Oconee FC

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Oconee FCEducating the Parent Youth
Development Education Program
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Careful !! - Children at Play

• Our Generation
• Had more unsupervised free time
• Made our own rules
• Ownership/power to decide what to play/how long
• Our Children
• Constantly supervised/shielded
• Monitored by overbearing adults
• Evaluated to adult standards
• Fast tracked to achieve goals
• Losing their autonomy/creativity opportunities

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YOUTH SPORT HIJACKED BY ADULTS

• WHOSE NEEDS ARE
• CONSIDERED?
• WHOSE EXPECTATIONS
• ARE MET?
• WHOSE AGENDAS ARE FULFILLED?
• WHY PARENTS FIND IT HARD TO VIEW YOUTH SPORT AS
  JUST ANOTHER LEISURE ACTIVITY?
• (the return on investment syndrome)

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THE CYCLE OFUNDER-DEVELOPMENT
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HOW CHILDREN DEVELOPThis presentation will cover

• Cognitive development
• Understanding players needs
• Phases of commitment
• Trainable components
• Optimum practice to game ratio
• State of flow for max creativity
• Player Evaluation / Playing up
• Responsibilities of the soccer parent

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COGNITIVEDEVELOPMENT(Piaget)

• SENSORY MOTOR (birth to age 2)
• PRE-OPERATIONAL (from 2-8 years)
• Egocentric Imagination Non logical thinking
• CONCRETE OPERATIONAL (8-11)
• Logical thinking related to concrete objects
• Less egocentric more cooperative - rules
• FORMAL OPERATIONAL (11 and up)
• Logical thinking related to abstract objects
• Time and space Thinking in advance - rules

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Characteristics of Children

• U-6 Players
• Motor development primitive (head, body center)
• Easy fatigue, rapid recovery
• Short attention span
• Egocentric (me, my, mine)
• Can only handle one task at a time
• Does not understand Team concept
• Immature understanding of time and space
• Play consists of imagination pretend games
• Psychologically easily bruised - Need generous
  praise

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Characteristics of Children

• U-6 Players Implications
• Need Movement Education approach (walking,
  running, jumping, hopping, bending, twisting,
  throwing, catching, kicking, etc)
• Simple rules. Short activities. Fire
  imagination
• Parallel play with own toy (ball)
• Mostly Dribbling activities
• Unopposed activities with ball
• Unable to think ahead tactics not possible
• They dont play soccer they play at soccer
• Criticism not appropriate

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Characteristics of Children

• U-8 Players
• Physical abilities still immature
• Playmates emerge. Best friend
• Team identity limited
• Attention span still short
• Limited self-evaluation Effort equal success
• Still can mostly attend to one task at a time
• Looking for approval from adults
• Energy to burn constantly in motion.

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Characteristics of Children

• U-8 Players Implications
• Movement Education still a priority
• More pair activities Cooperative competitive
• Introduce 1v1 activities
• Still mostly dribbling and some passing/shooting
• Wean them from dependence on adults
• Generous praise
• Difficulties with throw-ins, goal kicks, etc
• Tactics still beyond them

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Characteristics of Children

• U-10 Players
• Boys and girls begin to develop separately
• Motor skills starting to refine
• Rapid gains in learning
• Starting to think ahead
• Loves competition
• Ability to sequence thoughts and actions
• Peer pressure and Team identification important

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Characteristics of Children

• U-10 Players Implications
• Small group activities emphasis on Technique
• Make it a competition as much as possible
• Short explanations. It has to make sense
• More confident psychologically but still needs
  positive feedback
• Ready to assume more responsibility
• Allow them to solve problems
• Fundamental Tactical concepts (2v2, 3v3)
• Dont dictate. Guide.

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Characteristics of Children

• U-12 Players
• Golden age sponges
• Great variances in physical maturity
• Increased ability to sustain complex skill
• Begin to think in abstract terms
• More time with friends. Less with parents.
• Peer pressure. In crowd. Self evaluation.
• Adult logic/values start to imprint
• Questions everything, including sport
  participation

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Characteristics of Children

• U-12 Players implications
• Great time for skill acquisition cognitive
• Challenge them according to their ability
• Beware adult expectations
• Adult actions influence their Self image
• Playing time
• Criticism, perceived favoritism
• Attentiveness. Motivation. Inspiration
• Can turn off sport at this stage
• Too early for cardiovascular strength

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Characteristics of Children

• U-14 U-16 Players
• Varying stages of puberty
• Display independence and are self-critical
• Differences in mental development
• Aware of praise, status, and recognition
• A time of self-discovery
• Self image
• Motivation
• Trying to fit in

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Characteristics of Children

• U-14/U-16 Players - implications
• Will quit soccer if its not fun or fulfilling
• Will be reluctant to open up to parents
• Competition is highlight of sport
• Might compensate for lower skill with aggression
• Playing motivation is either social or
  goal-oriented. Motivation must be compatible
  with adults in charge (coach, parents)
• Will migrate to appropriate level/position

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Phases of Soccer Development

