BRUNSWICK

Most coaches spend countless preseason hours strategizing, working with their players, getting them ready for the campaign that looms ahead.

But, what about that first match, or that first game of the season?

Is Opening Day any different than the fourth, fifth or even last game of the year?

Is there any more thought that goes into that particular day? Are there any additional pressures on a coaching staff to make a first-day statement?

Let’s hear from some of the Midcoast region mentors and what they have to say!

The Unknown

“The first game is both exciting and nerve-racking because of the unknown,” said Morse football coach Jason Darling. “Every team has lofty expectations going into that first game, so it’s always a very anxious time.

“I wouldn’t say I have superstitions as much as routines before the game. You have to make sure everything is in place so that when you walk out of that locker room, it’s all about football.

“The players are excited to be out of the grind of preseason and into the regular season. You need to control their emotions so that they’re ready to go at kick-off.”

“The first morning I always ask have I done all I could to get the boys ready,” said Richmond boys soccer coach Joe Scribellito. “Did we accomplish everything we needed in preseason and over the summer to get all of our players ready to go?

“The day of the opener I go out and repaint the field. I walk each corner and place each flag. There is so much history in Richmond, and I want to make sure our kids understand that history and be proud to walk onto that field.”

“On game day, I think about what we have done in practices leading up to the game, hoping we have done as much as possible to put the team in a position to compete and win the game,” said Mt. Ararat field hockey coach Kelly LaFountain. “With such a short preseason this year, I am sure I will worry a lot more than past seasons this week.”

“On the morning of the first game you hope you have covered everything in terms of preparing the team on strategy, direction and team organization, i.e., set plays, corners, etc.,” said Brunswick girls soccer coach Martyn Davison. “And, you hope the girls have prepared their bodies correctly for the game.”

“I’m just making sure I’ve prepared them enough and reminded them of all the little reminders, like proper uniform, warm-ups, etc.,” said Freeport field hockey coach Marcia Wood. “I’m usually running my pre-game speech in my mind and picking one to two things to focus on in that game.”

“On the morning of the first game, I wonder about whether we are ready or not,” said Morse girls soccer coach Steve Boyce. “Have we worked hard enough in preseason or have we over done it? How will the new players react to their first varsity action? Have I remembered everything?

“As a player I had superstitions and routines, but as a coach I learned long ago to rid myself of them. Coaching is tough enough without imposing artificial obstacles.”

“For me, we’ve been prepping for two weeks for our first game,” said Brunswick football coach Dan Cooper. “I’ve got my play script set and scenarios have already been run through on the practice field. The ‘hay is in the barn’ so to speak. I just try to make sure I find time to get a pre-game jog in to put me at ease before the game and be totally relaxed.

“I’ve been jogging before games for a long time, and if for some reason I do not get it in I tend to feel like a hungry grizzly in need of a Snickers bar or something to calm down.”

Preparation 101

So, what’s best for the team?

“The best laid plans of preseason usually get torn asunder,” continued Darling. “You can only move as fast as your team can handle, and that changes year to year. The things you have will vary each season, but you try to cover as many game situations as you possibly can in the preseason to prepare them.”

“On that first game I like to remind them no matter what our opponent does we need to play our game, communicate and maintain possession with quick passes on the ground,” said Scribellito. “Above all, to play with intensity and pride.”

“I always try to get my lineup sheet done before the game and put our roster in the book,” allowed LaFountain. “Then, I write down our goals for the game and think about what I want to say in the pregame talk, possibly finding a quote that fits the occasion based on how things have been going.

“I have a fundamental list of things we covered, and after our scrimmages I would pick out things we needed to address to help us improve and build on.”

Of her pregame exhortation, LaFountain added, “I want them to give their best effort the entire time they are on the field and I want the players not on the field constantly supporting the others.

“I’ll talk about how important it is to play as a team and to communicate with each other. That our goal is to always improve each time we take the field and to go out there, play hard, have fun and compete to win.”

“I just try to think of possible scenarios that might happen in the game, espcially if I have some previous knowledge of the team we are playing,” said Freeport girls soccer coach Elayna Girardin. “I go through the different possibilities and figure out if I was faced with them how could I help the team adjust? Thinking mid-game can be blinding, there is so much to do and manage. This helps me focus without as much distraction.”

“I want them to give their best effort,” added Davison. “To be the best they can be in every game and to play good soccer, while representing their school, families and community in the best manner they can.

