BAYHAWKS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

Transcription

1 BAYHAWKS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS U8 Information Brochure Burlington Youth Soccer Club 3370 South Service Road, Suites 200 & 201 Burlington, ON L7N 3M

2 Introduction This information is provided to help parents and players not familiar with the Bayhawks U8 Development Program understand the club s philosophy, and how the program runs. The Bayhawks U8 program provides our young players with the best possible start to their soccer experience. The focus of the program is to guide and develop young players through the vitally important early years of soccer, where the learning environment and coaches can have the biggest impact, be it good or bad. The BYSC staff coaches working with these players are specifically selected because they are superb at training and understanding young children. The focus at this age is to create a fun and enjoyable environment, where children can learn and play under the guidance of coaches who excel with youth development. Children at this age are like sponges, absorbing a great deal of what they see and experience firsthand. They are also capable of developing a serious love of the game at this age, if exposed to the right environment and offered plenty of encouragement. By providing a nurturing atmosphere for young players, the Bayhawks U8 Program helps create positive habits and attitudes, which in turn create the foundation for soccer excellence in future years. Creativity and enjoyment are highly encouraged throughout the training sessions and games, as kids who enjoy the game in these youngest ages most often thrive, and are much more likely to continue playing and enjoying the game for years to come.

3 Our Bayhawks U8 program focuses on developing individual players, versus focusing on the results of any game or season. It is much more important to develop players within the proper framework at this age as opposed to demanding that a team win at all costs. If the goal is simply to win there are shortcuts that coaches can take at the expense of developing the player and the team. Our ultimate goal is to help each child in the program develop skills and techniques to play the beautiful game with creativity, passion and a better understanding of their role within the game whiling competing. You will notice that nowhere in these goals is winning placed above player development, learning, and fun. In fact, winning as an end in itself is not written anywhere in these goals, however, we do promote competition and encourage players to play to win using the skills and concepts learned in training. The entire emphasis of play in our youth development stages is on learning skills, improving decision making and learning to compete while having FUN. When players can play carefree and apply these concepts, winning becomes a byproduct development is the focus, not the winning! Our Bayhawks U8 program focuses on developing individual players, versus focusing on the results of any game or season.

4 Program Goals ENJOYING THE GAME It is critical that players have fun and enjoy the game. To do so, the staff creates an environment that is fun and exciting for the players as they learn new skills and make new friends. The staff believes that kids who enjoy the game of soccer tend to improve more quickly, and are much more likely to continue playing and enjoying the game in the future. IMPROVING TECHNIQUE Improving individual technique within the game is the main focus of the U8 program. When players improve their technical ability they grow in confidence and creativity, which often leads to a greater enjoyment of the game. This is a vital component in the development of young soccer players and it is essential that the children are encouraged to play with a ball as often as possible, not just at training but at home too. IMPROVING MOTOR SKILLS The U8 program incorporates elements to help players develop and improve their basic movement skills such as agility, balance, and coordination good physical literacy is essential for playing any sport. Whilst the program will help supplement the players development in this area, the children should be encouraged to participate in a range of playful activities to develop a wide range of movement skills. IMPROVING TEAM WORK Our program primarily focuses individual technique, creativity and 1v1 play. However, the staff will also encourage interaction between teammates through small group activities to enhance skillful and imaginative play. For example 2v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 games and activities supplement the technique and motor skill development. The focus is for players to appropriately apply their technical skills into the game environment with teammates in small groups.

5 Full Grassroots LTPD Compliance BYSC are proud to say that all of our Bayhawks Development Programs are in full compliance with the Grassroots Development Matrices mandated by Ontario Soccer. This demonstrates our commitment to LTPD principles, which put the development and wellbeing of your child at the very centre of what we do, and means that you can be assured we follow the latest best practice guidelines.

