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History and General Philosophy of the ISC Player Developmental ApproachThe Iowa Soccer Club is a non-profit organization that was formed to provide children in Iowa City and surrounding communities an opportunity to learn the game of soccer and develop their skills in a fun, challenging, and age-appropriate environment. Since its inception in 1997, the club has experienced tremendous growth. From those who want to play at the next level including college to those who simply want to find a more competitive team to play on, or those players that simply want to have a fun place to play, soccer players have been attracted to the ISC's comprehensive, tailor-made, year-round program.For a new parent considering joining the ISC, you will find that our coaches and our Coaching Director, Jon Cook, spend a great deal of time talking about the ISC philosophy of player development. Many new parents and even some parents that have been with us for some time are confused as to what player development really means. In a nutshell, our player developmental philosophy simply means that our primary focus in the ISC is to help each individual in our soccer club meet their goals to the best of their ability. While most soccer clubs and youth sports organizations may profess to have the same general goal of helping their members reach their athletic potential, the reality is that few organizations have a plan in place and the vision necessary to ensure that the children in their organization meet their goals. A developmental approach means that the coaches must always keep the long term improvement of the players and the team at the forefront of all decisions that impact the athletes in the organization. To meet this goal, the organization must have expert level soccer coaches who possess a thorough understanding of the many factors that affect learning and development for young children. A player developmental approach also means that all of the coaches recognize that soccer is a fun activity that enriches the lives of those who play. Young children are still young children no matter how talented they may seem to be to their parents and to their peers. A player developmental approach means that the coaches understand that young kids need to have a FUN and challenging soccer environment, not simply a challenging soccer environment. The ISC's player development approach means that we are unwavering in our commitment to the long term approach with every player and with every team. We are committed to all of our soccer players regardless of their level of play. This is not a soccer club for elite athletes only. This is a soccer club for players who have the desire to improve and for players who enjoy the game of soccer. We feel very strongly that if you register your child with our soccer club that we will do the best job possible to nurture and develop your child's growth as a young athlete and as a responsible teammate. In our day to day coaching and training, we are guided by the notion that player development means avoiding the shortcuts and focusing on the skill acquisition of ALL players, not merely the players who seem to be the furthest ahead at the youngest ages. Player development means being honest with parents who push too hard to put winning ahead of everything else. Moreover, it means standing firm to our core beliefs when some members view winning to take greater precedence over the long term growth of all players in our soccer club. Player development means being fair to all individuals and being patient with a player who seems slower to develop. The coaches in our organization understand that each child develops at a different rate and we are never so arrogant to believe that we know who is going to be a successful player based on one's ability at 8-12 years old. That being said, we believe very strongly that we do a terrific job of helping the most committed players develop and excel. Our list of successful collegiate players who developed in our system attests to our ability to help the most dedicated players. While we are committed to providing the best opportunities for the most serious player, we are also very concerned about the impact that "tracking" and "pigeonholing" players at too young of an age can have on the overall development of the individuals in our organization. In sum, the ISC player development philosophy is a long term approach. It means keeping winning in perspective and it means focusing on the bigger picture of giving each of our players challenges each season and each year. Please read the philosophy papers for U9/U10 age group and Junior High age group on the following pages for more insight into the club's approach to coaching competitive youth soccer teams. Please contact us with any questions! Next: U9/U10 Philosophy |