October 30, 2009
CUSC Travel Team Guideline for Continuous Improvement
In order to establish a strong competitive Travel program the Collingwood United Soccer Club must concentrate on developing quality soccer players, coaches and teams that continuously improve from season to season. The development of soccer talent is an on going process. This process requires planning. This plan needs to come from the technical people who are educated, experienced and knowledgeable. Without a comprehensive and coordinated effort, development is left to chance. The development process cannot be rushed. Winning is a by-product of quality development!
What can we do?
1) Player Development Curriculum.
- Like in school, have year by year standards of expectations for players and their coaches.
- developed with director of player development
2) Continuous Coach Development Program.
-Make sure all coaches have appropriate licensing. Further provide additional clinics, discussions, conventions, books, videos, and game analysis sessions.
-Coaching evaluation, ongoing monitoring of practices and games, providing feedback and support! In addition, team coaches should fill out game reports for every game so the club can keep a binder and track the development of each team from year to year.
3) Create Competitive Team Environment.
– Teams need to be challenged from within to help stimulate good practice habits. Without internal competition there is no motivation to practice at level that will allow our teams to compete.
- Combining age groups is one way to increase the level of competition within a team. 18 man rosters are encouraged!
4) Appropriate Placement of Teams in Competitive Leagues
- If teams are going 10-0 or 0-10 during the season, it does not promote development.
- Do not have teams for the sake of having teams or for the benefit of social clicks.
- Having numbers doesn’t necessarily constitute a viable team.
5) Proper Tournament Selection
- Teams should only go to tournaments in which they are competitive. Losing 3 games in a tournament without scoring a goal is not helpful to development.
- Dominating a tournament also doesn’t help development either.
- 3 Tournaments a year is a guide only. Can be less. More creates different problems, such as too many games and not enough practice.
6) Practices
- Players should not be standing around, allowed the opportunity to lose concentration, or be lectured to regularly. Practices should be fun, dynamic, active, and challenging
- Standard Practice structure, developed in conjunction with director of player development.
- Speed/Agility/Strength are all important components that we often ignore. Separate specialized sessions should be planned to address this training.
- Have open practices to allow players who want to train more or want to challenge themselves the opportunity to do so.
- Education on the field and in the classroom and encourage players to watch videos of games and analyze.
- 2 practices a week should be minimum requirements
7) Regular indoor Off-season Training
- A must to compete. Most successful programs have something offered in the winter months.
8) Developments of U7, U8 and U9 Players and Coaches
- The most important part of developing our travel program
- To be developed in harmony with our Director of Player Development, VP House and VP Travel
- Standard practice plans, mentoring and monitoring
9) Commitment
- Without commitment we have nothing. Commitment starts with our President, Executive and board of directors. Commitment must extend to our Coaches, players and parents.
10) Talk is Cheap
- Support statements and documented plans such as this by taking action.
There is no right or wrong way to plan a competitive Rep. Program. The only failure would to run without a plan or vision. Being a part of a small community will present challenges that larger clubs do not face. As a result, the preceding guide will need to be evaluated and adjusted periodically. Feedback and discussion will always be welcome!
Jerome Wihby
Collingwood United Soccer Club
Vice President of Travel Teams
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