South Simcoe United FC

South Simcoe United FC Long Term Player Development Blueprint By: Bob Bergin, Technical Officer Date: February 19 th, 2013 Version: 1.2 Page 1

Table of Contents 1. Guiding Principles... 3 2. Development vs Winning... 4 3. Possession Soccer... 6 4. Age Appropriate Soccer... 9 5. How We Train... 12 6. Futsal League... 15 7. U8 Development Program... 16 8. Respecting the Game... 17 9. Partnerships... 18 10. Advanced Stream... 19 Page 2

1. Guiding Principles South Simcoe United Football Club (SSU FC) wants to be a leader in youth soccer development in the province of Ontario. The Player Development Program outlined below will dramatically change what we do, how we coach and the tremendous benefits that the children of our communities will receive. Some of the changes will happen as soon as possible while others will be implemented when the proper infrastructure is in place. SSU FC has a number of objectives that we hope to focus on and these will be the ten guiding principles throughout our Player Development Program: 1.1. To develop each and every player to their full potential. 1.2. Give the game back to the kids, let them play and love the game on their terms without undue adult interference. 1.3. Shifting our focus away from winning and into player development. 1.4. Put smiles back on the children s faces by introducing games that are fun and rewarding. 1.5. Improve critical thinking, through guided discovery and games that promote thinking outside of the box. 1.6. Maximize touches on the ball in all training sessions and game situations. 1.7. To grow our Club in total registrants by 50% over a 5 year period (between 2013-2018). 1.8. To consistently graduate players to the Ontario Player Development League that is twice the amount expected for a Club our size. 1.9. Have at least one player on the provincial team in 5 years (by 2018). 1.10. Have one player from our Club make the National Team in the next 10 years (by 2023). In 2008 the Canadian Soccer Association released a guideline entitled Wellness to World Cup. It proposed to dramatically change the soccer landscape. Subsequently a few years later the Ontario Soccer Association released their plan in accordance with the CSA s guidelines called the Long Term Player Development Plan. These two documents both began with a basic Page 3

premise that some elements of soccer in Canada and our own province were not functioning as they should. After peaking in the mid 2000 s enrollment in soccer across the province and indeed the country was down. More specifically children who registered as 5 year olds had less than a 50 % chance to be still playing by the time they were 10. Our Club has echoed these findings, overall registration has steadily decreased and we definitely have more 5 year olds wanting to play then we have 10 or 15 year olds. We need to reverse these trends and we have taken a long hard look at the state of soccer in the province and more specifically in our Club and concluded it is time to change the way we do things. Navel gazing is never fun but once one commits to improving the joy in kid s hearts the answers come fairly easy. This document intends to adhere to the principles and ideals of the CSA s Wellness to World Cup and the OSA s Long Term Player Development guidelines. However, our Club plans on going further. We want to set the standards for growth in our province by implementing fun and unique ways of playing the game. To challenge our players, their parents, our coaches and our Club to be the best we can be, to innovate, create and develop our Club with one guiding principle, what is the best way to do things for our players. 2. Development vs. Winning Everyone wants to win, and in Canada like the most of the world winning is important. However, is the desire to win slowly killing youth sports in Canada? Most top notch soccer countries do not even have formal teams or leagues until a child is 10, 11 or 12. The children in these places have played the game on the street, in the park, or at the beach. It is not the beach, or street, or the park that makes these kids better, the biggest difference is the lack of adults telling them what to play, how it s played and what the rules are for the game. Ultimately there are winners and losers but in street soccer this is minimized. Page 4

