added for him. He dropped time in all but one event that ended up a slight add- since it was last event, I am wondering if he was a little fatigued. He made podium at 8th place in this 50 Fly. He placed in double digits for all the other events but if you took out the 12 year olds then he was top 8 in all events and third in fly.

The big news is that he made two state cuts as we were hoping with the 50 Free and Fly. This makes his third state meet but the first one he qualifies for two events. So, we will be hitting that up next weekend. That and that he made regional cuts for every event he swam this season is super impressive for a kid that misses as much practice as he does and has swimming as a low priority compared to other sports. It really makes me wonder what he could do in swim if it was his top sport and he focused on it. But it is his journey to take... I am just here to help.

Have you read the book "Range" by David Epstein? Focusing on a bunch of other stuff may be helping him.

No, but might pick it up.

I joke with his coaches that when he misses practice he is doing dryland conditioning as it usually is because of football or basketball where he misses it so it isn't like he swaps out swim for video games. I figure it helps in a way but swim is such a detail oriented sport with technique that there is no doubt if he "protected" his swim practice that he would be even better.

I think he has come around to finally really understanding how swim is such a benefit to him in football, basketball and all the others. Taking last season off, I think he felt thr difference and I could see the difference during basketball season.

The one thing that I do like about it is that swim burns out athletes at a higher rate than most other sports. It is a grueling sport. I forget the stats but a lot of the very best youth swimmers aren't the best swimmers in college years... whether that is dropping out or being surpassed. At least he less stress on swim and not doing at as much may help him stay in.

I talked to him earlier this summer that the Catholic HS we are leaning towards him going to (one of the better HS football programs in the state) does not have a swim team. He replied that he could go to the gym with me and swim which kind of shocked me that he was thinking of a way he could still swim. I later found out that he could still swim club and be recruited for college there so not having a HS swim team isn't a big deal either way.

There are certainly benefits of him not swimming as his primary sport and I am a huge advocate for multi-sport youth athletes but there are some drawbacks too, and improved times are undoubtedly one of them.
Which I am fine with, I am overall happy with his "balance" for sports right now... he has two years of Jr High where he can continue what he is doing now and then in HS will have to make some choices to cut several off. Then, unless something changes, football will be the main focus and getting recruited for college will be the forefront but swim could be a good fallback and certainly a huge training aid. Then I will hit you up for advice and guidance in navigating the recruiting world.

 

[Chadstroma]

Covered in the Youth Soccer thread but currently in Orlando for the USYS National Championships. My sons team is one of 16 remaining in the country in his age group (U19). Training today, group play starts tomorrow. Goal is to be playing Sunday on ESPN U for the championship.

If he makes it, let us know. I will make an effort to watch... would be the first soccer game that one of my boys were not playing that I would watch the whole game.

 

[SwampDawg]

Covered in the Youth Soccer thread but currently in Orlando for the USYS National Championships. My sons team is one of 16 remaining in the country in his age group (U19). Training today, group play starts tomorrow. Goal is to be playing Sunday on ESPN U for the championship.

So awesome- congrats again!

Was wondering about this- handled differently than my day. We'd get one out of our state, who would go to Regionals to play the other 12 or so states there. Iirc each of the 4 regional winners would go to nationals...i think straight into a semi. sounds like a more interesting system now. More opportunity to play teams from all over the country.

So yea it works a little differently now. Your State Cup winners still go to the 4 regionals along with the various spring league winners and the four champions from the regionals get bids to Nationals. The second way in is based on your performance the previous year various Elite 64 and National League teams get invites to play in the National League tournaments. They had four quarter final tournaments with 104 teams total (we played in Arizona in December), then 48 teams advanced to two semi final tournaments (we played in San Diego in May) and from them 12 teams advanced to the National Championship joining the 4 regional winners for a 16 teams field. Four groups of 4 play Tue/Wed/Thu and the 4 group winners go to the semis on Saturday.

Of course apparently they are changing all that next year but I haven't really paid attention since we're done after this year.

 

[El Floppo]

Covered in the Youth Soccer thread but currently in Orlando for the USYS National Championships. My sons team is one of 16 remaining in the country in his age group (U19). Training today, group play starts tomorrow. Goal is to be playing Sunday on ESPN U for the championship.

So awesome- congrats again!

Was wondering about this- handled differently than my day. We'd get one out of our state, who would go to Regionals to play the other 12 or so states there. Iirc each of the 4 regional winners would go to nationals...i think straight into a semi. sounds like a more interesting system now. More opportunity to play teams from all over the country.

