VIRGINIA SOCCER ASSOCIATION CLUB CURRICULUM: PART 1

VSA – SAMPLE CURRICULUM

DEAR PARENTS/PLAYERS,

THE PURPOSE OF THE VSA SAMPLE CURRICULUM IS TO GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT INTO THE LEVEL OF DETAIL AND

PROFESSIONALISM THAT IS TAKEN BY OUR CLUB EACH DAY TO DEVELOP YOUNG PEOPLE.

THIS IS JUST A SMALL INSIGHT INTO WHAT WE DO AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION

WE HAVE PROVIDED BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT SOME INFORMATION MUST REMAIN UNIQUE TO VSA. WE ARE TRUE

BELIEVERS IN “WE DO WHAT WE SAY” AND AS WE CONTINUE TO INNOVATE OUR CLUB WE WILL PROTECT WHAT MAKES

VSA SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE TO BE.

I HOPE THAT YOU ENJOY LEARNING ABOUT OUR CLUB AND FIND THIS A USEFUL RESOURCE.

SINCERELY,

MATT LACEY

VSA TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA - WHO ARE WE?CLUB PHILOSOPHY, AIMS, PATHWAY, AND CULTURE

VSA – CLUB MANTRA

“WE NEVER LOSE, WE ONLY WIN OR LEARN”

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA 2016-2017

VSA – WHO ARE WE

CULTURE OF LEARNING

CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE

CULTURE OF TOGETHERNESS

CULTURE OF A BELIEF IN YOUNG PEOPLE

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

DEVELOP THE PLAYER: WE WILL ALWAYS PUT THE PLAYER FIRST AND DEVELOP

THEM IN THE 4 KEY COMPONENTS OF THE GAME (TECHNICAL, TACTICAL,

PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL). WE WILL PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL

PLAYERS TO GROW ON THE FIELD.

DEVELOP THE PERSON: WE WILL ALWAYS STRIVE TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER

PICTURE AND CREATE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE CHARACTERISTICS AND

TRAITS TO SUCCEED AWAY FROM THE SOCCER FIELD. WE WILL VALUE HARD

WORK, HUMILITY, INTEGRITY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND A GROWTH

MINDSET ABOVE ALL ELSE.

DEVELOP THE CLUB: WE WILL WORK TOGETHER AS COACHES, PLAYERS, AND

PARENTS TO CREATE OUR CLUB THAT WE CAN BE PROUD TO BE PART OF. ON

AND OFF THE FIELD WE WILL REPRESENT THE CLUB IN THE BEST POSSIBLE

WAY, STRIVING TO BE PEOPLE THE LOCAL COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF. VSA

WILL BE UNIQUE TO US!

DEVELOP THE FUTURE: WE WILL CREATE A PATHWAY AND FUTURE FOR OUR

PLAYERS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE. ULTIMATELY WE ARE

CREATING A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR COMMUNITY!

VSA – CLUB PHILOSOPHY

THE PLAYER

THE PERSON

THE CLUB

THE FUTURE

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA- OUR AIMS

OUTSET

- CREATE A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAYER

- CREATE PROFESSIONAL PLAYERS

- CREATE COLLEGE PLAYERS

- CREATE HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS

INTRINSIC FACTORS

- CREATE PLAYERS WITH A DEEP PASSION FOR THE

GAME

- CREATE PLAYERS WHO HAVE A LOVE FOR

LEARNING

- CREATE PLAYERS WHO HAVE AN ABILITY TO

WORK HARD IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA ACADEMY MODEL

WHAT IS AN ACADEMY MODEL?“A PLACE OF STUDY OR TRAINING IN A SPECIAL FIELD”

“A CLUB DEDICATED TO LEARNING AND A DEFINED PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT”

“A CULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT THAT SPECIALIZES IN EXCELLENCE”

“A PROVEN SOCCER MODEL ACROSS TOP CLUBS IN EUROPE”

