With winter break approaching, it can only mean the 2018 soccer season is looming on the horizon.
At Lehman High, first year head coach Michael Banning will serve as the new Lehman girls soccer head coach. Banning was the assistant coach in the previous season, and has taken over for the upcoming 2017-18 season.
Although Banning is not new to the program, the team will have to get used to his new approach.
“A lot of it is just getting to know me, and my teaching style,” Banning said. “We are constantly working on the technical aspects of soccer right now. We’re working as a group and getting to know each other again.”
The Lehman Lobos finished last season with a 2-12-3 overall record and 0-10-2 in district play.
Banning said there are multiple phases in one season and he wants the team to take it one section at a time. Keeping the team motivated throughout all phases is what he hopes will push the team further.
“We have our non-district phase which is just tournaments and non-district games that’s one phase,” Banning said. “I tell the girls, ‘Let’s do really well in that first phase so we can be confident going into the next phase,’ which is our district phase. Then, let’s be really confident in district phase so we can move on to the third and final phase which is playoffs.”
The mantra that the Lobos adhere to is “Be About Today.” Banning hopes that mantra keeps Lehman going and motivated this upcoming season.
Banning said he wants his team to be better every day and focus as a team.
“We always have opportunities to get better every day and that’s what I really press on the girls,” Banning said. “Just getting better every single day that you’re out here is what I want my team to do. If you can get one percent better, that’s monumental for every program. As long as you can come off the field and say you got better today, that’s what we are trying to focus on.”
Right now, the Lobos are trying out new positions to see how everyone fits in the puzzle. With a new coaching style and the amount of talent on the team, Lehman is ready to take on the new season.
“I was telling the girls that we are trying you in different positions right now in December so we don’t have to try it and waste time in January,” Banning said. “The way we are preparing for our first game against Elgin is just getting better every single day, working on our fundamentals, being motivated as a team and getting used to not being an assistant coach and actually being the head coach.”
