OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Numbers are always going to be a problem for the smallest high schools in the state — and this year is no different for the Old Orchard Beach girls soccer program.
OOB head coach Heath Floyd lost 12 seniors to graduation and two incoming seniors, who would have been starters on this year’s club, are not going to be available in 2018.
“It’s kind of a building process. We are small … the quantity is not what we want right now,” said Floyd, who will be without one player due to injury and another who will be studying in Germany this year. “We are going to have 15 or 16 (players) and losing a couple kids to injury and going overseas doesn’t help, but we have a really good core returning so it’s just going to be finding a way to manage time within games.”
The OOB coach will have to find ways to get players some rest throughout the season.
“We found in past seasons when we’re low on numbers it tends to lead to injuries,” Floyd said. “You try to get some kids rest, but we can’t because we don’t have enough bodies to get them off the field. In the second half of games and at the end of the season it makes it very challenging for the girls.”
Another obstacle Floyd has to deal with — that most coaches don’t have to worry about — is having players with summer jobs.

“Old Orchard is a little different with the socio-economic kind of town that we’re in,” said Floyd. “A lot of them work and a lot of their money goes toward household stuff and to help with the bills. It’s really hard to get them down here when you know what they’re doing is trying to help their family out.”
A lot of business owners in OOB are also dependent on high school students during the summer, according to Floyd.
“A lot of the town’s businesses kind of really rely on the kids, especially now when the college kids start heading out. It’s a tourist community. They all work down there and they’ve been working since they were 14, 15 and they work all day long,” said Floyd. “We are always battling with that. We’ll end up getting three or four more kids to come out once school starts, but we’re always behind the eight ball trying to catch up.”
While the younger generation will frequently get labeled as lazy, Floyd knows the student-athletes in Old Orchard have a strong work ethic.
“The kids that come, like I said we have small numbers, but everyone here has been great. They come in, put their work in and they’re energetic. They all have a great work ethic,” said Floyd. “They are good kids and they’re fun. It’s really going to be a great group to coach, but we just need a few more kids.”
Floyd, who is now in his 10th year coaching the Seagulls, will be looking to senior captains Sam Donnell and Joyce Doucette to lead the way this season.
“Both of them are kind of captains by the way they play,” said Floyd, who believes they will grow into their new leadership roles. “We’re looking for a little more vocal (leadership). We have a quiet team, but that goes to having that big senior class ahead of them. We had 12 seniors and (the current players) haven’t had to (lead the way). I think they can and that’s why preseason is a great time for them to step up and take over the reins from the older kids that have left and move the team in the direction that they see fit.”
Despite all of the roster turnover and the low numbers, Floyd believes his squad has a chance to return to the Class C South playoffs.
“Making the playoffs is always the baseline for us and it’s a really good possibility. There are a few games on our schedule that will be really difficult, but we will be in all of them,” said Floyd.
— Sports Editor Pat McDonald can be reached at pmcdonald@journaltribune.com or at 282-1535 ext. 322. Follow the Journal Tribune Sports Department on Twitter @JournalTsports.

Copy the Story Link

Comments are not available on this story.