The popularity of soccer has opened up so many different programs to help develop and place players in much higher soccer levels of competition that Us Youth Soccer has made several recommendations and these suggestions are still evolving to make the experience and opportunities far better than before.
This development progression is not to be taken literal, rather to offer a suggestion of development process and its expectations to properly educate all soccer participants.
Most if not all program directors, directors of coaching, professional scouts, seasoned coaches can agree that a sense of urgency to clarify the frustration in getting their son/daughter on the best team can be very confussing and extremely detrimental when possibly hindering the simple enjoyment of your child and a sport.
It is no surprise that parents not educated on the topic of soccer team selection to any level of soccer, such as getting into a signature/academy program, an all star team, a select team, a club team, a national academy team, an olympic development team, a national team, a college team and at last... a professional team.
There are so many layers, complex programs, complex philosophies, independent programs, one on one's, on and on and on.
Most do not even know which program or path is the correct approach. We know that some players are just lucky and they were at the right place and at the time and a scout just picked up the player by just mere luck. There exists the opposite of this scenario where a player has been exposed to the right setting, from all stars, to national play and never makes a professional team. "go figure".
What I'd like to suggest here are the facts and that's it. Our Westfield program is a proven extention of a long time family operated program that has been in operation for over 5 decades. In my family, we've had seven family members play professional soccer in Colombia, Spain, Argentina and Peru. In addition to this, my family owns and operates a FIFA licensed player agency located in Colombia, Costa Rica, Argentina, Spain, England and the US. Searching and developing the right player takes years and these "years" is what I would like to explain in this short synopsis of development progression.
Parents get excited when their child begins to excel at any given sport and begin to dream of having themselves a sports prodigy of some sort. This is completely natural and completely normal. Where this takes an ugly turn is in the area of information. Parents in general do not have an actual understanding of the development progression to actively present the right scenarios as the young player moves on from division play to formation of position. This process can take around 8 to 10 years... or more.
The parent sees an exceptional player and becomes ambitious in providing the right setting to help challenge this player. The thing is... what is the plan or the path being planned to achieve this individual's dream or assumption. To take the player to the big leagues, to take the player to collegiate play or... to make this player the next superstar.
All these wishes are normal for just about all parents and must include a well thought processed realistic plan. The first suggestion is to allow natural develoment progression to take place. Nourishing this young player to naturally love the game in settings where the player can appreciate the experience of winning and losing. This simple process can help a great deal in setting goals, setting challenges and achieving success.
What is the best development progression for any child, player or young prospect? No one really knows, but the following steps can help in putting in place the beggining and the end. This process is what most collegiate and professional players have experienced over the years. Currently, this suggested progression has been verified and its opinions can be challenged and we do encourage this for the whole reason that knowing, researching and applying the best approach rather than just placing it all to chance.
Recreational Development Years (2 to 9 years of age)
Signature Academy/ All Star/ Select (9 to 14 years of age)
Competitive Club/ Academy/ Select/ ODP/ ID2 (12 to 15 years of age)
Select Club/ National Academy/ National ODP/ ID2 (13 to 17 years of age)
National Academy/ National Pool/ Super Group/ ODP/ ID2 (15 to 18 years of age)
3rd, 2nd and 1st Division/ National Selection U17, U20, U23 (16 to 22 years of age)
Collegiate Selection/ USL Selection/ NPSL/ ProAm Circuit (17 to 22 years of age)
Professional Selection/ USL Premier/ NPSL 2nd Division/ ProAm Circuit 3rd Division (17 to 22 years of Age)
Professional MLS (17 to 30+ years of age)
The previous development progression contains four very important elements and these advanced formats can only be achieved through licensed, experienced, seasoned coaches and trainers. These coaches or trainers have either played the game at a very high professional level or have participated in the whole process of playing since childhood. These two paths pave the way to better apply methodology proven throughout the world.
Obtaining initial coaching licenses, perhaps by starting by taking some basic youth module courses then moving up to an E license and then follow the progression to finally obtaining a USSF or FIFA "A" license. Several steps occur between each of these license requirements and maintaining these licenses are very sensitive and require ongoing continuing education.
Director of Coaching professionals have implemented programs that have proven successful in many countries. With these programs, adding natural coaching talent, personal philosophies, consistent application to tecnical and tactical curriculum present the necessary ingredients for initial program success. When researching clubs and teams, players, parents, coaches must take a good look at what approach the director of coaching will actually take in order to develop the player to the next level. This process of development is as important from the recreational player starting at 4 or 5 years of age, to the experimental travel age of 8 to 10 years of age, onward to the competitive years of 11 on up. The many possible combinations that will burden players, parents, coaches, teams, can have a positive or negative effect on the actual goal originally intended. Practical and reasonable rationing is required at each of these playing levels. Whats important is the actual goal intended, whether it is high school play, collegiate or professional, it is important to actually plan out each level as much as possible with director of coaching professionals.
Westfield Soccer Club senior program directors have taken the necessary steps in acruing all necessary professional steps in making sure that as the club moves about a miriad of ever changing competitive circuits, the directors have linked with key professionals to help our membership in making those connections. The process does take years and as players shift and change and continue to adapt and learn to accept positive development whether at Westfield or another club, we can continue to link that player to their specific goals.
High school preparation, collegiate preparation, professional formation, agency, marketing and advice, are new services that the directors are now able to accomodate to members.
Present a completed player profile and a customized program will be implemented with attainable goals presented at each interval.
Westfield SC-- Jaguares SC
