Player Development

This is a note to inform the parents and players involved with the Greece Boys Soccer League (GBSL) of the new department of the league, Player Development. The following information is some preliminary notes of how we envision Player Development evolving:

• Who: House and Select players

• What and Why: Player Development: A collaborative effort between the house, select, and travel leagues to learn and increase their fundamental skills in soccer such as first touch, dribbling, passing, and shooting. It will give them many opportunities to practice those skills, as repetition is the key to becoming proficient at these essential skills. For house and select players, it will give them the opportunity to gain instruction and insight from licensed/certified coaches from the travel clubs in order to give them the benefit of the many years of coaching experience at the travel level of play. At the same time, the clinics will stress that no matter what level of play, each and every player is valuable and equally as important as the next. The main thing is that no matter what level of play, the player is increasing their own ability and level of play while doing the thing they love, playing Soccer!

We need to give the House/Select players an opportunity to play year round, continually hone their skills and keep active.

.

• How: Advertising:

The following forms should all include a summary and synopsis of the philosophy and goals of the player development program. It should also mention that each level of play is as valuable and equally as important as the next.

We should discuss the history of this concept and the collaboration between house, select and travel organizations.

 

Advertising could include:

 

1. Flyer in coaches packet
2. Information at Registration
3. Information on website
4. Travel coaches and I to speak at Coaches meeting
5. Information on postcard
6. E-mail to all coaches
7. E-mail to all registered players

Philosophy: We need to discuss the need for these players at the house and select levels to continually hone their skills so that if they desire to compete later at the travel level, this will help them with that. We need to also stress that if they do not desire to play at the travel level but wish to stay at the house level, that is perfectly acceptable but this will allow them to elevate their level of play in those leagues as well. Whatever level the player chooses to be at now, the clinics will help them increase their skills and give them a better chance to compete now and as they get older. It also allows them to further develop an understanding of tactics and strategy through team based drills. All of these things would help them prepare to further their career, as they get older also.

• When and Where to implement this collaboration:

Possible areas would include:

1. Foot skills clinics for players
2. Education in soccer strategy for players
3. Coaches’ clinics on coaching elements, understanding the psychology of coaching, etc…
4. Coaches clinics on foot skills, strategy, and game play
5. Interactive coaches clinics with travel coaches
6. Open invitation for coaches and players to observe these player clinics
7. House indoor leagues
8. Possible combined travel and house players clinics and/or tournaments (indoor and outdoor)
9. House/Select coaches handbooks that illustrates philosophy, drills, strategy, etc…
10. Soccer rule book
11. Various clinics: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced

With this collaboration, the logical progression should be:

House >>>>> Select >>>>> Travel >>>>> ODP >>>>> High School

OR

House             Select           Travel             ODP

     |                     |                    |                     |  

High School   High School   High School   High School

OR

Any Combination of these

 

 

• Also: Encouragement of players and coaches to view instructional video tapes, Soccer books, magazines, and watching games on TV, attending Rhinos & other games. These tapes and periodicals could be available to them by the leagues.

Please keep in mind that this is a very rough draft but this is a good start of how we would like to see this through.

We have however, organized foot skills clinics to be run in a collaborative effort between the Greece Boys Soccer League and the Greece Eclipse Travel Soccer Club. As a first run, we have decided to initially offer this to two of the younger age groups (7-8 & 9-10) to see what the interest level is. If the clinics prove to be successful, we will expand the offering by continuing them and inviting all age groups to participate.

We will keep everyone posted as this evolves and as always, your feedback is appreciated so please submit feedback on line at www.greeceboyssoccer.org

Thanks,

Paul Iorio

Director of Player Development