This is an article at the Top Drawer Soccer about the ODP Girls Team trips to Brazil with ATI SOCCER.
”‘Region I 89 Girls in Brazil
Coached by Jeff Pill and Lisa Cole, this group had a pretty remarkable soccer adventure, including a match in the famed Maracana Stadium, another match against the Brazilian National Team (the full team) and beach soccer and futsal sessions with ATI SOCCER trainers
“Everything from the people we met to how the group put everything together was special,” Cole said. “We went to a professional men’s game at Botafogo game and got to stand down on the field with Brazilian kids. The kids were pulling grass from the field to keep it. Just seeing how important it was for Brazilians to be on field, gave us an idea what this meant.”
Pill added that one of his coaching counterparts from Brazil was wiping tears from his eyes as the teams walked through the tunnel to enter the field at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
Despite taking a couple of tough losses, 4-0 and 4-1, Pill remarked that the team improved immensely on the trip. Cole said the team learned a lot from the Brazilians’ ability to solve problems individually, and looked to incorporate into their more team-based approach to attacking.
“No player stood out as tremendous,” she said. “It was just a strong group effort.”
“They all got better during the week, and that’s what these trips are for,” Pill added. “We could maybe have gotten a result on a very good day, but with a team of 3 age groups (89s, 90s and 91s), you just put them together and teach, and see what you can get out of it. It was one of the very best trips I’ve been on and I hope I can go back.”
Philadelphia-area midfielder Amber Brooks echoed Pill’s sentiments.
“It was amazing. It’s more than I could have hoped for,” Brooks, a member of the U16 GNT, said. “Playing at Maracana was a dream come true. I’m sure it’s the largest stadium any of us will ever play in.”
Brooks said the difference in style of play was evident.
“They are very technical and keep it on the ground almost always. The ball was rarely in the air unless they were playing it over the top for a forward. Even the goalkeepers rarely punted,” she said. “It was a different experience. I ‘m used to players coming at me 100 mph and having no time on the ball.”’
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