OUR BELIEF: We strive to develop well-rounded athletes by focusing on three main areas: mental resilience, physical health, and technical abilities. Our goal is to support each player’s holistic growth, both within and outside of soccer. Building a mindset geared towards success is at the core of our coaching philosophy. We prioritize the long-term development of each player over immediate wins. Above all, we encourage our players to enjoy the game while continuously progressing on their personal journey.
OUR PLAYING PHILOSOPHY: We take an active approach, focusing on maintaining possession of the ball. Our aim is to dictate the flow of the game by starting attacks from our defensive positions, with the goal of creating individual opportunities by spreading out our opponents’ defense. We place importance on quickly transitioning to defense when we’re without the ball. Whether in possession or not, our style emphasizes teamwork, organization, and coordination in every aspect of play.
PLAY-PRACTICE-PLAY IS HOW WE TRAIN: We want our staff to be mentors as well as coaches. We don’t just focus on soccer skills; we also prioritize helping players think critically and solve problems on their own. Instead of constantly telling them what to do, we encourage them to find their own solutions. Our approach is centered around the players, encouraging them to take risks on the field and learn from their experiences. We also emphasize important values like responsibility, humility, and accountability, both on and off the field.
As coaches we aim to guide players through a process of discovery rather than overwhelming them with excessive direction. Following a “play-practice-play” model, we facilitate a journey where players actively engage in problem-solving and tactical decision-making during gameplay.
Instead of spoon-feeding solutions, coaches encourage critical thinking, allowing players to uncover answers themselves. This approach not only enhances players’ tactical abilities on the field but also fosters valuable coping and problem-solving skills applicable beyond soccer.
Our training sessions adhere to a structured “play, practice, play” approach. It is our pathway for player development. Beginning with game-like activities, we intentionally create scenarios to provoke specific challenges. Coaches then step back, observing and listening as players naturally encounter these challenges.
Next, we dissect the issue, breaking it down into technical and tactical components through focused exercises, emphasizing repetition to reinforce principles within the game context.
Finally, the session transitions into small-sided and full-sided games, where players have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills in realistic situations.
This holistic approach, focuses on opening player’s pathways for optimal learning, ensures that information is absorbed effectively and delivered efficiently, maximizing growth potential.
At our club, we extend these coaching principles to our families as well:
- Parents are encouraged to engage by asking thoughtful questions that prompt players to find solutions independently.
- We want them to be able to engage and ask their player what the theme of their practice session was, what did they learn, how can it help them in games.
- They are encouraged to listen actively as athletes identify and address challenges during matches, and to acknowledge and praise players for experimenting with new skills.
This collective effort cultivates a club culture centered on the development of independent, creative leaders among our players and coaches alike. By providing the tools and opportunities for creative problem-solving across all aspects, we empower our community to thrive both on and off the field.
Play-Practice-Play As Our Model
What is the Play-Practice-Play Model: Developed and endorsed by US Soccer, this model is a teaching approach tailored for the long-term growth of players. This season, we’re introducing this model to Greater Cleveland, empowering coaches to structure training sessions that seamlessly transition players from a practice with high game context to a more focused one, before circling back to apply what they learned in a small or large sided game.
Why use the Play-Practice-Play Model?
Play 1: Promotes decision making, gives players pictures they may see in the game, allows coaches an opportunity to observe & identify.
Practice: Simplifies pictures, often easier to perform so allows success, can focus on specific technique/skill which may allow more coaching information.
Play 2: Allows players to attempt to transfer tasks performed in the ‘play’ back into the more complex decision making process and environment of a game.
Psychological Elements: Provides a natural rhythm to players’ learning.
Our Ask: Parents, we kindly ask for your patience as we implement this model. It’s a process, and we understand that perfection won’t happen overnight. However, we’re committed to making strides towards improvement. You should begin to notice positive changes and growth in your player and their coaches as we incorporate and instill this methodology and its expectations into our program. This initiative spans across all levels, from recreational teams to those competing in State Leagues. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work towards enhancing the soccer experience for everyone involved.