Player Development Program for 2010-2011
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The long term goal of Semiahmoo Soccer Club will be to support our players to achieve better understanding and success in the game of soccer, leading to, enhanced opportunities for professional contracts, university and college scholarships, employment opportunities and overall health and wellness.
In order to achieve this, Semiahmoo Soccer Club has adopted a “player centered” approach to developmental programs for all ages and specifically, all abilities.
Therefore, the programs will be structured to allow for increased development at the base where I believe developmental opportunities for players of a lesser ability may have been stifled by previous program structures.
For example, in a balanced (non-tiered) mini/micro environment, players of a lesser ability rarely have the opportunity to acquire meaningful touches of the ball while top performers continually dominate and acquire significantly more time on the ball. The result of this is our weakest players fail to develop and our top performers, although developing, are not appropriately challenged. Therefore, I believe that by restructuring, we will better assist the development of our weakest players, appropriately challenge our strongest, and build the overall quality of our base.
The restructuring of the program will begin at the mini/micro level. These are crucial years where our players need to inherit a love and passion for the game through their individual successes. This can be achieved by allowing greater levels of success for all participants. As stated, it has become apparent that our weakest players need to be given a greater opportunity to develop and our strongest to be appropriately challenged.
Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to provide you with a look at how the new program structure and delivery will look as of September 2010:
U5/U6 – This program proved to be a massive success last year under the guidance of our professional staff, Kristin Heggs. Considering that this is the first introduction to soccer for many players and is specifically about providing fun in a positive environment we will continue to provide professional coaching to ensure its continued success. This program is a gym based program one time per week with no games at the weekend.
U7 - This program consists of players training in the gym with their assigned coach one time per week and one game on a Sunday morning. While the U7s are scheduled to train indoors, they will also receive support from professional staff by rotating onto the outdoor turf field on 2-3 occasions through the season. This will allow for players to experience training outdoors and allow coaches to receive professional instruction on how to run sessions. The game day environment for U7s will consist of balanced teams where opposing coaches will match up players of a similar ability against one another in weekend games for the purpose of enhancing player success.
U8 and U9 – As normal, players will be assigned a team and coach after registering with the club. Having considered the various feedback from last season, the program will now be split into a tiered A and B division for training and games instead of academy style training sessions and balanced game day environments. The club will merge teams to create squads of 16-20 and the team coaches will split those A & B (Grey & Burgundy). At the weekend Gray teams play Gray teams, Burgundy teams play
Training Rationale – As most coaches are aware, one of the greatest challenges with balanced environments has always been how to deal with the varied abilities of players assigned to their team. In most cases, one attempted solution has been to split players into small groups where the head coach works with the strong group and the assistant with the weaker group. This arrangement in itself presents a lesser standard of training as the flow of practice is interrupted by insufficient numbers to adequately execute session plans. Additionally, when it comes to bringing the players back to the larger group, many of the high performers are put in goal to allow lesser performing players an opportunity to compete or touch the ball. This situation is restrictive of a player’s development as some players fail to touch the ball while others are punished for dominating games. In these cases, whether players are good, average or below average, many are being robbed of development as a result of their training environments.
Subsequently, the tiered squad structure will provide sufficient training numbers and allow all players of all abilities to gain success and therefore accelerate development and growth.
Game Day Rationale – One of the major issues arising from a balanced game day is the opportunity for our less talented players to acquire any meaningful touches of the ball while the strongest players continually dominate proceedings without being appropriately challenged. The result of which is our players at the base fail to develop as quickly and our strongest players fail to acquire the ability to solve problems as very few difficulties are presented to them. Once again, all players are robbed of developmental opportunities on game day as a result.
Therefore, on game day the players will be assigned to the A or B division where playing players of a similar ability against one another will take place. The result of this will be that our average and below average players will no longer be dominated by our strongest and we can achieve the goal of benefiting and developing more players at the base. It will also provide our high performers the opportunity to be appropriately challenged and acquire the necessary technical skills and problem solving techniques to enhance their ability to play at a higher level in later years. Furthermore, game day should see every team become more competitive as a result of this structure.
U10
The U10 program is split into two environments, “U10 Development” and “U10 House”.
