The Importance Of Winning

As coaches of a U10 WAGS team, we do believe there is some importance to winning but not at the expense of player development.  This team will be a travel team in WAGS.  For good or bad, these leagues and the various travel tournaments are competitive, even at the young ages.  Teams need to be competitive at some level to accommodate the more serious players and to allow the team to be invited to competitive tournaments. 

We will work to balance the level of competition and focus on winning with player development.  From past experience, we have learned the importance of early skills development at some expense to winning to better prepare the players and team to be more competitive at the later ages (U15-18) when it matters.  With focus on skills and balance of winning at the young ages, winning will come at the later ages.

Coaching Objectives

We will work to provide a balanced program that affords the opportunities for maximum skill development and the challenge of high-level competition.  We will work to provide an opportunity for players who both desire more advanced play and have the appropriate level of knowledge, skills, abilities, and commitment.  Our goal will be to meet the developmental needs of all of the players by taking into account each player’s physical, mental, and social growth and developmental needs as well as player/parent commitment.

As coaches of a U10 WAGS team we will work to accomplish the following goals:

Individual Player Goals

• Possess  love of the game and healthy competition, as well understanding and active participation in healthy living practices (fitness, nutrition, emotional)
• Possess love for the team and feeling of being part of a successful team with common goals.
• Understanding and exhibition of good disciplined practice and preparation for competition including sleep, nutrition, training, traveling practices.
• U10 - until college: Player development in all areas: ball skills, tactical, fitness/conditioning, agility, psychological, etc.
• U13 - until college: Successful player participation in State and Regional ODP for interested players.
• U10 – until college: active participation in soccer related activities within the local and regional soccer communities – experience with different players, coaches, levels and types of competition.

Team Goals

• U12 - U19:  Finals of State Cup with extra goal of regional and national championship participation /li>
• U13 – college: Success in WAGS (D1)
• U15 - college:  Success in Region One Premier

Working Within VYS U10 Age Group

As coaches of a U10 WAGS team, we will work with other coaches within the same age group to continue to develop a program that accommodates the needs of the age group as a whole.  We will strive to balance the needs of the VYS program with the needs of the individual team and players that we coach.   We truly believe the best way to develop players is to have them participate in a true program without constraints of teams and rosters, so they can continually be placed in situations that will maximize their development.  We realize that we are constrained by VYSA, WAGS, NCSL, and ODSL rules.  But, we will work to accommodate players and coaches from the same age group whenever we can.

Goals for the VYS Travel Program

As coaches of a U10 WAGS team, we plan to work to build a stronger, more competitive travel league that provides team longevity, multiple team and coaching options for all travel players.  The key is to educate parents, coaches, and players early about travel soccer.  To communicate the importance of proper training, discipline, and commitment at the beginning years of travel soccer, while still balancing soccer fun and competition with all other aspects of life to preclude over-competition and burnout of our players, coaches, and families while still developing successful players and future coaches.  We believe VYS has made great strides in this area over the last few years and we plan to help continue the momentum.