6 Development Month The Pathway to the Bayhawks In September, the club holds Development Month for all age groups, from U8 to U16. Development Month offers the players six sessions of activities, exercises and games, allowing them to sample what they will experience during the U8 Development Program. Most of the U8 players at Development Month come from the previous season s BYSC House League, House League Plus, and/or AllStar program. The club s professional staff actively monitor the players in all of our recreational programs throughout the summer, and many are specifically invited to attend Development Month. Our staff identify and invite players based on a combination of factors, such as skill level, soccer IQ, attitude, and enthusiasm. However, you do not have to be specifically invited to attend. Development Month is offered free of charge to all players who were members of the club s U7 Summer House League. Development Month is also open to all nonbysc players who are interested in joining our Bayhawks Development Programs a $20.00 registration fee will be applied to all nonbysc players. The club s technical staff will oversee the Development Month process for all potential Bayhawks players, with the assistance of the club s professional coaching staff and parent volunteers.

7 Girls Boys U8 Development Month Schedule Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Location September 5 th Sherwood F4 10 th 12 th 17 th 19 th 6:007:00pm 24 th 11 th 18 th 25 th September 6 th 13 th 20 th Sherwood F4 6:007:00pm Development Month Full compliance with Ontario Soccer mandated LTPD guidelines. 60 players maximum, per gender, ensuring good playertocoach ratios. Six sessions of activities, exercises and games. Staffed by paid, certified coaches. Aimed primarily at those players who are interested in registering for our Development Programs, but open to all!

8 Program Structure & Schedule The Bayhawks U8 Program will be open to up to 40 players in each gender. From midoctober until the end of August, the program has two training sessions per week and, during fall and winter, there is an additional futsal session at the weekend. All players are highly encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible. The professional coaching staff in the Bayhawks Development Program are not assigned to a specific group of players but, instead, work across the whole age group in the boys or girls program. This means the players have the benefit of being exposed to a number of different coaches during training, giving them the opportunity to hear and experience different coaching personalities and styles. This staffing structure also ensures all the coaches get to see all the players, which enables us to offer wellbalanced evaluations on each and every player during the course of the program. However, whilst the coaches may vary, from session to session, the content and curriculum will be consistent. BYSC is intending to launch an LTPD compliant U8 Indoor Development League for Fall and Winter, which will allow the players to experience playing against teams from other clubs in Peel Halton. If there is no local league available, we will organise a series of exhibition games throughout the indoor period and the U8 will have regular futsal sessions at the weekend. The majority of the exhibition games will be scheduled during regular training times, and some may involve visiting another local club. Players will commence outdoor training at the beginning of May During the summer, the Bayhawks U8 Program enters teams into the Peel Halton Development League Festivals, which normally kicks off after the Victoria Day long weekend in May and last until the end of August. There are a number of scheduled breaks during the course of the year to give the players a rest from training and games, in accordance with Ontario Soccer LTPD guidelines. The dates of these breaks will be issued at the team meeting in October.

9 U8 Program League Training Futsal Exhibitions Camps/ Calendar Programs October N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month Team Meeting November N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month December N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month January N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month February N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month March N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month March Break Camp April N/A 2 per week weekend 1 per month May PHDL 2 per week June PHDL 2 per week Summer Camps July PHDL 2 per week Summer Camps August PHDL 2 per week Summer Camps September OFF OFF OFF Development Month

10 Bayhawks U8 Development Program Summary Program Cost $1,999 one allinclusive fee Program Fee Structure $300 nonrefundable registration, due on signing $699 due 16 th October 2017 $500 due 15 th November 2017 $500 due 15 th January 2018 Number of Players 40 League/Festivals/Exhibitions Fall/Winter Development League or Exhibition games (OctApr) Summer Peel Halton Development League Follows LTPD guidelines No scores/standings 5v5 (including Goalkeeper) Training Sessions 2 (1 hour, including 15 minutes of free play) sessions per week OctAug 1 Futsal session per week OctApr (if no U8 Development League) Locations: Sherwood Park, Oakville Futsal Club, Burlington School Gyms At Home Training My Personal Football Coach Access to online platform for individual ball mastery development Player Development Evaluations 3 December/May/August Coaching Minimum 2 staff training Game Day Head Coaches (Parent Volunteers), overseen by staff coaches Lead & Volunteer Coach Qualifications (Minimums) FUNdamentals (Ontario Soccer) Game Leader (Ontario Soccer) Making Ethical Decisions (CAOC) Making Headway (CAOC) Respect in Sport Police Check (minimum 2 years)

