Player Development About Player Development
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27 Oct 2011
Advancing Every Player
The game of soccer is a complex interaction of 22 players, yet the singular goal of the game is to outscore your opponents. There are many ways to achieve this, but it is generally accepted that players enjoy the game more when they get to touch the ball as much as possible.
In order to be successful in the game, it is important for players to master the fundamentals – ball control and manipulation, dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting, heading and tackling. When a player has a solid grasp of the fundamentals – a strong foundation in the game – he or she will be able to progress to the more complex skills required for success at the highest levels of the game.
The OSC philosophy is to focus on teaching players the core skills required for lifelong success in the game. Only by mastering the fundamentals will players be equipped for success at the elite levels of the game, be it provincial, national, university or professional.
OSC coaches will develop players patiently and progressively, understanding that all players develop at different rates. Through the OSC network of coaches, players will be continually assessed, allowing them to move up or down the competitive spectrum so that their developmental needs are met. At no time will winning be prioritized over the development of our players.
The goal of the club is to produce players who are technically proficient, tactically aware, physically athletic and mentally confident. This is a comprehensive approach to player development, and the OSC believes that this approach will maximize every player’s enjoyment of the game of soccer, for as long as they choose to play the game, as well as providing a pathway for our top players to reach the highest levels of the game.
Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) is the CSA’s soccer-specific adaptation of the Long-Term Athlete Development model (LTAD) developed by Canadian Sport Centres. LTAD is a scientific model for periodized athlete training and development that respects and utilizes the natural stages of physical, mental, and emotional growth in athletes, and it has already been adopted by major sports organizations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada. Like the LTAD program, LTPD is designed to:
• Promote lifelong enjoyment of physical activity.
• Provide a structured player development pathway.
• Describe best practices for elite player development.
• Create long-term excellence.
LTPD is based on general findings that the greater the quality of player preparation, the greater the likelihood that players of all abilities will remain active throughout their lifetimes, and the greater the likelihood that the performance peaks of those who pursue excellence will be higher and maintained over a longer period.
Sport research shows that rushing into competition frequently results in technical, physical, tactical, psychological and emotional shortcomings that hinder performance. While premature competition actually detracts from performance and achievement, progressive player development that follows a balanced formula of training, competition, and recovery tends to produce longer involvement in sport and higher achievement.
LTPD is designed to promote lifelong wellness for all soccer participants and optimal performances for elite players, particularly in the growth and development years when performances can become unstable and lead to dropout. LTPD encourages players to enjoy the game and improve their performances through:
• Logical and integrated training and practice programs.
• Application of scientific principles in growth, development, and maturation.
• Provision of an optimal structure for competition at all stages of LTPD.
