What do you feel makes a great soccer coach? The best coaches possess a clear vision and understand their values, and they work tirelessly, through consistent and clear communication, to make sure their players understand them as well. Top coaches should also be students of the game. If coaches are not demanding of themselves to always get better, how can they ask the same from their players? How would you describe your soccer and/or player development philosophy? I put a premium on developing soccer awareness through training activities that favor learning through what is often described as “open” or “random” activities. This means learning by playing the game itself with all its ever-changing variables. And then I supplement that play with specific, carefully considered conditions that bring out the needed technique and tactics to support discovery among the players. In this regard, I’m a bit of a soccer session junkie; I’m always studying, dreaming up, or constructing activities to deliver the kind of soccer game moments I want my players to experience over and over and learn from in their own unique way. Yet there’s more to development and a piece that is often overlooked: Coaches need to demand that their players be accountable for part of the development equation, too. The idea that a player can turn up two or three times a week for training and become a top player is ridiculous. Players must be passionate students of the game, spending off days getting touches however possible or training for strength and conditioning or watching a match or video to understand (and visualize) how the best players and teams operate on the field. Why are you excited to work with players at the SF Elite Academy? In my professional life, I’ve always emphasized surrounding myself with people that I felt were better than me in terms of experience and know how. I want to be pushed, and I love learning and getting better. Working at the SF Elite Academy has allowed me to do just that as I’m on staff with some of the finest soccer coaches around. It’s literally a dream come true. Who was/is your favorite soccer player and why? Zinedine Zidane. He had it all--mastery of technique, power, and gall--and he won it all and did so when the lights were brightest, whether it was for club or country. I was fortunate enough to have been in Paris when France won the World Cup in 1998, and after the final I will never forget the projected, laser image of Zidane on the Arc di Triomphe or the surreal street celebrations that ensued. In 2006, I happened to see Zidane’s quarterfinal performance against Brazil on an airplane headrest TV while on a flight to the east coast. I don’t think I moved an inch for two hours; I knew I was watching perfection and one of the greatest soccer performances of all time. If Zidane took a bad touch in the whole game I don’t remember it, and he carried his whole French team to a win against some of the most talented soccer players and one of the best teams in the world. Who is your favorite soccer coach and why? Over the years, this has changed with styles and systems that go in and out of vogue but it would probably be Carlo Ancelotti, regardless of his recent abrupt dismissal from Bayern Munich. This is a coach who has won the Champions League with three different teams, and the pedigrees of the clubs he’s led--AC Milan, Juventus, PSG, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich--are incredible and the titans of the game. He’s won Ligue 1, the EPL, the Bundesliga and Serie A. Beyond the many deserved accolades, Ancelotti is also recognized for his tactical versatility and working his ideas about systems of play around the strengths of his players while giving them room to operate creatively, too. And, importantly, Carlo Ancelotti is one of the true gentlemen of the game in an era where these type of managers are harder to come by. What's been your favorite moment as a soccer coach? I’ve been fortunate enough to have been around special moments and memorable wins. While I was coaching with Evolution FC in the 2014-15 State Cup, State Division semifinal, my U12 team played in a horrible rainstorm up in Napa but beat our rival from the Barcelona Academy (now DeAnza South) 2-0 with timely goals and a reserve keeper to earn a trip to the final. That same tournament we also beat a Mill Valley team in the quarterfinal that had outplayed us even though we held an early 1-0 lead. When they finally equalized with minutes left and were still relishing their chances in extra time, we immediately answered when a guest player from a younger team somehow beat two defenders and the keeper to get a winner in the final seconds. He told me later his younger team had lost their State Cup run on penalties, and there was “no way he was going to let that happen again.” That player is now a freshman at UHS where I'm the assistant varsity coach and I really look forward to working with him again. You can do anything with determination like that. But, honestly, it’s not the big matches I recall the most; it’s those where my team simply takes it to another level and earn a glimpse of their collective potential. There's plenty of examples but I’d probably just pick a tournament game from what I think was the year before the State Cup mentioned above. It wasn’t for a trophy but just one of those games when everything came together. The boys were playing a very good San Juan Lightning team that hadn’t lost more than one game in over a year and we'd just completed a sort of lousy, low-energy warm-up. And then the boys went out and won 7-0. Nothing could go wrong. Players were combining and ripping through their opponent like they were not even there. Every shot seemed to bend ridiculously and rifle into the net. I recall turning to the guys on the bench and apologizing about not knowing when I could get them into the match because, as I put it, we were watching “pure magic” on the field. As a coach, those are exactly the moments you’re always chasing after.  The SFEA 99-00 Boys Claim 2017 Davis Legacy Premier Cup Championship. Head Coach Chris Flanagan is pictured far right. IN THIS ISSUE:
