GIVING ALL PLAYERS THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS IN SOCCER

LONG-TERM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT: A COMMUNITY GUIDE CANADA SOCCER BELIEVES EVERY PLAYER DESERVES THE BEST POSSIBLE SOCCER EXPERIENCE.

Whether they dream of playing for Canada’s National Teams or simply want to have fun with their friends, taking the right approach to the game when children are young sets the stage for a lifetime of enjoyment.

The Canada Soccer performance EXCEL Pathway provides levels, with the aim a roadmap for of encouraging For players under the age of 12, many of players of all ages lifelong participation. whom are lacing up cleats for the first time, and aspirations who The Pathway is built the goal of this approach is simple: want to play soccer around the principles at the recreational, of Long-Term Player GET KIDS TO FALL IN competitive or high Development (LTPD). LOVE WITH THE GAME. WHAT IS LTPD?

LTPD is a model of athlete development that parallels what doctors and psychologists have long used to better understand human development: as a series of distinct stages, which take us WHY from infancy through adulthood. A person’s abilities, behaviour LTPD? and emotions, as well as their understanding of the world around We don’t expect kids to compete them, varies from stage to stage. in spelling bees without first teaching them their ABCs. When Similarly, experts in sport science activities and expectations have identified seven stages don’t match with a child’s of development—each with its developmental stage, this can own physical and psychological set them up for failure. characteristics—that form the basis for LTPD. When young The same is true when young soccer players are able to train children are thrust into a soccer and compete in an environment environment that over-emphasizes that’s appropriate to their stage winning at the expense of LTPD GIVES ALL of development, they not only developing skills and having fun. perform at their best, they also The negative consequences can PLAYERS THE BEST have more fun. last a lifetime: Some kids develop bad habits and poor skills and CHANCE OF SUCCESS In other words, LTPD is can become discouraged. Many by tailoring training, designed to give players an don’t achieve their performance IN SOCCER optimal soccer experience potential. Others end up leaving competition and coaching to their needs at the at every stage by putting the sport altogether because they appropriate stage of development. their needs front and centre. don’t enjoy the game. THE FIRST THREE LTPD STAGES

The first three LTPD stages, STAGE THREE: which guide development up to age 12, are built around LEARNING small-sided games. There TO TRAIN are no league standings for these age groups; the focus (U-8/U-11 F, U-9/U-12 M) is on learning and fun. This “golden age of learning,” when children become less STAGE TWO: self-centered and are more able to reflect FUNDAMENTALS on their actions and learn from mistakes, STAGE ONE: (U-6/U-8 F, U-6/U-10 M) provides an optimal window for further ACTIVE START Allows children development of to develop their skills. The focus is (U-4/U-6 M/F) movement ABCs— on learning by doing,

agility, balance, building a larger Gives the youngest coordination, and repertoire of soccer players the speed—and learn the movements and opportunity basics of the game teaching the basic to develop basic while emphasizing principles of play in a movement skills fun, cooperation, and fun and challenging like running, maximum time on environment. jumping, landing, the ball. kicking, throwing, and catching in a fun setting built around informal play and positive reinforcement. PROGRESSING STAGE SIX: INTO TRAINING STAGE FIVE: TO WIN COMPETITION STAGE FOUR: TRAINING (U-18+ F, U-19+ M) TO COMPETE As children move into TRAINING With most of their (U-15/U-19 F, U-16/U-20 M) adolescence, official league TO TRAIN soccer skills now fully standings are introduced and established, the focus (U-11/U-15 F, U-12/U-15 M) Players are now the game becomes more working to hone their for EXCEL players at the National Team, competitive, with more emphasis The onset of the soccer skills under a variety of competitive semi-professional and on strategy and tactics. With a adolescent growth professional levels spurt for most conditions in an 11 steady increase in training time v 11 game format shifts to performing kids during this at their best. They over the next three LTPD stages that mirrors adult stage is an ideal work on adapting play. Along with the (4-6), a move to larger-sided time for endurance strategies quickly continued refinement training. Players are to suit changing games and year-round play, of advanced also introduced to demands, establishing the most advanced players are techniques, players concepts like mental a pre-training and work to develop their given opportunities for further preparation, goal pre-match routine, tactical awareness, development with the Canada setting, and coping and maintaining discipline and mental with winning and optimal physical and Soccer Pathway’s EXCEL toughness. losing while learning psychological fitness. program. Others may decide to more advanced soccer continue playing recreationally, skills, including moving straight to LTPD stage 7. position-specific techniques. LTPD IS PLAYER-CENTERED: STAGE SEVEN: Respecting the developmental needs of players is the number-one priority. This means making sure recreational ACTIVE players have fun, and also that those with special talents are FOR LIFE given opportunities for further development as they move along the Canada Soccer Pathway. This stage encompasses boys and girls, men and LTPD IS INCLUSIVE: women of all ages and A handful of players may follow the Canada Soccer Pathway’s abilities who want to EXCEL program all the way to a National Team or professional play soccer for fun club, but LTPD is also designed for the 99% who won’t. It’s about and fitness. They may be youth players who giving everyone the best possible soccer experience every step of don’t pursue high- the way. performance play through the EXCEL LTPD RECOGNIZES COMPETITIVENESS program, former COMES FROM WITHIN: competitive players who don’t intend to The fact that there are no standings for players under 12 does play internationally, or professionally or, they not translate into a lack of competitive spirit. When kids play in an may be brand new to environment where learning is put ahead of winning, they’re less soccer. In all cases, afraid to make mistakes and more willing to take risks in order to the game structure try out the new skills they’ve learned during practice. They’re free is adapted to suit to play their own best game without worrying they’ll be chastised the level of play, the for a poor match result. number of players and the available space. WHEN CHILDREN LEARN THE RIGHT SKILLS AT THE RIGHT TIME — supported by a caring soccer community of parents, coaches, officials, and volunteers — they become more confident in their abilities and have a lot more fun. This means more of them will grow into healthy, active adults with a lifelong love of the game. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CANADA SOCCER PATHWAY AND LONG-TERM PLAYER DEVELOPMENT, PLEASE VISIT

CANADA SOCCER.COM/PATHWAY

Fédération de soccer du Québec Newfoundland and Labrador British Columbia federation-soccer.qc.ca Soccer Association Soccer Association nlsa.ca bcsoccer.net

Alberta Soccer Association Soccer New Brunswick albertasoccer.com soccernb.org Northwest Territories Soccer Association nwtkicks.ca

Saskatchewan Soccer Association Soccer Nova Scotia sasksoccer.com soccerns.ns.ca Yukon Soccer Association yukonsoccer.yk.ca

Manitoba Soccer Association Prince Edward Island manitobasoccer.ca Soccer Association Nunavut Soccer Association peisoccer.com facebook.com/Nunavut SoccerAssociation

Ontario Soccer Association ontariosoccer.net

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