Coaches ready for first All-Star soccer games

• By ROBIN FAMBROUGH
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Jul 11, 2009 - Page: 7C

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Like other Louisiana coaches, Andrew Barnes and Craig Winchell wondered what it would be like to bring the state’s top high school soccer players together.

They’ll find out today as the Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches Association hosts its first all-star contests in Lafayette.

Action begins at 4 p.m. at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette Soccer Complex with an East vs. West girls match. The East vs. West boys contest follows at 7 p.m.

“For me, I guess you could say being excited about this is an understatement,” Barnes, Woodlawn High’s boys coach, said. “We may not have all the top players, but I think the talent we have is evenly distributed. There should be some great competition.”

Barnes is one of the assistant coaches for the East boys squad, while Winchell is set to fill the same role for the East girls squad.

“I’m honored to be selected as one of the coaches for the first all-star game,” Winchell said. “I can’t wait to see how we match up.

“For four years we’ve seen these girls play for their high school teams individually. Getting them together … the talent level is going to be great.”

Coaches reported to Lafayette on Friday to plan the logistics. Players report today, starting at 7:30 a.m. Each team will have a walk-through practice at ULL and lunch before the matches begin.

Barnes and Winchell said plans for the games began more than six months ago. The organizers originally hoped to hold the event at the LSU Soccer Complex. Damage from last fall’s Hurricane Gustav prompted the move to ULL.

The selection process began after the high school season ended in February. The four 22-player rosters were announced in May.

Barnes said the teams will play by high school rules. Coaches will decide how to rotate players in and out to balance playing time.

“Obviously, you want everybody to play the same amount of minutes,” Barnes said. “What we’re going to have to decide is at what point do we go with the best lineup to try and win it.”

Winchell doesn’t expect much of a drop-off when the girls teams alternate 11-player lineups and make substitutions.