The U10 development teams are selected in April during club evaluations, after which two teams are selected to play in the South District Development League.
The remaining U10 players continue to play for Semiahmoo in the South District House League against other house teams. In terms of player development opportunities, coaches of the U10 Development and House teams will communicate with one another to discuss the progress of individual players thought to be worthy of training or playing opportunities at the U10 development level. Both these environments will see teams train outdoors one time per week with one game at the weekend.
Playing Up
U8-U10 As earlier described if a player is not being challenged in games or training environments, it may hinder their ability to grow as a player.
Going forward players will have no restrictions on developmental opportunities due to their year of birth. In staying with “what is best for the player”, the club will accept written requests from parents for their child to be considered for “playing up”. Thereafter, the player in question will be evaluated by the professional staff to determine the best age group for the player’s development.
Training Environments
U8/U9/U10 - In order to provide the best possible developmental environments for our players as well as value for money, it is recommended that all teams from U8-adult train outdoors rather than in gyms. In my experience, the gym environment does not lend itself to optimal player development. In many instances, teams are forced to share gyms which results in limited space to execute productive sessions. In addition, teams and coaches are spread out over various gyms throughout
Furthermore, gyms often produce more injuries due to hard slippery surfaces, walls, benches, and school equipment stacked in corners or around the side.
One advantage of gym training is a warm and dry environment which is pleasant for the younger players; however, come game day the same players play outside. It is my belief that players should train in the same environment they play games in.
Throughout the club, teams will train at the same time as the rest of their age group. For instance, all U8 teams will train together on the turf at the same time. This will allow the head coach to connect/support every single player and coach at this level.
All teams/training groups at the mini/micro level will follow a similar curriculum to ensure every player is receiving the appropriate training. It also ensures that all coaches receive experience observing and running productive sessions.
This will be achieved by bringing all coaches to a central area while a 15 minute warm up (standardized) is in progress. During this 15mins, the Head Coach can demonstrate the proposed session. Thereafter, the coaches disperse back to their training groups and run the same session.
By allowing the Head Coach to support every player/coach in the club, it ensures that everyone receives value for their registration fee.
U11 to U18 Metro/Gold/Silver/Select - Throughout the club, teams will train at the same time as the rest of their age group. For instance, all U18 Metro/Gold/Silver teams will train together on the turf at the same time. This will allow the Head Coach to connect/support every single player and coach at this level Monday to Thursday. This will consist of 30mins of SAQ and individual technical development in addition to a 1 hour team practice. Both these environments are supported by the club s professional staff.
Semiahmoo SC
The club will also be providing an injury prevention program in partnership with the
Players, coaches and managers will be involved in tracking injuries. Each team will have a Player Advocate (along with a parent assigned) so that injuries are properly tracked and managed. Simply the 'tracking' of injuries has proven to reduce injuries - and more importantly, RE injuries, up to 60%. The Semiahmoo Injury Prevention program is involved with both UBC and
Select Tactical Training
Tactical training will exist for teams on a first come first serve basis. Every Saturday throughout the month will be reserved for teams wishing to work on their system of play. It should be noted that this will be for team training; therefore teams are required to have all team members present with the exception of 2-3 players who may be unavailable due to injury or illness.
Player Feedback
The club will provide every head coach with a player report card for which to provide written feedback to each player on their team. This information is between the coach and their players and will help identify the key areas where players do well or require improvement.
U8-U10 Development Program
Description
The U8-U10 Development Program will provide high performing players at Semiahmoo Soccer Club the opportunity to train together in a professional environment with professional coaching staff. The program will operate as a user pay environment.
The program objective will be to educate and develop players to increase their opportunities to later gain entry to elite levels of soccer such as Metro, Y League, and Provincial, University, Whitecaps FC or other professional clubs throughout the world.
The program will operate from September to March annually and will consist of one training session per week in addition to club scheduled practices. The program will provide entry to elite level competitions that are deemed beneficial to the development of the players. Additionally, some players may be selected to participate in the Whitecaps FC Club Academy Series in order to be considered for the Prospects program.
