7-on-7 competition is not only for football. Kosciusko boys’ and girls’ soccer teams played numerous 7-on-7 games during the summer program.
“Overall, we had a really good summer program,” said Greg Cooper, coach of both teams. “7-on-7 allows them a lot of moving and also gets them in shape.”
The boys played nine 7-on-7 games and two with full 11-member teams, the girls played 10 7-on-7 and one with 11 players. The 7-on-7 games are played on a field half the size of a normal field. Most games were 25 minutes.
With the boys, Cooper worked on ball movement – less dribbling on more passing. The girls worked on a change in alignment to a 3-5-2 with two forwards, designed to improve the attack.
Both teams won Region 4-4A without having to take the field during the 2020-21 season. Raymond, the only other team in the region with a soccer team, defaulted both of its games with Kosciusko.
That will not happen this year with a revamped 4-4A. Other teams are Choctaw Central, Louisville, Newton County, Northeast Lauderdale and West Lauderdale. West Lauderdale is a traditional power in the sport, with state championships by boys’ and girls’ teams.
Kosciusko's 2020-21 season ended with opening round losses in the MHSAA playoffs. The boys team graduated four starters, the girls only one.
Three of the departed boys played defense. Two younger players counted on to help fill the defensive gap will be Carson Rutherford and Jeremy Gibson. Cooper said both looked good during the summer.