If an adult coach really wants to win then he or she is going to do things much different than if they merely developed their players. If winning was important would they promote equal playing time, or would that special player receive much more playing time than their teammates? Would that coach be willing to rotate players in different positions so that everyone can experience the game from different perspectives? Would that coach promote a style of play that will benefit them in the long run but hurt them in the short term? Would that coach have a tendency to control the game, tell the players where to go and what do? If they want to win these are the bad habits that creep into our game. That seven year old who has been stuck in net for the whole season and yelled at for letting in a few goals will simply never be back. So our Club is getting out of the business of winning and into the business of player development through the following steps. We think this will vastly improve the soccer experience for everyone. 2.1. Eliminate all scores and standings for U12 and down in the Club effective the summer of 2013. 2.2. All Club tournaments and internal Club competition will no longer have winners and losers, scores, standing or champions for U12 and under. 2.3. All Club coaches will be instructed to rotate their players around the pitch unless a player has expressed a fear of a position. If a child is scared to play keeper there is no point in forcing them into the net. As always we want our children to be happy and fulfilled. This should be for all teams from U10 and down and encouraged for our U11 and U12 teams as well. 2.4. The Club will recognize coaches who have done a great job of developing players and not those who have won the most games. 2.5. Educate our players, parents, coaches, referees, and volunteers of the new direction and explain the reasons for these changes. Page 5

These changes will help the Club garner a greater emphasis on development over winning but they will not guarantee that all coaches will adhere to the spirit that the Club wants to foster. Therefore it will be important that the Club constantly monitors our coaches and all of our programs so that we get everyone on the same page. The consequences of a win at all costs mentality are many. 2.6. Everyone feels under pressure to win. For young children this is very stressful. 2.7. Coaches will tend to coach a simplified game of sending the ball to the opponent s net. Scoring is stressed over skill. In the long run this is detrimental to a player s overall development. 2.8. Player s become afraid to make a mistake that might cost the team and as a result they are very unwilling to try something creative. 2.9. In a win at all cost mentality the majority of players do not want to take responsibility for the game and risk the wrath of the coach so they choose to slink into the background. Without a doubt this hinders their development. 2.10. Playing time favours the better players. 2.11. Parents are more worried about the win then if the child is enjoying themselves. 2.12. Everyone s stress level increases from the players to the coaches and the parents. This is counter to what we want to create which is a warm inviting environment full of fun and physical activity. 3. Possession Soccer To score you must have possession of the ball. However, obtaining and keeping possession of the ball is not something that most youth players can do very well here in Ontario. We are going to change that fact by concentrating our training on possession soccer. Page 6

The term possession soccer refers to a team that attempts to maintain possession of the ball against their opponent. This is exemplified by playing the ball out of the back and playing through thirds, while rhythmically moving the ball between teammates. Scoring opportunities result from a slow build up towards the opponent s goal. In contrast direct play refers to driving long balls into the opponent s half of the field with the purpose of repossessing for a quick strike. It s true that both have merit and perhaps the best teams in the world play a combination of both styles. We will be coaching possession with a purpose. When the opportunity arises we can quickly switch to a quick strike mentality. It is clear that it is very difficult to switch from direct soccer to possession soccer unless the proper fundamentals of maintaining possession have been taught. One of the benefits of removing winning as the primary focus of our Club is that it will allow our Club to change our style of play. Currently our coaches decide what they are going to teach and how they are going to deliver this message. We have no uniformity whatsoever throughout the Club. In 2013 that will change so that all of our coaches will be teaching the same style of play and coaching the same formations throughout the Club. We are going to be playing possession soccer with the following formations: a 4-3-3 for 11v11, 3-2-3 for 9v9, 3-3 for 7v7, 1-2-1 with keeper for 5v5, 1-2-1 with no keeper for 4v4 and no set positions for 3v3. This will allow consistency as players move from team to team and age group to age group. The names of each position will be standardized so that each player on each team at each age group will know the name of their position they are playing and what their roles and responsibilities are for that age group. Page 7

A desire to win at the younger age groups and playing possession soccer are non-compatible. However, by removing any desire to immediately win we are allowing extra time to teach the fundamentals of possession soccer. Possessing the ball takes a great deal more skill than a more Direct Style of play. The methods to teach possession soccer will be outlined in the section entitled How We Train. There are many benefits to possession soccer: 3.1. It improves critical thinking, players are always looking for space. 3.2. It is technically more difficult to play and the demands are greater and this will create better players over time. 3.3. The ball is often played out of the back, eliminating most punts down the field. 3.4. Players learn to play wide and let the ball move from side to side 3.5. Passes are played in all directions, 360 degrees. 3.6. The game is played with probing passes into feet, angles of runs improve. 3.7. Players like playing it more than the more traditional Direct Style of soccer. 3.8. A sense of teamwork is fostered. 3.9. It s more fun to coach, more fun to watch and way more fun to play. Page 8