PRESIDENT'S LETTER People often ask, “How is the Elite Academy different than other clubs?” I love this question. It shows the questioner cares about our values and approach to player development. I begin to answer by pointing to our four program pillars: high-level coaching, excellent private fields, the opportunity to face the best competition, and access for all. I also tend to speak about our core values (and have done so in this column before): respect, excellence, perseverance and community. But what I really love about the question is it gives me the opportunity to talk about another critical component of the Academy program--our methodology. Simply put, methodology is how we teach and develop players in order to prepare them for the next level. The beauty of a program like ours is the ability to support talent development without being bogged down by the demands of running a huge number of youth teams across recreational and competitive levels. We've developed a learning-centric program that focuses on the player, how the player learns, and what the player needs to be successful. We are thus able to take a fresh, modern approach designed specifically for the elite player, and we do so at a critical time in their development path. To that end, we’ve developed a unique learning-centric program that focuses on the player, how that player learns, and what that player needs to be successful. Our methodology promotes soccer play where all eleven players utilize divergent and convergent thinking to recognize patterns and possibilities at game-speed. Our training sessions promote a logical progression of exercises that move from warm-up to game-like play in order to construct the conditions under which players will need to perform in order to create and execute solutions to attacking and defending problems. And we emphasize a learner-based model in these sessions, which develops a player's ability to react to cues and triggers that help simplify the overall complexity of the game. Again, the goal is for our players to recognize possibilities at game-speed. Our methodology promotes a dynamic and engaging training environment that allows our players to be pushed and have fun, while they are also unconsciously training their thinking and physical responses to work in harmony. The fact is that too many soccer programs fall into the trap of embracing, whether purposely or not, a coach-centric perspective. This is the kind of environment where coaches equate learning with players doing what their told to generate team results. A crude example would be a coach asking a defensive player to always kick the ball long down the sideline so that the team’s fast winger can run behind and try to score. Such a tactic may be effective at winning a few games but is highly detrimental to player development. When you start, like the Academy does, from the perspective of the learner, things change both for the player and for the program. In short, at the Academy we seek to develop players and create a consistent culture to support teams (see Nick's terrific column below); and, from there, the results more or less take care of themselves. Joe Dugan, Academy President DIRECTOR'S NOTE Few things are as critically important but habitually overlooked in the development of a team as team culture. It’s one of those difficult qualities to define, but when you see it you know it immediately. Every team has a culture but not all cultures are beneficial to the goals of the team. You can either shape culture or roll the dice and let it shape itself, but either way your team will have one. As a coach, the critical thing is shaping a culture that works for your team. Start by establishing that “the team” is another form of family. Let players know they’ll always be a part of something special where they are respected, safe, and put in a position to grow. New players should be welcomed on the field; their parents welcomed on the sidelines. And, as a coach, you should strive to find a role for everyone, a way for every person involved to contribute to the success of the group. Even the smallest of roles reinforces a critical sense of belonging and contribution to the team-family concept. Also, it's important to realize that team-building activities are a critical component in the process of building a team/family culture. Sure, you can pay an ex-Navy Seal to lead your team on a 10-day survival course into the mountains, but it doesn’t have to be so daunting to achieve team building. Take advantage of the small opportunities to get your players together away from practice or games. Play a different sport together, attend an event or game, do a service project, hold a pizza party. The list can go on and on. The important piece is that you’re creating a space where the players can get to know one another better, can improve communication, and can build trust and improve their social skills. In addition, the coach must remember to model the same core values that they want displayed in the team. For example, a coach can’t spend the entire match screaming at the official and then expect a culture of respect. Embrace the importance of small things like shaking hands before and after a training session. It sets a certain tone and shapes a respective atmosphere. And if a coach wants an organized practice, well then he or she needs to present an organized classroom. Get to training early, have the right equipment and a plan, lay out the session quickly and explain exercises in a way that makes sense and eliminates lost time. Next, keep in minds that routines and traditions play a powerful role in reinforcing the type of culture you want to create. One way to achieve this is to use the phrase “this is how we do things here”. The helps define key tenets of the team culture. For example, if it’s a core value to field a team that never gives up, then reinforce that mentality every chance you get by highlighting the right way to respond to inevitable setbacks. Finally, realize that parents play a critical role in the culture of a team. Coaches should consider parents as allies in the common goal of developing an exemplary team experience. Open communication between coaches, players & parents is a first step. But also be sure to go to next level and clearly define expectations to one another, and then hold each other accountable to those expectation in a professional and constructive manner. Coaches need to communicate clearly and often in order to let the parents know what is going on and where the focus of the team is at in different phases of the team's journey. All coaches have our favorite stories of badly behaved adults on the sidelines of youth sports, but the vast majority of the times those situations are avoidable with a strong enough team culture. A lot of human behavior is a response triggered by the environment we find ourselves in. If all of us—coaches, players, parents, and fans—do our part to make