Eagle FC’s player development is built around our mission statement To provide a positive, player-centric development approach and inclusive pathway that provides opportunities for players of all abilities. At Eagle FC, we believe that all players deserve the best possible soccer experience, and our player development model is designed to place the player and parents needs first.
What is A Player Development Model:
A development model is quite simply a pathway of steps in sequence to guide development over a period of time. In sports and in youth soccer, the focus is player development, and planning for training in all stages of the player’s growth. According to Dr. Matthew J. Robinson, Professor of Sport Management at University of Delaware, it is a framework for accountability and aligning training, games and programs, in addition, an expression of a philosophy for an organization. In other words, it is a road map developing youth soccer players for today, tomorrow, next month, next year and many years from now.
Eagle FC has elected to use the NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches player development model as the framework for grassroots programming. The NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches model was created in sync with US Soccer’s guidelines but is also one of the very best at reducing length and complexity into a development framework that is easy to understand and use by grassroots coaches. The NSCAA/United Soccer Coaches development model is also widely supported by extensive coaching education materials at the grassroots level more so than anyone else, and at a cost-effective, high quality level.
The NSCAA Player Development Model components are:
Player Development Model | The overall structure |
Principles of Play | Simplified description of common attacking and defending principles |
Player Characteristics (Stages 1-5) | Common player characteristics for each stage |
Coaching Formula (Stages 1-5) | Guide to provide coaches with the recipe for producing the optimum learning environment for players when conducting practices |
Player Skills Competency Matrix | The Competency Matrix helps coaches to know when players should be ‘Introduced’ to a skill/concept and when players should be expected to demonstrate ‘Competency’. |
Most unique and useful of these is the player competency matrix. This is a clean, easy to use skills-based matrix that helps coaches of any experience level understand what is important and appropriate for their teams age in planning and conducting practices.
The player development model as a roadmap for grassroots coaches is the first core component of the entire framework. Coaching education flows from it, and the curriculum toolset is aligned with it.