LEYTON ORIENT FC GIRLS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE – U10s 2008/09 SEASON REVIEW

LEYTON ORIENT FC GIRLS CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE – U10s 2008/09 SEASON REVIEW
Young O’s Learn the Football Trade

Lisa Brivati, the U10 Girls Manager described their season as the “best year” writes Alex Gordon.

Some of the results maybe don’t back this, but according to Lisa, the improvement in her players “was very noticeable from the first game to the last.”

Matches in the U10 league are played with 7-a-side teams and to monitor her team’s progress, Lisa has now introduced a feedback sheet so players can rate their performance after each game so she can see how they think and whether or not they feel they have improved.

We can see this improvement in the girls’ two fixtures versus Arsenal this year.

After losing 15-0 against the Gunners in their first game, the second game only saw them lose 6-2; “the toughest game of the season” said Brivati.

What also pleased Lisa was the focus the girls showed on playing good attacking football, passing the ball along the floor. This was evident throughout the year and through this style of football the girls were allowed to develop technically throughout the season.

Lisa mentions the match against Northampton Town at home late in the year as her particular season highlight.

“It was great to see the girls’ improvement over the year and to see how many girls had come out of their shells in the Northampton match compared to the start of the season where they weren’t saying a thing on the pitch.”

With Leyton Orient Girls Centre of Excellence boasting an U12, U14, U16 and the U10 squad the opportunity to progress through the sides and make it to the top level is there for all – highlighted by the success of Danielle Carter who has just left Orient for Arsenal after playing for the Centre all her career.

Lisa admits that Danielle, 16, who captained England and has played in the U17 UEFA European Championships and U17 FIFA World Cup, has been a massive positive for not only her side but the whole Centre of Excellence.

“The Danielle Carter effect been noticed and has given extra motivation for everyone at the Centre - especially the U14 side and the U10s too.

“I don’t think the players here can get their head around that Danielle Carter has been off playing for England in New Zealand at the World Cup!”

However, like Danielle, it is at the U10 level where girls learn how to play the game and as the youngest age group in the Leyton Orient Girls Centre of Excellence, they have a long time to grow and mature into all-round players and this season was just the start in their long footballing journey.