U9 AND U10 TRAVEL PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Basic Objectives

  • Spark an enthusiastic passion for the game of soccer
  • Help boys and girls develop into skillful, effective soccer players
  • Provide all players with realistic challenges and an appropriate level of competition and commitment
  • Encourage teamwork; sportsmanship; respect for others; self-discipline; good work habits; and healthy, fun competition

Team Composition

The DSA’s team composition policies are intended to help all soccer players develop – the most talented players and the less talented players. The DSA believes this objective is best achieved by grouping players, as best we can, by ability, so that they face “realistic challenges”. “Realistic challenges” provide players with opportunities to be pushed without being overwhelmed and chances to succeed, but only with their best efforts. In the U9 and U10 age brackets, this results in:

  • Two travel teams of fourteen players each in the U9 and U10 age brackets
  • Fourteen players is maximum allowed by CJSA
  • U9 teams are “balanced” in terms of ability because:
  • Players are at a very early stage of development
  • There is less information on which to base differentiation
  • U10 teams are differentiated by playing ability into “A” and “B” teams because:
  • There is more information on which to base differentiation (two U9 seasons)
  • It provides most players with realistic challenges and appropriate intra-team competition
  • It provides a platform for success for talented players – a key to enthusiasm
  • It realistically reflects the significant difference in abilities between the top 5 - 10 players and players 20 – 30.

Note that the number of U9 Travel Players is significantly less than the number of 2nd Grade players. The numerous players who do not make a Travel team can have a great soccer experience and improve their abilities in the highly successful ClubExcel program.

The DSA suggests that parents discuss several key points about team selection with their children (these points will be reinforced by their coaches at the beginning of the season).

  • All players on travel teams should take pride in being selected for a travel team
  • Players should be encouraging and supportive toward any friends who express disappointment in not being selected for a travel team or the A travel team
  • Each year, some players move from the ClubExcel program into the travel program, from B teams to A teams and vice versa. Thus, players have both the opportunity to move “up” as well as the risk of moving “down.” Therefore, no player should be overly discouraged or overly complacent about his or her current team assignment. Their placement in future years will depend on their performance over each season and in future tryouts.

Commitment

General

  • Travel players are expected to make a strong commitment to soccer
  • This commitment includes both the fall and spring seasons.
  • Flexible arrangements can be made in the spring to accommodate players who play another sport.
  • This level of commitment is necessary to enable travel players to enjoy competing against travel players throughout the CJSA Southwest District
  • Players who do not wish to make the commitment described below should consider playing for a ClubExcel team rather than a travel team
  • Failure to play in the spring season hurts the whole team by reducing roster sizes, reducing team quality and potentially forcing the team to disband if there are insufficient players.

Practices

  • Travel players should consistently attend two training sessions during the week
  • Travel players should participate as often as possible in extra practices organized by parent coaches
  • Participating in practices is as important as participating in games – this is where skills are learned and developed.

Games and Tournaments

  • Travel players should, absent exceptional circumstances, participate in all league games in the fall and spring
  • They are expected to participate in at least one weekend tournament during each of the fall and spring seasons, including a Labor Day Weekend tournament
  • They should participate as often as possible in scrimmages and friendly matches arranged by the parent coaches

Out-of-Season Soccer

  • Travel players are strongly encouraged to participate in indoor soccer activities in the winter – skill training, leagues and/or tournaments.
  • Travel players are strongly encouraged to participate in at least one week of soccer camp in the summer. One week of full-day soccer camp provides playing time equivalent to one 10-week season of travel soccer practices!

Commitment, Choices and Consequences

  • All kids make choices about how to commit their time and energy. There are no right or wrong choices, but the choices have consequences.
  • Players who choose to make a strong commitment to soccer will improve more than players who choose not to. Over time, these players will enjoy the game more, get more playing time and derive more satisfaction from their participation in the sport.
  • Players who choose not to make this commitment should realize they will not improve as much and therefore their soccer experience will probably not be as rewarding.

Game Guidelines

Playing time

  • All players should play, on average, at least 1/3 of every game.
  • Although circumstances may result in a player playing less in a particular game, no player should consistently play less than this amount.
  • Players who miss significant practice time or who demonstrate inappropriate behavior in training or matches may play less at the discretion of the coach.