11 Training Format Practices will typically be held in station style group training, which is the Ontario Soccer preferred method of training for grassroots players. Simply put, each training session will consist of a number of stations that vary but are based on a theme, i.e. dribbling, passing, finishing. Groups will rotate through each different station in order to experience all activities and coaches. Depending on the training content, players may be grouped by ability in order to keep the training environment challenging for all involved. The staff will teach and encourage players to effectively apply correct technique and insight while allowing player creativity so players can train, learn and compete with confidence. Players will also be encouraged to improve at home through fun homework assignments & challenges throughout the year. Players will be shuffled and mixed as needed during training, games and festival days over the course of the year, with flexibility provided by the open roster format. There are no fixed teams at the U8 age group. The Advantages of Group Training Player development at the youngest ages is very fluid due to different rates of physical and mental maturation amongst kids. The group training system rewards players who continually work to improve their skill and understanding of the game throughout the season without limiting kids to one team. Players are placed in an environment that allows them to develop an awareness of the club culture. Gives the Bayhawks U8 Development Program staff a chance to continually evaluate across the entire age group. Age group training is a competitive cauldron giving players a chance to learn from, and measure themselves against, the best talent of their own age group. Group training allows BYSC to build the future of the club.

12 Futsal During my childhood in Portugal, all we played was Futsal. The small playing area helped me improve my close control, and whenever I played Futsal I felt free. If it wasn t for Futsal, I wouldn t be the player I am today. Cristiano Ronaldo Futsal is an exciting mode of the game that has helped develop some of the very best players in the world. Futsal encourages players to think quickly and be creative, while offering them plenty touches of the ball and lots of 1v1 situations to explore. We have made futsal an integral part of our Bayhawks Development Programs. BYSC is delighted to have partnered with Oakville Futsal Club, which means we have secured the very best local futsal facility for our Bayhawks Development Programs to play in. All of our futsal sessions are run in a predominantly free play format. This means the children can enjoy plenty of game time with minimal interventions by the coach. There will also be a ball mastery component included into the majority of sessions, and players are encouraged to always have a ball at their feet even while they are waiting for their next turn to play. As a little boy in Argentina, I played futsal on the streets and for my club. It was tremendous fun, and it really helped me become who I am today. Lionel Messi The benefits of futsal: More touches of the ball More 1v1 situations Quicker decision making Encourages creativity Fun!

13 Individual Technical Development Most of the time I was by myself, just kicking the ball against the wall, seeing how it bounces, how it comes back, just controlling it. Trying it different ways, first one foot, then the other foot, looking for new things. Dennis Bergkamp The very best players in the world did not only ever play with a ball at team training they would spend time on their own with a ball and practice, practice, practice! A soccer ball was their version of a fidget spinner, and they would spend countless hours challenging themselves to manipulate the ball in different ways. Developing individual ball mastery is a fundamental component of our programs and the more technically proficient a player is, the more they will enjoy themselves. The benefits of MPFC: Players can practice at home and at their own pace Age appropriate skill progression Great videos so players get to see excellent demonstrations of each skill Increasing challenge as player work through the MPFC program Better ball mastery leads to greater enjoyment of the game BYSC is delighted to have partnered with My Personal Football Coach, which is one of the leading online tools for soccer skills development. Access to MPFC provides our players with the support they need when practicing their technical skills at home, and they will be guided along a series of fun assignments and challenges throughout the year. The MPFC platform also allows the BYSC Technical Staff to monitor each player s use, and progress, through the Dynamic Ball Mastery curriculum. There is no extra cost for access to MPFC, as it is included in the program fee, and Log In details will be ed upon registration into the Bayhawks Development Program.