4. Age Appropriate Soccer Ontario s Long Term Player Development plan has outlined the appropriate field size and player limits for each age group. South Simcoe United fully supports this plan. This is the outline of our proposed age groups going forward: Age Format Squad Sessions Duration Field (Max) Goal (Max) U4,U5 3v3 Max 6 1/week x 12 weeks U6 4v4 Max 8 2/week x 12 weeks U7,U8 5v5 Max 10 2/week x 12 weeks U9,U10 7v7 Max 14 2/week x 16 weeks U11,U12 9v9 Max 16 2/week x 16 weeks U13+ 11v11 Max 18 2/week x 16 weeks 2 x 15min 22m x 30m Pug No Keeper 2 x 15min 25m x 36m Pug No Keeper 2 x 20min 30m x 36m 5 x 8 2 x 25min 36m x 55m 6 x 16 2 x 35min 55m x 75m 6 x 18 2 x 35min Fifa Full Field 8 x 24 There will be no keepers until children reach our U7/8 program. The design of this program is to provide incremental stepping stones for our players. The image below illustrates how this will help our players. Page 9

Here are some of the many benefits of playing age appropriate soccer in small sided games: 4.1. There are many more goals scored, this is the one younger children love the most. 4.2. The child becomes the main focus. 4.3. Because of the reduced numbers each child has a chance to score. 4.4. The rules are simpler so that the game becomes easier for each child to grasp, rules are added over the years a bit at a time and as such the game will become easier to understand. 4.5. This will maximize touches on the ball. Through playing small sided games players will increase the number of touches which will dramatically increases their skill level. 4.6. All players play in all positions, naturally they will learn to attack and defend and as a result they will no longer get stuck in a certain position. 4.7. There is more emphasis on possession soccer and players will become more complete soccer players. 4.8. The smaller pitch size will allow for more games to be played on a given field. 4.9. The ball will stay in play longer, coaches can restart games by sending another ball into play once one goes out. Page 10

4.10. With so many goals scored the issue of who won and who lost is eliminated. 4.11. Children will learn to express themselves with the ball since they will have it at their feet a lot more. 4.12. The games will become easier and more fun to coach as the rules are simpler and the focus is on fun. 4.13. The game becomes the teacher. Players will learn naturally how to dribble, pass and shoot. 4.14. The role of adults is diminished. The players will no longer be looking at the coach to know where to go and as a result their natural instincts will take over. 4.15. In the long run children will become greater independent thinkers and this will positively impact the player down the road. 4.16. The natural competitive instincts of children are fostered without the influence of an adult s desire to win. 4.17. Our matrix slowly adds complexity to the game allowing children to learn as they grow. 4.18. Soccer intelligence and ability will happen naturally. Allowing the game to be the teacher this will provide an environment that stimulates the child. Page 11

5. How We Train To improve our training, here are the objectives: 5.1. Make our practices more fun for the players and the coaches. 5.2. Give our coaches a clear and concise curriculum. 5.3. Improve efficiencies in practices and reduce wasted time. 5.4. Curriculum will be based on age appropriate lessons. 5.5. Have our coaches teach through guided discovery. 5.6. Stress the basic fundamentals of dribbling, passing, shooting, etc. 5.7. The core of our training will be through the use of small sided games. 5.8. Program will use games that improve critical thinking and problem solving. 5.9. Let the game be the teacher. 5.10. Elimination of fitness without the ball. 5.11. Eliminate line drills. 5.12. All training will be focused on maximizing touches on the ball. 5.13. Practices will be designed with the proper progressions. 5.14. Coaches to use praise and encouragement at all times. 5.15. No more punishments for mistakes. One of the biggest issues in our Club and indeed in Clubs throughout Ontario is that a child s soccer development is often based on a lottery system. In other words they may or may not get lucky with the coach that they have been assigned to that year. Like our school system where there are good teachers and poor teachers and many in the middle, coaching is very much the same way. However, in our school system teachers must teach the curriculum that has been assigned for their grade. Currently in our Club we have coaches of various levels but we do not have a curriculum. They are free to coach whatever they feel is necessary. Page 12

