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USL Phoenix Rising FC

News and Notes: Preseason Day 2

February 18, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Phoenix Rising FC News Release


On Tuesday evening, the opening day of preseason, as the sounds of players coughing and panting, water bottles wheezing, and heavy legs rumbling, filled the air, the beep, beep, beeping of the beep test provided a monotonous tone. This was business.

But on Wednesday morning the mood was much lighter as players excitedly called to their teammates and the coaching staff shouted praise while the thump, thump, thumping of soccer balls meeting soccer boots provided a more playful soundtrack.

"It's like being back at the first day of school at a school that you like going to," said assistant coach Marc Bircham about the first day of training with a ball.

What a difference a day makes.

Most players, when asked about the first day of training camp, said they were excited for the season and couldn't wait to finally meet or reunite with their team. But almost all of them also pointed out that day two, the day they could finally play some soccer, was the day they were really looking forward to.

"I think everybody was a little excited," said defender Brock Granger "First couple of drills we were flying. But we settled down and got to work and got to do what we needed to do today."

With the club's first preseason match on Saturday, the players were not only getting back into the groove of playing with the ball at their feet. They were beginning to try and learn each other's movements and tendencies.

"I think it'll take a couple of weeks to really figure out everybody's tendencies," Granger said. "But today went well. I think everybody looked sharp."

There are no short cuts to building and promoting the type of team cohesion that leads to winning. But there are ways coaches can try to expedite the process. How sessions are drawn up and which players are paired together are thought of carefully by the staff in order to figure out who works well together.

The atmosphere of training also helps.

"We're trying to get our philosophies into the players, where everyone works hard," Bircham said. "We want winners, so if a team loses (during a session) there's a punishment: any type of running or physical activities. We want to create a winning mentality."

During the morning's first session, the winning teams got to select the punishment for the losing teams. The punishment: ten Michael Jordans (the players had to leap into the air, legs spread and arm outstretched, mimicking Jordan's famous Jumpman logo).

The winning teams took the time to rest and encourage their teammates while also chiding them for the loss. Then everyone reset and began the drill again.

"You can't force it," said Granger about building cohesion and understanding everyone's movements. "You just have to wait it out."

Notes

Today, the club announced the signing of defender Julian Ringhof. The club now has 10 players officially on its roster. ... This Saturday, Arizona United will play its first preseason match of 2016. The club's opponent that day, Swope Park Rangers KC, has already hit the pitch. The new USL side played on opening night of the FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup and beat MLS side Colorado Rapids 3-1.

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