Adirondack Lynx Elite Soccer Academy

Lynx Academy to Offer 3 Sessions in 2009

Elite U15-U19 Training to be dictated by US Soccer's Player Development Recommendations

By  Lynx Staff

Sunday, August 10, 2008

I feel like my goal for starting the academy has been fast-forwarded with the start-up of the professional league. Being able to offer 16 and 17 year olds an opportunity to train and compete against the best players in the United States will help them on their path to success”  -- PJ Motsiff, Owner

            As Women’s Professional Soccer begins operations this fall, the Adirondack Lynx Elite Female Soccer Academy has positioned itself to help players follow their dreams!  In fact, 3 WPSL players (Kylee Litchfield, Mary Velan, and Katie Gardiner) from our 2008 team have been invited to a 3-day combine in California later this month to train and play in front of the coaches and managers that will be heading up those pro teams. This summer also saw 10 high school players see playing time at the highest level of women’s soccer in the United States on our WPSL team! Owner, PJ Motsiff commented, “I feel like my goal for starting the academy has been fast-forwarded with the start-up of the professional league. Being able to offer 16 and 17 year olds an opportunity to train and compete against the best players in the United States will help them on their path to success.”

            As the academy program continues to attract top players locally and regionally we are trying to meet the needs of each individual developing player.  This fall, winter, and spring the Lynx Academy will be following US Soccer’s Guidelines for training U15-U19 players (see below).  It appears that the hardest part of joining the Lynx is the ability to coordinate it with other soccer (or athletic) programs.  This winter we have designed the program to better meet a players individual need.  The program has been broken into 3 sessions.  Our Fall session will run from the end of school soccer (November) till Christmas Break.  The winter session will run from the New Year to February break and the spring session will run from February break to the end of March.  Each session will include approx. 7-10 training sessions as well as 1-2 competitive 9v9 or 11v11 matches/month.  During the Winter Session we will again have Mental conditioning and Speed and quickness training. 

            Pricing will vary by season.  Players that commit and pay for the whole program prior to November 1 will get a price reduction of $75.  Another way to get a price reduction is to recommend the Elite Lynx Academy to other top players.  A refund of $50/session ($150/year) will be given for every player that is accepted and completes a session based on your recommendation.

 

The US Soccer's 2 Developmental Stages...Being Addressed by the Adirondack Lynx Elite Female Soccer Academy this year

THE DEDICATION PHASE (U-15 and U-16)

Development of individual skills – individual, group and team tactics:

This is a critical time in the player’s development. Many stop playing due to other interests, lack of success, shortage of playing opportunities, poor leadership or other reasons. Players tend to lack mental toughness and self-confidence. They tend to be self-critical and struggle with their desire to be competitive or need to be more competitive. There is a need for attention and security. A great focus on team spirit, leadership and discipline within the team.

Coach must be:
Charismatic, experienced, knowledgeable, articulate, a disciplinarian, have managerial know-how, a thoughtful persuader.

Technique:
• Skills should be mastered leading to artistry and improvisation, all under match conditions.
• Individual skill covered during the warm-up and/or in competitive situations.
• Increase technical speed. It is important that technique is still highly emphasized at this age.
• Strike balls cleanly over distance with accuracy under pressure.

Tactics:
• Increase tactical speed (decision making)
• Individual: Decisions based on thirds of the field.
      In attack: There must be an application of varied technical abilities in order to increase tactical options. There must be an aggressive attacking mentality in final third. Emphasis should be placed on predicting what the game will need next. Knowing what each player’s specific roles and responsibilities are lends to greater understanding of the big picture.
      In defense: There should be a clear understanding of how the quality of pressure affects team defending success. There must be an ability to take options away from the attacker.

• Small group: 4 v. 4, 7 v. 7, 9 v. 9
      In attack: Players must understand the balance of needing possession and penetration. Continued work on combination play (wall pass, takeover, overlap, double pass, third player running etc.). Playing for penetration and creativity in solving problems becomes important.

• Mobility – movement without the ball
• Crossing – picking out a runner rather than putting it in the box
• Box organization – penetration, width and support for every ball played in the box
• Attacking as a group of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
• Set plays (80 percent success rate: where we get:
• goal; 2) shot on goal, or 3) corner kick

In defense:
• Compactness
• Cover, delay, dictate and recover
• Communication (who, what, when, where)
• Defending as a group of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
• Enjoy winning possession of the ball and dictating the play
• Set plays

• Team: Clearly defined team tactics, how the team decides to play as a group.
     In attack:
     Comfort with direct and indirect styles
     Sustained possession as a means to bread down the opponent’s defense
     Understanding how to counterattack
     Decisions based on thirds of the field

In defense:
• Comfort with “high pressure” and “delayed high pressure” styles
• Understanding of zonal and man-to-man marking play
• Goalkeeper as the last defender
• Keeping good team compactness
• Stopping the counterattack
• Decisions based on thirds of the field and different systems of play

System: The recommended system to expose players to various systems using 3-4-3 and 4-3-3.
Note: A great deal of coaching/teaching within 7 v. 7 and 9 v. 9 games.

