The Vertical Soccer Club Setup

1. The Vertical Soccer Club Setup For Full Service Soccer Clubs with Recreational and Competitive Programs By Frank Travato, Alaska DOC

2. Program/Setup Philosophy • Cooperative Recreational and Competitive Philosophy • Vertical Approach combining the levels of recreational and competitive soccer programs through player development and coaching development • Opens options for players and coaches to move horizontally or vertically through the system • Establishment of club wide player development plan through the survey format • Establishment of club wide coach education minimums and development plan • Consistent, focused and decentralized approach to director and coaching structure

3. Director/Coaching Structure Club Technical Director Age Group Directors U6 U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 U19 Pre Comp C o m p e t I t I v e C o a c h e s Coaches U10 U12 U14 U16 U19 R e c r e a t I o n a l C o a c h e s U6 U8 U10 U12 U14 U16 U19

4. Structural Details Technical Director oversees and provides guidance for Age Group Directors Age Group Coaching Directors oversee and provide player and coach development for both recreational and competitive levels in their age group Age Group Directors can serve as competitive team coach in that age group as a last resort Age Group Directors can serve as director in more than one age group NO ALL-STAR teams for recreational teams or pre competitive teams. Recreational teams can play in any recreational tournaments offered in the area. Take pre comp academy teams as individual teams to U10 tournaments if desired. Wait until U11 to create first true single year competitive teams

5. Role of the Technical Director • -Provide Club Wide Oversight for Coaching and Player Development • -Prepare player development survey for recreational and competitive coaches. • With the Age Group Directors establish a club player development plan with age group objectives. • -Oversee the writing of the Age Group Coaching Manuals • -Technical Director will work with Age Group Director for at least one coaching clinic for each recreational and competitive age group annually • -Evaluate the Age Group Directors • Provide Technical/Activity reports monthly for the Coaching Committee or Board • Monitors coaching licensing for recreational and competitive coaches • Provide Oversight for Competitive Tryouts • College Preparation program with Age Group Directors of U16 and U19 Competitive teams

6. Role of the Age Group Director • Provide oversight for specific age group, both Recreational and Competitive • -Prepare Age Group Manuals for Recreational and Competitive Coaches with Team Coaches and Technical Director • Provide 2 coaching clinics & 1 player clinic for recreational teams in the age group annually • Work with club office in recreational team formation and recreational coach identification • Identify Competitive Team Coaches • Co conduct Competitive Team Tryouts with Team Coaches and Technical Director • Meetings with competitive coaches in their age group • Serve as Team Trainer for all competitive teams, at least once every two weeks or three weeks in an age group to assist the Team Coach in implementation of Age Group Objectives • Co-Evaluate Team Coaches with the Technical Director • Provide Parent Education for both Recreational and Competitive Parents

7. Role of the Competitive Coach Coach a designated team in training and games in an effort to develop the individual and collective talents of the players Work with the Age Group Director and Technical Director at Tryouts in selecting players and making playing up decisions Accept the role of the game coach, but also coach who understands and is committed to the big picture of the club player development and the age group objectives Coach for developmental success which leads to game success Understands the need for a balance of adversity and success in player and team development Understands the meaning of “Competitively Healthy,” Agrees that the mental health of a player effects his or her ability to perform and play the game as well as be successful in school and off field life Create a motivating and inviting training environment Communication with the players regarding the college, professional and international game Understands that respect and sportsmanship are the cornerstones of character building

8. Role of the Recreational Coach Coach a youth soccer team in practices and games Provide a fun and inviting practice and game environment Provide a safe environment for kids to play Understands that focusing on development is their number one function Does not focus or obsess about winning all of the games in the recreational league or how many goals the team scored but rather on individual player improvements Provides strength and balance for young players as they develop their view of what it means to be a soccer player and what soccer will ultimately mean to them Provide ahead-of-the-game communication and logistical planning for team members and families Understands that respect and sportsmanship are the cornerstones of character building

9. Club Wide-Player Development Creation and distribution of player development survey to all club members. Ask input for technical, tactical, psychological, and physical components for each age group. All survey’s flow to Technical Director and Age Group Directors. Directors review the survey’s add their own thinking and establish clubs age group appropriate topics for player development. Directors then create Coach Manuals for each recreational and competitive coaches. Should include: The entire player development system The specific age group objectives for their level Session plans Age group objectives should be reviewed by staff annually and updated appropriately as the players and coaches develop If possible utilize age group training venues, coordinate with competitive coaches

10. Coaching Development Required Coaching Education for all Coaches and Directors with compensation based on attendance at US Youth and USSF Courses Age group Coaching Manuals will serve as the foundation for all teams at all levels in the club. Annual Review allows for long term adaptability and flexibility of player development Attendance for director(s) at national and regional symposiums Coach Education Support Fund Serving at the State and Regional ODP levels Fox Soccer Channel

11. Recreational Program Benefits Connects the Recreational Level to the Competitive Level in a mutually productive and positive way Implementation of a club based player development program Increases in coaching education and contact with the most experienced directors/coaches in the club Recreation team formation, coach identification, office staff coordinates with AGD and Technical Director Recreational Coach who are new to soccer achieve a quicker comfort level with manuals in place aiding in the securing of the many volunteer coaches needed. These manuals provide newcomers information so they can understand their importance in the player development process and feel like they are part of something bigger than just their player or team. Opportunity for players to guest play with Competitive Teams without leaving Recreational Team Focus on Parent Education