Player Selection Process
Players must demonstrate an elite level of technical and tactical ability in addition to high levels of motivation, concentration and ability to follow instructions. Players thought to be proficient in all these areas will be recommended by the club coach and thereafter assessed by the head coach either during games or a tryout process.
Entry to the Development Program will be by invite only and continued participation will depend on attendance, performance and commitment. Players may be invited to attend individual sessions in order to assess their suitability to the program.
The selection of players to the program although based on criteria will be at the discretion of the head coach.
Player Placement
The program will be divided into individual groupings and will allow for player movement between groups based on performance alone. Ability and performance will be the only determining factor in the placement of players, unless safety is of concern.
Coaching Staff
Players will benefit from the expertise of full time professional coaching staff with assistance from select club coaches from Semiahmoo Soccer club and will operate as user pay to the players invited to the program.
Program Expectations
The U8-U10 Development Program will operate as a professional program and therefore comes with extremely high expectations of players selected. Players will be treated as young professionals and will therefore be expected to adopt a professional approach toward the programs objectives. The program will demand the highest expectations in terms of attendance, motivation, concentration, performance and training wear. Players continued attendance will be based on the player’s ability to meet these standards on a regular basis.
Attendance at the program will be scheduled as not to affect club training times, games or teams. However, occasionally there may be circumstances that require selected players to prioritize the Development Program ahead of club events, tournament teams or other chosen sports.
Measurements
The short term success of the program could be measured by a simple process of basic standardized testing that will remain confidential between the coaching staff and club, or by parent/player feedback.
The long term success of the program will be measured by the selection of players to other aforementioned elite programs such as Metro, Y League, Provincial and Whitecaps FC prospects program.
Rep Player Evaluations
U10-U18 Open Evaluations – Similarly with the younger age groups, players at these levels will have no restrictions on developmental opportunities due to their year of birth. In staying with “what is best for the player”, the club will consider the players ability rather than her birth date.
In many instances around the world in both the male and female game, players who are of a certain ability are given the opportunity to play at a higher level as early as 14, 15 or 16 years of age. In Kara Lang’s case, she was playing in the full national team and scoring on her debut at 15 years old.
Any player who believes they have the ability to play at a higher level shall be provided the opportunity to go through the season long evaluation process. If successful during the evaluation period, the club head coach will have the final say on whether playing up is in the best interests of the player after considering all factors. In short, the club will adopt a mentality whereby if a player is good enough, she will be considered old enough with respect to playing up. There will be no “holding back” of a players opportunity to play at the next level because of their age.
Team Selection and Placement
For returning players, the evaluation, selection and placement process is comprised of a combination of past season assessments by the player’s team coaching staff and the post-season evaluation sessions which normally incorporate 3 evaluation sessions observed by an evaluation team comprised of the select team coaches and the Club Head Coach.
In short, player performance in training and games between September and April is the most significant evaluation period. This period will be the main opportunity for players to showcase their abilities and earn selection to the team for the following season. The 3 day evaluation will provide a final opportunity for coaching staff to consider players for selection against others who may be new to the club or new to the divisional level.
For players new to the Club or to the divisional level, the post-season evaluation sessions represent the primary opportunity for evaluation of a player’s suitability for selection and placement on a select team.
Players of a select team standard coming into the club mid-season may be placed on a select team based on the coaching staff’s assessment of the player’s ability in comparison their knowledge of the other players currently within the club.
Semiahmoo SC Player Development Academy
The club will have the following programs available on a user pay basis:
Pre-season Team Training – for teams U11-adult wishing to introduce/familiarize themselves with a system of play prior to the season kick off. This will be a 7.5 hour program running prior to the season kick-off (5 sessions Monday-Friday)
Summer/Spring Camps – For those wishing to simply have fun, but also for those wishing to enter into a competitive environment also. Camps can be broken into competitive or recreational.
Soccer Travel Academy
This new program will give an opportunity for rep-team level players to develop their abilities and help build a soccer scholarship profile within a competitive travel tournament environment. Two program tracks will be offered for 1)Basic: 2)Elite:
These environments will be supported by the head coach in a full time or part time capacity.
Visit the Soccer Travel Academy web site for full details and program registration.
