Fredericksburg FC
Fredericksburg FC POOL SYSTEM U9 - U10 BOYS AND GIRLS
2016-2017 Season David Shaw | Technical Director of Coaching
FREDERICKSBURG FC
U9 - U10 BOYS AND GIRLS
Parents, My name is David Shaw, and I am the Technical Director for Fredericksburg FC. I would like to take this opportunity to address and explain how the 2008 (U9) and 2007 (U10) Boys and Girls Age Group will set up for the 2016-2017 Season. For 2015-2016 Season, the Fredericksburg FC U9 Boys and Girls Age Group reverted to a Pool System, as opposed to a Black, Red, Gold Team process. The issues that we felt we were having for the U9 Boys and Girls Age Groups in recent Years were as follows:
Inappropriate travel distances for Games and Tournaments Extra costs with League / Tournament, Registration, Hotels, Coach Expenses Too little focus on Player Development, and too much focus on Winning Player exposure to multiple Staff Coaches, as opposed to just one Coach With all these factors, we felt we needed to remove the U9 Boys and Girls Age Group from the standard League / Tournament format that happens across the State / Region / Country. We wanted to focus on Player Development, and less stress for Parents regarding Travel and Cost. Our solution was to implement a Pool System that allowed all Players to participate and grow at their own speed. We managed to accomplish this by hiring a fantastic Group of Staff that would oversee and work together in line with the Club's direction and Curriculum. In the new Pool System, the Players would work with a different Pool Staff Coach each Week, and Players would get the chance to Train with different Players and Groups in the Pool each Week. In the old format and structure, this was very difficult. At Tryouts, the Players were assigned to a "Black" Team or a "Red" Team, we felt that this worked against their development. It also restricted the Players to just working with that one Coach for the next 12 months. Again, a philosophy that we felt was not productive, as Players need to hear multiple voices, and experience different Coaches and their methods. This is all a non-issue, as all the Coaches are working off a Club Curriculum, and the guidance of the Club Technical Staff. We then formed a great partnership with the Richmond Strikers, Northern Virginian Soccer Club, and Arlington. These were all Clubs that were having the same issues we were, and wanted to create the same Program that we were looking for at Fredericksburg FC. We arranged a 12-month Schedule that allowed our U9 Boys and Girls Teams to play appropriate and efficient Crossover Games throughout the Year, without the extra cost and travel that they would incur in a typical League / Tournament Format. All these Cross Over Games are Free and no extra cost for the Players and Families participating. Below is what the Cross Over Game Schedule looked like:
Fall 2015 Season August: Host Club - Northern Virginian Soccer Club September: Host Club - Richmond Strikers October: Host Club - Arlington November: Host Club - Fredericksburg FC
FREDERICKSBURG FC
U9 - U10 BOYS AND GIRLS
Spring 2016 Season February: Host Club - Northern Virginian Soccer Club March: Host Club - Arlington April: Host Club - Richmond Strikers May: Host Club - Fredericksburg FC
As you can see, we limited the Crossover Games to just once a month. These Cross Over Games would take place on a Saturday morning / lunchtime, and would only be for 2 hours. The other Three Saturdays of the month, Fredericksburg FC would host their own "In-House" Games on a Saturday morning at Fredericksburg FC Park. The "In-House" Games were fantastic for Players to play amongst each other, as it allowed us to move Players from Field to Field based on the progress and skill set. The main Goal was to create an environment that all Players could find success in. This saved Parents and Families a large amount of money in fees, and also a large amount of hours traveling in the Car. Moving forward, this is what our U9 and U10 Boys and Girls Program will look like each Year beginning this Fall 2016. The benefits the Players and Families have received over the last 12 months have been fantastic, and we are looking forward to this Group of 2008 and 2007 Age Players to enjoy the same experience. The majority of the Players in the current Fredericksburg FC U5-8 Boys and Girls Academy are very used to this similar System, so the transition to U9 and U10 should not be too much of a change for all. As stated, we will be extending this Pool System into the U10 Boys and Girls Age Group for the 2016-2017 Season as well. This will mean that both the U9 and U10 Boys and Girls at Fredericksburg FC will all be under the Pool System, and involved in the Cross Over Games with Richmond Strikers, Arlington, and Northern Virginia Soccer Club. Neither Age group will play in any Leagues. The Assessment Dates for the U9 and U10 Age Groups are not processed as a standard Youth Soccer "Tryout". Hence why we do not call them a "Tryout". "Tryout" means that Players "make the cut" or "do not make the cut". We do not believe in this at such young Ages. Players will take a few Years before we can decide on what level Team in best for them moving forward, as the kids all develop and progress at different Ages and speed. The Assessment day will be a chance for the Staff to meet your Son or Daughter, and assess where they are at in order for us to prepare for next Season. Our Goal is to provide all Players at the Assessment a home to play within the Fredericksburg FC U9 and U10 Pool System. With the appropriate Training and Development, that Player will be ready to be assigned to a Team when they get to the U11 Boys and Girls Age Group. Thank you for your time reading this information, and the Club is looking forward to Coaching your Son and Daughter in the future. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or arrange a time to meet and discuss any concerns. David Shaw Technical Director of Coaching - Fredericksburg FC
