STREETBALL FC STORY AND MISSION
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It all started with a group of parents that had played the beautiful game of football growing up on the West Coast and they in turn wanted to show the beautiful game of football to their children. All the life lessons, friends, community and health and wellness benefits they got from the game, they wished for the next generation.
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It started with a vision of being able to play football for life. For dads to play with daughters. Mothers with sons. For everyone to play all year round.
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With the consistent rainy weather and lack of turf spaces on the West Coast, one of the challenges for young soccer players learning the game is that practices are often cancelled and kids get discouraged from standing out in the rain too much.
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As well, early competition and team selection in the sport landscape, coupled with lack of proper training of skills, physical development and technique can discourage kids from continuing in sport.
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Streetball FC believes that sport can be used as a tool to teach youth life-long skills such as :
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working hard
respecting each other
working as a team
develop a growth mind-set
working towards excellence
embracing leadership skills
forming life-long friendships and supportive communities.
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We do this by:
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creating a climate-controlled athlete training facility that operates irregardless of weather-conditions and field closures so youth have access to continuous training and play
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creating a training facility that includes a turf area, a gym, a stretching/yoga/meditation area and a parent viewing area that is family friendly
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creating a safe environment of free-play and creativity for kids to try different moves and meet different players
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helping each and every individual youth player develop their own physical abilities and skill level
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promoting a development-first model and healthy competition
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creating an awareness of athletes to take ownership of their own health and well-being
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partnering with other organizations to promote growth, learning and mentorship and facilitating exciting sporting environments and opportunities for youth to learn from
STREETBALL FC TRAINING PHILOSOPHY
Streetball FC has been adapted to bring the basic concept of small sided game play in the game of soccer into the realm of sport science. It is an initiative to promote first and foremost free play and creativity, lost arts in a highly specialized and competitive developmental paradigm. Streetball FC has been developed to promote the intuitive and natural game play development that happens when players of similar skill level and developmental age play together and look to solve the problems of soccer.
3 v 3 and at most 4 v 4 along with 2 v 2 and 1 v 1 arrangements on a small field allow for multiple touches for developing players as well as promoting physical contact and battles
Structure
Physical
To optimize both athlete preparation and development we have drawn upon the growing sport science as well as anecdotal support for physical literacy warm ups to be integrated into the model. Players are introduced to a variety of multi-sport movements beyond the game of soccer to promote a more diversified movement foundation and skill set.
Technical
As well players are educated on basic or foundational sport and soccer specific techniques to promote the development and integration of consistent motor skill ‘engrams‘. Movements that allow players to develop a technical foundation to be relied upon into their later stages of athletic maturity when emphasis shifts to competitive and physiologic goals and focus. The physical and technical warm up and preparation help address remedial issues in a young athletes sport movement skill set and on a daily basis promotes optimal readiness or activation, which is often necessary for kids coming out of sedentary school environments .
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Game Play
Game play understanding is guided and developed by coaches only in so far as defining and reinforcing principles of quality small sided play. Defending, winning the ball back, looking for passing angles and creativity with 1 v 1 technique and movements are encouraged. Each coach in their thinking and methodology may have 1 or 2 more suggestions that are important to them but the input is deliberately minimized to allow for free play. Players are encouraged to immerse themselves in the match and derive solutions without fear of mistakes. Parents are allowed to watch but are not allowed to lend a voice or influence except for certain instances with younger players.
Sport Science / Visual Feedback
Matches are monitored both qualitatively through video review - as well as at times physiologically to identify fatigue and provide breaks. Sessions are completed with either high intensity running and agility races or specific movements for strength and recovery. The goal is to finish at positive moments when players are having a lot of fun and want to come back for more.
Streetball Session Development Guide
Any quality session in football still requires a quality coach to guide content and protect the environment . Coaches for young athletes must be committed , have played the game and coach with 3 Ps :
PASSION
POSITIVITY
PROFESSIONALISM