Michael Chapman is new to the YRHS.
As such, the new head coach for the YRHS Lady Raider soccer team 鈥� who had previously spent the last several years teaching at Norquay High School 鈥� is, admittedly, a little bit unfamiliar with the players on his squad. 鈥淚鈥檓 new here, so I really don鈥檛 know too much about the girls on the team, where they like to play and where they鈥檙e best,鈥� said Chapman following the conclusion of the first tournament of the season, a third place finish at rival Sacred Heart鈥檚 home tournament this past weekend.
The lack of knowledge in regards to his players was evident in the Regional鈥檚 first game of the tournament 鈥� a 9-1 defeat to the Sacred Heart Saints Friday afternoon. 鈥淭hat first game against Sacred Heart, I had one of my best defenders playing midfield,鈥� laughed the new YRHS Lady Raider head coach. 鈥淚 did have an idea where some players should go, but it was a learning experience for me as well seeing as I only had a few practices to get to know the girls, which isn鈥檛 enough to learn all about them.鈥�
Combine that lack of knowledge with the fact that the Lady Raiders had just three practices heading into the weekend, and one can see why the girls from the YRHS struggled at times at the Sacred Heart tournament. 鈥淲e鈥檝e only had three practices, so the biggest thing was having the time for the coaching staff and the girls to learn this weekend,鈥� offered the new YRHS head coach. 鈥淲e figured out where everyone has to play, what position, who is taking throws, who is taking free kicks, what the set plays have to look like.
鈥淭hose are the kinds of things that you can鈥檛 develop totally over one tournament, but these girls are going to get there.鈥�
One other thing that Chapman learned about his team this past weekend was their willingness to work. 鈥淭he biggest thing that I notice about this group of girls is that they鈥檙e hard working. They鈥檙e very receptive to instruction and they鈥檙e very quick learners,鈥� mentioned Chapman, continuing, 鈥淚 really see this program developing and turning into something strong. There is a lot of potential here, a lot of girls that play and they鈥檝e really got their heads in it.
鈥淚 think they really have potential and this is just the start of something that is going to be great.鈥�
Throughout the three games the Raiders played this past weekend - a 9-1 loss to Sacred Heart, a 6-0 win over the Estevan Elecs and a 9-1 loss to Prince Albert Carlton 鈥� Chapman was also able to find out just who the leaders of the team are. 鈥淩ight now it鈥檚 looking like Roma Zulyniak is going to be one of our captains and Paige Swan will be another one. Paige is a strong leader on defence and Roma is a great centre-midfielder that can support everyone on the field,鈥� suggested Chapman, adding that Roma鈥檚 younger sister Leah will also be looked upon to lead the team at times. 鈥淪he (Leah) is probably one of our biggest offensive threats and although she鈥檚 not a grade 12 girl, she鈥檚 going to have a big role on the team.鈥�
Chapman will continue to evaluate and learn about his team this coming weekend, when the YRHS Lady Raiders travel to Moose Jaw to take part in their second tournament of the season. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to the Moose Jaw tournament,鈥� said Chapman. 鈥淭his program is going to advance and I think they made leaps and bounds here this weekend and I expect nothing but better results from them for the rest of the season.鈥�
