Washington

Playing one game within 40 hours of another may present a bit of a fatigue factor, but the larger between-game issue may be preparation time specific to the opponent -- generally the longer the better, one would think. Both Oregon and Washington seemed well-prepared for the Pilots.

The more significant fatigue factor, it seems to me, is the within-game fatigue. No one can run full-blast for ninety minutes. Subs are thus very relevant, but the fatigue issue must be balanced off against the flow of the play, the match-ups, and so on.

Of course, smart players know how to pace themselves during the game. For example, I've noticed that Sophie, much like Christine once did, goes hard when she has real opportunities to do something positive, but otherwise conserves her energy.

The season conditioning schedule also likely matters, as UPSF pointed out. We know from track and swimming, for example, that the best training regimen is to continue to train hard through the first and middle parts of the season but to taper with more rest before the contests(s) where one is seeking peak performance. The data are there to prove it.

Yes, and when you beat someone while you're training through, you own them.

fan from afar wrote:

athleticjames wrote:


I'm tired of posters criticising players in posts. Many of these players could whoop the posters criticizing them in a game.

I agree that bashing players is out of place on this forum. However, I have seen practically no criticizing of individual players here, and what I have seen I consider VERY gentle, and generally constructive. I think it is entirely appropriate for fans to discuss the teams we root for - who should be OSU's starting quarterback, who should be batting cleanup, who should be in a starting lineup, and whether it would help to have players with good left feet playing on the left (or not). I don't think anyone here is trying to coach the team or criticize the coaching. Everyone here understands that Garrett is the resident expert, but as fans, we should feel free to express AND DISCUSS different opinions, and we should not be expected to just be mindless cheerleaders.

Regarding your 2nd comment, SO WHAT!?! Are you really saying that, because a person can't play soccer at that level, that person can't possibly have an informed opinion? Wow!! I coached high school soccer in my early 60's, long past the age I could play with my players. Are you saying that therefore I had no right to constructively criticize my players?

My apologies. I just personally feel like we should leave the coaching job to Garrett Smith and the staff. That's just my opinion. He's doing a great job, and the team is doing well. I believe that these are student athletes who are students first. I prefer to let the coach coach. I'd love to have some players post here and PN, and I'd prefer to create a safe forum for them to do that. Peace.

We all have one thing in common... we love the Pilots! I guess I don't understand how discussing game play on a site like this could be called coaching. That is the purpose of this forum. No one here is speaking as a know-it-all. All of these women are amazing! We are spoiled by their talent! I love it! I say keep the talk going. I have learned a lot from everyone here and all of our girls.

I take to heart the advice of coach Tony DiCicco, World Cup-winner, who advises other coaches to "catch the players doing good" and praise them to raise them up. I endorse this approach more than any other and thoroughly respect Garrett Smith on the UP bench.
That doesn't mean I won't speculate about lineups, scores, formations, substitution patterns or whatever else strikes my fancy. No one put me in charge, and these are just my opinions. We all have the right to raise questions in this open forum. Yet respect for the players should be a given.
The golden rule abides.