AYSO National Coach ProgramStaying True to the AYSO Coaching

Program (Developing Players - the AYSO Way)

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Workshop Objectives• Philosophies and Coaching • Player Development versus Winning• Player Development - Building trust• Developing Players• The AYSO WAY• Wrap Up Discussion

What do you think it means?

Developing Players - the AYSO Way

Who we are

Vision StatementTo provide world class youth soccer programs

that enrich children’s lives.

Mission StatementTo develop and deliver quality youth soccer

programs which promote a fun, family environment based on the AYSO philosophies.

Philosophies and CoachingEveryone plays is all about player development! • The kids learn the game by playing.• Playing time provides confidence and

acceptance:• Not just by playing time but how we play

them. .. • Coaching Do’s:

• Watch your players when they play and when they are not.

• Give the less skilled players help. • Rotate positions on the field.• Give every player a chance!

Philosophies and CoachingBalanced Teams is about player development! • Each year we form new teams as evenly

balanced as possible.• What does that mean to you coach?

• Equal teams means better competition• Teams can compete to the end of the match• Creates a chance to work with some new

players• The kids are well-rounded due to different

coaching styles.• Never a boring year!

Philosophies and CoachingOpen Registration is about player development! • All children* are welcome to register and

play.• What does that mean to you coach?

• New challenges each year• Your child's friends can play too• Creates a chance to work with some new

players• We can find great athletes and help them

become great soccer players.• Never a boring year!

Philosophies and CoachingPositive Coaching is about player development! • Positive Coaching pays off:

• The player will try harder if the coach identifies what they are doing right and encourages them to improve their effort.

• Coaching Do’s: • Accept player mistakes & encourage them to

take risks• Let them play• Catch them being good.

Philosophies and CoachingGood Sportsmanship is about player development! • Create a positive environment based on

mutual respect rather than a win-at-all cost attitude.

• Respect for the game, the players, officials, coaches, it develops appreciation and a positive learning attitude

• Coach Do’s:• Set the example with referees, other teams,

parents, etc…• Talk about proper attitudes and treatment of

others.• Correct any bad sportsmanship behaviors.• Praise out loud good sportsmanship.

Philosophies and Coaching

Player Development is about:• All players developing their soccer skills &

knowledge to the best of their abilities in order to maximize their enjoyment of the game.

Player Development vs. Winning

Who is pushing for player development?

Player Development vs. Winning

• Development Over Winning• Quality Training• Age Appropriate• Have Fun/Inspire Players…

Player Development vs. 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

• Does NOT reduce competition!

• Does not need to be league oriented.

• Focus on performance rather than outcome (ball skill, effort vs. score)

• Children should be competitive

• It is our responsibility as coaches to control & create a healthy environment for learning!

Player Development vs. Winning

What do you think so far?

Developing Players - the AYSO Way

Player Development - Building Trust

• Coach Do’s:• Have FUN!• Be open minded• Be honest• Be patient• Seek information• Be clear about expectations• Define goals and objectives

Player Development - Building Trust

• Coach Do’s:• Be an educators• Get to know your player & parents…• Develop respect – with players & parents• Be inspiring!• Be prepared

• Have a Training Plan!• Be organized

Player Development - Building Trust

• Coach Do’s:• Communicate with players and parents

• Age Appropriate Development • Yearly goals• Use Your Tools

• Shutterfly Team Site• Division Coordinator, Coach Administrator, Board• Region Website http://www.ayso.org/

SO HOW DO WE GET THERE?

Developing Players

• Success - The achievement of something desired, planned or attempted…

• Create success with an on-going environment that: • Stimulates• Challenges• And Inspires

• Through on-going evaluation:• Self / Coach• Players• Team…

Developing Players

• And on-going evaluation of, You, the Coach:• Why are you coaching?• Should you be?• Why would you get out of coaching?• What would keep you coaching?• What would you change about your

coaching?

Developing Players

• Players must:• Be open minded• Have specific goals• Become a student of the game• Be patient• Train hard• Have FUN!

Developing Players

• How to set goals & objectives for?• Individual growth & development• Team growth & development

• How to create benchmarks & measurement tools for?

• Individuals • Team

Developing Players

• Let’s look at a long term goal for example

Developing Players

• Becoming a “complete” Player• By age 14, all players should be proficient

in:• Tactical Ability• Technical Ability• Functional Defending • Functional Attacking…

Developing Players

• Tactically the U14 player should: • Have an awareness of the game.• Be able to communicate.• Assume responsibility on the field.• Have the technical skills to develop

tactical.• Have an awareness of organization

and shape.• Provide support for the attack and

defense.• Create options with appropriate

runs.• Be able to play both on and off the

ball…

Developing Players

• Technically the U14 player should, when dribbling:• Be expert at turning.• Have great touch.• Be able to shield defender.• Maintain excellent field vision while • incorporating feints/fakes to unbalance an

opponent and consistently. • Use a change of speed to beat an opponent…

Developing Players

• Technically the U14 player should, when passing:

• Make passes that are accurate.• Have correct pace.• Are well timed.• Are somewhat deceptive.• Is successful in advancing the ball or

maintaining possession…

Developing Players

• Technically the U 14 player should, when controlling the ball: • Use all controlling surfaces while maintaining

eye contact with the ball.• Move into the line of flight of the ball.• Have excellent balance.• Cushion the ball on contact with it and

consistently prepare the ball for the next move…

Developing Players

• When the U14 player is functionally defending, they should:• Have great defending control and balance.• Be able to establish appropriate marking

distance.• Maintain a goal-side ball-side position.• Be able to prevent an attacker from turning • Have exceptional tackling skills…

Developing Players

• Be able to maintain possession.• Be able to create space.• Be able to turn on a defender.• Have the ability to take on defender.• Recognize and take the direct route to goal.• Be able to anticipate when to shoot and have great

preparationdecisiveness and timing when shooting…

Developing Players• When the U14 player is functionally attacking, the player should:• When the U14 player is functionally attacking, the

player should:

• Sounds good, doesn’t it?

• So how do we get there?

• How many of you think that your region could and has developed a coaching program THAT can develop the kind of U14 player just described?

• Your region might not have the personnel to develop such a program but the organization you belong to certainly does!

Developing Players

• The AYSO National Coaching Program CAN develop such a player. • The AYSO National Coaching Program was

developed using the National Standards for athletic coaches and accredited by the:

Developing Players

So how do we develop these type of players?

We have the game plans already built:

Develop Players – The AYSO Way

• Training adapted to the player’s: • age

• stage of development.

• each session:

*Chronological age is often not the best measure of child development so adapt as required

The AYSO WAY

Psychosocial:How emotions and feelings impact development, including a player’s ability to reason, learn and solve problems. At AYSO, we develop the

whole person!

The AYSO Way

Let them play!

The AYSO Way

• To be a better player –

• To be a better coach –

Developing Players - the AYSO Way

Questions?

Feedback?

Developing Players - the AYSO Way