For the Fall 2009 season, the Mahwah Recreation Soccer Program is proud to announce that we have contracted Ashley's Soccer Camp, the premier soccer organization in NJ, to assist in running our 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd & 4th grade Divisions. Ashley's will not only develop a customized curriculum for these grades, they will also help the parents become proficient and knowledgeable coaches. A professional trainer will run weeks #1-4 of the practice sessions with the parent/coach assisting the trainer. During weeks #5-7, the parent/coach will co-lead the practices with the trainer. In weeks # 8-9, the parent/coach will lead and the professional trainer will assist and by week #10, the parent/coach will assume a full lead position. In this way, we hope the parent/coach will become more adept at coaching soccer at the higher levels and stay involved with their child and the team's progress throughout the years to come.
Games will be structured very differently, with the 1st and 2nd graders playing in a 4 v 4 format with no goalkeepers. This design is structured to maximize each child's touch on the ball, thereby increasing their mastery of dribbling, passing, and receiving a soccer ball. Please read the following link on the why we use small-sided fields:
why_small_sided_games.doc. Games will be played on 1/2 field (25 X 35 yards) and each team will be split in half and rotated in a quadrant-styled method. 3rd & 4th graders will begin playing 5 v 5 during weeks #1-4, then move to 6 v 6 for weeks #5-7 and finally playing 7 v 7 for weeks #8-10. Goalkeepers will be used throughout. Parents who have not volunteered to coach will take an active role in this process as well, as they will be asked to stand on the sidelines and kick any balls that go out of bounds back into play, to ensure continuous, rapid play. Coaches and subs will stand between two fields designated for play.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOUR CHILD?
If your child is playing in one of the grades listed above, he/she will receive professional training throughout the soccer season at recreational rates. This is a super value for you and your child! Our philosophy is to further develop our young children so they become the best soccer players they can be. We hope, in the years to come, this will affect the stature of soccer in Mahwah and will positively impact the High School teams. In addition, each parent will receive a comprehensive evaluation of their child's performance and development at the end of the season. This analysis will assist the parent and child in addressing any shortcomings in their development as well as point out their strengths. We hope that this communicative process initiated by an objective trainer will assist the children in furthering their soccer careers.
WHY DID THE SOCCER PROGRAM FEEL A NEED TO CONTRACT ASHLEYS?
Over the last 9 months, the soccer committee performed an in-depth analysis of not only the recreation soccer program, but the High School teams as well. We conducted interviews with the High School Coaches and discovered that the level of talent and participation pool at that level just wasn't up to the expectations of the coaches. Moreover, we have found it increasingly difficult to obtain volunteer coaches to fill the 5th-8th grade recreation teams' needs. Last year, we had to fold two teams because no parents stepped up to coach these teams. This resulted in moving the kids from these teams to other teams, resulting in an overcrowded roster for the remaining teams. When we interviewed a number of parents who were coaches and declined coaching the latter age groups, we discovered that many felt uncomfortable or unsure of the game's strategies and skill development skills at the higher age levels.
Additionally, we noticed that players were being taught the game in different ways each year, depending on their particular coach. We recognize that many parents who volunteer to coach have played the game and are very verse in the rules and game strategies; however, there are also those well-meaning folks who aren't as soccer savvy.
ARE WE PHASING THE PARENTS OUT AS COACHES?
ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! As a matter of fact, we are endeavoring to do just the opposite. One of our major philosophical points was to ensure that Ashley's train not only our children, but our parents on how to be a better, more sound coach. We feel it's critical to keep the parent's engaged with the process--which is why our practices are tailored to allow the parents to eventually take the lead position as a coach as the season progresses--under the watchful tutelage of these professional trainers. We expect to see the parents become more confident coaches, and to continue to coach as their kids move to 5th grade and beyond, which has historically been the most difficult period to get parents to coach. Additionally, each parent/coach will receive the same coaching techniques and strategies to ensure a unified, consistent approach to the game.
IS THIS BEING DONE TO BENEFIT THE "TRAVEL" ORGANIZATION?
Once again, our main goal is to develop our children so that they are better equipped and more confident in playing the game at their current level and eventually, at the high school level. We are hopeful that any travel organization, especially our own town's program, sees the transformation and progression and that they take note of its success. Ideally, we would like to see all programs of any sport gear themselves to develop the children in a fun, learning atmosphere; however, we wouldn't force our philosophies on any private organizations nor would the converse occur. This is about making our recreation program better--if other's take note and move in this direction--well, as they say, imitation is the best form of flattery!
ASSESSING THIS PROGRAM:
Shortly, we will have an evaluation form for any parents and/or coaches to use in assessing this program. We want you to convey any positive and/or negative comments, as we will continually evaluate the course curriculums and work with Ashley's in adapting them to our particular needs. So please take the time, at some point during the soccer season, to send us your critique--your feedback is vital for this program's success. All evaluations will be kept strictly confidential and will be used only for the purposes of evaluating the program.