So yea it works a little differently now. Your State Cup winners still go to the 4 regionals along with the various spring league winners and the four champions from the regionals get bids to Nationals. The second way in is based on your performance the previous year various Elite 64 and National League teams get invites to play in the National League tournaments. They had four quarter final tournaments with 104 teams total (we played in Arizona in December), then 48 teams advanced to two semi final tournaments (we played in San Diego in May) and from them 12 teams advanced to the National Championship joining the 4 regional winners for a 16 teams field. Four groups of 4 play Tue/Wed/Thu and the 4 group winners go to the semis on Saturday.

Of course apparently they are changing all that next year but I haven't really paid attention since we're done after this year.

Whens the 1st game?

Hope your kid breaks all the other teams legs! Aka good luck!

 

[SwampDawg]

Covered in the Youth Soccer thread but currently in Orlando for the USYS National Championships. My sons team is one of 16 remaining in the country in his age group (U19). Training today, group play starts tomorrow. Goal is to be playing Sunday on ESPN U for the championship.

So awesome- congrats again!

Was wondering about this- handled differently than my day. We'd get one out of our state, who would go to Regionals to play the other 12 or so states there. Iirc each of the 4 regional winners would go to nationals...i think straight into a semi. sounds like a more interesting system now. More opportunity to play teams from all over the country.

So yea it works a little differently now. Your State Cup winners still go to the 4 regionals along with the various spring league winners and the four champions from the regionals get bids to Nationals. The second way in is based on your performance the previous year various Elite 64 and National League teams get invites to play in the National League tournaments. They had four quarter final tournaments with 104 teams total (we played in Arizona in December), then 48 teams advanced to two semi final tournaments (we played in San Diego in May) and from them 12 teams advanced to the National Championship joining the 4 regional winners for a 16 teams field. Four groups of 4 play Tue/Wed/Thu and the 4 group winners go to the semis on Saturday.

Of course apparently they are changing all that next year but I haven't really paid attention since we're done after this year.

Whens the 1st game?

Hope your kid breaks all the other teams legs! Aka good luck!

10am tomorrow, 7:30am Wednesday and 1:30pm on Thursday. I think the Wednesday game is streaming on USYS's YouTube Channel (Field 18)

 

[belljr]

Little belljr playing in a 23u (18+) tournament this weekend. Didn't have the best day but went yard twice her first in almost 2 years

 

[Chadstroma]

State Championships

He had the 50 Fly and 50 Free, fly on Sat and free today.

With fly, he was leading the whole way in his heat but then slowed down and got passed by both (only three in his heat). He later said he sucked down some water. On the free, he cut time which is good.

50 Fly = 45th fastest 12U in the state of Illinois. 14th fastest 11 year old.
50 Free = 62nd fasters 12U in the state of Illinois. 28th fastest 11 year old.

This while swim is a low priority for him as a multi-sport athlete and having taken the previous winter season off after my wife's brain cancer was detected. Taking a whole season off really is a huge setback for the following season in swim.

 

[nirad3]

Exciting week/weekend for the nirad3 kiddos.

Son started tackle football practice (and boy the first practice really kicked his butt) this past week while the daughter wrapped up both school volleyball "camp" (basically 3 weeks of tryouts) and a host of club volleyball clinics.

This weekend, my son's summer flag football team won the championship and my daughter not only made her school's volleyball team (a very good program in SoCal, so we weren't exactly sure if she was going to even make the team) but was invited to play on the 15u "Nationals" team at a local club. We played club last season, but this is a division higher (nationals means we not only go to Vegas, but Hawaii and Dallas for tournaments). Oh, and not cheap.

And somewhat unfortunately I missed the Friday night flag football game and my daughter's final tryout days for the club team. Was on a "guy's trip" to Boise.

Gonna be a wild year.

 

[El Floppo]

Semis and finals today of a 14u L6.

6-0, 6-0 semis against a girl who got a lucky bye due to withdrawn player. L7 level at best...floppinha didnt have to do anything but hit the ball and the girl was in trouble.

Finals was against a kid i watched crush the ball in her semis. Huge 1st serve that she used as her second as well. Attacked everything with pace, deep and to the corners. Did the same thing to floppinha in the finals and my daughter had no answers. The girl crushed every second serve. Floppinha is used to being the aggressor and just couldn't figure out a way to get into the match on the other side of that.

Eta...1st match didnt help her cause to get ready for the second. Floppinha afterwards told me the other girl was just better... Which happens. 2-6, 5-7.

 

[Chadstroma]

Exciting week/weekend for the nirad3 kiddos.

Son started tackle football practice (and boy the first practice really kicked his butt) this past week while the daughter wrapped up both school volleyball "camp" (basically 3 weeks of tryouts) and a host of club volleyball clinics.