Positions

  • All players should expect to play in a variety of positions during the season
  • All players should experience playing goalkeeper for at least a small amount of time
  • No player should play exclusively as a goalkeeper
  • Playing a variety of positions develops well-rounded players who understand the responsibilities associated with, and the importance of, all positions on the team.

Playing Style

  • The trainers and coaches will be teaching players to play controlled, skillful soccer, not “kick and run” soccer. Players will be encouraged to control the ball before kicking it, to dribble skillfully and to pass the ball.
  • The trainers and coaches will be teaching players to “play their positions” and maintain good spacing on the field.
  • Good, controlled play will be encouraged even in circumstances where a “kick and run” approach might increase the team’s chances of winning.
  • Coaches will encourage players to compete, to play hard and fair and to accept physical contact as part of the game.

Winning

Winning is not the primary goal of the DSA – the goal is to develop skillful, effective soccer players who will be successful and enjoy playing for many years

Teams should alwaystry as hard as they can to win. If the players tried their hardest, did their best to play they way they are being taught to play and displayed good sportsmanship, then they have had a successful game, regardless of the final score.

  • Children learn best and have the most fun when they are challenged, but without the pressure for results. The challenge is for the team to play hard, score goals and to play good soccer – let the winning take care of itself!

Excessive focus by adults on results actually inhibits player development and can cause players to “burn out” on soccer.

Coaching Styles

  • Each coach has their own unique coaching style that reflects their personality. However, all coaches should be enthusiastic, encouraging and positive during games.
  • Neither the team nor individual players should be humiliated or harshly criticized before, during or after games.
  • Coaches should demonstrate the highest standards of sportsmanship at all times

Practice Guidelines

Practice Attendance

  • Practices are at least as important as games – practice is where skills are learned and developed to the point where they can be applied successfully in games
  • Players are expected to consistently attend practices, including extra practices scheduled by their parent coaches.
  • Players who consistently miss practices should expect to play less in games than other players.
  • Players are expected to arrive on time to practice – arriving late adversely affects all players by disrupting or delaying the practice. Please do your best to meet this expectation.
  • Trainers will keep practice attendance records

Practice Environment and Behavior

  • The practice environment should be positive and fun but appropriately disciplined.
  • The “fun” derives from playing soccer, learning new skills and working with teammates and coaches in a positive, enthusiastic environment. It does not derive from fooling around or socializing with friends.
  • Like classroom teachers, trainers expect players to be reasonably well disciplined and to behave appropriately for their age.
  • Players who misbehave or are a distracting influence during training should expect to be appropriately disciplined. A player whose behavior is a consistent problem should expect to receive reduced playing time in games and, as a last resort, may be asked to leave the team.

Equipment

  • All players must bring a properly inflated, size 4 soccer ball to every practice
  • All players must wear shin guards to every practice – players without shin guards will not be allowed to participate in practice
  • All players must wear soccer cleats to every practice
  • All players should bring a large water bottle to practice
  • All players should wear white tee shirts for practice – logos, lettering, etc. are fine, but predominant color should be white. This helps create a unified team atmosphere and eliminates problems of shirt colors being confused with pinnies when games are played.
Parent Role

Parents can make a significant impact on the quality of their child’s soccer experience. The suggestions below may provide some insights into how you can help maximize your child’s enjoyment of soccer.

It’s the Kid’s Game, Not Your Game

  • The kids are not playing for you, or the coaches, or the DSA, they are playing for themselves!
  • Don’t let your hopes and expectations determine how you view your child’s performance. It’s their hopes, expectations and enjoyment that are important!

When Things Go Wrong

How you react to your child’s (inevitable) disappointments is critical in determining whether such disappointments have value as learning experiences

  • They will frequently take their lead from you - try to be positive, responsible and solution-oriented and avoid making excuses and blaming others.
  • It’s easy to be a player, parent or coach when all is going well – its when disappointments occur that we can all learn the most

Support Your Child’s Commitment

  • Encourage and help your child to attend as many practices and games as possible.
  • Teach your child that fulfilling their commitment is a key part of being a team player.
  • Help your child understand the positive (negative) consequences of choosing to fulfill (not fulfill) their commitment
  • Encourage your child to do soccer activities on their own time – play in the backyard, watch games on TV, etc.

Help Your Child Take Responsibility

  • Help your child take responsibility for his or her own performance.
  • Don’t encourage your child to blame other players or the coach for the inevitable problems and disappointments that will occur on the game or practice field.
  • Instead, help them identify things they can do to address the problem (practice a specific skill, speak to the coach, etc.)