Physical:
• Fitness should take place with and without the ball.
    Flexibility – static stretching after training/matches.
    Dynamic flexibility – partner stretching
    Importance of discipline for warm-up and cool-down
    Agility – with and without the ball
    Footwork – keeping the feet active when moving/playing
    Endurance – aerobic and anaerobic
    Strength – Upper and lower body. Core strength and stability
    Balance
    Nutrition – proper diet pre-game, post-game, at tournaments
    Prevention and care of injuries
    Importance of rest/recovery – schedule issues relative to the physical demands

Psychological:
• Leadership/player responsibilities
• Discipline
• Respect for the game
• Goal setting
• Vary program – satisfy players’ urge for competition
• Establish pre-practice and pre-game routine (as individuals and team).
• Encourage players/teams to watch professional and National Team soccer

The Game:
• 11 v. 11

 

FULL BLOOM PHASE (U-17, U-18 and U-19)

Development of functional and team play:

Fulfillment of a player’s potential depends on his or her own efforts, the support of teammates and the unselfish guidance of her coach. He or she must be exposed to a playing and training environment, which extends her mental, physical, tactical and technical capabilities to the limit. He or she must have a sound understanding of the game’s principles and concepts. Players should show emotional stability when confronted with pressure situations. Demanding and challenging training sessions and matches are a must.

Coach must be:
Charismatic, well informed, up to date, experienced, knowledgeable, articulate, a disciplinarian. No doubts abut his/her authority, managerial know-how.

Technique:
• Mastered skills leading to artistry. All at speed under match conditions, demanding excellence. Individual skill covered during warm-up and competitive situations.

Tactics:
• Increase tactical speed (decision-making) with increased pressure and competition. Having the ability to change and adapt to game dynamics, up or down a goal, management of the clock and flow of the game.

• Individual:
In attack: A good deal of time spent in functional training environments.
• Decisions based on thirds of the field.
• Comfort in playing in the different areas of the field/team (back, middle, front, center, wide).
• Confidence to hold possession as an individual.
• Solve problems at the individual level.
In defense: Clear understanding of how the quality of pressure affects the ability of the team to defend.
• Decisions based on thirds of the field.
• Comfort at playing two different positions.

• Small group:
In attack:
• Improvisation/deception encouraged
• Advanced understanding of combination play and how to combine to break down a defense.
• Balance of possession and penetration with a purpose to score goals.
• Recognize opportunities to penetrate by a variety of means.
• Attacking in groups of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
In defense:
• Pressure, cover, balance
• Control of the game’s speed and direction due to defending decisions.
• Recognition of double team opportunities.
• Defending in groups of three (forwards, midfielders and defenders)
• Team: Understanding of lines and linkage between lines. Understand positional and team needs.
In attack:
• Comfort with direct and indirect styles of play.
• Combination play with tactical implications.
• Sustained possession as a means to break down the opponent’s defense.
• Speed of play; the game is faster and more physical.
• Creativity, quality of final ball to beat backs.
• Understanding how and when to counterattack.
• Serving runners in the box.
In defense:
• Comfort with “high pressure” and “delayed high pressure” styles.
• Understanding of zonal and man-to-man marking play.
• Goalkeeper as the last defender.
• Keeping good team compactness.
• Stopping the counterattack.
• Decisions based on thirds of the field and different systems of play.
• Pressing (when and where to pressure, channel and dictate defensively).
• Systems: The recommended system – all. Based on a variety of factors (individual/team abilities, opponent, field conditions, game management etc.). The Women’s National Team, U-21, U-19 and U-16 National Teams predominantly employ three forwards using a 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 system.
Note: A great deal of coaching/teaching within 9 v. 9 and 11 v. 11 games.

Physical:
• Fitness work with and without the ball.
• Flexibility – static stretching after training/matches.
• Dynamic flexibility – partner stretching.
• Importance of discipline for warm-up and cool-down.
• Agility – with and without the ball.
• Endurance – aerobic and anaerobic.
• Strength – upper and lower body. Core strength/stability.
• Balance.
• Nutrition – proper diet pre-game, post-game, tournaments.
• Prevention and care of injuries.
• Importance of rest/recovery – schedule issues relative to the physical demands.

Psychological:
• Increased concentration.
• Leadership and increased player responsibility.
• Discipline.
• Accountability.
• Goal setting.
• Respect for the game.
• Self-confidence, self-motivation, goal setting.
• Vary program – satisfy players’ urge for competition. Will to win.
• Mental toughness/competitive mentality.
• Establish pre-practice and pre-game routine (as individuals and teams).
• Encourage players/teams to watch professional and National Team games on television.

The Game:
• 11 v. 11.