Submitted by Elgin Middlesex Soccer Association and photo by Raymond Lam
Long Term Player Development – Engaging and Retaining Youth in Soccer
Much talk has been made over the past year in soccer (as well as our winter cousin, hockey) about how to better engage and retain youth athletes in sport. Radical thoughts from some of Canada’s top hockey minds, as published in Active For Life in recent weeks, have included the following proposals to develop hockey players in Canada:
• Cut down on games
• De-emphasis wins and losses
• Get off the tournament carousel
• Make better use of facilities
• Work on skills and speed
• Make it fun!
Soccer is out front in this regard, and many of these aspects will be seen on local pitches in 2014 as the Ontario Soccer Association’s Long Term Development Plan LTDP is implemented. What this means for the soccer player in 2014 in the U8 to U12 divisions:
• Less emphasis and sometimes no emphasis on scores and standings over the course of the season, allowing coaches and players to focus and develop after each competition
• Clubs can now use pooled rosters, allowing for fluid movement of players within age groups to help teams offset vacations and other absences and allow players time off from soccer for other activities
• All U12 and younger players are now considered ‘mini’ soccer players, playing on smaller fields with fewer players in order to develop more touches on the ball over the course of the season
• A greater emphasis for our excellent area clubs, coaches and trainers to use their skills and knowledge to develop all players rather than being concerned with wins and losses for promotion and relegation
While the changes to the game of soccer are not always welcome, all are in agreement that anything that can increase the development of our young players and keep them in the beautiful game longer is truly a victory for all. Will these changes be the end all to accomplish this? This is a positive first start, and our guess is that the system will continue to be tweaked in future seasons to provide the best for the youth soccer players in our area. Without a start, though, we can never realize our potential!
EMSA Upcoming Events
EMSA Referee Education Sessions: March 15, 25, and Apr. 12
EMSA Entry Level Referee Clinics: Apr. 12 and 18.
Details on all our referee programs: www.emsareferee.yolasite.com
www.emsadistrict.com