“I’m looking for players to form partnerships all over the field and get accustomed to playing with new players in different positions.”

“We always talk about one thing: Brunswick Football Pride,” said Cooper. “Play with passion, poise, confidence and toughness. We feel if we do that, no matter what the scoreboard says, we’ll walk off the field proud of ourselves and our football team.”

“I don’t really have any superstitions,” said Wood. “My pre-game routine consists of making sure to welcome the visiting team, checking in with my captains to make sure everyone is feeling good and motivated. I check the field and make sure there are extra balls behind the cage.

“I try to keep my pregame speech short and focusing on one, two items: it’s important to not talk too much and not to give them a ton of different things to focus on or remember. It can be overwhelming for the athlete and they usually only remember one-two items. My pregame speech is more for motivation: ‘it’s anyone’s game.’ ‘All you need is one goal.’ And finally, ‘play 100 percent from start to finish.’”

“When we gather before the first game, I tell the players that this is why we had double sessions during August so that we could have some fun now,” said Boyce. “We talk about staying composed and focused while they take advantage of the hard work and preparation of preseason. I always end my pregame talk by telling them to have FUN, it’s a game.

“I have learned that despite all the planning and lists there is always some curveball waiting to blindside you as the first game approaches. That’s the challenge of being a coach and part of the reason I do it.”

“I tell them not to be nervous and treat it like any other game, especially if it’s against a rival,” said Mt. Ararat girls soccer coach Sam Chard. “Play like we’ve been practicing and stay focused on the game. Freshmen, this is your first high school varsity game … remember it and live for the moment, but above all, leave it all on the field. You’ve earned a spot and now you have to keep it.”

What to look for in games

Practice makes perfect … sometimes. That first game IS important, but maybe not so much in the ‘grand scheme of things.’

“You want to see execution of what you’ve put in so far,” said Darling. “That shows you if you are able to move on or must go back to the basics. Effort and passion is a standard, and you certainly look for that every game, not just the first.

“I was on the staff in ’08 when we lost our first two and then went on to play in the state championship,” remembered Darling. “I’ve also seen poor teams win their first game. A football season is a marathon, not a sprint, so in the grand scheme of things it might not be as influential on your season’s outcome as everyone thinks. However, it’s hard to win football games, whether in the first, last, or in between, so you take them when you can get them.”

“During games I look for where the other team is penetrating our defense,” said Girardin. “I am more defensively minded and that typically is my first look. At the same time I look at how the girls are playing — are they working hard, playing timid, pressuring quickly, playing with confidence, etc. You can be the best player and do the best things, but if you lack the desire, confidence and dedication, skill won’t get you too far.”

“I always script preseason from the first day to the last practice, which includes tough scrimmages and tournaments,” said Scribellito. “Those are the contests where success isn’t always measured in wins and losses … success is measured in the experience the kids gain against some of the best Class A, B and C schools in the state.”

Scribellito is always ready to adjust in-game.

“During the game, we check to see if our kids work through the nerves of that first touch in a game that matters,” he said. “We check to see if we are executing our game plan or playing our opponents’ game. Are we staying focused or do we need to make adjustments at half to stay on task?”

“I am constantly looking to see what positions I can play girls in and who works well with each other,” said LaFountain of that first game. “I watch to see if players are having a good day or are struggling a bit and try to make adjustments.

“I watch the other team to see if I can encourage some matchups that would give us an advantage in certain positions. I look to see how we match up with skill and speed, and try to adjust the best we can to put the girls in a position to be successful.”

“I look for a lot of different things,” said Wood. “Does anyone look tired, is there one side of the field that we play on more than the other, do we need to overload the offense to get a goal or overload the defense to protect our goal?”

“Once the game finally begins, we look, overall, to see if our tactics and strategy are working but, more importantly, look to see how the players are adapting to the pressures of the game,” added Boyce. “Early in the game, particularly the first one, we need to find who needs a shout of encouragement, some words of direction or that wakeup call. Our goal is to get the players to feel as comfortable in the game as soon as we can.”

Win baby, just win

Still, postgame can be a bit tricky, win or lose. A win is always important, of course, but how much so in that first game? Can a win or a loss to open the season set a tone one way or another?

“We have a 24-hour rule,” allowed Darling. “Win or lose, you’ve got to be over it and move on in 24 hours. It’s never as good or as bad as it seems, and the next day you’ve got to be objective so you can correct and move on, win or lose.”