This has resulted in many coaches feeling lost and at a distinct disadvantage. We have been throwing these coaches onto the field with minimal guidance. The coaches who have experience have done a good job under this scenario while many of our inexperienced coaches have not fared so well. The result is that a child is either lucky or unlucky in terms which coach they get for that year. It is our hope to eliminate this lottery and improve all of our coaches by giving them a proper curriculum. Each coach will have a set of games and activities designed by the technical staff that will be age appropriate and engaging for the children. They will have session plans for the entire season. All coaches will teach the same things the same way. Coaches will be instructed through in house coaching clinics on how to conduct games and activities in the curriculum. Our Club and age group head coaches will be available to provide in season assistance and support. The benefits should be seen immediately: 5.16. All players in each age group will be learning the same things at the same time and in the same manner. 5.17. All coaches, but mostly the newer coaches will have a new found sense of confidence in their ability to coach. 5.18. Coaching is easier when you let the game be the teacher. No more spending time looking up the latest drill from a book. 5.19. Coaches will enjoy having to simply choose which game to play and will no longer be challenged to come up with an interesting session. 5.20. A spirit of fun will come back into our practices. More fun for the kids, the coaches and the parents. 5.21. Our overall Club skill level will rise since the curriculum will be devised as a progression. Newer skills will be built on the skills that have already been taught. Page 13

5.22. We will end the coaching lottery. All coaches should have the same methods and practices so that every child benefits. 5.23. The system will be simple for everyone. 5.24. Players will be more engaged in their practices as children love to play. 5.25. Our retention rate should increase dramatically Systematically layering a child s soccer development should have dramatic effects on our player s path as they advance throughout our Club. Each year will build on the next. Skills will be mastered and new skills will then be added. As an example, our Club will be teaching only 7 moves. There are hundreds of ways to beat an opponent but a player only needs a few moves to get by their opposition. However, they need to execute these moves at a high rate of speed, with appropriate deception and in game like conditions. We will begin with a simple pullback move at age 6 with both their right and left foot. At the U8 level we can add an inside cut and an outside cut with both their right and left foot. Two more moves will be added at U10 and again two more at U12. Repetition of the moves will help to improve their speed and efficiency. Children will naturally learn the key components of the moves as they are slowly added to their repertoire. The use of these moves in small sided games will be encouraged and the elements of deception and acceleration will come naturally in game like conditions. First touch and proper passing and receiving techniques will be the cornerstone of our programs. However, players will learn these techniques in small sided games that will find the player under pressure at all times. Line drills rarely duplicate the lack of time and space that exists in real soccer. Teaching proper technique and training in realistic games is the best way to reinforce muscle memory. Our Club intends to encourage juggling or keep ups. Goals should be set at each age group and players should have a few minutes at the beginning of each practice to work on their juggling. Players will be encouraged to work on their juggling on their own. The Club will help to recognize players who have achieved a certain number of keep ups. Page 14

6. Futsal League In the fall of 2013 South Simcoe United will initiate a new Futsal league in our area. We would like to align ourselves with other Clubs in our area to create a sustainable league. The Futsal League will run from October until March. Most advanced countries play futsal. Many of the great players in the world credit futsal as their secret to success. Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Germany, and Spain have long understood the benefits of futsal. The many benefits of futsal quickly become apparent: 6.1. Futsal is relatively inexpensive. It is played in gyms and the equipment is minimal. 6.2. It maximizes touches on the ball. The futsal ball is designed to not bounce as much as a normal soccer ball. The game is played at the feet. 6.3. The game is 4v4 plus a keeper. Fewer players result in greater participation of everyone involved in the game. 6.4. Futsal promotes maximum touches on the ball. Each game should produce more than 200 touches on the ball. More touches produce better players. 6.5. Futsal is a very fast moving game. The speed of the game promotes quick thinking. 6.6. The size of the ball and the lack of bounce promote foot skills and these skills tend to occur naturally. 6.7. Futsal promotes tactical awareness. Elements of attacking and defending and transition are always present. Children will naturally learn to utilize and support their teammates. Page 15

