THE PLAYER DEVELOPMENT REVOLUTION: In the fi rst of a series of articles, David Newbery and Tony DiCicco, from USA coaching organisation SoccerPlus,

THE AUTHORS:

DAVID NEWBERY
For over 20 years David has studied and worked in youth education, soccer development and coaching. A former University Professor and CEO of a Youth Sports Company, he is the Director of Player & Coach Development of SoccerPlus.

TONY DICICCO
Tony is the most successful coach in USA Soccer history, most notably leading the USA Women’s national team to 1996 Olympic, plus 1999 and 2008 World Cup success. He is the Head Coach of the Boston Breakers professional women’s team.

The word ‘revolution’ can be synonymous with such terms as anarchy, chaos and confusion, yet our revolution is encouraging a new approach where players have the opportunity to succeed, and where equal opportunity is not an objective but a reality.

We aim to raise standards and expectations, we challenge the way things have always been done and offer an approach where every player and coach has the opportunity to succeed, continuing to play and love the game by becoming serious about player and coach development.

Player Development is now common in soccer vernacular, yet our research has revealed that only 5% of youth soccer clubs are providing a programme built on firm player development foundations – in short, the phenomenal growth in soccer participation is not being supported by a more sophisticated approach.

The application of a ‘town’ soccer model is prevalent, where the primary objective is having fun. These programs are mainly coached by parent volunteers who have a limited understanding of child development and education, with little or no oversight by a coaching authority.

But parent involvement is the bedrock of youth football, and it cannot be understated the critical influence early youth sport experiences have on a participant’s enjoyment and adoption of physical activity. Simply, we need to get serious about player development.

Every coach and every organisation is unique and the aims, objectives and availability of resources (finance, volunteers, facilities etc) are different. A ‘one size fits all’ solution is clearly not the way forward.

“Soccer needs to get serious about player development.”

However, there are some recommendationswe offer to address common issues:

1. Adopt a Philosophy - The philosophy is critical to the long-term approach and it should guide decision making. For example, if the philosophy includes a ‘competency based approach’ to coaching and player development (something we strongly advocate), regular assessment for all players would need to be a significant part of the learning process. We would encourage coaches to develop and redefine the approach annually. Buy-in is critical, as important for parents and players as it is coaches.

2. Create a long-term strategic plan – Teams lacking long-term direction are set to repeat the same year - every year. Making time to ‘think’ will offer insight to a number of critical questions, including coach education and planning for player development. Creating a three- to five-year strategic plan, which involves parents, coaches and players, will provide the framework to make essential decisions and offer a roadmap for success.

3. Adopt or create a Player Development
Curriculum - In general terms a curriculum consists of everything that promotes intellectual, personal, social and physical development of the participants. And as well as session plans, it includes approaches to teaching, learning and assessment, objectives and program values. A detailed development model will create tremendous value and help in raising standards, performance, and expectations, as well as removing the guesswork.

4. Create an in-house Coaching Education
programme – Without great coaching it is unreasonable to expect meaningful player development. A formal education program for coaches is vital to develop expertise and knowledge. A combination of workshops, presentations, online resources, licensing courses, mentoring, practical coaching and demonstrations are needed to raise the standard of coaching and playing.

5. Provide coaches with access to
coaching resources – There are obvious benefits players will receive from a planned approach to development. Having all coaches accessing developmentally appropriate activities and sessions will create a degree of consistency that sometimes does not exist in volunteer organisations.

6. Provide oversight – a coaching authority – It is essential for bigger teams and organisations to clearly identify a ‘Coaching Authority’. This does not need to be a professional, but should be someone able to dedicate significant time during the season to assist coaches and players during practice sessions and games.

We believe firmly in parent volunteer coaches and non-profit organisations, but local coaching needs to start applying more appropriate strategies that are
relatively simple and cost-effective to implement.

Crucially, if we hope to raise standards and expectations, fun and educational attainment must be mutually inclusive outcomes of participation.

www.soccerplus.org/services