“Starting off a win is always good, but sometimes just to play well is enough,” said Chard, “I don’t mind losing to a good team, but if we play poorly and lose, then that’s a different story. We shouldn’t win if we don’t deserve it. Period!

“I think it’s natural to think about a loss more than the victory. You can always think about the what ifs, but the game is over so no point lamenting over it. The team must move on, and if I let the loss affect me, then it will in turn, affect how the kids react. It’s not always about wins and losses but how you play the game.”

“A win in the first game sets a tone that is easy to build from … momentum is fleeting in sports and the first win builds confidence,” said Scribellito. “A loss can cause doubt, especially in an opener, when you open in a town with as big a tradition as Richmond the opener places an extra burden of expectation on the kids, it also provides opponents with motivation. Win and you take hope from your future opponents, lose and you build hope.

“But, it’s hard to enjoy wins or losses in the regular season from game to game,” added Scribellito. “A win moves us towards a goal and a loss forces us to adjust plans to achieve goals. I like to keep the boys focused on just the game we are about to play, to not worry about the things they cannot control. The regular season doesn’t give you too much time to think about the whatifs, but that very last game in the playoffs always does if the ball doesn’t bounce your way!”

“Everyone wants to open with a win,” said LaFountain. “It’s a new beginning for teams who may have struggled the year before and teams who played well want to continue to build on it.

“Depending which situation your team is in will depend on how the outcome of the first game affects you. I truly believe win or lose the first game you can come away with positives for the season ahead by putting things in their proper perspective. It’s such a short season … we all want to start off with a good win.

“I always enjoy a win until I start preparing for practice the next day to get ready for the next opponent,” added LaFountain. “Once our games start we have a quick turnaround between games so we want to focus on one game at a time. If we lose the first game I am disappointed, but we have 13 more games to play so it’s important to focus on what we need to do to get the win the next game.

“As a coach you always think about the what-ifs, but the things I always ask myself is what could I have done to better prepare the team for the game? Then I try to make sure they are more prepared the next time!”

“A win is very important in any season in the first game as it builds confidence,” allowed Davison. “But, if it doesn’t happen it is a long season and many teams don’t play their best soccer until later in the season.

“So you have to be patient and continue to build the team for the rest of the season.”

“Of course we want to win to feel that success,” allowed Wood. “But, the first game is usually not the prettiest of games, so I don’t dwell so much on it and how we do. I think winning may put more pressure on a team, as long as we are peaking by October and playoff time that’s all I care about.

“And, I really don’t take too much time to enjoy the win. I do like to reflect back on it at home and work on some stats from the game, but after that I move onto the next opponent and what we need to focus on to be successful there.

“If we lose I try to pinpoint what our weaknesses in that game might have been and what we need to work on for our next game,” added Wood. “It is really hard not to dwell on the what-ifs, as a coach you are constantly trying to reassure yourself that you made the right decisions in the game. If I do have any what-ifs then I try to address it at the next game. For example, maybe I should of tried a different line-up — then next game I would try that.”

“I’m concerned with playing up to our potential,” said Cooper. “If we do that the winning and losing will take care of itself. However, if we were to stumble and lose to a team we felt we should have beaten … well, let’s just say that bus ride home and next few practices will not be very pleasant for the fellas.

“I always get excited to hear the team do our victory chant after a win, and I’ll enjoy the win with the boys, but we certainly will not overdue it. We preach character and acting humble.”

“ They don’t get much time to enjoy a win,” allowed Girardin. “I wish they could have more, but the season is too short. It’s usually back to work, but in the beginning of practice we talk about all the good things we did to help them feel good about what they are doing. As far as a loss, we go over what we did wrong, how we can fix it. We fix it and then it is time to move on. It’s best to learn from the loss, but you can’t dwell on it or it will set a negative tone and could kill the team for the season.”

“Whatever the results are for the first game, we all have to learn from it,” said Boyce. “A win is always nice, but it is what you take away from the game that is most important. Interestingly, some wins can hurt you in the long run as they may reinforce bad on-field habits, while some loses can pull your team together and set the tone for a good year. The bottom line about the results is that we all have to learn from them and adjust to the next game’s challenge.

“As a coach, I enjoy the positive results of a game until our next practice as we begin to focus on our next opponent. When we lose, I may replay the “what-ifs” in my mind until our next practice, but after that it’s our next game that is the most important thing ahead of us. We always try to think ahead and not dwell on the past. The key is to think only of the next game and take them one at a time.”