ODP Coaches, Club DOC’s and MYSA BOD,

Please take the time and watch this video and then pass it on to all. Notice
that even in hockey they are discussing small sided games and development.
Very cool!!!

Ric Plante
DOC - Montana Youth Soccer
Technical Director - MT ODP
USSF National ‘A’ License
USYS National Youth License
US Youth Soccer National Staff Instructor
406-581-8606(c)

Youth Soccer Coach Wanted: Only Those with Patience and Perseverance Need Apply
By Gary R. Allen
Virginia Youth Soccer Association Director of Coaching Education

Following are excerpts from an article in The Scientific American by Phillip E. Ross, dated July 24, 2006, entitled The Expert Mind. The article focused upon studies of the mental processes of chess grandmasters and clues to how people become experts in other fields as well. These excerpts can help us address some important points concerning the development of young soccer players in America.

“Simon coined a psychological law of his own, the 10-year rule, which states that it takes approximately a decade of heavy labor to master any field.”

The 10-year rule, or 10,000 hours rule, can be applied as easily to soccer as to chess. (more…)

DII Philosophy

January 19, 2007

At its 2004 Annual General Meeting the Council of Presidents and Montana Youth Soccer Board of Directors significantly changed its U-11 and U-12 programs. Moving to a Small Sided game program at the youngest age levels, MYSA discontinued the 11v11 games and moved to 8v8 sided games for its U-11 and U-12 players. The underlying concern which served as the impetus for this change was the belief that we were asking kids to win before they are taught how to play. In a Small Sided game program, the number of touches each player has on the ball is exponentially increased and the smaller fields allow the players to be successful moving the ball within the limits of their size and physical abilities. The players then have more opportunity to experience the problems of being in possession. Increasing the chance to be exposed to these tasks over and over again is how players become good “problem solvers” which translates into an ability to make good decisions.
(more…)

From:
Montana Youth Soccer Association DOC Winter Meeting Report
Ric Plante MYSA DOC, ODP Technical Director

Coaching Education-
1) MYSA will be hosting a National Youth License July 27th – August 1st, 2007.
Instructors – Sam Snow, DOC US Youth Soccer - Lead instructor
Ric Plante, DOC MYSA
Go to www.usyouthsoccer.org for detailed information on the course or call Ric
Plante at 406-581-8606 if you have any questions.

2) ‘D’ Licensing Course will be changing
Coaching Methodology (coaches tool kit)
Larger numbers – 6 vs. 6
Better flow to the re-vamped ‘C’ Course

MYSA will now require a minimum of 15 candidates to host a ‘D’ starting in
April, 2007.

From:
Montana Youth Soccer Association DOC Winter Meeting Report
Ric Plante MYSA DOC, ODP Technical Director

ODP continues to move forward increasing its level of play and exposure to high level competition. In the 06/07 season approximately 50% of the players who tried out were extended an invitation. In 2007 we will send teams to the Sereno Tournament in Phoenix, ODP Championships in Las Vegas, Mayors Cup in Orange County and 3 teams will go to The Blue Mountain Exchange in the Tri-Cities. We will also be attending both the boys and girls ODP Regional Camps in July.

In the near future ODP will have its own dedicated administrator / treasurer (Craig Stewart, former MYSA president) a much needed position as the program grows. This will relieve Lisa of a lot of work that has been thrust upon her in the last year. We thank her for everything she’s done.

Currently ODP is in negations with both Adidas and Nike for a new sponsor. This is a very slow process.

Remember, ODP is your program. Please encourage your players to give it a try. Check out our web site at www.montanaodp.org. Thanks to Global Net, Inc., it’s free!

ODP will also be holding its first Indoor Soccer Marathon to raise money for Special Olympics Montana. ODP players will play indoor soccer for 25 hours straight. Each player participating has been asked to secure a minimum of $250.00 in donations that will go to Special Olympics Montana. If any club would like to make a donation to this worthy cause it would be greatly appreciated. Just make your check payable to SPECIAL OLYMPICS MONTANA and send it to:

Ric Plante c/o The Soccer Shop
1325 E. Main Street
Bozeman, MT 59715
406-581-8606

For those of you that signed up to attend the joint meeting with Whitefish re: State Cup - the meeting will be Thurs. Jan. 4th at 7 p.m. at the Summit.

Our board meeting will be at Semitool on Jan. 10th at 7 p.m.

We will be having a coaches and administrators meeting at 6 p.m. that night followed by our board meeting.

The meeting at Semitool will be in the cafeteria - please park in front and go through the front door. There will be someone there to show where the cafeteria is.

The Board meeting is set to discuss:

• State Tournament Planning
• Scholarship Applications
• Game Scheduling Meeting
• Concession Stand Update
• Combination with the GKYSA board

Boys:

• u-10 Scott Warnell
• u-11 Kathy Ake
• u-11 Jim Brendan
• u-12 Chris Putzler
• u-12 Kristin MacCauley
• u-13 Knut Skybak
• u-14 Tyler Glidden
• u-15 Patrick Madigan
• u-16 Chris Haugan
• u-17 TBD, Assistant is Cliff Bell

Girls:

• u-11 JoAnna Lyon
• u-12 Al Swan
• u-12 Frank Jobe
• u-13 Rich DeJana
• u-14 Tom McFarlane
• u-15 Mike Stebbins
• u-18 Steve Boone

Coaches Clinic in February!

Flathead Force / GKYSA is holding a coaches clinic in February. It is a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced Regional Diploma course. No prior license is needed.

It will take place at Evergreen Junior High School* on February 23 (6-9 p.m.), and Feb. 24 & 25 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.). The cost for is $90. The course will be conducted by George Hageage who is the women’s coach at Eastern Washington University.

To sign up, call Mike Thompson at 253-5037 or the soccer office at 257-6631.

Based in Mission, Kan., the NSCAA is the largest coaches’ organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1941, it has grown to include more than 18,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high schools, NSCAA offers an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year. It fulfills its mission of coaching education through a nationwide program of clinics and week-long courses, teaching more than 3,000 soccer coaches each year.

More information can be found on their website - NSCAA.com

More information about the Advanced Regional Diploma course can be found at http://nscaa.com/nrc.php#advreg.

*location changed 12/28/2006 from Helena Flats to Evergreen

Excellent article on Branding Yourself over at This Is American Soccer (a blog you should put on your must read list…).

They start off with: When you ask most high school students how they plan on getting recruited to a top soccer program, they’ll shrug their shoulders and respond “send letters and hope I get a response”. This, by the way, will get you absolutely nowhere. You must be savvier than that.

They list some great advice for high school students who want to continue on as soccer players - specific stuff that will help you to stand out from the multitude of other students who are simply sending some letters… stuff like Getting Yourself Seen and Play every game as if it’s the one where the eyes could be on you. with specific points on how to do it.

Great read for high school players, parents, and coaches.

Update 12/19/06 - This course has been changed to the NSCAS Advanced Regional Diploma course - http://www.flatheadsoccer.org/2006/12/19/coaches-clinic-in-february/
Flathead Soccer is gauging the interest of offering a E or D course in January.

The E course is a one weekend course including Friday evening while the D course is a two weekend course including both Friday evenings.

We must have ten participants for each to host the courses.

If interested, please contact us.

update November 19th: