SABR: Player Development is the ticket to success

By Gary Curreri

Youth soccer players will go through all types of things while learning the game.

The one underlying factor is learning the four pillars of the game – technical, tactical, physical, and psychological – and the best way to accomplish that is through player development. SABR has made that a priority for its youth recreational players.

SABR Director of Coaching Carrie Barker said the club uses various initiatives put forth by US Soccer, including 4v4 for players under 8, 7v7 for 9—and 10-year-olds, and 11v11 for players 13 and up.

“Playing small-sided games helps players learn and develop the key qualities to carry out the player actions,” Barker said. “For example, their first touch, control, dribbling, passing, shooting, and reading the game/making decisions. Children enjoy playing small-sided games because it’s fun and support their individual growth.

“The U.S. Soccer Grassroots Player Development Philosophy states “at the grassroots level, children learn and develop to their full potential through game-like experiences in an enjoyable environment that supports individual growth,” Barker noted.

The technical component is teaching players the skills needed to play. The tactical component is decision-making when you strike the ball. The physical aspect is composed of endurance, speed, strength, and power, while the psychological component is things like mental toughness, stress, and the emotion of playing the game. The training is based on what is an age-appropriate environment for the players.

Coaches in SABR are encouraged to obtain a Grassroots License, however, Barker also holds training for the coaches to get them on board with the initiatives to introduce players to structured play on a field with age-appropriate physical dimensions. There is also a coaching clinic put on by members of the Florida Youth Soccer Association prior to the start of the year.

The coaches will then attempt to create a safe, fun, and developmentally appropriate environment for their players.

The younger age groups play small-sided games where they need to make quick decisions and get more touches on the ball. As they get older, they will play on a larger field.

Barker said the trainers in the 5&6 Youth Development Program on Saturdays and volunteer coaches alike, use the US Youth Soccer methodology of Play, Practice, Play, where players arrive and play in small-sided games. Then they practice where they learn by repetition, and they close the session by playing a game. The players then show what they learned during the practice portion. The coach will then get feedback from the players of what they have learned.

“Because we have coaches from all over the world here, we encourage them to use different methods if they have. Background from simple to complex,” she said. “Most of our coaches use the methodology of Play, Practice, Play.”

Art Turpel, the SABR Director of Player Development, said the club supports the volunteer coaches, as well as their trainers, as best they can. He noted that SABR is the only club in the state of Florida, if not the country, that has a professional DOC heading up its recreational season.

“It is not only the one clinic, but Carrie has also set up a library of coaching sessions that they have access to,” Turpel said. “We also have Carrie and other licensed coaches work with coaches during the year. We try and do that primarily with our youngest coaches starting at U7s because many of them have not coached at all.”

At the close of the youth rec season, SABR holds a soccer celebration. The club has held a post-season tournament since it was founded in 1977.

Originally played as The Mayors Cup, The Mayors Cup was retired in 1988, and the post-season was dedicated in 1989 as the Tom Cherubin Tournament.  The rededication honors the late-SABR President Tom Cherubin who passed away just before the end of the 1997-98 recreational season. Tom guided every Board decision to always “Do what’s right for the kids.”

The tournament is for all of the recreational boys and girls U9 through U19 divisions teams. Players in the age groups U5 – U8 all receive awards. The celebration also features a carnival along with free food and refreshments.

SABR President Larry Faerman said one of the great parts about the SABR recreational program is that every team makes the playoffs at the end of the season.

“We are a non-competitive/competitive club, and they become competitive once they hit the playoffs,” Faerman said. “We really try to have the regular season be focused on player development, love of the game, leadership skills, community…and when we get to the playoffs, that is still important, but winning becomes a little more important.”

“The biggest thing, when we talk to our volunteer coaches is ‘the coach of the year’ is the one who has most players coming back, not the one who wins the most games or wins the Tom Cup,” added Turpel, who has been with the club since its inception in 1977 and also serves as the Director of Team Boca, the traveling program which is part of SABR.

“SABR is a balanced league, and we try and spread the players out,” he said. “The kids are out here to have fun, and we want them to play and use whatever education we can give them.”