14 Game Format The playing format for teams at U8 is 5v5 (including Goalkeeper). In this format, the players will be encouraged to play The Bayhawks Way in a diamond formation, which is often referred to as the 121. However, at this age, the players tend to see the game from a very individual perspective. There will be some players who still have a tendency to follow the ball everywhere, while others may like to go off and explore. As you will probably see, during the season, the formation is more what you would call guidelines than actual rules! We will also ask the players to try to be positive with the ball, encouraging them to take on opponents in 1v1situations. Passing has its role, of course, but it is important to nurture their creative tendencies and help them develop the ability to dribble past players. We believe it is easier to add passing as an option to a player who has great 1v1 skills, than it is to add 1v1 to a player who has great passing skills. The benefits of the 121 Diamond: Easily introduces the game principles of width and depth Provides balance between defence and attack One position clearly identifies with the main attacking responsibilities One position clearly identifies with the main defensive responsibilities The two midfielders can support both attack and defence

15 Team Rosters In line with the LTPD guidelines from Ontario Soccer, there are no fixed rosters in the Bayhawks U8 Development Program. The most important thing for a player s development at this age is that they get the appropriate level of challenge. Players need opportunities for enough success to build confidence, balanced with the right amount of adversity to test them. When a challenge is too difficult for a player, they can become discouraged, lose confidence and, ultimately, may no longer enjoy playing the game. The coaching staff will monitor the progress and needs of each player and have the flexibility to adjust game rosters accordingly and, hopefully, each players will have the opportunity to play with everyone else during the course of the season. It is also the club s philosophy to encourage all players to try all positions on the team, there are no fixed positions at U8. We firmly believe that a 7yearold is not just a striker or defender, they are a young child who loves running around playing the game and, with the right support and encouragement, they will try anything! The Advantages of Open Rosters Players offered the appropriate level of challenge for their stage of development Players can be moved up or down to meet the players needs young players can vary rapidly, even on a weekly basis. Open rosters also rewards players who continually work to improve throughout the season, without restricting them to one team. Enables the coaching staff the opportunity to evaluate players across the entire age group.

16 Coaching Staff All of our Bayhawks Development Programs, including the U8s, are staffed by professional staff coaches who direct training and oversee games. As with all our programs, BYSC also relies on Parent Volunteers to assist in the delivery of the program. The Parent Volunteers assist during training sessions and act as the Game Day Head Coach for the various teams. The professional coaching staff in the Bayhawks Development Program are not assigned to a specific group of players but, instead, work across the whole age group in the boys or girls program. This means the players have the benefit of being exposed to a number of different coaches during training, giving them the opportunity to hear and experience different coaching personalities and styles. This staffing structure also ensures all the coaches get to see all the players, which enables us to offer wellbalanced evaluations on each and every player during the course of the program. However, whilst the coaches may vary, from session to session, the content and curriculum will be consistent. BYSC trains its entire coaching staff through provincial, national and international coaching courses, as well as internal coaching education workshops. All of our coaches work together to implement our club curriculum for U8 players, which has been specifically designed by the Technical Department. The Bayhawks Development Program coaches will not: Scream or yell constant instructions at the players Coach from the sidelines during game play The Bayhawks Development Program coaches will: Be positive with the children Encourage the players during games Offer coaching advice at games during pre/post/halftime discussions and at the substitute bench when the player is not on the field of play Ensure fair playing time and let the players try different positions

17 Technical Department The BYSC Technical Department actively manages all of our Development Programs, from organising the schedule and designing the curriculum to mentoring and developing the coaches who work with the players. At BYSC, we believe we have put together the most qualified and experienced Technical Department in Ontario in order to develop and implement the best youth development programs possible. Kevin McGreskin Technical Director Kevin holds the UEFA A Licence through the English FA, Irish FA and Welsh FA. He has coached at senior professional level in Scotland, and has also worked with elite youth and international players. He was previously the Technical Director for the Bahamas FA and has acted as a consultant for a number of professional clubs and National Associations in Europe. Kevin is also an experienced coach educator and regularly presents on the UEFA A & B Licence courses. Steven McDougall Development Phase Manager Steven brings a wealth of experience from his playing background, having played over 400 professional games in Scotland. He was also involved in youth coaching in Scotland before moving to Canada, and has now been at the club for almost two years. Steven currently has his C Licence and is looking to complete his UEFA B Licence next year. Jordan Brown Foundation Phase Manager Jordan has his UEFA B Licence and a degree in Sport & Exercise Science, which he gained at Loughborough University in England. He has coached at a number of clubs and programs in Ontario, with experience across a broad range of ages.

