Development Model
Defining Your Path: Nick Niebauer
The main essentials in every room of the Niebauer house – a light and a soccer ball. And one of the two is negotiable. Nick Niebauer (2008B) has always loved the game – the competition, the mastery, the scoring goals. “I feel most like myself when I am playing soccer,” said Nick. “My dream is…
Read MoreWhy 5v5: The Power of Small-Sided Games
At the forefront of everything we do is individual player development. This is especially true for U10, U9, U8 players as they truly begin to love the game. As we constantly challenge ourselves to evaluate how to best develop and inspire the players, we recognize and believe in the power of the small-sided games. Here’s…
Read MoreFind the Right Fit: The 6 Considerations for Choosing a Soccer Club
The youth soccer industry can be a tough one to navigate. Unlike anywhere else in the world, there are comparably less ‘top-level’ organizations despite the country boasting more registered youth soccer players than many of the world’s leading soccer nations. There are multiple arguments as to the reason for this with many laying the blame…
Read MoreThe Steel City Goalkeeping Model
Let’s be honest. Whenever anyone talks about “models” in soccer, goalkeepers are rarely mentioned. Goalkeepers are undoubtedly part of the team process and approach and need to be included in all aspects of the team. But their role is unique and requires their own attention. At Steel City, we have a plan and a pathway…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Youth Development Phase – Train to Understand the Game
Within the youth development phase (U13-U14), we continue to expose players to a variety of training environments focused on developing new skills while introducing new concepts relating to our club’s principles of play. Here are some of our common training methods – The Rondo – A rondo activity involves a group of players maintaining possession…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Performance Phase – Train to Win the Game
In the Performance Phase (PP) we look to challenge our players individually and as a group. With long-term player development at the front of everything we do as a club, in the Foundation Phase (FP), we were teaching the players in a fun yet challenging way to ‘train to love the game.’ In the Youth Development…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Foundation Phase – Train to Love the Game
At the front of what we do, we are trying to help build a love and passion for the sport we all love so much. This is especially true in the Foundation Phase as we focus on ‘training to love the game.’ As a club and individual coaches, we strongly promote training our players in…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Why It’s the Steel City Way
Throughout a majority of soccer clubs, the unspoken balancing act to determine who a coach is for a team is based on how long a coach can keep the parents happy. If the parents are happy, then everything is OK. Right? We don’t believe so. This approach leaves out the most important pieces of the…
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