Be Positive and Encouraging No Matter What Happens

  • Positive reinforcement and constant encouragement are the best ways to help your child become a better player and enjoy the game.
  • Criticism, especially immediately after a game, can destroy a child’s confidence

Help Your Child Self-Assess

  • Rather than telling your child how you thought they played, ask them how they thought they played. You might be surprised how perceptive they are!
  • Help them to identify some good things they did (there are always some) and some things they could have done better (there always some of these, too)
  • This process helps build confidence because they are not relying on others’ perceptions of their performance to boost their self-esteem.
  • It also helps them develop valuable analytical skills

Don’t Criticize Coaches or Players In Front of Your Child

  • Criticizing the coach or other players in front of your child undermines the team and serves no constructive purpose.
  • Concerns about the coach should be discussed with the coach or directed to the DSA without your child present
  • Concerns about other players should be directed to the coach without your child present

Cheer Don’t Instruct

  • Players must learn to make their own decisions on the field
  • Therefore, refrain from yelling instructions (“boot it”, “get back”, “dribble”, etc.)
  • Your instructions may conflict with what the coach is encouraging, and this is very confusing for the player
  • Be a cheerleader not a coach on the sideline!

Be A Good Sport

  • Set a good example for your child and their team by demonstrating the highest level of sportsmanship at all times.
  • Under no circumstances should parents criticize referees from the sideline
  • Cheer good play by both teams and refrain from belittling the opponents

Educate Yourself About Your Kid’s Game

  • Learn more about soccer and coaching young athletes
  • Read books, watch videos, watch matches on TV (see recommended reading list)
  • Talk to coaches and attend training sessions if possible

ADVANCED SOCCER OPPORTUNITIES

The DSA strongly encourages all parents and players to inform themselves about and to consider participating in one of the numerous advanced soccer playing opportunities outside the DSA.

There are a wide variety of such opportunities, generally involving substantially greater commitments of time and money than the DSA Travel Program. However, for strong, committed players (and willing parents) these opportunities may provide the best means of improving as a soccer player.

The brief summary below is intended to provide you with an introduction to these opportunities. More detailed information is available on the DSA Website. The DSA tries to keep abreast of these opportunities and communicate information to travel program participants in a variety of ways. However, circumstances are constantly changing and the DSA does not have the resources to constantly monitor these changes and keep all interested parties continuously informed. Thus, interested families must take responsibility for being informed about and exploring these opportunities and begin doing so immediately.

Enhanced Travel Programs

The DSA is supportive of travel teams whose parents and players would like to schedule extra practices, attend more tournaments and implement other activities that can help their players get the most out of their travel soccer experience. Teams interested in exploring these avenues should contact the DSA to discuss their ideas. In doing so, however, please be aware that the DSA faces field space, budget and policy constraints that may limit the options available to a team that is part of the DSA Travel Program.

District Select

The CJSA SWD has historically sponsored District Select teams for U11 through U18 players. Players are selected via tryouts and play games and tournaments between July 3 and August 15.

State Select (ODP)

The CJSA sponsors State Select teams (also know as Olympic Development Program, or ODP, teams). These are effectively state-wide “all-star” teams that comprise the first rung of the United States National Team programs. Players are selected via tryouts and have playing and practice commitments throughout the year. State ODP players have opportunities to try-out for Regional ODP teams.

Developmental Premier

Many Premier Clubs (see below) have organized Developmental Premier programs for U11 and U12-eligible players. These programs vary in commitment and philosophy, but are fast becoming an important step on the Premier ladder. Also, be aware that the programs are sometimes willing to accept talented U10 and even U9 players. Players who do not participate in a Premier Club’s developmental program are likely to find it more difficult to join the club at the U13 level.

Premier

Premier Clubs are “advanced” teams that have no geographical restrictions on who may join the team. Essentially, they are “all-star” teams with players from a variety of towns being selected via tryouts. Some small Premier Clubs sponsor only a single team, while the major Connecticut clubs offer teams for boys and/or girls in all age brackets from U13 to U19. These teams play each other in a league and an Open Cup competition that is separate from the league and State Cup competition for town-based travel teams. The Clubs use a variety of locations for games and practices, including New Canaan, Greenwich, Wilton, Easton, Trumbull and Yale, among others.