2016-2017 Season David Shaw | Technical Director of Coaching
FREDERICKSBURG FC
U9 - U10 BOYS AND GIRLS
Parents, My name is David Shaw, and I am the Technical Director for Fredericksburg FC. I would like to take this opportunity to address and explain how the 2008 (U9) and 2007 (U10) Boys and Girls Age Group will set up for the 2016-2017 Season. For 2015-2016 Season, the Fredericksburg FC U9 Boys and Girls Age Group reverted to a Pool System, as opposed to a Black, Red, Gold Team process. The issues that we felt we were having for the U9 Boys and Girls Age Groups in recent Years were as follows:
Inappropriate travel distances for Games and Tournaments Extra costs with League / Tournament, Registration, Hotels, Coach Expenses Too little focus on Player Development, and too much focus on Winning Player exposure to multiple Staff Coaches, as opposed to just one Coach With all these factors, we felt we needed to remove the U9 Boys and Girls Age Group from the standard League / Tournament format that happens across the State / Region / Country. We wanted to focus on Player Development, and less stress for Parents regarding Travel and Cost. Our solution was to implement a Pool System that allowed all Players to participate and grow at their own speed. We managed to accomplish this by hiring a fantastic Group of Staff that would oversee and work together in line with the Club's direction and Curriculum. In the new Pool System, the Players would work with a different Pool Staff Coach each Week, and Players would get the chance to Train with different Players and Groups in the Pool each Week. In the old format and structure, this was very difficult. At Tryouts, the Players were assigned to a "Black" Team or a "Red" Team, we felt that this worked against their development. It also restricted the Players to just working with that one Coach for the next 12 months. Again, a philosophy that we felt was not productive, as Players need to hear multiple voices, and experience different Coaches and their methods. This is all a non-issue, as all the Coaches are working off a Club Curriculum, and the guidance of the Club Technical Staff. We then formed a great partnership with the Richmond Strikers, Northern Virginian Soccer Club, and Arlington. These were all Clubs that were having the same issues we were, and wanted to create the same Program that we were looking for at Fredericksburg FC. We arranged a 12-month Schedule that allowed our U9 Boys and Girls Teams to play appropriate and efficient Crossover Games throughout the Year, without the extra cost and travel that they would incur in a typical League / Tournament Format. All these Cross Over Games are Free and no extra cost for the Players and Families participating. Below is what the Cross Over Game Schedule looked like:
Fall 2015 Season August: Host Club - Northern Virginian Soccer Club September: Host Club - Richmond Strikers October: Host Club - Arlington November: Host Club - Fredericksburg FC
FREDERICKSBURG FC
U9 - U10 BOYS AND GIRLS
Spring 2016 Season February: Host Club - Northern Virginian Soccer Club March: Host Club - Arlington April: Host Club - Richmond Strikers May: Host Club - Fredericksburg FC
As you can see, we limited the Crossover Games to just once a month. These Cross Over Games would take place on a Saturday morning / lunchtime, and would only be for 2 hours. The other Three Saturdays of the month, Fredericksburg FC would host their own "In-House" Games on a Saturday morning at Fredericksburg FC Park. The "In-House" Games were fantastic for Players to play amongst each other, as it allowed us to move Players from Field to Field based on the progress and skill set. The main Goal was to create an environment that all Players could find success in. This saved Parents and Families a large amount of money in fees, and also a large amount of hours traveling in the Car. Moving forward, this is what our U9 and U10 Boys and Girls Program will look like each Year beginning this Fall 2016. The benefits the Players and Families have received over the last 12 months have been fantastic, and we are looking forward to this Group of 2008 and 2007 Age Players to enjoy the same experience. The majority of the Players in the current Fredericksburg FC U5-8 Boys and Girls Academy are very used to this similar System, so the transition to U9 and U10 should not be too much of a change for all. As stated, we will be extending this Pool System into the U10 Boys and Girls Age Group for the 2016-2017 Season as well. This will mean that both the U9 and U10 Boys and Girls at Fredericksburg FC will all be under the Pool System, and involved in the Cross Over Games with Richmond Strikers, Arlington, and Northern Virginia Soccer Club. Neither Age group will play in any Leagues. The Assessment Dates for the U9 and U10 Age Groups are not processed as a standard Youth Soccer "Tryout". Hence why we do not call them a "Tryout". "Tryout" means that Players "make the cut" or "do not make the cut". We do not believe in this at such young Ages. Players will take a few Years before we can decide on what level Team in best for them moving forward, as the kids all develop and progress at different Ages and speed. The Assessment day will be a chance for the Staff to meet your Son or Daughter, and assess where they are at in order for us to prepare for next Season. Our Goal is to provide all Players at the Assessment a home to play within the Fredericksburg FC U9 and U10 Pool System. With the appropriate Training and Development, that Player will be ready to be assigned to a Team when they get to the U11 Boys and Girls Age Group. Thank you for your time reading this information, and the Club is looking forward to Coaching your Son and Daughter in the future. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or arrange a time to meet and discuss any concerns. David Shaw Technical Director of Coaching - Fredericksburg FC
