4) Shannon Smith: Great player, great at teaching skills but did a bad job at U-15 Nationals her most important challenge to date. Not a successful tourney record 2011 also. Had to be disappointing. Bottom line the majority of "best" players probably will stay with YJ for the next few years. Her best hope is to grab the young (3rd - 5th grade) players for the future of her program
BOTC completely disagrees with your assessment of the U/15 Nationals and Shannon Smith's coaching. Specifically, BOTC believes that she did an exceptional job at the U/15 Nationals. Let's give some specifics based on FACTS of the tournament rather than feelings:
- Fact #1 : Top Guns made the National Final Four which was an achievement to start.
- Fact #2 : After trailing early, solid play and coaching brought the match for third place level at 5-5 coming to the half.
- Fact #3 : Adjustments made at halftime paid immediate dividends with Top Guns opening a 8-5 lead three minutes into the second half.
- Fact #4 : After falling behind again 10-9, Smith rallied her team with a well timed time-out leading to the equalizer with just 36 seconds remaining.
- Fact #5 : The free position ball with less than a second was netted but waived off (appropriately) by the referee crew.
- Fact #6 : Both teams traded opportunities throughout the overtime
Here's the point : a coach's number one job is to get their team into a position to win in every single match. Whether the team wins or loses can be the result of dozens of facts from players to yes, coaching. BOTC believes that Coach Smith did an exceptional job to meet the challenge.
If you doubt our sourcing, BOTC live blogged this event at the following link :
http://www.backofthecage.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=806&page=21