7. U8 Development Program Starting in the fall of 2013 our Club will begin a year round program for players who will be U8s in the following year. This program will run year round, and it will incorporate 4 sections, a fall, winter, spring and summer section. Each section will last 10 weeks. The program will be open to all who are enthusiastic and want a more comprehensive soccer experience. This program could lead a child seamlessly into our Advanced Stream or it could merely satisfy the child and parents who want a more complete soccer experience than is available in our summer recreational soccer program. The program will be run by our highly qualified Technical Staff. The program will be in addition and complimentary to their recreational summer program. It will build on and expand the work of their individual team coaches. The program hopes to instill a lifelong love of the Beautiful Game. The U8 Development Program will run in 4 seasonal sections and the cost will be kept low to encourage as many of our young players as possible. South Simcoe United will fully participate in Huronia District s new program of U8 festivals. Currently there are 4 U8 festivals planned for the summer of 2013. Players will have the option of participating in the year round program or joining the program for the summer months and participating in the U8 festivals. Players entering their U8 year are also entering the so called Golden Years of soccer. We want to give our players every chance possible to succeed in the game. This program will give our players a strong start as players enter this most important era in their soccer development. Page 16

8. Respecting the Game Our Club plans on taking a leadership role in doing things the right way. Doing the right things starts with showing respect for the game. Everyone involved in our Club, from the players to the coaches, game officials, parents, Club executives and paid employees need to set a good example of how to conduct themselves while representing our Club. For players this means respecting the game, wearing the proper uniform, being punctual and conducting themselves at all times in a manner that makes the Club proud. Players need to show respect for their teammates, their coaches, the game officials as well as the opposition. Players are expected to sign a code of conduct and abide by the rules outlined in that document. For coaches this means respecting your players by giving your best to each and every child in your care. Understanding and respecting the task that you have chosen to undertake. Coaches need to show leadership and realize that they set the tone for the team. Their actions must be better than everyone else. Coaches need to utilize fair play principles and treat everyone equally. They need to understand the consequences of their actions. Coaches need to respect their team, fellow coaches, game officials, parents and opposing coaches. Coaches must sign a code of conduct and adhere to the principles of that document. Coaches must understand that they represent our Club and our community and conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on those entities. Page 17

9. Partnerships There is no doubt we are a small Club and small Clubs have particular issues that larger Clubs do not experience. Economies of scale and the necessary critical mass to run programs are sometimes outside of our grasp. Often times we may not have the players, coaches, volunteers or facilities to run all of the programs that larger Clubs are able to offer. In the past we have worked closely with our neighbouring Clubs in fostering inter-club play. We have had reciprocal agreements with our neighbours in terms of player movement, coaching assistance and the sharing of facilities. Our players deserve all of the options available to them that larger Clubs offer. Our goal as a Club is to work closer with our neighbours and if possible combine programs so that all children, coaches and parents in our area benefit from this mutual reciprocity. This issue is particularly acute with the advent of Ontario s new league, the Ontario Player Development League which commences in 2014. Currently many of the Clubs in our area struggle to field competitive teams from U13 to U18. This situation will only be exacerbated by the OPDL. It is quite possible that each of our area s competitive teams going forward may lose 2-5 players to this new league. For a larger Club one could say this is pocket change, however for smaller Clubs this could be the breaking point between whether or not they are able to field a team. We need to get ahead of this potential problem by expanding our already solid cooperation that we currently enjoy with our neighbouring Clubs. Developing a viable Futsal league, sharing facilities and all of our resources will benefit each of our Clubs and all of the players in the long run. As a proud member of the Huronia District Soccer Association, South Simcoe United endeavours to work closely with the District. Currently Huronia is leading the way in the advancement of Youth Soccer in Ontario. Our intention is to continue to work with the District to align our programs that will maximize the benefit to our players. Our Club will also maintain a close partnership with the Ontario Soccer Association. Ontario is leading the way with their Long Term Player Development. As a Club we will ensure that we stay current and relevant with all information and changes that originate from the OSA. Page 18

