Carson, Calif – Head Coach April Heinrichs introduced the concept of “purposeful play” to the U.S. U18 WNT in Wednesday’s training session at the Home Depot Center.

“There are studies that say little kids don’t know how to play with each other because everything is so structured, and I think it’s the same in soccer,” Heinrichs said. “So today we did a dynamic warm-up and just gave the players 20 minutes to do whatever they wanted.”

The girls divided themselves according to what they wanted to work on. Some girls practiced their 1-2 touch combinations while others worked on long balls. There were seven or eight players that organized themselves to work on shots at goal, and keepers trained on their technique with the goalkeeping coach.

Today’s session was a way for Heinrichs to show the girls how they can be able to train themselves without needing coaches and full games.

“The key thing missing when they come to us is technique, which can be done at home with two players,” she said. “We are trying to teach them how to be self-aware, evaluate their game, and address their weaknesses.”

Allowing players to train freely also helps coaches scrutinize who are the creative players, the ones that take it upon themselves to improve and experiment without the need of instruction.

It’s a different measuring stick than what has been used in that past, especially in the women’s game.

“I could come out here during some purposeful play and see that certain players kill time hoping for it to be over, while other girls are excited for the free time and want to work on something purposefully,” Heinrichs explained.

“It’s a way to take it down a notch athletically, and make them more technical and tactical players. So that way, creative players have success and the athletic players address weakness that they have overlooked because they have been getting by on their athleticism.”

The day ended with an impromptu 11v11 game. It was Heinrichs’ way to gauge what these girls can do with the time and space the game naturally gives them. Similar to the earlier drill, the girls coached themselves and each other, as Heinrichs observed from the middle, occasionally shouting her only instruction of “play quicker.”

U.S. U-18 WNT Roster By Position (Courtesy U.S. Soccer):

GOALKEEPERS (3): Caroline Casey (Virginia Rush; Chesapeake, Va.), Katelyn Rowland (San Juan; Vacaville, Calif.), Caroline Stanley (KCFC Intensity; Kansas City, Mo.).

DEFENDERS (5): Stephanie Amack (Mustang Blast; Pleasanton, Calif.), Laura Liedle (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.), Margo McGinty (Albertson Fury; Levittown, N.Y.), Katie Naughton (Sockers FC; Arlington Heights, Ill.), Cari Roccaro (Albertson Fury; East Islip, N.Y.)

MIDFIELDERS (11): Kori Chapic (Cleveland Cobras; Russell, Ohio), Kaysie Clark (KCFC Intensity; Liberty, Mo.), Caprice Dydasco (Honolulu Bulls SC; Honolulu, Hawaii), Isabel Farrell (Crossfire; Bellevue, Wash.), Caroline Lindquist (Spartan Elite; Raleigh, N.C.), Ashley Meier (Cleveland Whitecaps; Strongsville, Ohio), Katie Speidel (Real So Cal; Oak Park, Calif.), Ashley Spivey (Baltimore Bays; Baltimore, Md.), Quynh Truong (Solar Red; Fort Worth, Texas), Danielle Weatherholt (So Cal Blues; Capistrano Beach, Calif.), Sandra Yu (Cleveland Futbol; Strongsville, Ohio)

FORWARDS (5): MaKenzy Doniak (Slammers FC; Chino Hills, Calif.), Anna Maria Gilbertson (Davis Legacy; Davis, Calif.), Kodi Lavrusky (Legends FC; Yucaipa, Calif.), Anna McClung (GSA Phoenix; Gate City, Va.), Kristen McNabb (PDA; Montville, N.J.)