WHY INCREASED BALL CONTACT TIME

INCREASED OVERSIGHT

INCREASED FOCUS ON AREAS OF DISCIPLINE

INCREASED COMMUNICATION LINES

INCREASED FOCUS ON PLAYER AND COACH DEVELOPMENT

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA ACADEMY STRUCTURE

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

PRE-ACADEMY DIRECTOR ACADEMY DIRECTOR

ASSISTANT PRE ACADEMY JR ACADEMY DIRECTOR

GK DOC

ASSISTANT ACADEMY

DIRECTOR

PROGRAMMING TM ADMIN

REGISTRAR REC / SFL

TOURNAMENT PR MEDIA

JR ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GK DOC

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

COACHES 8-10S COACHES 15-19SCOACHES 12-14S

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY

VDA

ACADEMY

PRE-ACADEMY

JR ACADEMY

ADP

REC/SFL

NATIONAL

STATE/REGION

STATE/REGION

LOCAL/STATE

LOCAL

GRASSROOTS 74%

8%

1%

17%

VSA –KEY COMPONENTS

COACHING

CLUB COACHING EDUCATION

LICENSES / QUALIFICATIONS

MENTORING / DIRECTOR

SUPPORT

ORGANIZATION / PLANNING /

PREPARATION / PERFORMANCE

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

AGE SPECIFIC CURRICULUMS

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT

PATHWAY / PROGRESSION

CLUB PHILOSOPHY / STYLE OF

PLAY / SYSTEMS OF PLAY

PLAYER STANDARDS AND

EXPECTATIONS

PARENT EDUCATION

ESTABLISH EXPECTATIONS AND

STANDARDS

UNDERSTANDING AND

KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROCESS

RESULTS VS DEVELOPMENT

SUPPORT AND

ENCOURAGEMENT

ADMINISTRATION

COMMUNICATION

ORGANIZATION

SUPPORT SYSTEM

TRUST

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA – CULTURE OF GROWTH / HARD WORK

DESIRE TO LEARN BELIEF IN HARD WORK

CREATES TALENT

EMBRACE CHALLENGES DOES NOT FEAR FAILURE

DOES NOT FEAR FAILUREPOTENTIAL IS UNKOWN

AND A JOURNEY

SEEKS FEEDBACK SEEKS GROWTH

OPPORTUNITIES

AVOIDS FAILURE DESIRE TO LOOK SMART

AVOIDS CHALLENGESHAPPY IN COMFORT

ZONE

AVOIDS FEEDBACKBELIEF THAT TALENT IS

INNATE

AVOIDS GROWTH

OPPORTUNITIES

LIMITED EFFORT TO

LEARNVSA GROWTH MINDSET

FIXED MINDSET

COACHING PROGRAM

What?

Who?

How?

