Micro Recreational Soccer (U7 through U9)
Spring Academy Registration is now open. Tryout not required
8-Week Local Program - April 12 through June 2, 2011
Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-7:00pm at Smith Fields - Whitefish
The Montana Flathead Rapids Micro Soccer program uses methods developed and endorsed by the United States Soccer Federation. This special program has been shown to help children to not only learn the game of soccer but to help them develop as individuals. The prime feature of Micro Soccer is the concept of small sided games.
The benefits of Small Sided games are:
• Allows players to handle the ball more often
• More ball touches allows more opportunities for success
• More ball touches allows for faster skill development
• Small size teams allows for better player to coach ratio
• Games and practices are designed to develop player confidence, creativity and decision making
• Better Coaching…Less Travel…and More Playing Time!
Academy Developmental (U10 through U11)
Spring Academy Registration is now open. Tryout not required
10-Week Local/Regional Program - April 12 through June 18, 2011
Tuesdays and Thursdays 5:30-7:00pm at Smith Fields - Whitefish
Play-dates: Missoula April 30, Kalispell May 21, and Whitefish June 18
The Academy Developmental Program helps children ages U10 through U11 shift from recreational to more competitive play, with an emphasis on teaching players fundamental individual skills. The goal of this program is to provide a high level of coaching, focus on individual techniques, and minimize the cost of traveling. While most training and games will be held in Whitefish, teams/players will have the opportunity to participate in two regional festivals in Missoula and Kalispell, and may compete in a tournament at the end of the season.
The largest most overwhelming problem with youth soccer players coming from Montana is they do not understand the basic techniques needed to play the game. As a result, players, coaches and parents are more focused on winning at the youngest age groups rather than learning the techniques needed to succeed. The Goal of the Academy is Player Development. The reason why Montana soccer is behind the rest of the country is simple: we are more focused on winning at the youngest age groups than learning how to play the game. While competition and winning are important, there is a difference between the two.
The basic principles of the program include; high level coach oversees the program, age appropriate training, skill development, focus on player development, more playing time, fear of failure removed, risk encouraged, more training, less travel, coach and referee development, and clubs develop more players which increases their base.
