It is essential for a youth-specific curriculum to meet both the physiological and psychological needs of each particular age group. While MetroStars/MLS Camps has its own unique curriculum that has been developed alongside Major League Soccer, we recognize that any final content needs to be developed along with the client to ensure consistency. What we do know overall is that for young players ages 7 to 8 years there is a need to develop technical skills, and from ages 9 to 11 years we increase pressure to develop skill, while in the 12 to 14 year old age group we are increasingly working on functional awareness. Skills, tactics and functional awareness, however, are limited by a player’s technical proficiency, and so at every moment we have to work on technical development and reinforcement.
Our unique MLS Camps curriculum for older players is designed from the key components of
A.T.T.A.C.K. – Attitude, Training and Conditioning, Technical to Tactical, Awareness, Competition and
Knowledge. Every coaching activity that we take the players through directly relates to this curriculum:
| Attitude: The Psychological Component - Creating Winners From Within |
| Self esteem, positive modeling, fair play and sportsmanship, team concept, team building and leadership, dealing with winning and losing, game preparation, mentoring teammates |
| Training: Preparation Of The Body And Soccer-Specific Physical Conditioning |
| Stretching and flexibility, strength and power training, soccer circuits, quickness and agility, endurance and stamina, injury prevention, fitness testing, diet and nutrition |
| Techniques: The Progression From Techniques To Skills And Tactical Decision-Making |
| Ball familiarity, feints and turns, passing for possession and penetration, entering the attacking third, controlling and screening the ball, scoring and finishing attitudes, dribbling skills to beat an opponent, defensive and attacking heading, attacking the prime scoring area, maximizing scoring opportunities, crossing to scoring positions, attacking runs with and without the ball, tackling and defensive pressure, positional demands for defenders, midfield players and attackers |
| Awareness: Decision-Making Skills, Positional Sense And Development To Functional Training |
| Team shape, movement on and off the ball, attacking strategies, set plays, communication skills, defensive pressure and balance, man-to-man versus zone defense, direct or indirect play, transitional play, creating a game plan, intricate systems of play, offside play |
| Competition: Putting Skills Learned Into A Competitive, Pressurized, Game-Related Environment |
| 1 v 1 duels, small-sided tournaments (3 v 3, 4 v 4, 5 v 5), full-sided exhibition play, skills testing and evaluation, match and team analysis, MLS tournament (regional opposition) |
| Knowledge: Rules - Conduct - Objectives |
| The objectives of the practice must be clear to the players so they are able to implement the skills learned. Backyard homework assignments, team and individual evaluations, winning strategies, and a seasonal plan are ways to facilitate this goal |
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How the A.T.T.A.C.K. Curriculum is used for Youth Players
AGES 12 - 18
Advanced Program – 12 - 18 Year Olds
 In updating the MLS Camps Advanced player curriculum, we have looked at the characteristics of players in this age range and adapted practice sessions accordingly, including the addition of new developmental areas.
Players at this stage in their soccer career have been shown the fundamentals and are working at mastering them; this curriculum gives the opportunity to improve these elements in an environment reflecting game situations.
With the speed of modern soccer increasing all of the time, it is essential that players have the opportunity to practice their techniques and learn the broader implications their actions have on the field. With a range of small group exercises, this structured introduction will assist in learning team concept. When used concurrently with the individual techniques acquired earlier in development, players will have a good foundation in the key areas of soccer.
This is an important stage both physically and mentally, so the actions of the coach are very significant. Challenge players to improve themselves without becoming critical of their efforts, as negative feedback will be of detrimental effect. There will be variance in skill levels, physical capability and tactical awareness that coaches must consider when evaluating performance. The exercises in this curriculum, coupled with the principles of A.T.T.A.C.K., provide a base for players to learn important facets of the game at this age.
The key areas that the advanced curriculum covers are:
- Encouraging adherence to A.T.T.A.C.K. principles
- Fostering a positive practice ethic
- Emphasizing the importance of possession
- Developing soccer specific fitness using a ball
- Reinforcement of individual techniques in passive and opposed situations
Extended Day Program – 12 - 18 Year Olds
The Extended Day Program was specifically created with the interests of the serious and dedicated soccer player in mind. The extended day format provides the coach with a much-needed forum to extend or elaborate on his thoughts, ideas and suggestions in a hands-on practical setting. Too often in a traditional half-day camp setting, by the time the concept is sewn and the players have acclimated to your way of thinking, the dinner bell rings and class is over.
With the added bonus of additional contact time, and with sessions broken out into a “block schedule” format, players and coaches alike may address the specific applications of technique and skill practices in functional and tactical environments. Now what is practiced in a small-sided space with fewer variables can be adapted onto a larger playing surface with more game related conditions and applications.
