Welcome
Coming from England it is great to see so many children playing the great game of soccer. I am enjoying working with all the coaches and players involved in the Travel program and I am very happy to be here as the Travel Technical Director.
Aim
We are aiming to provide a comprehensive program for all age groups so that each player has the opportunity to learn and perform the necessary fundamentals skills of the game. The coaching program is designed to teach the entire fundamentals at an early age so that players will be able to perform these skills at game speed when older. It is also important that the players learn about friendship, being a team member and respecting the officials, coaches and team mates.
SASA Staff
The President and all his Board Members and Staff welcome all players to the club.
Do please remember that the majority of the SASA staff is volunteers.
Contacts for all our Club Staff can be found on the SASA website.
Coaches
Because Stafford is one of the fastest growing counties in the state more children are playing soccer than ever before. This also means that we need more coaches. The majority of our coaches are volunteers who are doing their very best to improve your children's skill in the game. We as a Club are working to ensure all travel coaches have a USSF D license or higher. All assistant coaches aim to have a USSF E or F license.
Teams
It is important that players are getting playing time to practice their skills at game speed. We have introduced a system where we hope to have smaller squads but more teams.
From U9 to U13 we are looking to ensure all players get an equal amount of playing time throughout the season. This can be determined by a player’s attendance and attitude to practice.
U9/U10 we hope to have 3 teams of 10 players for boys and girls.
U11/U12 we hope to have 3 teams of 11 players for boys and girls.
U13 to U19 we hope to have 2 teams of 16 players for boys and girls.
Players
The players are the most important part of our club. We need to ensure they are learning and developing whilst having fun when practicing their skills. It is also important that players have a good attitude to becoming a good player.
We are always looking for new players.
Please click on our Travel Division Team Link for contact information for your child’s age group.
The Travel Leagues
Our Travel teams start in their respective leagues during the fall season at U9 and continue through to U19 for both boys and girls.
Our teams play in one of three leagues within the Virginia and Maryland areas.
NCSL Boys League
WAGS Girls League
ODSL Girls and Boys League
Whilst playing in these leagues the format is as follows;
U9/U10 teams play 7v7.
U11/U12 teams play 8v8.
U13-U19 teams play 11v11.
Field sizes vary for each age group.
Games and Practice
The Travel teams play mainly on Sunday however there are some weekends when they may also have a game on Saturday.
Travel teams practice two nights of the week. Coaches try to have their practice sessions in a North and South location in the Stafford area.
Practice sessions usually run from 5.30pm to 7pm or 7pm to 8.30pm.
Coaching Program
We start identifying players from our U7/U8 Recreation and Classic Divisional clinics programs during the season. See our home web page for details of these clinics.
Those players are then invited to attend our U8 Travel Academy in the winter and spring season.
The U8 Academy has a 4 week indoor program during February and March and then a 6 week outdoor program during April and May.
U8
The Travel Academy teaches the basic fundamentals of the game to young players whilst having fun. See our home web page for details of our Academy program.
U9 to U13
Player development is more important than wins, ties and losses at this age group.
All players must learn to control, pass and dribble a ball comfortably in game situations. There is no tactic in the world that will cover up the inability to control and pass a ball correctly.
Repetition of small group attacking and defending (1v1, 2v2 and 3v3) activities at these age groups are crucial for future development.
U14 to U19
Player development will continue in 6v6 and 11v11 games. Players at this age must have an understanding of all aspects of attacking and defending team play in 11v11 games.
This is also the time when players must realize they have to work hard to earn their place and playing time on the team.
As Technical Director I am a great believer that all our players should be comfortable executing the following fundamentals.
A. Have the ability to pass the ball over long and short distances with either foot.
B. Have the ability to control a ball on the ground or from the air.
C. Have the ability to perform dribbling skills at speed.
D. Have the ability to be able to shoot and score goals or hit the target.
E. Have the ability to be able to challenge for the ball.
F. From the age of 9 have the ability to head the ball correctly.
G. From the age of 12 have a good understanding of 11v11 team play.
Tryouts
Our Club tryouts are usually at the end of May or beginning of June. Please check our Travel website for dates.
Juggling Club
Juggling is an important part of developing ball skills.
We have started a juggling club where the players have to achieve certain targets. The players who have been successful have been given a juggling club tee-shirt and have their picture on the website. Your children are encouraged to try and reach the targets set in the juggling club.
The following targets have been set:
U8, U9 and U10 have a target of 50
U11 and U12 have a target of 100
U13 to U19 have a target of 200 and 300
Rest Periods
It is important that you as a parent are aware of player burnout as well as the effects too much soccer can have on lower limbs.
As a club we recommend that players have 30 to 40 days of rest in the summer and during the winter months.
Conclusion
We appreciate all the effort that parents put in so that their children can play this great game.
By working together we will achieve our aims much more easily in our Club.
We must also remember that while everyone prefers to win soccer games there also needs to be fun for your children.
We look forward to you joining our Travel Program.
Tom Armstrong
Travel Technical Director.