• Phase 1 Introduction to soccer
• Phase 2 Commitment to soccer
• Phase 3 Commitment to excellence
• Phase 4 Commitment to winning

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TRAINABLE COMPONENTS

• TECHNICAL
• Ability to control the ball. Touches
• TACTICAL
• Ability to solve soccer problems (cognitive)
• FITNESS
• Endurance, speed, strength, agility
• PSYCHOLOGICAL
• Enjoyment, coping with anxiety, confidence

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TRAINABLE COMPONENTS

• PRACTICES FAR MORE IMPORTANT FOR SKILL
  DEVELOPMENT THAN GAMES (MANY MORE TOUCHES)
• YOUTH SOCCERS BIGGEST PROBLEMS
• OVER COACHING BY PARENTS AND COACHES
• MISGUIDED EMPHASIS ON GAMES
• WHY TEAM DEVELOPMENT CAN STIFLE INDIVIDUAL
  DEVELOPMENT
• TOURNAMENTITIS

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PRACTICES VS GAMES(R REC, S SELECT)
AGE GROUP GAMES PER YEAR PRACTICES PER WEEK
U-8 20-25 1-2
U-10 20-30 2
U-12 25-30 2(R) 3(S)
U-14 30-35 2(R) 4(S)
U-16 35-40 2(R) 4(S)
U-18 35-45 2(R) 5(S)
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FLOW STATE MODEL(Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi)

• Activity or task matches ability
• Do not treat training like medicine
• Achievement happiness (artists, athletes)
• Finished product less important than process
• If not in state of flow, other behavioral states
• Distracted, bored, frustrated,
• anxious, defensive,
• mischievous, undisciplined

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Player Evaluation -What parents should ask the
coach

• U-6/U-8
• Is he/she having fun? Period.

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Player Evaluation -What parents should ask the
coach

• U-10/U-12
• Is he/she having fun?
• Is he/she learning skills?
• Is he/she socially adapted to team?
• Too early for analysis of strengths/weakness

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Player Evaluation -What parents should ask the
coach

• U-14/U-16
• Is burn-out a concern?
• Is he/she Improving?
• Is he/she having fun?
• Is he/she respectful?
• Is he/she making friends?
• Is he/she showing independence/responsibility?
• How is he/she coping with competition?
• Does he/she have soccer potential?
• What are his/her strengths and weaknesses?

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Playing Up

• Whose wishes?
• Key Considerations
• Age (might need to return later to own age)
• Maturity (physical, mental, social)
• Leadership development opportunities
• Survival skills vs. expanding skills

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Playing up

• Recommended only if
• Player is 12 years old or older
• He/she really craves the challenge
• Can handle the physical demands
• Is an impact player with the older team
• NO SCIENTIFIC OR RESEARCH STUDY SUPPORTS THE
  NOTION THAT EARLY SPECIALIZATION OR EARLY
  CHALLENGE IMPROVES POTENTIAL OF PLAYERS. IN
  FACT, RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THIS IS A MYTH
  THAT DESTROYED THE POTENTIAL OF MANY CHILDREN
  PUSHED TOO SOON TOO HARD.

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Responsibility of the Soccer Parent

• Understand the role of sports
• Understand the odds
• Be a role model
• Evaluate the club and coaches
• Understand pursuit of excellence

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Role of the Soccer Parent

• Understand the role of sports
• Develop a healthy lifestyle (Sport Leisure)
• Develop sport skills
• Develop life skills
• Social skills
• Positive self-image
• Values character and coping skills
• Mission of youth organizations

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Role of the Soccer Parent

• Understand the odds
• Academy/Select no guarantee of success
• Only 6 high school soccer players to NCAA
• Only small percentage get athletic scholarship
• Only 2 of NCAA soccer players to pro
• Only 0.08 high school to pro
• Need to prepare your child for disappointment.
  Not build up his/her hopes unrealistically.
• College coaches only interested in U-16
• Exposure over-rated

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Role of the Soccer Parent

• Be a role model
• Listen to your child (likes/dislikes)
• Sideline behavior NO COACHING!!!
• Dealing with game results (unconditional love)
• Dont compare or be critical
• Focus on positives
• Be supportive (towards child, coach, club)
• Shield from abuse, NOT from life lessons
• Its your childs game. Not your game.

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Role of the Soccer Parent

• Evaluate the club and its coaches
• Consistent with mission statement
• Club coaches
• No lines/lectures/laps
• Certification level
• Philosophy of coach, motivation skills
• Ethical issues
• Best interest of the individual players
• Recruiting
• Playing time
• Zero tolerance for abuse

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Role of the Soccer Parent

• Understand pursuit of excellence
• Intrinsic motivation (if you need to push.)
• Know the opportunities
• Academy - Select soccer ODP
• Know the two best coaches in the world
• Watching professional soccer
• Playing pick up games
• How to reach potential
• Touches on the ball
• Self training
• Learning from the pros
• Practice to game ratio
• Perishable vs transferable skills
• Focus on process. Where is he/she at 18?

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If we take care in the beginning, the end will
take care of itself