The extended day format is offered for between five and seven hours per session. Therefore it is incumbent on the coach to adapt and flex this curriculum to his needs. Plan and write out sessions accordingly and time game and activity sequences on a daily basis. There is nothing worse than preparing insufficient material for a session or preparing too much and cramming according to the timeline. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.
Team Training – 9 - 18 Year Olds
Below are a variety of age-appropriate team training games focusing on junior, advanced and elite team training. We invite you to look through these games and utilize them as part of your team training whenever you feel it is appropriate. There are distinct differences in the coaching environment for a group of individuals working together as opposed to a team of players working together.
Junior team players (ages 9 - 12) are still in the intermediate phase of development. Individual techniques and their acquisition, along with an introduction to small group play, are important facets. It is also a good time to allow players freedom to develop creatively through non-directive exercises and contrast this with structured exercises that progress logically from unopposed to passive to opposed practices.
Advanced team players (ages 13 - 15) are in a key stage of both physical and mental development, so more attention is given to how individuals fit within groups of players. Players now understand the concept of team more comprehensively and actively look for ways to work together. Having learned key aspects of soccer individually and in pairs at a younger age, the focus shifts to small group work and an increasingly realistic reflection of match situations in practice sessions.
Elite team players (ages 16 - 18) are established in a team and are looking to improve all aspects of their play in specific exercises. Using a 9v9 game model, key elements of play are covered in both an attacking and defensive context, along with phases of play and functional practices to refine roles and responsibilities within the team. The key word is realism, as practice should now reflect the speed and intensity of games in order to be effective.
The team program as a whole is structured to provide a logical progression through a range of technical and tactical exercises, in pairs, small groups, units and as a team. Soccer is not an individual sport, it is a sport affected by individuals, and that is the premise upon which each team curriculum operates.
Goalkeeper Program – 9 - 18 Year Olds
 In creating the Goalkeeper Training program, we have recognized the uniqueness of the position and the need to build in a variety of fresh and challenging activities. We have injected a number of preparatory speed and agility drills, skill development drills and active functional practices. The curriculum is particularly demanding and certainly not devoid of fun.
Goalkeeping is an art form. The motor requirements of the keeper are uniquely different from those of the outfield player. Therefore, both the fine (hand-eye coordination) and gross motor (large movement) skill requirements are addressed in this all-inclusive curriculum.
So many of the rule changes invoked by FIFA over the last decade have had a significant impact on the demands of the position and thus the demands of coaching the position. The role of the keeper as a field general, fifth defender and captain is addressed directly in our R.E.A.C.H. curriculum.
The R.E.A.C.H. curriculum relates to Readiness, Excellence, Attitude, Coordination and Handling. These first three areas address the mentality and the demands of the position. Coordination and handling relate to the specific skills needed for the goalkeeper as we coordinate the psychological training with the technical and tactical elements. Goalkeepers must be well rounded in all aspects of the game. R.E.A.C.H. ensures that they are equipped for the demands of shot stopping, diving and deflections, catching and punching, positional play, distribution, field organization and playing the role of the fifth defender.
No longer will the keeper be an afterthought or considered the odd man out in practice drills. The keeper is the most valuable commodity on the field and is treated as such in this specialist-training program.
Competitive Program – 15 - 18 Year Olds
 Our Competitive Curriculum is an addition to our Advanced program that includes individual players looking to play at a higher level of soccer.
As players mature physically and mentally, it is important that they are challenged with situations that best reflect match scenarios, and that is what this program recreates. Basic techniques will already be proficient (but still part of practice), yet rehearsal at speed and under pressure are both important factors in helping produce a higher caliber of performer. It is for this reason the MLS Camps Competitive section was created.
Very few soccer players are gifted enough to make it to the higher levels of the game without working hard. Part of this curriculum examines the physical demands of the game in both aerobic and anaerobic terms.
The mental aspect of competitive play is about knowing that soccer is not a one-way street – players must have the ability to attack and defend regardless of position, and this is dealt with in both structured and unopposed exercises.
The principles of A.T.T.A.C.K. apply here more than anywhere, as this is the final step as an individual player before playing at the collegiate or professional level.
The key areas that the competitive curriculum covers are:
- Developing soccer instinct
- Introducing and perfecting difficult techniques
- Identification of attacking and defensive responsibilities
- Aerobic and anaerobic soccer specific fitness practices
- The rehearsal of key techniques in a competitive environment
To
find out more about MLS
Camps' downloadable
curriculum, visit MLSCamps.com
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