This weekend, my son's summer flag football team won the championship and my daughter not only made her school's volleyball team (a very good program in SoCal, so we weren't exactly sure if she was going to even make the team) but was invited to play on the 15u "Nationals" team at a local club. We played club last season, but this is a division higher (nationals means we not only go to Vegas, but Hawaii and Dallas for tournaments). Oh, and not cheap.

And somewhat unfortunately I missed the Friday night flag football game and my daughter's final tryout days for the club team. Was on a "guy's trip" to Boise.

Gonna be a wild year.

I had missed the fact that club tryouts started already and just happened to go on to the site and saw the last one was this weekend. I signed up. Then yesterday, I was sitting relaxing after the state meet and my wife and kids went to my inlaws. In my mind, the tryout was Sunday and then my calendar went off saying 15 minutes to tryouts. Panicking I called and got my wife to come home and then took her. Luckily the inlaws are only 10 min away (though for some reason it took my wife 10 minutes to leave.... but being a cancer patient, I got to give grace for things like that) and then the facility is 5 min away. She was late but got in and did it. She made it which was 99.9% sure as that is just the initial cuts. They will then have practices to figure out levels. I would be pleasantly surprised if she made the national team which the top level they call select. Then the next levels are colors. She also finished two weeks of school vball camp but has also been doing sand volleyball (second tournament this weekend).

A big plus is that she just asked me to take her to the gym tomorrow. I had been for a few weeks getting up early and working out with her at home but then it was a fight every morning to get her up so I told her it was on her.... which means she didn't. The vball camp they did so some weight lifting and conditioning and I think it might have clicked with her that she needs to train on her own to get where she wants to go. Good to see that.

Also, almost missed football equipment pickup this week when I apparently forgot to add it to my calendar but luckily my older sons friend asked him about it before hand.

Yea.... right there with you on the wild year and that is just for the fall. We will get through it... and when it is really wild just remember how this is all going to stop in the not too distant future and we will desperately miss it then. So, I focus not on getting through it but just being in the moment and enjoying it.

 

[Chadstroma]

Semis and finals today of a 14u L6.

6-0, 6-0 semis against a girl who got a lucky bye due to withdrawn player. L7 level at best...floppinha didnt have to do anything but hit the ball and the girl was in trouble.

Finals was against a kid i watched crush the ball in her semis. Huge 1st serve that she used as her second as well. Attacked everything with pace, deep and to the corners. Did the same thing to floppinha in the finals and my daughter had no answers. The girl crushed every second serve. Floppinha is used to being the aggressor and just couldn't figure out a way to get into the match on the other side of that.

Eta...1st match didnt help her cause to get ready for the second. Floppinha afterwards told me the other girl was just better... Which happens. 2-6, 5-7.

What does she have to do to move up another level?

How does she match up physically with her competition? About the same size... bigger... smaller?

 

[El Floppo]

Semis and finals today of a 14u L6.

6-0, 6-0 semis against a girl who got a lucky bye due to withdrawn player. L7 level at best...floppinha didnt have to do anything but hit the ball and the girl was in trouble.

Finals was against a kid i watched crush the ball in her semis. Huge 1st serve that she used as her second as well. Attacked everything with pace, deep and to the corners. Did the same thing to floppinha in the finals and my daughter had no answers. The girl crushed every second serve. Floppinha is used to being the aggressor and just couldn't figure out a way to get into the match on the other side of that.

Eta...1st match didnt help her cause to get ready for the second. Floppinha afterwards told me the other girl was just better... Which happens. 2-6, 5-7.

What does she have to do to move up another level?

How does she match up physically with her competition? About the same size... bigger... smaller?

Shes taller (almost 5'8"), athletic, but has never figured out the kinetic chain between legs and swing. She plays and hits tall and straight, like a stick.

Shes in the right level at L6, but needs to try some L5s. Those are the girls that win every L6 they play and are clearly next level with their skills and consistency. The problem is, very few L5s around here for some reason. She was signed up for 1 but had to bail for non tennis reasons. Shes got another year of 14u eligibility.

 

[Gally]

Super proud of her for understanding in real time what was going on and trying make adjustments. I mean, she would beat this girl 19/20 times during regular practice sessions (shes barely played the past month plus of summer). But more important that she ls developing her understanding of the sport than winning every match, imo.

The bolded is the hardest step for young athletes to get to and through. Figuring out what is happening real time and making adjustments based on what is working today is huge. Developing sport IQ to be able to do this is one of the biggest steps to getting to an upper level of skill/mental approach. Great for floppinha. Big step forward.