Slide 1
AYSO EXPO
Age-AppropriateTraining and Expectations
AYSO EXPO
Development over Winning1Have FUN teaching this class!AYSO
Vision Statement: To provide world class youth soccer programs that
enrich childrens lives.
Mission Statement:To develop and deliver quality youth soccer
programs, which promote a fun, family environment based on our
philosophies.
Development Over WinningProvide the foundation for us to build
upon. These must remain elements of everything we
teach.2Development Over WinningWhat are the 6 philosophies of
AYSO?Open RegistrationBalanced TeamsEveryone PlaysPositive
CoachingGood SportsmanshipPlayer DevelopmentDevelopment Over
Winning3Development Over WinningPlayer DevelopmentWhat is it?All
players developing their soccer skills & knowledge to the best
of their abilities in order to maximize their enjoyment of the
game.Development Over Winning
This is our goal every time we take the field with our
players4Development Over WinningDevelopment Over Winning
Who is pushing for Player Development?
Lead into U.S. Soccer material explaining how this is important
on a national level5U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director, Claudio
Reyna at 2011 U.S. Soccer Summit introducing key priorities to
developing players
Development Over Winning
Give Background to the U.S. Soccer presentation
6
Development Over WinningDevelopment Quality Age Appropriate Fun4
key takeaways from U.S. Soccers Zone 1 (6-12) roll-out in 2011
(foundations for success):
Development over WinningQuality TrainingAge AppropriateHave
Fun/Inspire
All components already woven throughout AYSO!
7Development Over Winning
Development Over WinningQuality TrainingAge AppropriateHave
Fun/Inspire Players
Should we not tell everyone?Development Over Winning
One of my biggest pet peeves is youth team coaches who take
winning too seriously. This has always bothered me, and I always
tell coaches to forget about winning with young players. They need
to create an environment where the kids enjoy playing and are
developing their soccer skills. Winning should never be a
priority.
Landon Donovan, AYSO Alumni,professional player
Development Over Winning
9Player Development:
HOW DO WE GET THERE? Development Over Winning
This is our goal every time we take the field with our
players10Development Over WinningOur roadmap:
We will define success.We will develop a plan to achieve
success.We will set goals and objectives for:Individual & team
growth & development, Establishing benchmarks & measurement
tools Development Over Winning
11
Development Over WinningDefine success:
The achievement of something desired, planned or
attemptedDevelopment Over WinningSo what does success mean to us as
coaches. Is it winning a game or a tournament. Sure it can be that.
But if we are solely to be judged by winning or losing, then we are
in for a rocky road!
Ask: Has anyone ever lost a game they should have won? What
about the opposite?
So understand that a win or a loss is not going to be a very
good barometer of success all the time.
We cannot control the opposing talent
We cannot ultimately control the outcome of the game
All we can do is prepare well, work hard and give our best
effort
Therefore, we must strive to identify controllable and more
holistic measurements of success. So what are some measures we can
use?
Ask
12Development Over WinningHow do we achieve success?Create an
on-going environment that: StimulatesChallengesAnd Inspires
Development Over Winning
Development Over WinningSo how do you create this on-going
environment?
In other words, what goes into this plan?
Development Over Winning
Training adapted to the players age & stage of development.
Four key components should be considered & woven through each
session:*Chronological age is often not the best measure of child
development so adapt as requiredDevelopment Over WinningStart at
the foundation - - remember our Vision Statement To provide youth
soccer programs that enrich childrens lives.
This vision can only be achieved if we continually ask ourselves
if the activity, method or decision will truly enrich the players
life. To achieve this goal, our training sessions must be adapted
to the players specific age and stage of development.
Think about one of the takeaways from U.S. Soccer - - age
appropriate training.
Consider the key components as inter-related building blocks:
You cant teach Tactics, without the Technical skill, and you should
not do either until you understand the Psychosocial and Physical
needs and capabilities of the children.
Psychosocial is the foundation. That is where we start building
15Psychosocial:How emotions and feelings impact development,
including a players ability to reason, learn and solve problems. At
AYSO, we develop the whole person!
Development Over WinningIf we can create a welcoming environment
that respects the players age and stage of development, we will
have created an environment where we have a pathway to achieve
success, as we define it.
16Development Over WinningHow to set goals & objectives
for?Individual growth & developmentTeam growth &
development
How to create benchmarks & measurement tools for?Individuals
TeamDevelopment Over Winning
Now lets talk about goals and objectives 17Development Over
WinningHow do we achieve Success?
Through on-going evaluation:SelfCoachPlayersTeamDevelopment Over
Winning
Development Over WinningThrough on-going evaluation of You, the
person!
Why did you start coaching?
Why are you still coaching?Development Over Winning
Ask yourself those questions now? 19Development Over WinningAnd
on-going evaluation of, You, the Coach:Why are you still
coaching?Should you be?Why would you get out of coaching?What would
keep you coaching?What would you change about
yourcoaching?Development Over Winning
Pose these questions to the attendees dont just read them. Get
feedback from them.
Guide the following discussion so that most coaches in
attendance understand that coaching is about getting a team
activated not about winning and losing. Stress that the goal of
every game is to win but a coach should activate players to want to
play and work hard20Development Over WinningAccomplishments!
Must be charted (need a map)Development Over Winning
What are they?
Is it just wins and losses. Are our players activated and
motivated to play. If so, then they will develop.
21Development Over WinningPlayers must:Be open mindedHave
specific goalsTrain hardDevelopment Over Winning
22Developing the Player
Players must: Be committed/dedicated to what?Become a student of
the gameBe patientHave FUN!Development Over Winning
Development Over WinningTools for Positive Coaching
Assume they will learn Let them playEncourage them to take
risksMistakes are not only okay, but expected Catch them being
good
Development Over WinningDiscuss each of these.
24Coaching the AYSO WayRepeat:
Let them play!Development Over Winning25Development Over
WinningDeveloping as a Coach -Coaches must:Be open mindedSeek
informationBe clear about expectationsDefine goals and
objectivesDevelopment Over Winning
Coaches must:Be honestUnderstand their role(educators)Be
patientKnow your player & parentsDevelop respect with players
& parents
Development Over Winning
Development Over WinningCoaches must:Be preparedHave a Training
Plan!Be organizedCommunicate well players and parentsClear
expectationsAge Appropriate & DevelopmentBe
inspiring!Development Over Winning
28
Does NOT reduce competition!Competitive environment does not
need to be league oriented Focus on performance not resultsChildren
should be competitive! Coaches to control & create a healthy
environment for learning!
Development Over WinningFinal Comments - Not once did we say
winning was bad or that competition was bad. To the contrary. Just
realize these things listed are key to truly achieving our goal of
Development over Winning
We must convince our audience of the importance of this goal!
Discuss and debate but strive for understanding and buy in.
29Development Over WinningHow to be a better player
How to be a better coach
Development Over Winning
Do we know how to get there now? We should!30Development Over
WinningAny Questions?
Development Over Winning
