Registration for the 2012-13 ODP Player Pool is now available. If your son or daughter was selected to the Player Pool in their age-group, please click here for additional registration information and to complete their registration.
 

SOCCER SAFETY TIPS FROM AYSA AS WE ENTER A

NEW SEASON:

AYSA would like to provide a few reminders to all soccer players, parents and to anyone attending the fields for practices or games:

CONCUSSION AWARENESS:

AYSA would like to encourage everyone (Players, Coaches & Parents) to take a few moments and watch a comprehensive video on concussion awareness created by the CDC (Center for Disease Control). 

Although all players registered with AYSA have had a parent or guardian sign our Concussion Awareness Form, we would like to provide and remind everyone of our "Head Injuries Guidelines & Procedures" form and request that everyone review it again when time permits. 

AYSA takes concussion awareness seriously and we appreciate the enhanced awareness of our soccer community!

  

Both of these are fantastic opportunities to support our sponsor...  Feel free to participate in both! 

For more information on Port of Subs, please visit their website at:  http://www.portofsubs.com

SEPTEMBER FEATURE ARTICLE: 

The purpose of youth sports is to teach children basic skills of the game, develop a better understanding of the game and instill a life-long passion for the game. In addition, we are hoping to develop character, confidence, positive self-image and responsibility which assists' the individual to become a more impactful member of the community. We would like children to be able to flourish as an individual but yet understand how to function within a team.  

Club leaders are in an awesome position to influence young children in a positive way. We must hold ourselves accountable to high ethical standards and never make decisions that put players, parents, coaches and club administrators in compromising positions. This will only cause conflict between "purpose driven mission" and "selfish ambition." Our search for excellence should be focused on the process and not the result. If the process is correct, the result will be achieved and players will gain the success they have earned. 

However in today's world of instant gratification and social media have we forgotten these values and used our children to create a better social standing for ourselves? Are we willing to sacrifice learning, growth, development and lifelong enjoyment of the sport for short term success with the over-emphasis of winning? Have we professionalized the game by removing the innocence and basic premise for play (fun and enjoyment) to a more conventional thought of "what can you do for me now, win at all costs mentality?  There are 3.6 million registered players with US Youth Soccer (children between the ages of 6-18). In Arizona we have over 33,500 but expect for substantial growth as the popularity of the game continues to grow. However by the age of 13 studies have shown that over 70% of those kids will no longer be playing the childhood game they have learned to love at a young age. The big question is why and what can we do to keep kids playing longer?

Since club soccer is such an integral piece in the process of player development, the answer lies in the mission of the soccer club. The mission should not be centered around winning championships. Winning is a direct result of the quality of work we do with the players and will occur if we are truly engaged in teaching players the game through a sound developmental philosophy and the understanding of what children need at specific ages and levels of play. Winning should not be the driving force behind the developmental model.

This approach may allow us to have short-term success but in the end will cause long term failure. Players will not have the necessary skills to progress through the game as they age and will become frustrated and discouraged as they are challenged. As a parent, do you measure your child's success by how many games they have won or by the skills they have learned? Do we really think that there should be national soccer rankings for u7, u8 and u9 teams?  

In addition, when winning becomes the primary objective the line between ethical and unethical behavior will become very blurry. Club leaders, for the most part, are well intentioned and attempt to do the right things for the kids. It is their passion and love for the game that keep them involved. However there will come a point where some make poor decisions or turn their backs on questionable actions within their own clubs, simply to attain success. Is it ethical for a coach to "recruit" a player to their team after they have already given their word to another team? Are false promises or player incentives acceptable to entice a player to come to a specific team?  

The question of what is right or wrong should never be asked in any "ethical" situation. Those types of questions will cause a conflict between "mission and ambition" as well as darken the moral principles that we need to use to make correct decisions. In addition are you aware that some of these issues could jeopardize your child's amateur status within the sport as well as possibly affect their eligibility to play in college under current NCAA Rules and Guidelines?  

Doug Shank, AYSA Coaching Education Staff and Director of Youth Academy to Sereno Soccer Club

NEXT MONTH:

"The Drive for Excellence"

Is there a such thing as over-competitiveness?