YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM BOYS & GIRLS, 10U & YOUNGER AARON FENTON - EPSC YOUTH DIRECTOR

TOPICS COVERED CULTURE: DEVELOPMENT vs winning OUR FOCUS COACHING FROM POSITIVE PARENT ROLE YEAR PLAN

CULTURE INCLUSIVE AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPING PLAYERS PLAYERS, PARENTS TEAMS, AND CLUB NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECT PLAYER DEVELOPMENT TAKES TIME. WINNING IS A NICE BONUS, BUT IS DEFINITELY NOT OUR PRIMARY GOAL AT THE YOUNGER AGES. BECAUSE OF THIS, WE HAVE CREATED A PATHWAY THAT WILL BETTER PREPARE OUR YOUNGER PLAYERS, FOR THE JUMP TO 9V9 SETUP AT 11U & 11V11 SETUP AT 13U. COACHES THAT SHOUT INSTRUCTIONS TO ACTIVE PLAYERS WITH THE BALL, CAN EASILY MANIPULATE GAME RESULTS. COACHING IN THAT WAY DOES NOT DEVELOP THE KIDS! WE STRIVE TO CREATE INDEPENDENT THINKERS WE DO NOT COACH THE ACTIVE PLAYER WITH THE BALL. WE DO NOT TELL THEM WHAT TO DO WITH THE BALL: “PASS..DRIBBLE..SHOOT..ETC” WE WANT THAT PLAYER TO MAKE THIER OWN DECISION. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THAT OUR PLAYERS WILL GAIN CONFIDENCE WITH THE BALL AND LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES AND TRIUMPHS.

OUR FOCUS US SOCCER PILLARS EPSC ADDITIONS TECHNICAL TACTICAL PHYSICAL PSHYCOSOCIAL CONFIDENCE VISION

COACHING FROM THE POSITIVE WE DO NOT BELIEVE IN COACHING ACTIVE PLAYERS WITH THE BALL. WE COACH AT THE TRAINING GROUND. PLAYERS MUST MAKE THE DEICISON TO LEARN. WE MAKE SURE TO PRAISE GOOD ACTIONS: “GREAT SHOT!” “NICE PASS!” “GOOD BLOCK!” WE MAKE SURE TO GIVE REAL FEEDBACK, AFTER A MISTAKE: “RIGHT IDEA” “ALMOST - KEEP TRYING” “THAT’S OK - HOW CAN WE HELP NOW?” WE STAY AWAY FROM NEGATIVITY AFTER A MISTAKE: (IT MAKES PLAYERS NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO US) “WHY DID YOU LET THEM SCORE!?” “THAT WAS AWFUL!?”

PARENT ROLE KIDS FEED OFF YOUR ENERGY - STAY POSITIVE LET KIDS KNOW YOU BELIEVE IN THEM CHEER AT GAMES FOR EVERYBODY (BOTH TEAMS) DO NOT “COACH” (TELL PLAYERS WHAT TO DO, OR WHERE TO GO) RSVP FOR TRAININGS & GAMES SUPPORT US, AS WE HAVE THE SAME GOAL FOR YOUR KID

YEAR PLAN 10U & YOUNGER 10U & YOUNGER PLAYERS SIGN UP TO PLAY – NO TRYOUTS FALL & WINTER AGE GROUP POOL TRAINING MULTIPLE STAFF TRAINERS FOR GROUP SCRIMMAGES & JAMBOREES; RANDOM TEAM SELECTION SPRING & SUMMER TEAM FORMATIONS – EVENLY SPLIT NUMBERS & TALENT TEAM SPECIFIC COACH LEAGUE PLAY & EVENTS – BASED ON TEAM AVAILABLITY MONTHLY POOL TRAINING EVENT