PCSL U21s and Adult Select Teams
These programs are for those looking to play at a competitive level and seeking professional contracts, university or college scholarships or employment opportunities later in life. The U21 PCSL team will be supported by players graduating players (U17 and above) from our club program.
PASS International Tournament – This will be an annual tournament reaching out not only to teams across
Coaching Qualifications and Coach Development
It will be the goal of the club to have at least one coach on staff that has the appropriate qualifications to coach at that level. The following has been identified as both necessary and attainable:
- U6 and U7 Minimum CCC
- U8, U9, U10 Minimum CCY
- U11 House Minimum CCY
- U11 Red Minimum CCS
- U12 Bronze Minimum CCY
- U12 Gold and Silver Minimum CCS
- U13-U18 Bronze Minimum CCS
- U13-U18 Gold and Silver B-Provincial (Relevant for coaching in provincial cup)
Possible club coach involvement in Developmental programs will be required to possess a B-Provincial license.
In order to allow coaches the opportunity to achieve the desired qualifications, the club will host courses relevant to all age groups. In order to avoid conflict with game day, the club will postpone mini/micro games for these weekends to support the development of coaches.
Coaches wishing to be qualified at the B-Provincial level will have 7 years to complete this qualification in time for coaching at the U13-U18 gold levels.
Coach Feedback
As part of our commitment toward coach development, the technical staff will assist coaches by providing informal written feedback to those who
request it.
The feedback is formulated from information that coaches will receive during BCSA coaching certification.
This is simply informal feedback of your coaching and will be used to help us further your coaching qualities over the coming years and help coaches pass any future coaching courses they attend.
The technical staff is happy to assist coaches scheduled for upcoming coaching courses in meeting the course criteria.
Senior Programs
It has been recognized in many instances that youth players have little understanding of what their options are after graduating from the U18 level of club soccer. It is also recognized in many instances that adult soccer receives little to no support from most organizations. This is not a good situation if we are to achieve our long term goal of providing opportunities for professional contracts, university scholarships, employment opportunities and overall health and wellness into our adult years.
It is important that everyone connected with
The senior program is an integral part of the club as it can provide fantastic opportunities for players to be challenged at a higher level.
In the fall/winter season
Beyond the previously mentioned programs we have over 30s competitive and recreational teams. This is an environment that is still played at a very competitive level with some teams challenging for spots to play in Nationals each year. Ages range from players in their early 30s to late 50s with some having played at the national level.
I would like to strengthen the bridge between the youth and adult programs by encouraging our youth to be an active part of our senior teams where appropriate. Opportunities will exist for our youth players to support all our senior programs with the exception of our over 30s teams.
For example, players at the U18/U17 Metro and Gold levels will have opportunities to support our Pacific Coast Soccer League teams in the spring/summer season for exposure to the highest level of soccer. In the fall/winter season, the same players will support the selects program on an occasional basis in preparation for what will hopefully be their full introduction the following season if not attending university or college. It will also provide opportunities for our players to be scouted by local colleges and universities.
Players of other levels (gold/silver/bronze) will also have opportunities to play at the senior level in our spring/summer and fall/winter leagues with the Div 2 and Div 3 teams. Additionally, our over 30s programs will be supported by players graduating from our Selects, Div 2 and Div 3 teams in both seasons.
In summary, I see our Semiahmoo SC senior program having a bright future should we all work towards having a true club system where each team in the club supports the other at the next level. The senior program is vital towards achieving our ultimate long term goals and its needs must be taken seriously. If we are to keep players in the game long into their adult years, it is crucial that we have an environment at
I am convinced that with the support of the club and cooperation between our club’s members we can create an excellent environment for everyone that plays at
Summary Remarks
The purpose of this document is to share an understanding of our club philosophy, with regards to player, coach and program development at Semiahmoo Soccer Club for the season 2010/2011.
Please note that this vision is based on an understanding of the club’s immediate needs but may be subject to change depending on the clubs future needs.
There are fewer better environments in the lower mainland for player development than Semiahmoo Soccer Club and I look forward to an exciting future for the players in this community.
I welcome any feedback or queries you may have.
Sincerely,
Mark McQueen
Head Coach
Semiahmoo Soccer Club