Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
Agree, and some of those listed in Newsday top scorers have coaches that allow stat padding, while others not listed have coaches that pull starters once clock is running. It's called sportsmanship-anyone remember what that is?


On a weak team the "Go to Goal Girl" does not have a choice. When weak teams play each other it is generally the team with the better "ball hog" that wins. Weak teams will never compete for a championship.

On teams with a lot of strong players the "Go to Goal Girl" is a detriment. Even when they score a bunch of goals they usually detract from the overall performance of the team. Scoring goals is (obviously) not the problem, "selfish play" is the issue. The girl who puts her head down and runs to the goal almost every time she touches the ball hurts her team more than she helps the team. Coaches, parents, fans and players who do not understand the game only realize how detrimental the behavior is when it is blatantly obvious at a critical point in the game. Everyone will say "why, why did she shoot the ball?" or "why, why did she try to run through three girls?" or "why, why didn't she pass the ball?" as the other team is sprinting down the field en route to a goal that will tie the game and send it into overtime. The truth is , their selfish play hurts the team throughout the entire game. The selfish player may score 5 goals but her turnovers (including forced, bad and poor shots) nay result in 4 or 5 goals for the other team. Many times if the selfish player wold simply make the right play at the right time not only would her team score more goals, they would give up fewer goals. The net positive as a result of good, smart, unselfish team play will always be much greater then that of selfish play. The best plays are not alway reflected in the scorebook but competent coaches always recognize them.

On my third girl and have been watching girls HS Lax for the better part of 11 years. The selfish "run to goal girl" will score a bunch of goals and look great when playing overmatched opponents. However, that same selfish style of play will work against the team when they play strong competition in a playoff or championship game.


I agree. I've seen it also and you've got it right.

Originally Posted by Anonymous
Originally Posted by Anonymous
Agree, and some of those listed in Newsday top scorers have coaches that allow stat padding, while others not listed have coaches that pull starters once clock is running. It's called sportsmanship-anyone remember what that is?


On a weak team the "Go to Goal Girl" does not have a choice. When weak teams play each other it is generally the team with the better "ball hog" that wins. Weak teams will never compete for a championship.

On teams with a lot of strong players the "Go to Goal Girl" is a detriment. Even when they score a bunch of goals they usually detract from the overall performance of the team. Scoring goals is (obviously) not the problem, "selfish play" is the issue. The girl who puts her head down and runs to the goal almost every time she touches the ball hurts her team more than she helps the team. Coaches, parents, fans and players who do not understand the game only realize how detrimental the behavior is when it is blatantly obvious at a critical point in the game. Everyone will say "why, why did she shoot the ball?" or "why, why did she try to run through three girls?" or "why, why didn't she pass the ball?" as the other team is sprinting down the field en route to a goal that will tie the game and send it into overtime. The truth is , their selfish play hurts the team throughout the entire game. The selfish player may score 5 goals but her turnovers (including forced, bad and poor shots) nay result in 4 or 5 goals for the other team. Many times if the selfish player wold simply make the right play at the right time not only would her team score more goals, they would give up fewer goals. The net positive as a result of good, smart, unselfish team play will always be much greater then that of selfish play. The best plays are not alway reflected in the scorebook but competent coaches always recognize them.

On my third girl and have been watching girls HS Lax for the better part of 11 years. The selfish "run to goal girl" will score a bunch of goals and look great when playing overmatched opponents. However, that same selfish style of play will work against the team when they play strong competition in a playoff or championship game.




You are spot on with this post, and I totally agree. What baffles me, is why so many coaches encourage this type of selfish play. Many times those girls that charge, plow and go to goal even when they have no shot, are the favorites of the coach. It makes no sense.