Parent Education, Fear of Missing Out

In recent years the landscape of youth soccer, and youth sports, has changed drastically. Youth players are now expected to perform like professionals, following more vigorous schedules than their professional idols. An image of what we see on TV and in the media is being projected on to the youth player.

Appropriate, purposeful practice is a great development in the youth game, where players are involved in game specific practices, and no longer stood around in lines.

It doesn’t however take a ‘super club’, ‘foreign franchise’, nor an ‘Academy’ be it DA or by name, to provide this environment. This is determined by the club structure, and philosophy of the directors of each club, and a club that encourages development over winning and collecting trophies. An easy way to get an insight to the club is by checking their social media and website feeds, full of tournaments and trophies?

The importance and prestige now associated with youth soccer has led to a toxic environment, where clubs compete for players, ultimately working against each other at the grass roots level rather than working together, a biproduct of the influence of money is having on youth sports. The parent’s office talk becomes about the ‘bracket’, and ‘level of play’ in which their child is at with their club, or how far they travelled for a tournament. The conversation should focus more on the relationships built and the life lessons being learned, while specifically for soccer demonstrating individual skill and playing on the weekend with a smile with their friends. Ultimately this creates a fear of missing out. If someone is driving an hour to practice and traveling to different states for a tournament, then they must be getting a better experience! The travel is taking time away from a child’s education, social interaction, and time that could be used for physical activity. A tournament places a child in to a situation where they are now playing half a season over 3 days, that is insane. Clubs though will sell these as positives, will sell that they are a developmental club because they win and go to tournaments, and it’s easier to collect dollars than it is to educate.

Importance needs to be placed on the individual. Looking further ahead a recruiter for college will not be concerned about the team you come from, but the individual personal characteristics you demonstrate, and the individual ability you possess as a player. College ID camps will give players exposure to the right people, and limit the incredible stress placed on players through chasing down Showcases and playing up to 6 games in 3 days.

Please take the time to read through the following articles, incredibly important in understanding the current youth soccer/sports climate, and from a parent’s perspective.

http://changingthegameproject.com/fomo-ruining-youth-sports/

https://kateleavell.com/…/…/13/dear-daughter-the-letter/amp/

We will continue to provide an environment that is best for the players welfare and long-term development.

We Are Back

It’s so good to be back.

This week was the first week of the 2017/18 season, and we have lots going on this season.


Curriculum

We got straight back in to the thick of it, with our soccer specific pre-season fitness.

All age groups follow a season plan  with periodization determining pre, during, and post season practice. Our

 

younger age groups participate in small sided games. The short breaks between soccer actions result in greater recovery time being developed, and the high repetition of action develops the quality of the action when under physical stress.

The same principle applies to the older age groups, but with specific ‘soccer with the ball’ sessions. The first session for all older groups playing 11v11 (U13 and up), was a juggling session with group challenges. A low impact, and moderate intensity session to get players slowly and safely back to game speed over a number of weeks.

Fremont YSC U15 to U19 Curriculum, Session List


New Director of Coaching, U7 to U12

During the summer Gavin Carvalho was promoted to the position of Director of Coaching for the younger age groups U7 to U12. Gavin has been with the Club for 6 years and has great experience with both boys and girls. Gavin has worked extensively with our 01 and 02 age groups, developing individual players through excellent technical coaching, and more recently taking on the 07 age group from their Training Pool graduation.

The move sees acting Executive Director, Dai Redwood, move from being the younger DOC in to the U13 and up DOC role.

Travis Cabral is now also the official DOC for the U4 to U6 Play Program.


Fundraising

This Fall sees the first in 2 new Annual events.

Our San Jose Earthquakes night is for the younger age groups to experience a live soccer match, while representing the club at the event, and creating a bond with other players throughout the program.

Fantasy Soccer is our all inclusive, soccer specific fundraiser, designed to include all players, parents, neighbors, and work colleagues. A fun event over 10 months, sure to get everyone involved in to the competitive mood and following the great game throughout the EPL season.


State Cup and Tournaments

U15 and above will be taking part in State Cup for the 2017/18 season. We are very committed to the well being of our players, and the format of State Cup in the older age groups allows for great rest periods between games, ensuring a reduction in the likeliness of overuse and fatigue injuries.

This concern is also with our participation in tournaments, but we also understand it is historical and cultural to participate in these events. We will be hosting 3 tournaments throughout the Fall for our Fremont teams to take part in, but will be very vigilant for any signs of player injury. Each tournament will cater towards different levels of play, from Gold to Rec level teams.

 

The 2017/18 season is gearing up to be a great year. What is always incredible is to see the smile as kids play the game, and try and perform new skills know their coaching will not judge them of berate them for mistakes, but encourage them to try again. Youth sports its where kids should feel free to play, express themselves, and develop important life skills while being creative problem solvers.

Let the kids play.

 

Recreation Registration is Open

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR FALL 2017

REGISTER HERE

  • Recreation soccer is a great place to experience the sport in a low pressure environment at a location near to you.
  • Available for players 3 years old and up, born 2014 and older.
  • Club philosophy through all programs is to focus on the individual player.
Locations
American High School – Irvington High School – Hopkins Junior High.

For Competitive Soccer contact, info@fremontyouthsoccer.com

Playing helps build a better brain

“The experience of play changes the connections of the neurons at the front end of your brain,” says Sergio Pellis, a researcher at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. “And without play experience, those neurons aren’t changed,” he says.

 

Many children in public school are getting less and less time outside, despite the documented benefits of free play.

It is those changes in the prefrontal cortex during childhood that help wire up the brain’s executive control center, which has a critical role in regulating emotions, making plans and solving problems, Pellis says. So play, he adds, is what prepares a young brain for life, love and even schoolwork.

But to produce this sort of brain development, children need to engage in plenty of so-called free play, Pellis says. No coaches, no umpires, no rule books.

Continue Reading Here

End of Season Review 16/17

We are now at the end of the Spring season, and bringing with it the end of the 2016/17 season year. Many changes have been made during this time, and Fremont is continuing to grow as a soccer city.

During the Spring we have seen Fremont players be selected fr Academy programs, iSoccerPath join us in educating players and parents on the pathway to College Soccer through your local club, and a huge push in our identity as being the leading soccer club in Fremont.

For further reading here is the link to the review press release – http://mailchi.mp/f26b44364fa1/fremont-ysc-season-review

Fremont Street Eats

Fremont YSC was in attendance at Fremont Street Eats this past Friday June 9th.

A great event for the family, with plenty of food and entertainment. We’ll be back in August and October to support the Fremont event.

iSoccerPath, a HUGE success

Thursday, June 1st, Brookvale Elementary.

What a great night for the Fremont YSC and iSoccerPath who hosted their first ever College Coaches Panel. Over 200 attended and heard presentations from iSoccerPath and Coach Robin Hart from Menlo College on how to get into college through soccer. The club did an amazing job hosting and turning out all their coaches.

Thank you to all the parents and players that attended last nights educational college panel, presented by iSoccerPath. A wonderfully successful night for players to learn more about the college pathway.

The first in what we hope to be many educational opportunities for the club.

 

Fall Recreation Registration is Open

Registration for Fall 2017 is now open.

From players born 2014 and through to 2003, our Recreation program provides an environment to have fun in playing, making sure the kids are the focus of the program, and giving youth sport back to kids… where it belongs.

Programs are age specific, following a long term pathway of progressions, with adaptations to curriculum content, practice frequency and program structure as the the player ages.

Come and join us for Fall 2017.