10. Advanced Stream Our mandate as a Club is to grow the game as wide as possible by making the game more fun and user friendly. The steps outlined above will assist in making that goal possible. We also intend to offer a chance for our talented few to learn, enhance and expand their skills in a challenging environment. While we recognize that an advanced stream is not for every player or family we do want to offer the best programs possible for the more advanced player. Several key elements need to be present for a player to advance to the highest levels of soccer. You need the right player, the right environment, a high frequency of training and this training must be purposeful and highly effective. Our Club plans on excelling in all of these areas. Finding the right players begins with identification. The formation of a new year round program for U8s will be an excellent start in the process of identifying players. While the program s main purpose will be to give aspiring players a solid base of fundamentals, it will also allow our technical staff the opportunity to identify players who are potential candidates for the next level. In addition the Club will appoint a scout to visit the games at the younger ages of 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and assist to identify children who have talent. Improving our internal Club communication will further help to market and identify potential players. The scout would then have the opportunity to speak directly to the parents. This would alleviate the problem of communication and information that often does not get directed to our families. Page 19

It is our hope that with the improved player identification that the Club has planned we will be able to field two streamed teams at the U9 level. This would broaden our programs and allow for as many children as possible into our advanced programs. South Simcoe United is committed to creating a warm and inviting environment for our most advanced players. Our desire is for children and their parents to want to be part of our competitive program. This can only be achieved by removing the impediments to happiness. Equal play and positive reinforcement will become the hallmarks of Club policy. Coaches and team staff that do not follow the Club s guidelines will be overlooked in favour of those that are committed to our ideals. The key factor in player development is repetition. To get to the top players need to practice, lots and lots of practice. Currently our advanced teams practice once a week in the winter and twice a week in the summer. Over the course of this winter we have added a weekly clinic style setting for all of our age groups. This has allowed players to practice twice a week. The Club plans on maintaining this practice in subsequent years and expanding it to the summer months. With the exception of long weekends we will be hosting Saturday skills clinics run by our technical staff. In addition South Simcoe is partnering with Huronia District Soccer Association and their newly developed Centre of Excellence. This program is leading the province in its development of elite players. The program runs year round and currently is operating at both the U11 and U12 age groups. The Centre of Excellence will be expanded over the next few years to include U9s and U10s. This level of district involvement and forward thinking is unique to Huronia District. Once fully operational this program will be producing exceptional players who will be ready to take a leadership role in the province s new Ontario Player Development League. It is our intention as a Club to have a close working relationship with the Technical Director of Huronia that will benefit all players involved. We will use the training and coaching methods of the Centre of Excellence and align the Club and District programs to minimize timing conflicts. Page 20

The final key component to advancing the skills of our elite players is improving how we train. Purposeful and deliberate practice produces exceptional talent. We want our players to have both sound fundamentals and the ability to execute creatively in game situations. Our practices will have the following characteristics which will be reinforced throughout the year with ongoing coach training: 10.1. Maximum touches on the ball in each and every practice. 10.2. Teach and reinforce proper fundamental techniques of passing, shooting and dribbling. 10.3. Introduce games that force players to think and react quickly. 10.4. Have well planned and well executed practices that have minimal wasted time as the practice works through the progressions. 10.5. Our seasonal plans will help coaches with the long term and short term planning. 10.6. We will let the game be the teacher, small sided games that promote critical thinking and creative soccer will be the cornerstone of our program. 10.7. Coaches will provide minimal interruptions. Less talk will result in more soccer and happier children. 10.8. Children will be asked open ended questions that will help them understand the game as it relates to them. 10.9. Possession soccer will be introduced at our younger ages and consistently taught throughout each player s formative years. 10.10. Coaches will encourage play at home, in the park and at recess time using motivation and encouragement. Page 21