Sherwood-Parkdale Rangers Soccer Club © 2024
Welcome to SPRSC Under 11 Soccer. My name is Mark Caudle and I will be in charge of running the program this summer. U11 Soccer will start Tuesday May 17 and will take place at the Norton Diamond Indoor Complex in Stratford.
Note: Practices will move back to Sherwood the week of the 23rd, our fields are not open yet. At the Indoor complex, players are asked to not put on their cleats until inside the building.
Tuesday May 17: U11 Girls: 5:30-6:45pm, U11 Boys: 6:45-8:00pm
Thursday May 19: U11 Boys: 5:30-6:45pm, U11 Girls: 6:45-8:00pm
How it will run:
Under 11 is part of Soccer Canada's Learning to Train program. The goal is first and foremost player development in a fun atmosphere. We want to give players the tools to enjoy playing soccer as they grow older. We want players to try new things and make mistakes. An emphasis will be on developing individual technique and skill on the ball as well as decision making in small sided games. Competence leads to confidence and an ability to contribute and enjoy playing the game.
Assessment Phase: The first few nights players will be run through a few drills and play. Coaches, along with myself and our technical staff, will assess the players in order to split them into teams for the upcoming season.
Divisions: The U11 league will be under the direction of the PEISA. They have decided to have two divisions at this age level. These divisions will be named White and Green. Players will be identified in the assessment in order to place them in the division which will maximize their development. During the year players may move up or down between divisions based on where the coaching staff feels they will benefit most. We hope to provide lots of opportunities for players to challenge and improve their skills.
Training: Players will train twice a week: Tuesdays and Thursdays. Exact times and locations to be announced in coming days. One night of the week everyone will run through stations, finishing with a game. Running stations as a group will ensure all players receive the same coaching and skill development. The other training session players will stay with their team and coach. Working on the skills and tactics their coach deems necessary to improve. Our technical staff will rotate through working with teams and coaches.
League: The league, as stated above, is run by the PEISA and will play a 7v7 format. No standings will be kept as the focus is on player development. Don't worry, the players still keep track. The goal is to take out the win-at-all-cost mentality. This usually results in players kicking it up the field and taking no risks. We want our players to learn how to play the game so they are successful long term.
Game Nights: Game nights will be dependent on the division players are in. As seen above game nights will be either Friday/Saturday in June. They will change to Monday/Tuesday in July. The first games will start in late May.
Player Development: Once again our goal is for players to develop ball mastery and decision making skills which will allow them to be successful in soccer into the future. This will happen through guided discovery by coaches. We want players to be able to think and learn on their own through failures. To do this players need to be given the opportunity to be put in the required situations through small sided games and drills. We encourage parents to be supportive and encourage players to try to play, instead of just kicking the ball away. Many players feel the need to get rid of the ball so they can't make a mistake. This doesn't help their development and leads to soccer becoming not enjoyable as they get to higher levels.
Coaches:
We like to have at least two volunteer coaches for each team.We have additional technical support from myself, Caitlyn McCloskey, and Emmett Lyons which means we are able to offer coaches more help and support. If you are interested in coaching U11 soccer please e-mail me at avemasoccer@gmail.com. For those interested, we will have a coaches meeting before the first night.
Gear:
At Under 11 players should have cleats, socks and shin pads. If you are having trouble getting anything please contact us and we will do our best to help you out. Players are also recommended to bring a water bottle with their name on it. Players will be provided a jersey once teams are created.
Technical Staff:
I have been involved with the Provincial Soccer program and currently hold a Provincial B coaching license with hopes of going for our National B license. Emmett and Caitlyn are both key members of the men’s and women’s UPEI Panther Soccer teams.
If there is anything you feel I haven't covered in the above information, or you have questions please feel free to send me an e-mail at avemasoccer@gmail.com and I would be more than happy to help. I look forward to coaching and meeting everyone this summer!