18 Technical Department Stevie Grieve Coach Development Manager Stevie has his UEFA A Licence and has worked in a number of countries around the world, including Scotland, Switzerland, India and the USA. He has experience of coaching senior and youth players, and developing coaches working at all levels of the game. Stevie has also worked as an expert analyst on television, covering Champions League games and presenting his own show breaking down the tactical aspects of the game. David Shankland High Performance Manager David played professionally in Scotland and has coached professional teams in Greece and Romania. He holds his UEFA A Licence and SFA Youth Licence and has previously been the Technical Director at Richmond Hill and Guelph. Steve Carroll Foundation Phase Coordinator Steve has his UEFA B Licence and FA Youth Award and has coached for Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers in England.. Melanie Bradley Competitive Administrator Melanie is a certified coach and administrates all of our OPDL, Development Program and Rep Teams. She brings her experience of coaching and administrating programs at a number of clubs, ensuring our the Bayhawks programs run efficiently and to schedule. Melanie will soon be starting her C Licence coaching course.

19 Set a Positive Example Positive encouragement from parents is vital in helping young soccer players succeed and enjoy the game. The job of the parents is to be their child s biggest fan. Offering plenty of positive feedback and encouragement will allow the players to grow in confidence, which is one of the key to success in soccer or, indeed, any other sport. Positive support is also vital during times of disappointment, not just when things are going well. The ups and downs are a natural part of a young soccer player s developmental process, if handled appropriately. Positive parental support does not include coaching your child from the sidelines or analysing the game during the car ride home! POSITIVE PARENTAL SUPPORT Make soccer participation for your child and others a positive experience. Parents should be cheerleaders applaud good plays by both teams. Allow your child to play THEIR game do not try to make the decisions for them and do not criticize mistakes. Allow the coach to coach do not shout instructions to your child, as these may conflict with what the coach has said and become confusing. Allow the referee to officiate DO NOT openly question a referee s decision and never question their honesty. Accept the results of each game, and encourage your child to: Be gracious in victory, and turn defeat to victory by working towards improvement. DO NOT let the car ride home become the thing your child learns to dread! KEEP CALM AND LET THEM PLAY

20 Get Involved! Are you enthusiastic about your child s development and want to play a more active role in their participation in the game? If so, please let us know! All of our Bayhawks Development Programs rely on Parent Volunteers to assist in the delivery of the program, both as coaches and as agegroup team managers. Previous experience is not essential as we will guide you every step of the way, you only need enthusiasm and commitment! All of our teams require an assigned parent volunteer coach before we register them into a league. Our parent volunteer coaches assist the professional staff during training sessions, and act as the Game Day Head Coach for the teams. To help you do this the club will: Fund your coaching courses and certification Offer coach development and mentoring opportunities Provide you with information on how to manage game day The volunteer team managers will assist with the ongoing administration of the team, such as game sheets and team budgets. To help you do this the club will: Provide you with a Team Manager s Handbook containing all the information you need to administrate the agegroup Offer a Team Manager s Workshop Assist you through the process, particularly the initial stages when everything is new! The club s Competitive Administrator, or another member of the technical staff, will always be available to deal with any questions you may have about any aspects of your role.

21 In Summary As a club, we know that our Bayhawks Development Program will benefit your child, and accelerate their development in the game of soccer. Our curriculum, coaches, and the environment which we foster means each player has the opportunity to maximize their potential all while having fun in a safe and positive environment. We are confident that your child will thrive in a setting that encourages creativity and skill rather than in one which is focused on results and standings. If you have any questions that this brochure has not answered, please contact or the Development Phase Manager, Steven McDougall, at smcdougall@burlingtonsoccer.com.