Other variations include:

• Boys/Girls Soccer
• Futsal
• Indoor

Phase 1: Tots Program (FUNdamentals)

• Mini Tots; Age 3yrs/4yrs
• Tiny Tots; Age 4yrs/5yrs
• Graduate Tots; Age 5yrs/6yrs
• 1 st grade FUNdamentals; Age 6yrs/8yrs

Phase 2: Recreational Soccer: Age 6yrs/8yrs (4v4 mini soccer) (FUNdamentals/Enjoying Practice)

Brit-Am supports all the recreational programs on offer throughout the local communities.

• Montgomery Soccer Inc. (MSI)
• Olney Boys and Girls Club (OBGC)
• Damascus Soccer Club (DSC)
• DC Stoddert

Phase 3: Recreational/Travel Soccer; Age 9yrs/14yrs; 7v7 - 8v8 - 11v11. (Enjoying Practice/Developing Practice)

• National Capital Soccer League (NCSL)
• Washington Area Girls Soccer (WAGS)
• BBSL
• Olney Bethesda Soccer League (OBSL)

Phase 4: School Soccer; Age 14yrs/18yrs (Middle/High School) (Training for competition/Understanding competition)

Brit-Am supports school soccer with high-school preparation camp and ongoing skill development clinics.

Phase 5: Olympic Development Program (ODP) Age 12yrs – 18yrs; (Training for Competition/ Understanding competition)

• Maryland State Youth Soccer Association (MSYSA)

Phase 6: Academy Programs; Age 15yrs/18yrs; (Understanding competition/Developing winning)

There are 3 local academy programs:

• DC United
• Potomac Soccer Club
• Baltimore Casa Mia Bays

These are elite level players with the desire to play at College and Professional level.

Phase 7: College; Age 18yrs/22yrs (Developing Winning)

• Brit-Am supports Captain U for all your information on College soccer. Go to captainu.com

Phase 8: Professional; Age 18yrs+ (Training to win)

• Major League Soccer (MLS)
• United States National Team

Phase 9: Retention, Open Age.

• Player
• Coach
• Official
• Administrator
• Supporter

The LTPD is built on age and maturity appropriate activity with a balance on practice and competition. The model takes account of the varying maturity status and the impact this may have in groups of mixed ability players.

For example;

• Age specific development
• Increased practice opportunity
• Meeting individual needs
• Seasonal programming
• Long term planning
• Progressive demand
• Recognizing key stages
• Maximizing potential

The LTPD program has a relationship with The 4 corner development model, which includes; Physical, Psychological, Technical and Social.

The three examples below would appear to be a logical description of a suitable foundation for the progress of young children who are beginning to experience LTPD.

Skill acquisition - The interwoven phases are;

• Technical development-mastering the ball
• Physical development-athletic movement
• Combining and effectively executing the correct, movement and decision on demand
• Transferring these components effectively into match play

For the coach in a soccer context; two factors to avoid are ‘Anxiety and Boredom’

• Anxiety may occur primarily when the coach expects to much from young players
• Boredom may occur when the coach expects too little

The priorities for players are;

• To enjoy their soccer experience and improve their techniques
• To develop their movement and discover the benefits of learning

The differences;

How will the differences within a group be shown?

Different groups will emerge from any chosen task and will require appropriate individual challenges.

A different task will often have an effect on players, for example; moving from ‘forging ahead’ to ‘striving to keep up’

With this in mind ; the ideal scenario for both short and long term development is to meet the individual needs of the players’ as often as possible.

LTPD is in accord with the schools physical and sports programs; these provide opportunities for young children to experience a multi-sport environment before they choose their preference- hopefully soccer.

This choice of sport will to some extent depend on the impression the children have during their soccer activities. Therefore, it is in every ones interest within soccer to make this participation as enjoyable as possible; certainly to the point where children are motivated to come back for more.

Note

The examples of player development issues in this introduction to LTPD are addressed in a general manner.

It is recognized that specific needs of children require individual reviews at personal and local levels.

The views expressed are with awareness in mind, they are not prescriptive or in any way demonstrating the many alternatives available.