WELCOME FROM THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Tom Armstrong
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COMING FROM ENGLAND IT IS GREAT TO SEE SO MANY OF YOUR CHILDREN PLAYING THE GREAT GAME OF SOCCER. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL THE COACHES AND PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THE TRAVEL PROGRAM. I AM VERY HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS THE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR. |
OUR AIM:
WE AIM TO PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM FOR ALL AGE GROUPS SO THAT EACH PLAYER HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN AND PERFORM THE NECESSARY FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS OF THE GAME.
S.A.S.A. STAFF:
THE PRESIDENT AND ALL HIS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO ENSURE THAT YOUR CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY SOCCER. THEY REALIZE THAT THERE ARE AREAS THAT WE, AS A CLUB, CAN IMPROVE AND THEY ARE WORKING HARD TO ADDRESS THOSE AREAS. DO PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE MAJORITY OF SASA’S STAFF ARE VOLUNTEERS.
OUR COACHES:
BECAUSE STAFFORD COUNTY IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY MORE KIDS ARE PLAYING SOCCER THAN EVER BEFORE. THIS ALSO MEANS WE NEED MORE COACHES. THE MAJORITY OF OUR COACHES ARE VOLUNTEERS AND ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO IMPROVE YOUR CHILDRENS SKILLS IN THE GAME.
WE ARE AIMING TO HAVE ALL TRAVEL COACHES OBTAIN A U.S.S.F. ’D’ LICENSE OR HIGHER. ALL ASSISTANT COACHES NEED TO HAVE A U.S.S.F. ’E’ OR ’F’ LICENSE OR HIGHER.
THE PLAYERS:
THE PLAYERS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CLUB. WE HAVE TO ENSURE THEY ARE HAPPY PLAYING THE GAME. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT OUR PLAYERS DISPLAY A GOOD ATTITUDE WHEN LEARNING AND PRACTICING THE SKILLS THE COACHES ARE TEACHING THEM.
ATTITUDE AND ABILITY ARE TWO IMPORTANT AREAS TO BECOMING A GOOD PLAYER.
THE COACHING PROGRAM:
THE PROGRAM WILL BE DESIGNED TO TEACH THE FUNDAMENTALS AT AN EARLY AGE SO THAT PLAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO PERFORM THEM AT GAME SPEED WHEN OLDER.
U9 AND U10:
BEING ABLE TO PERFORM THE FUNDAMENTALS AS INDIVUALS AND IN 1 V 1 SITUATIONS.
GAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF TEAM PLAY IN 7 V 7 SCRIMMAGES.
U11 AND U12:
ABILITY TO PERFORM THE FUNDAMENTALS IN 1 V 1 AND 2 V 2 SITUATIONS.
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF TEAM PLAY IN 8 V 8 SCRIMMAGES.
U13 AND U14:
ABILITY TO PERFORM THE FUNDAMENTALS IN 3 V 3 AND 4 V 4 SITUATION.
HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF TEAM PLAY IN 11 V 11 SCRIMMAGES.
U15, U16, U17, U18 AND U19:
ABILITY TO PERFORM THE FUNDAMENTALS IN 6 V 6 SMALL SIDED GAMES.
HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF TEAM PLAY IN 11 V 11 SCRIMMAGES.
AS TECHNICAL DIRECTOR, I AM A GREAT BELIEVER THAT ALL OUR PLAYERS SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE EXECUTING THE FOLLOWING FUNDAMENTALS:
A. PASSING THE BALL OVER SHORT AND LONG DISTANCE.
B. TO BE ABLE TO CONTROL A BALL ON THE GROUND OR FROM THE AIR.
C. TO PERFORM DRIBBLING SKILLS AT SPEED.
D. TO BE ABLE TO SHOOT AND SCORE GOALS.
E. TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE CORRECTLY FOR THE BALL.
F. FROM THE AGE OF 9 ABLE TO HEAD A BALL CORRECTLY.
THE COACH OF THE MONTH:
THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, WE WILL BE LOOKING TO NOMINATE A COACH OF THE MONTH. THE FIRST ONE WILL BE NOMINATED AT THE END OF MAY. YOU, AS PARENTS, CAN NOMINATE A COACH. THE BASIS FOR NOMINATION COULD INCLUDE GOOD RESULTS, IMPROVEMENT IN TEAMS PERFORMANCES, GOOD LEADERSHIP OR SPORTSMANSHIP, ETC..
THE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
BEGINNING 23 APRIL 07 I AM GOING TO ASK THE COACHES TO NOMINATE A PLAYER OF THE WEEK.
EACH PLAYER OF THE WEEK WILL HAVE THEIR NAME POSTED ON THEIR TEAMS WEBSITE AND THEY WILL HAVE A TEESHIRT TO WEAR DURING PRACTICE.
TRAVEL TRYOUTS:
THE TRAVEL TRYOUTS WILL BE HELD AT PRATT PARK ON SATURDAY, 9 JUNE 07 THRU TO FRIDAY, 15 JUNE 07.
TIME AND FIELD LOCATIONS WILL BE PUBLISHED AT A LATER DATE.
PLAYERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE TRYOUTS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PLAYERS ARE CHALLENGED TO PLAY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
ALL PLAYERS ARE WELCOME TO TRYOUT FOR TRAVEL SOCCER.
ALL PLAYERS SHOULD BRING CLEATS, SOCKS, SHORTS AND A WHITE TEESHIRT.
WHAT DO PLAYERS NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE TRYOUTS:
THE PLAYERS NEED TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING BEFORE ATTENDING A TRYOUT:
A. THEY NEED TO PRACTICE THEIR FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS.
B. THEY NEED TO HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO ATTEND.
C. THEY SHOULD NOT BE FRIGHTENED OF FAILURE. IT IS BETTER TO TRY THAN NOT TRY AT ALL.
D. IT IS UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL TO CHOOSE IF HE IS SUCCESSFUL OR NOT. IT IS TOO EASY TO BLAME THE COACH
E. GET THERE ON TIME, HAVE THE PROPER EQUIPMENT AND BE PREPARED.
F. GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT.
CONCLUSION:
WE APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT YOU, AS PARENTS, PUT IN SO THAT YOUR CHILDREN CAN PLAY THIS GREAT GAME. IF WE ALL WORK TOGETHER WE WILL ACHIEVE OUR AIMS A LITTLE MORE EASILY.
WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT.
HAVE A GREAT SEASON!