12. Competitive Benefits Connects the Recreational Level to the Competitive Level in a mutually productive and positive way Provides consistency in player development Allows identified recreational players opportunity to fill rosters during the winter months and guest play for tournaments, serves to better stabilize budget when dealing with multi sport competitive players Increases in tryout pool by exposing recreational players to the competitive level Increased focus on player development at U6 and U8 age groups for better prepared players at competitive age groups Allows Independence and Connection for all Competitive Age Groups Focus on Parent Education

13. Club Technical Director Contract Length of term - takes up 3 years to see increases program results Compensation – Based on license level General Duties – Roles of the Technical Director DOC reports only to club president or Coaching Committee Club president and coaching committee chairperson evaluate the Technical Director Attends BOD meetings but has already emailed activity report Operate within the policy and procedure of the club

14. Age Group Directors Contract Length of term – 2 years Compensation – Based on license level General Duties – Roles of the Technical Director Age Group Director reports only to the Technical Director Technical Director evaluate the Age Group Director Operate within policy and procedure of the club

15. Competitive Coach Contract Length of term – 1 year Compensation – Based on license level General Duties – Roles of the Competitive Coach Competitive Coach reports only to the Age Group Director Age Group Director evaluates Competitive Coach Operate within policy and procedure of the club

16. Qualification Levels for Directors/Coaches Technical Director A or B, must take the course within one year National Youth License Age Group Director C, B, or A must take or audit within twelve months, must take National Youth within eighteen months Competitive Head Coach State or National D Competitive Assistant Coach E License U6 or U8 Recreational Coach U6/U8 Youth Module Certificate U10 or U12 Recreational Coach U10/U12 Youth Module Certificate U14/U16/U19 Recreational Coach E License

17. Problems Addressed with the Vertical Club Structure Playing Up Issues – conducted by Age Group Directors and Technical Director, not the involved coaches Coaches at coach meeting – comp coach contract Minimizing Club Hopping – Player development plan with new directors ideally at every age group for stimulation in the long term process. Older players see a light at the end of the tunnel with highest licensed coaches at the oldest age groups, College Support Program for U16/U19 age groups. Age Group Director and coaches geared toward age group appropriate for them and their abilities and personality Club contracts will help establish club unification in the long term Allows for Competitive Parent Coaches to stay with team, while getting additional influence from new age group director every two years Parent education at competitive and recreational levels Allows for the formation of long-term plans The Technical Director can focus on player and coaching development Minimizing the need for outside trainers by establishing age directors/trainers. Reduce or eliminate the necessity to bring trainers outside the club at an additional costs. Eliminates the need for separate and sometimes competing Recreational and Competitive Directors

18. Areas for Growth Movements Moving to this system shows respect and insight into the growth and need both directors and coaches Move to B Licensed Age Group Directors Move to Age Group Directors only in one age group Age Group Directors in U6, U8, U10, U12 to take National Youth License so that one of their coaching education clinics can be the Youth Modules to certify club recreational coaches Move to Age Group Directors only head coaching teams outside of their age group Girls Age Group Director and Boys Age Group Director in each age group Standardized comp player fees, supplement fees with inclusion of recreational players

19. Board communication with the Technical Director and Age Group Directors • Coaching Committee, keep small, 2-3 • Club president • One additional board member (vice president) • -their roles is to ensure that the contracted duties and roles are completed • Technical Director Provides activity report for the committee monthly, attends board meetings to answer questions regarding activities and give time line for growth movements in the future. •  Advise that problems can be created when the president/or coach committee members work above the Technical Director on the Committee and directly under the Technical Director as a team coach. Communication, trust and understanding of boundaries must be in place for this to work successfully. It is the responsibility of both the Committee Member/Coach and the Technical Director to set clear responsibilities to create trust and respect along the way.

20. Evaluation of Technical Director, Age Group Directors and Coaches Evaluations should take place for all those who are paid by the club. Evaluations can be difficult with the nature of soccer coaches who are on the front line for the club and feel it every day. They normally do a very good job and need to be told so. Most of the coaches have full time jobs outside of soccer. Sensitivity is required. A suggested positive approach to evaluation is that of a Cooperative Evaluation Meeting. In this meeting between the evaluator and person being evaluated, a blank evaluation form is presented to fill out together. Evaluation questions should be presented in a simple, general way; What you did right? What could you do better? What are your plans/goals for next year? Sample Measurements: Completion of roles of the position Coaching licensing Numbers of players Meeting age group objectives Over evaluation can be a big problem. It takes years of refinement to run smoother soccer operations. There is no substitute for experience as well as education. Evaluations are important for learning but so is time and experience and that needs to be kept in perspective as we create a stable and long term oriented soccer environment. Coach and Age Director evaluations are for the Technical Director. Technical Director is evaluated by the Coach Committee.

21. Vertical Soccer Club Setup This type of setup takes advantage of the power that a full service soccer club has in terms of player and coach development. It’s cornerstones are respect of all levels and having a procedure for players to experience all parts of a soccer club when and if they are ready. The system shows respect for the parent coaches moving through the system as well as the full time coaches/directors who will refine themselves and the age groups in their care. Change can bring about challenge. It must be handled sensitively but firmly as education and consistency will bring about the best possible transition and the quickest route to reaping the developmental benefits.