U9/U10 ACADEMY
Overview
The purpose of the “Academy” is individual player development through a greater emphasis on training individual ball skills and by creating the most fun and player-centered environment as possible to keep a greater number of children playing soccer in the future.
Beginning in the fall of 2008, MVSC implemented the U-9 Academy Program. This program is different than the traditional select format as players do not play in leagues or tournaments, but trained as a pool of players (not as A, B, or C teams) and have a limited number of Play Dates. These Play Dates include a group warm-up with all participating Academy players followed by three shorter length matches. Following each match rosters are mixed so a different group of players from within the club are playing together and learning from each other without such a focus on a singular team.
Benefits
The Academy format provides several distinct advantages over traditional select:
1. Long term player retention- The reality of youth sport is that 75% of kids quit organized sport before the age of 13. The goal of the Academy is to develop the passion for the game and desire to continue to play soccer versus other sports and activities. Players are able to participate in other sports as well, but they’ll enjoy the focus on playing and having fun with soccer more.
2. Player Development (emphasis on development vs winning)- Without parents and coaches worrying about wins and losses players are free to try new things without a fear of losing. This builds their confidence and helps coaches focus on individual technique over all else. And those players that may have been technical, but were cut because they lacked size are now able to continue playing and given time to develop physically.
3. Parent/Coach education opportunities- By introducing parents to the various stages of development for their children it will lead to a greater understanding of how important it is to be positive and supportive of the children. The reality is, it doesn’t matter if an 8 or 9 year wins their game on Saturday morning, as long as they are working hard and having fun, they will benefit from the experience. The academy will also aid in young coach involvement as they won’t have the pressures of winning on their shoulders.
Developmental Focus
Some expectations and guidelines for the U9 Academy are:
- Allow players to have fun and enjoy the game
- No more than two sessions per week
- 45 minutes of coach led instruction and 30 minutes of “free” play
- Follow a training to Play Date ratio of 4 to 1
- Focus on basic techniques and encourage creativity with the ball
- Emphasize dribbling and control of the ball over passing
- Plant seeds for future development
- Use positive reinforcement regularly
Physical development between children can be a large concern at these ages as all are developing at different rates. There are some bigger and faster players whose eye-hand and eye-foot coordination is ahead of the majority of the players. These physically developed players should be taught the same things and stressed to NOT rely on their athleticism to solve problems. Building comfort with the ball at ages nine and ten will provide them with a variety of crucial tools they will need as they get older, and the level of ball skill and athleticism rises.
Decision-making should be related to themselves and at most one or two of their teammates and one or two of their opponents. Seeing and evaluating the whole field is cognitively impossible for children at this age and it should be noted- they are not miniature adults.
While it goes against normal thought, the following are negative signs at this age:
- A team of 9 year olds who hold their positions
- Defenders who rarely, if ever venture into the attack
- Players who always pass 1 or 2 touch
The problem is that what looks like a well organized team or a smart player is that this approach hinders the player’s ability to experience and enjoy the natural spontaneity of the game. Players need to handle the ball and develop instincts for the game by being under the pressures of doing so at the younger ages. Individual foot skills are what they will need at the older ages and they are often denied the ability to develop such skills when coach or parents force them to stay in position or pass the ball. This approach fails players in the long run because the environment does not allow players to develop the necessary tools needed to be truly “competitive” when older.
Dribbling: ball mastery (using different parts of the foot), change of direction, penetrating moves (beating an opponent), dribbling to possess (shielding)
Passing: short passing, disguise in passing, using a variety of surfaces
Receiving: mechanics of receiving balls on the ground, taking ball away from pressure, using a variety of surfaces
Finishing: mechanics, mentality to score, striking a moving ball
Tactical: major focus on decision-making with the ball, possession vs. penetration, role of support, support vs space, transition
Psychological: positive reinforcement, encourage risk-taking, desire creativity
Season Format:
U9 The club will select as many players who they feel have the ability to listen and learn without being a distraction to others in the Academy environment. Those players will not be placed on specific teams, but will be collectively known as the U9 Academy. The commitment is for the full year: fall season (August – October), winter training (January – February), and spring season (March – May). During the fall and the spring, the U9 Academy players will NOT participate in any league or tournament. MVSC will set up 5 play dates where we will compete against other Academies in Kentucky and Indiana during both the fall and spring season.
Winning and Losing Article
A Discussion on Winning and Losing at these Younger Ages- From US Soccer “Best Practices” Competition is a central element in a player’s development. At the youth level (ages 6-12), however, a competitive environment should not be a result-oriented environment. The differencesmust be clear. A competitive environment at the youth level encourages decisions from player and coach alike that focus on performance rather than outcome (favoring ball skill and inventiveness as the means to find success within the rules and spirit of the game). The result is just one indicatorof performance and at this age, not the most important one.
Competition among kids playing games will always exist, whether adults are present or not. Making soccer “fun” at the younger ages does not mean that competition is removed. Competition can be positive and healthy. Scoring goals and winning the game are fundamental parts of soccer.
Allow the children to enjoy this aspect without making it the focus. Set up other skill based objectives as the focal point. At the same time, recognize that children will find competition in anything you set up. Let them compete. In youth and junior level soccer, the emphasis and manner
of the coach will often determine if the competitive environment is healthy or not.
At the youth level, matches are important as a means to player development (enjoyment, ball skill, insight, and fitness), not as the aim. These competitive situations are a series of tests for kids. In this respect, the usefulness of the game can occur in many different forms. Focus on the process and performance rather than the outcome, but be prepared for the possibility that your team may lose some games in the short term with this approach. Keep in mind that it is actually easier to win games at this age group with teams that are “organized” but lack skill. Placing the more physically mature players down the middle of the field and just asking players to ‘kick it down the middle’ or only allowing players to specialize at one position may lead to more victories. This approach, however, does not effectively teach the players the game and prepare them to continue on in the
sport. Instead, a skillful approach to playing soccer hould be emphasized, even though this may result in conceding goals or losing games in the short term. During the learning process, ball control and passing can lead to more costly mistakes. At the same time, the coach can manipulate
the level and variety of the competition to ensure that players and teams are being given the opportunity to win and to lose games. Valuable lessons can be learned in both scenarios. In the end, it is still the responsibility of the coach and the parents, to manage how competition is addressed and managed among his or her players.
