US Youth Soccer
Player Development Model
Mike Smith
Portland Timbers Academy Director
What is the Model?
• Key considerations for Development
• Long Term Player Development
• Age appropriate considerations
• Portland Timbers Academy setup & examples
• Additional international enhancements
• Questions & Answers
Player Development
“The problem in the U.S.A. is they start travel
soccer at too early an age. That’s totally
detrimental. It becomes more like winning and
collecting hardware than about having kids play
and learning from playing.”
Alfonso Mondelo, MLS Director of Player Development
“Play is the highest form of research.”
Albert Einstein
Key considerations for development
“As a coach, to be successful in soccer you need time to
develop your own philosophy.”
Arsene Wenger
Availability of Appropriate Facilities
Coaching Philosophy; performance, before outcome U6-14
Comprehensive Age-Appropriate Curriculum
Qualified Coaching with ongoing Education
Utilization of Small-sided games (i.e. Spain)
Individual, Team, & Club development
Facilities for Development
Access to training facilities Corner flags
Portable goals different sizes Hurdles & agility ladders
Balls of age appropriate sizes Rebound wall
Cones, different colors/sizes inc flat First aid, foam rollers,
resistance bands, athletic
Training bibs of different colors training equipment
Mannequins for free-kick Video camera filming platform
training
Locker room for team talk, video review & showers
Storage
Long Term Player Development
“There is no magic formula or short cut to successful
player development. Coaching at youth levels is all
about working with players to improve performance,
not about recruiting players to build teams and win
championships. Soccer is a player’s game and
players should be considered first when political,
administrative and coaching decisions are made.”
Bobby Howe, former US Soccer Director of Coaching,
Portland Timbers & National Team
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
National
Team
Portland
Timbers &
Thorns
Reserves
PDL Team - U23
U16 & U18 Academy Teams
U11 – U15 Timbers ODP
Pre-Academy teams
6 Timbers Regional Training Centers
Oregon Premier League/Scouting
Rec Soccer Partners/ Camp Programming
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Curriculum: What do coaches want?
Advice on what to teach for their age group
Video clips of how skills & exercises are performed
Lesson Plans & diagrams
Coaching Clinics and ongoing education
Long Term Player Development
Curriculum: What else do coaches need?
Planning concepts:
Help with periodization (peaking)
Short and Long Term development goals
Rhythm of training
Sensible tournament selection
Avoid over training or under training (burnout)
Mentoring and constructive review (evaluation)
Long Term Player Development
Focus on the 4 Pillars:
Technical (6-9) Tactical (10-12)
Physical (13-15) Mental (15-18)
Be Cognizant of:
Psychomotor, Cognitive & Psychosocial
Domains
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Long Term Player Development
Additional Soccer Training
Encouraging & Inspire Self Training!
Futsal
Indoor
Street Soccer
Beach Soccer
‘Academy’ Style Training
What is soccer?
“The beauty of the game is in its simplicity. Within
a given set of rules there are two teams who
compete to score goals against each other. Each
team consists of 11 (or fewer) individuals who must
use their abilities to play together while trying to
win the game. It’s hard to play simple. Simplicity is
GENIUS!”
Sam Snow, US Youth Soccer Technical Director
Additional Considerations
MLS Requirements
Premier League Player Development Plan
Modern science on physiology & nutrition
Video Review and Analysis
Challenge: How can we raise the bar?
Timbers-ODP Enhanced Expectations
“Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.”
Roy Keane
Respect, Respect, Respect… treat
people the way you want to be treated!
Can we provide a more Professional
Environment?
How can we together raise the bar?
Timbers-ODP Enhanced Expectations
(continued)
Official training gear (look the part)
Set report time for training / games
Team Rules (coaches establish)
Raise tempo of training (where possible)
Keep Training session logs with reports (see next
slide - photo)
Game schematics for DOC (handout)
Style of Play (what we want to be known for)
Timbers ODP Session Logs
Timbers ODP Scout Schematic
Timbers-ODP Coach Code of Conduct
No recruiting – immediate dismissal!
Strive to maintain integrity within our sport.
Know and follow all the rules and policies set forth
by club, league, state and national associations.
Work in the spirit of cooperation to provide the
players with the maximum opportunity to develop.
Be a positive role model.
Set the standard for sportsmanship.
Keep sport in proper perspective.
Encourage moral and social responsibility.
Continue your own soccer education.
Questions?
