Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club - Mississauga, ON

The Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club starts the development of teams that represent the future of the club, in the U-8/U-9 age groups. This programme will recruit and develop children at younger ages, who wish to participate on competitive teams representing our club. Our club will take this step to advance and move forward, training soccer players who will have deep skills in their sport. We will focus on and deliver the best instruction possible - a holistic approach.

The Clarkson Sheridan Soccer Club continues to work in this direction as we strongly believe in the medium to long term training. Therefore, this new process within the club's training programme will be key to having a strong foundation which we will support to ensure it's maximum success.

We have made many profound changes in recent months to our Rep. Progamme, with the success of the children and youth of our community in mind. These changes have been gradually accepted by coaches, players and parents of these teams. This is why the main objective of the new All-Star program will be in line with and also provide a great opportunity for the boys and girls of our community who would eventually like to play competitive soccer. This will be accomplished by starting the development of deep soccer skills by starting training at an earlier age. Our focus is not "win", but to give children proper training and more experience throughout the year. Otherwise, the only real experience they gain will be during the four months in the summer season (while participating in the House League programme).

This experience will make our teams more competitive, not only because of improved soccer skills, but also because teams will gel better and teammates will know each other well. This social aspect of a team will provide stability and, over time, will achieve an inner-group understanding that is fundamental in the relationship of any group of individuals. Each team will then be much better equiped to eventually reach it's goals. This result will be evident 2 or 3 years later, when the players begin to play in competitive teams representing the club.

Annual Programme: October to April, indoor AND May to September outdoor, consisting of 3 days/evenings a week:

• 1 Training session (Fitness Training / Technical - ball skills)
• 1 practice (with team coach)
• 1 League Game

One of the activities that we want to emphasize in this age group is the physical education of boys and girls.

This is an age in which the body is sensitive and highly absorbent in terms of learning mechanical movements made by the body as a whole. It is very important that this learning take place in a profound way, with basic concepts, where the future athlete will follow the logical steps required to improve (this should be the result of good instruction). No doubt that our approach will benefit to all activities and will develop certain physical abilities. Being aware of technical aspects, coordination with respect to one's own body and space, cognitive coordination, balance and agility, will be the basic building blocks in areas to develop first and then gradually, so as to meet future needs of athletes, with more coordination and challenges. Participating in this programme will give it's recepiants many benefits - some we've already discussed.

All this work will be carried out within a single session delivered in a comprehensive manner which allows one to learn basic techiques with the ball.

These sessions are conducted once a week, with an hour and a half duration.

Coaches will have guidance which will allow them to deliver quality practices.

Games will be played throughout the year (winter and summer) in leagues within our club's district.

We are already working on identifying talented players in our house league programme.  Furthermore, in August and September, we will carry out various try-outs to give boys and girls in this age group, who are interested in this programme, the opportunity showcase their skills and, if selected, start taking part in the programme.