COACH

6 COACHES EDUCATION SESSIONS

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

VYSA CLINICS

LA LIGA COACHING COURSE

USSF CLINICS

IN-HOUSE EVALUATIONS – ON

AND OFF FIELDS

VIDEO FEEDBACK

VSA SESSION PLANNER

WEEKLY FEEDBACK

WE DO

VSA – WHAT DO WE TEACH?COACHING/PLAYER STANDARDS, ATT/DEF PHILOSOPHY, STYLE/SYSTEM OF PLAY

VSA – COACHING STANDARDS

TOP 5

1) COACHES MUST HAVE A SESSION PLAN - NO EXCUSES

2) WHAT ARE YOUR OBJECTIVES FOR YOUR SESSION

3) ALL PRACTICES MUST REFLECT AND REINFORCE CLUB PLAYER DEVELOPMENT PLAN

4) COACHING ATTIRE - ALL COACHES MUST WEAR CLEATS, HAVE VSA ATTIRE ON, LOOK

PROFESSIONAL, NO 3/4 LENGTHS, SHIRTS TUCKED IN

5) MUST BE ON TIME TO ALL SESSIONS AND GAMES

* Full rules only disclosed to VSA member

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

VSA – PLAYER STANDARDS

TOP 5

1) GREET COACH AND EACH OTHER WITH HAND SHAKE

2) PLAYERS MUST WEAR CORRECT VSA ATTIRE, BRING A PUMPED UP BALL AND A DRINK TO

PRACTICE / VSA CLUB PRACTICE SHIRT, BLUE SHORTS AND BLUE SOCKS

3) ALL SHIRTS MUST BE TUCKED IN

4) BAGS MUST BE HANGED UP ON FENCE – ORGANIZED AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL

5) GIVE MAXIMUM EFFORT AT EVERY PRACTICE AND EVERY GAME

* Full rules only disclosed to VSA member

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

ATTACKING PHILOSOPHY

1- ATTACKING POSSESSION TO SCORE

2- RISK VS SAFETY – CONFIDENCE/SHAPE

3- ATTACKING SHAPE TO COVER 5 ZONES OF THE FIELD – EXPAND

4- BUILD THROUGH THE THIRDS OF THE FIELDS – FINAL 3RD IMPROVISATION

5- ENCOURAGE TEAM + INDIVIDUAL DECISION MAKING – INDIVIDUAL MUST ENJOY THE BALL

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

ATTACKING PHILOSOPHY

1- BUILDING OUT THE BACK

- #1 TO FWD/MID LINE

- #1 TO #2/#3

- #1 TO #4/#5- #6/#2/#3

KEY POINTS:

ATT SHAPE

TECH APP

TACT AWARENESS

TRANSITION- #'S UP

2- COMBINE/CONNECT/CREATE :

- PLAYING THROUGH THE

#6/#8/#10

- FLANK PLAY WITH #2/#7, #3/#11

- DIRECT THROUGH #9

- POSSESS TO CREATE - BACK WARDS

AND SIDEWAYS

KEY POINTS:

ANGLES OF SUPPORT

BREAKING LINES

COMBO

SWITCH PT OF ATTACK

IND MUST WANT THE BALL- WE

NEVER FAIL

3- IMPROVISATION, MOBILITY,

DISGUISE

- PLAYING THROUGH #9/#10

- FLANK PLAY

- FREEDOM

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

1- STARTS WITH INDIVIDUAL MINDSET; AGGRESSIVE, PRO-ACTIVE, POSTITIVE

2- STEP TO THE BALL

3- DEFEND TO WIN THE BALL BACK AND ATTACK

4- MENTALITY- "WE HATE TO LOSE THE BALL 1V1/ WE HATE TO CONCEDE"

5- AS A TEAM

WWW.VSAONLINE.ORG

DEFENSIVE PHILOSOPHY

DEFENSIVE 3RD:

- #'S DOWN

- ZONAL VS MAN

- DENY/DELAY/PREP?

- DEFENDING IN THE 18 YARD

BOX

- FORCE WIDE OR CENTRAL

- WIDE AREAS

- OFFSIDE

MIDFIELD 3RD:

- PRESS

- PRESS MIDFIELD 3

- DENY/DELAY MIDFIELD 3

- FORCE INTO WIDE OR CENTRAL

AREAS USING MIDFIELD 3

- DEFENDING #'S DOWN

- ZONAL VS MAN

ATTACKING 3RD:

- PRESS FRONT 3

- DENY/DELAY FRONT 3

- FORCE INTO WIDE OR

CENTRAL AREAS USING FRONT

3

- DEFENDING USING

OVERLOAD- #'S UP

VSA JR ACADEMY (U9/U10) SYSTEM OF PLAY

9

88

234

1

9

8 211

4

1

5

8

99

23

4

1

FORMATION: 1-3-2-1 FORMATION: 1-2-3-1 FORMATION: 1-3-1-2

VSA PRE ACADEMY (U11/U12) SYSTEM OF PLAY

711

4

1

5

8

9

23

4

1

FORMATION: 1-2-4-1FORMATION: 1-3-3-1

9

6

10711

6

10

23

4

1

FORMATION: 1-3-2-2

11 7

VSA PRE ACADEMY/ACADEMY U13+ SYSTEM OF PLAY

4

1

5

8

9

23

1

FORMATION: 1-4-4-2

(DIAMOND)FORMATION: 1-4-3-3

6

10

711

1

FORMATION: 1-4-2-3-1

6

10

45

711

88

23 23

45

6 6

10

9

711