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| Janet Rayfield has accumulated 100 victories as Head Coach of the Fighting Illini to go with six NCAA Tournament appearances in eight full seasons. |
Join in the discussion as Illinois head soccer coach Janet Rayfield will answer questions regarding the nationally ranked Fighting Illini and the 2010 season on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at noon.
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| Moderator: Thank you all for submitting your questions for this chat, Janet will begin addressing questions shortly. |
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| Rob (Peoria): You have had 15 of the 19 Illini to see time this season (including goalies) score at least one point, what have you taught this team that has made them so talented a group on offense? |
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| Rob (Peoria): You have had 15 of the 19 Illini to see time this season (including goalies) score at least one point, what have you taught this team that has made them so talented a group on offense? |
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Janet Rayfield: Rob - Great question. Our team has really focused on moving as a group and that movement creates problems for opposing defenses. The result is that different people are able to contribute to our scoring depending on where the defensive breakdown occurs. It is great not to have to rely on a single person to break down a defense. |
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| Paula (Chicago): The defense has done great this season, what do you think this ability to clamp down on opponents is due to? |
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| Erica (Urbana): You have had a great turn-around from last season, what do you attribute this immediate success to? |
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Janet Rayfield: Every season is different but our senior leadership has been outstanding from the spring through the start of the season to right now. Sometimes the best thing about a tough season is the refocusing that occurs. This group made it a point to go back to the things that made them successful in the past - discipline, hard work, unselfishness, confidence ... etc. |
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| Mary (Columbus): Do you keep in touch with your former players who are playing professionally now? Where are some of your former players playing now? |
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Janet Rayfield: Mary - One of the best things about being a college coach is following the success of your student athletes as they move onto the next chapters in their lives. For those that continue to play like Ella Masar who played for the Chicago Red Stars and is now playing in Norway it's following their career on the field. For others it's following their progress through medical school, or their career as an engineer with 3M, or as a physical therapist in Atlanta or a speech patholigist in the schools of Chicago. The post collegiate success occurs on and off the field and it's great to follow it all!!!! Thanks for asking!!!! |
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| Will (Champaign): When coaching during the game, do you find it better to be a more "hands off" coach and let the team play or do you like to direct play? Is there a balance to it? |
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Janet Rayfield: Soccer is really a players game. My ability to impact the game comes in training and teaching players to make good choices in the game and adapt to situations as they arise. Without timeouts or play calling, the decisions lie in the hands of the players. From the sidelines, I try to encourage and point out things but in all honesty once the whistle blows it's about the players doing what they have been trained to do ... not about me! |
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| Kerry (Baltimore): How important has team chemistry and leadership been to your season and how do you cultivate both of them?
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Janet Rayfield: Kerry - I think with good leadership comes good chemistry or what really matters - good team cohesion. We work hard to develop leadership - meeting with potential leaders as they rise in their leadership roles, discussing the role of leaders on and off the field. And those leaders helps us to maintain a focus on a common goal ... cohesion is about a common goal and chemistry is about getting allong. With good leadership you can do both and that is certainly a key to success. |
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| Mick (Chicago): Hi Coach, at 12-4-1 you have your team in a great place for the NCAA Tournament. What are you telling your players since the freshman and sophomore have not been there yet? |
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Janet Rayfield: Thanks Mick. We certainly hope that you are correct. Right now we are focused on Northwestern and the last game of the season. One of the thing we have stressed this year (and almost every year) is to focus on game at a time and even one moment at a time. We will continue to do that even in the post season. Our young players have great leaders to follow and they will set the example of the mentality and confidence that is needed to head into a post season environment. The seniors on this team have been there and know what it takes and we are lucky to have that expereince along with the young talent! |
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Janet Rayfield: Thanks Mick. We certainly hope that you are correct. Right now we are focused on Northwestern and the last game of the season. One of the thing we have stressed this year (and almost every year) is to focus on game at a time and even one moment at a time. We will continue to do that even in the post season. Our young players have great leaders to follow and they will set the example of the mentality and confidence that is needed to head into a post season environment. The seniors on this team have been there and know what it takes and we are lucky to have that expereince along with the young talent! |
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