The Olney Rangers did not win very often when they first started playing under-11 soccer more than a decade ago. The players were okay with that. So were the parents.
“The focus was on development,” said Matt Pilkington, the coach of that team from Washington’s Maryland suburbs. “We were patient. The emphasis was never on winning. Winning was a byproduct.”
And so the Rangers had barrels of fun, and they learned. And with some especially talented players, they began to win. A lot. In state tournaments, regional events and national competitions. With each year, as the team moved into new age categories, others from the area joined the squad.