Development Model Overview

The RYSA developmental model focuses on RYSA soccer players U12 and below.  Soccer players will  benefit the most from having lots of touches on the soccer ball, lots of play time.  RYSA Coaches will strive to offer strong training sessions, that have a clear focus, teach technical skills and are fun for the players.   Training sessions will teach a skill and then increase the demands of the players utilizing the skill.  These training sessions will focus on lots of player touch on the ball, small sided games, for example 2 v 2, 3 v 3 and 4 v 4.  Smaller sided games help develop soccer players skills, by encouraging lots of touches on the ball.

RYSA Coaches will strive to continue to develop and improve their soccer knowledge by attending RYSA Coaches Meetings, obtaining coaching licenses in the State of Oregon (a minimum of an E License), and continually seek out additional training and materials that will improve their coaching.

Technical skills will be broken down into smaller steps, having each of the steps, clearly explained and modeled.  The skill progression will be to teach the skill steps clearly, modeling and offering appropriate performance feedback. After a basic skill such as passing has been taught to players and mastery without pressure becomes apparent then the amount of pressure will increase.  Players will be put into more game like situations with a steady increase in the amount a pressure a player faces while performing a skill.  The focus will be to teach all RYSA players proper passing, receiving, dribbling and shooting technique.  Tactics such as attacking and defending will be introduced to our players at a developmentally appropriate level.

All players U12 and below can and will be developed into soccer players.  U12 and below RYSA teams will be balanced so as to develop all players.  There will not be an "A" team and "B" team at U11 and below.  Teams will be broke out by age following OYSA guidelines and then balanced if too many players for one team in an age bracket.  We will be flexible to fit the local brackets that are developed.  For example if the RUSH run Fall league has a U9 and U10 bracket we may choose to enter a U9 and U10 boys team.  But we will always be focusing on player development and what is best for the players.  It's best to challenge our players and the RUSH run league and philosophy is similiar. In some cases this may mean, entering a team in a higher bracket (one year up) or in tournaments that are geared at higher levels.

Depending on RYSA coach staffing, we may train age groups together.  The break out of the training sessions timing and coaches running them will be determined by the RYSA Head Coach and/or Contracted D.O.C. and RYSA Board.  RYSA coaches have a duty and obligation to teach, train and coach all players.  Coaches will follow and abide by the RYSA Coaching Agreements and Ethics.  Coaches will focus on developing all players, recruiting players and getting more children in our community to love the great game of soccer.   Developmental Coaches will deemphasize winning and focus on skill development, teaching technique, instilling in players a "love for the game" and beginning to teach tactical skills.  That being said- coaches can expect that players will be at practices on time or early, working hard and following coaches directions at an age appropriate level.  Players showing no interest in soccer and developing their skills isn't a good fit with RYSA.  Parents and team managers will have no say in team formation.

Ansel Evans, RYSA Head Boys Coach