STAFFORD AREA SOCCER ASSOCIATION
Parents,
As the new season begins we would like to take this opportunity to share our plans, policies, and concerns for the coming year.
We as a club are governed by not only the County but also the Leagues that we play in. The General Manager, Field Coordinator, the County and I, along with other Club Representative will continue to express our concerns to the Leagues for the benefit of our players. It is very important that you vest your concerns, what we are doing right (we all need to hear the positives as well as the negatives), and any ideas for improvement to us and not go directly to the leagues.
We will continue to encourage the coaches to implement the following policies:
1. Player development is more important than wins, ties and losses from U9 through U13 age groups.
2. All players must continue learning how to pass, dribble and control a ball comfortably in game situations. There is no tactic in the world that will cover up the inability to control and strike a ball properly.
3. Repetition of small group defending and attacking (1v1, 1v2, 2v2, 3v3) activities is critical for future development.
4. At U9 to U13 we do not encourage coaching from the touchline. At times however coaches may need to. Players need to be encouraged to make their own decisions during games.
5. All U9 to U13 players should get an equal amount of playing time during games. At the U13 age group there may be times when some players may play the whole game.
6. Players must develop good attitudes.
7. Positive feedback must be given to all players.
8. Players should learn how to play the game correctly, respect others around them, do their best at all times, and be a good teammate.
9. It is important for our coaches to get their coaching licenses. This is essential as coaching education will help the development of your child.
10. Remember, we are dealing with kids that want to play soccer not professional soccer players.
11. Most importantly we must get the fun back into the game and smiles on our player’s faces.
12. Players learn their actions from those around them and if you are positive and supported they will be as well.
It is important that we as a Club continue to look at ways to improve. For spring 2010 we are looking at implementing a new program for the U5 to U8 age groups. Our younger players will benefit from a structured coaching program designed to teach our young players technical skills.
The coaching program has been posted on our website to enable you to see how our players will progressively develop their game as they get older.
Our travel players are getting exposure to some very good teams. They are getting to see firsthand that players in there same age group can play the game at a very high level. These players can make good passes, receive balls on the ground and in the air because they have excellent ball control, are not afraid to dribble at people and take them on in 1v1 or 1v2 situations, use moves in addition to being able to shoot and defend well as a team. All of these
abilities and skills come from hard work, and solid coaching from a young age. These are issues SASA is dedicated to continue to grow within our club at the Recreation and Classic level. A change of focus for the entire club from playing games to win versus to develop players can be a challenge at times. This has been a slow process. Change does not come easily however SASA is committed to expanding the development of its players and coaches.
The majority of our coaches are volunteers; they work all day then get out on the field so your children can play this great game. They’re all doing their best, so remember to thank them every chance you get.
If your team has a paid coach or trainer then please feel free to express any of your concerns with them. We encourage you to speak directly to the coach after practice rather than after a game or by email. If you feel your concerns are not addressed please do not hesitate to contact the Travel Technical Director or the Travel Director in that regard.
As you may know, the Stafford Area Soccer Association Travel Division has been transitioning toward a club format by tiered tryouts, limiting move-ups, direct hiring of coaches and implementing a standard club name for all of our Travel Teams.
As we transition the Travel Division to a more unified club-oriented model, Stafford Travel Teams will now be identified as: Revolution. Existing teams have the option, to include the Old Team name within parenthesis, for ranking and tournament purposes. The purpose of having a single name for all teams is that we are working together as a club to evolve into a more professional organization.
The club introduced a blue/white system two years ago for U9 to U12 age groups. We have now introduced a Gold team in some age groups. Coaches are now working with one another to ensure the system succeeds. Players are being moved within teams so they can continue with their development.
The prime considerations for a move]up are player development. A player who is physically and mentally advanced may play up one year to be challenged. The goal for our club is to not have move]ups in the U9]12 brackets and to limit to two in U13]19 age bracket.
Move]ups of more than one year will not be considered for any reason.
Consideration may be made for players whose birth date is between August 1 and September 30 in all teams in each age bracket to allow players to play with their school grade peer group.
The game is expanding rapidly. The more teams, the more games therefore the more referees are needed. As a club we are working to ensure officials are respected. Coaches and parents have become more aggressive toward officials. Try to remember officials are trying their best to keep the players safe, yet allow them to play the game. Give the referee the benefit of the doubt. No referee walks out to the field with the intention of calling a bad game. When you yell at a referee or comment on their call, you put the referee in a bad spot. If they change their call it gives the appearance they are listening to the parents or coaches, which then just creates a bigger problem. Nothing good can come from arguing with a referee (best case, they become defensive, worst case they will call every foul that occurs and in soccer, every time there is contact there is a potential foul). Very few games are lost just because of a bad call. Referees don’t score goals, players do. No game was ever lost because the throw-in was called the wrong way. Over 75% of throw-ins end up being received by the other team. Wanting to keep the game in motion, referees are focusing more on off-sides and fouls. Finally, negative behavior from the sidelines is picked up by the players and will impact their play in a negative way.
The club has expressed to the coaches that it’s not acceptable for any player, coach, or parent to argue with officials. To help educate and mitigate problems, the club is inviting them to our coaching seminars to foster a better working relationship. Coaches are also receiving training from seminars, such as the Positive Coaching Alliance.
We are discussing ways to improve our tryout selection policy with the Classic Division Director. Our plans are to have a 6 v 6 tournament/tryout for our young players in the club. We hope that will take the place of tryouts as we think they put too much pressure on young players.
The club has stressed to our coaches and managers the importance of rest periods during the year where players, parents and coaches can take a break from the game. It is your choice as a parent on activities for their children. We believe, however, that it’s important for all of them to have a break from soccer. A 30 to 40 day break in the summer and winter is recommended.
We would like to see our older and more advanced players having the opportunity to get an insight into coaching. If any U16/U17 players are interested, we would welcome them to get involved with our U5/U6 programs and our U7/U8 Academies and Clinics. This could be used as part of a community service requirement for school. We will keep you informed when these opportunities are available.
Juggling helps to improve ball control and ball skills. We have introduced a Juggling Club. Targets are set for each age group. When your child reaches those targets they will receive a logo t-shirt recognizing the number of juggles achieved. Pictures of all players who have joined the Juggling Club are on our club website. Get your children practicing!
Our aim is to get all of our players playing the game correctly. We would like visiting teams to leave thinking how well our teams played and that our players and parents showed good sportsmanship
We ask you to remember that your children want to play soccer and we must all work together in that common goal. We appreciate that each of you all have individual views and we are interested in hearing your thoughts.
Soccer is a great game. Let’s get the fun back into it for the benefit of your children, the coaches and you, the parents.
Thank you all for your continued support.
The Travel Board
