Long Term Player Development
The Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) is introducing changes designed to encourage more playing time for every player, enhance skill development, improve coaching and generally make the game more fun to play! New and better training for youth soccer coaches is the centerpiece of the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA), Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA) and Winnipeg Youth Soccer Association's new Long Term Player Development initiative. A joint task force between the MSA and WYSA has begun rolling out changes to the way youth soccer is coached and played in Winnipeg.
Implementation of the Long Term Player Development model:
1. New Citywide Coaching Program:
Coaching instructors have been certified to teach mini-soccer coaches.
Community Centres and District Soccer Clubs will have easy access to instructors who will coach the coaches. Each coach will also receive coaching materials to assist them in planning practice sessions for the entire season. WYSA is actively encouraging all coaches to take the new training courses that have been rolled out by the Manitoba Soccer Association (MSA). The MSA has trained more coaches than ever to lead these courses which has made it easier than ever to get certified at all age levels. For information regarding coaching certification please visit the MSA website at http://www.manitobasoccer.ca/coach/certification-new.
Click here for the MSA Technical and Tactical Coaching Package
Click here for the National Coaching Certification Program Long Term Player Development Information for Parents
2. Changes to Game Formats, Roster Sizes, and Game/Training Ratios:
a) Stage 1, Active Start, for ages 4 & 5:
Two sessions per week for approximately eight weeks, 30-45 minutes in duration, adults and children play together informally with fun drills, max 12 players to a team with a ratio of 4 players to 1 coach.
b) Stage 2, Fundamentals, for ages 6-8:
Recommended ratio of 1:6 coach to players:
i. U6 - 3 v 3 with max roster size of six, co-ed
ii. U7 - 4 v 4 with max roster size of 8, boys and girls to play separately
iii. U8 - 5 v 5 with max roster of 10 players, boys and girls to play separately
c) Stage 3, Lean to Train, for ages 9 & 10:
The most noticeable change is that we’ve moved to a 6 v 6 game format. With smaller sided games, every player will become more involved in the action and get more touches on the ball! The games will be played on a smaller field in which WYSA has purchased new goals to be placed at the fields specifically designed for these smaller-sided games.
- 6 v 6 games
- Smaller field sizes with markings
- Size 4 soccer ball
- Max roster size of 12
- Games to be officiated
- No offside rule to be enforced
- All other regular rules of soccer to be enforced
- No league table (standings) or stats will be published
Game/training ratios and format recommendations for U9 & U10 Rec League play:
Minimum of three sessions per week: one individual team practice, two games. Additional practices are always encouraged!! Games to consist of 30 minutes of practice – a small sided game (15 minutes), followed by a drill (15 minutes) - then 30 minutes of game versus the other team.
Game/training ratios and format recommendations for U9 & U10 Developmental League play (players seeking higher level of training and commitment to the sport):
Minimum of three sessions per week: two individual team practices, plus one game. Additional practices are always encouraged!! Games to consist of two 30 minute halves.
c) Stage 3, Lean to Train, for ages 11 & 12:
Teams play in a 9 v 9 format on 3/4 sized fields with all regular rules of soccer (including offside).
- 9 v 9 games
- Game format to be two 30 minute halves with a size 4 soccer ball
- ¾ size field with proper markings
- Max roster size of 14
- Games to be officiated
- Offside rule to be enforced
- All other regular rules of soccer to be enforced
- League table (standings) and stats will be published
Game/training ratios recommended for U11 & U12 Recreational League play:
Minimum of three sessions per week: one individual team practice, two games. Additional practices are always encouraged!!
Game/ training ratios recommended for U11 & U12 Developmental League play (players seeking higher level of training and commitment to the sport):
Minimum of three sessions per week: 2-3 individual team training sessions (practice) and one game.
This information can also be found in the 2013 WYSA Spring Newsletter which also includes further information on the U13 – U18 programs. The U13 – U18 game format programs have not changed due to the Long Term Player Development model, however, there are recommendations on game to training ratios and information regarding league structure and formats.
Further information regarding the Long Term Player Development model:
Ontario Soccer Association to stop keeping score/standings (Article)
