The Key for ENTRY LEVEL soccer players is two-fold:
FUN TRAINING ENVIRONMENT which is driven towards foundational understanding of the game which meets the psychosocial level of the athlete. For example a 5-year old would not be taught as many team concepts at entry level, as a 14 year old at entry level. Keeping the environment FUN will require patience from the leader/coach as fundamentals are learned through failure and mistakes.
BALANCED COMPETITION ENVIRONMENT that provides opportunity to compete against similar level and also against higher level competition. It is important for 60-70% of the competition to occur against similar level competition. This facilitates growth through success. It is also important to that about 30-40% of the competition occur against higher level competition which exposes the entry level player to the next level and something to aspire towards.
FUN TRAINING ENVIRONMENT which is driven towards foundational understanding of the game which meets the psychosocial level of the athlete. For example a 5-year old would not be taught as many team concepts at entry level, as a 14 year old at entry level. Keeping the environment FUN will require patience from the leader/coach as fundamentals are learned through failure and mistakes.
BALANCED COMPETITION ENVIRONMENT that provides opportunity to compete against similar level and also against higher level competition. It is important for 60-70% of the competition to occur against similar level competition. This facilitates growth through success. It is also important to that about 30-40% of the competition occur against higher level competition which exposes the entry level player to the next level and something to aspire towards.
TRY TO AVOID THESE POTENTIAL HARMFUL ENVIRONMENTS for ENTRY LEVEL
COMPETITION & RESULT DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT: Entry level players need opportunity to learn through failure, where the consequence of failure is learning and not disappointment from lack of desired result.
EXPERIENCED ENVIRONMENT: Entry level players are likely to become very frustrated if entering an environment with seasoned players. The seasoned players might become frustrated with the Entry Level player as well.
UNINFORMED COACHING ENVIRONMENT: If possible entry level players are actually best served by experienced coaches. Experienced coaches are more apt to help provide a foundational platform for learning, achieving, and enjoying the sport.
COACHES INCAPABLE OF DEMONSTRATING: There is still a common theory of learning that we learn best by doing, and second best by "seeing" and then "doing". Even the most experienced coach, who is out of prime, may not be able to provide this element. A coach who can "demo" proper mechanics, technique and movement is important. Sometimes the "ideal" is a seasoned coach, with a "younger" coach who can assist as the demo coach.
COMPETITION & RESULT DRIVEN ENVIRONMENT: Entry level players need opportunity to learn through failure, where the consequence of failure is learning and not disappointment from lack of desired result.
EXPERIENCED ENVIRONMENT: Entry level players are likely to become very frustrated if entering an environment with seasoned players. The seasoned players might become frustrated with the Entry Level player as well.
UNINFORMED COACHING ENVIRONMENT: If possible entry level players are actually best served by experienced coaches. Experienced coaches are more apt to help provide a foundational platform for learning, achieving, and enjoying the sport.
COACHES INCAPABLE OF DEMONSTRATING: There is still a common theory of learning that we learn best by doing, and second best by "seeing" and then "doing". Even the most experienced coach, who is out of prime, may not be able to provide this element. A coach who can "demo" proper mechanics, technique and movement is important. Sometimes the "ideal" is a seasoned coach, with a "younger" coach who can assist as the demo coach.