A proactive approach to development will focus on the individual and providing them with the tools they need to become the best player they can be. However, coaching can only do so much for a player, and the highest level players have the intrinsic motivation, and individual drive to do more outside of their practice. Street soccer, fun individual games, and free play outside of structured practices can bring out the best in players.

Arriving 10 to 15 minutes before the start of practice and working on your juggling, or rebounding a ball off a wall will do wonders for your first touch and distribution, and the cumulative time of quality practice with the ball will help with the player furthering their ball mastery.

Practice Away from the Field

For a player to reach the highest level it comes down to firstly enjoying what they are doing, the player must enjoy and embrace the process. This comes from being able to play in a stress free environment. Yes, there must be challenges and targets, but with correct feedback to encourage a player to continue. A player must also be disciplined enough to practice on their own away from the field, accruing hours of deliberate practice, and getting as many touches on the ball as possible.

The Conklin’s (02 Boys), can be found at fields around Fremont, staying after practice, and whether rain or poor air quality, will always find a way to practice.

Key practices you can do on your own by being creative with what you have available.

This week many Fremont YSC players will be starting their High School season with the air now clearing up.

We wish all the players involved the best of luck, and look forward to their return to Club in February.

Our older age group teams play fast, skillful, and entertaining soccer, and we hope to see this continue with their schools, with the added ingredient of the players now playing against each other as they represent their high school.

Our message to the players is to make sure they keep their bodies healthy, focusing on stretching to help reduce incidence of injuries. Healthy diet to repair the body, plenty of sleep, and make sure your grades are being maintained.

Good luck to all the schools and coaches this 2018/19 High School Season.

Tonight’s practice has been cancelled, the current AQI reading has lead us to cancel with no improvement in air quality forecast.

https://cfpub.epa.gov/airnow/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&mapcenter=1&cityid=312

The recent events in Butte County and specifically Paradise, have been devastating and our thoughts and wishes are with those who have been affected by the fires.

When developing the player it is important that we focus on the individual when we look at their progress. Too often we are quick to compare to others in all areas of life, as adults and kids. This brings about the ‘keeping up with the Jones’s’, and ‘fear of missing out’.

We never know the full background of anyone or any team we play against within league play, and this includes the ages of the players such as sports age, biological age, and chronological age.

We also focus heavily on individual development, and with this true development and winning cannot co-exist in the youth game, especially at the younger ages. Coaching creative players through their development stages involved allowing the players to problem solve and make their own decisions, play with high risk in going in to 1v1 attacking and defending situations, and playing in multiple positions.

If as a parent you are not sure on how your child is doing, take focus away from game results and look for how your child is doing with comparing. Are they happy to be in possession of the ball, are they willing to try skills in a game, do they make decisions without looking towards the coach or parent.