the youth sports environment a positive and enjoyable one, then we’re far more likely to be successful in the creation of a great team culture, and one that will eventually lead to success for our players both on and off the field. Nick Lusson, U.S. Soccer Development Academy Director, SF Elite Academy AROUND THE ACADEMY Monday March 6th is Academy Club Night Don't miss the chance to hear about all the exciting happenings at the Academy, meet with your fall coaches, as well as get to know new players and families! Our club night is an annual event not to be missed. Details below: Academy Club Night When: Monday March 6, 2017 Where: St. Stephens School, Donworth Hall Time: 6-8:30pm What: Presentations, Brief Team Meetings, Updates and More. • Detailed agenda to follow • Food & non-alcoholic drinks will be served • Mandatory for all coaches, players & members. RSVP to your coach or via team using TeamSnap Fall 2017 Coaching Lineups Announced Teams heard this week about our new lineup of coaches for Fall 2017. We are delighted to present such an accomplished and highly-licensed group to lead our fall teams. We feel strongly we have the most professional staff available to San Francisco youth soccer players, and that the high quality of our coaches clearly separates our program as the one for the elite player. We also understand that coaching changes can be of a concern to our players and parents, and we continue to seek an improved tryout and team formation schedule going forward. If you have concerns or comments please contact Tom Atencio, Director of Soccer Operations, at tomatencio@sfea.org Academy Fall 2017 Coaches Girls 2004 NPL – Paul Hart (USSF B) 2004 NorCal – Pinder Nijjar (USSF B) 2003 NPL – Jeff Wilson (USSF A), Jim Millinder—Asst. (USSF A) 2003 NorCal – Chelsea Davis (USSF D) 2002 NPL – Bobby Quinlan (USSF B) 2001 NPL – Pinder Nijjar (USSF B), Jeff Wilson—Asst. (USSF A) '99/'00 NorCal – Chance Daniel (USSF C), Pinder Nijjar—Asst. (USSF B) Boys 2006 USSDA – Bobby Quinlan (USSF B), Nick Lusson—Asst. (USSF A) 2004/2005 NorCal – Tom Atencio (USSF A) 2004 NPL - Nick Lusson (USSF A) 2003 NPL – Tom Atencio (USSF A) 2002 NPL – Mauricio Diaz De Leon (USSF C) 2001 NPL – Mauricio Diaz De Leon (USSF C) '99/'00 NPL – Chris Flanagan (USSF C) Update on Our Funding Campaign To date, we've secured significant funding towards our goal of having a sustainable scholarship program, extra field space and an increase in coaching salaries to insure we have the most experienced and licensed staff available. Our funding campaign will truly support a San Francisco-based soccer opportunity for those deserving elite level soccer players, boys and girls, ages 10 & 11 and above. If you would like to participate in the campaign, we welcome your support at whatever level you’re comfortable. Please contact Joe Dugan for more details. And it's also worth mentioning that the San Francisco Elite Academy is an approved non-profit on the Benevity giving platform. Benevity is the global leader in online workplace giving solutions. If your company has a matching donation program, this is a great way to maximize donations to our non profit. check it out at www.benevity.org Spring Training Dates & Times The Academy did not receive its full allotment of city permits until the end of last week, meaning we've spent last weekend and the past few days planning our practice logistics with our coaches for spring, all the while knowing training starts next week. But, at last, we now have a workable spring training schedule for all teams. Everyone should check TeamSnap as your team's schedule will be updated by your team manager very soon. New Website Just before the end of the year, the Academy launched a new website at sfea.org. We hope you are using and enjoying the new site, and we look to expand its content and functionality in the months ahead. In addition, we've ramped our presence on social media and invite all players, parents, and members to check us out on Facebook and Twitter. ACADEMY COACHING PROFILE Tom Atencio 1998 Boys Head Soccer Coach & Director of Soccer Operations, SF Elite Academy What do you feel makes a great soccer coach? The ability to observe the team and individuals, and then create training sessions that present game situations in order to promote good habits. The coaches abilities are truly tested when it comes to making the important and needed adjustments in training. The games are a simply a test of how well you've done in your training environment. What is your soccer and/or player development philosophy? The ball is round and is so all over the world. There are basic techniques and habits that have to be learned regardless of where you live--passing with all surfaces of the body, turning, receiving with all parts of the body, shooting with all parts of the body, vision, as well as the independent expressiveness of the individual player. These habits can be learned in many ways: pick up soccer, training, observation, culture, and self realization. Because there are so many ways to learn, having one universal philosophy to the world's game does not make sense. For me, the specific soccer culture and life style will help determine the proper philosophy for that specific place in the soccer world. Why do you work with players at the SF Elite Academy? Simply put, I'm here because I want to aid in the development of these players and this program. The SF Elite Academy has a very good foundational philosophy, and one that is ahead of its time in San Francisco. The program strives to provide all the resources necessary to maximize the individual player. These resources include coaching, injury prevention, sport psychology, college and national team exposure, extra training, a year-long calendar to keep the player in shape, engaged, and progressing toward his or her goals. With these resources and more that I hope to see get put in place, we are setting the table so that an individual and motivated player can take advantage of the program and achieve his or her soccer dream. Who was/is your favorite soccer player? Landon Donovan. He has been world class beginning with the U17 World Cup held in New Zealand where he won the tournament MVP/Golden Ball. His ability to run off the ball and make second and third runs are the quality that make him world class. He was more effective in various World Cup matches than many players considered world stars, scoring 5 goals in 12 caps, which is more than Ronaldo's 3 goals and equal to Messi's 5 goals. Who was/is your favorite soccer coach? Bruce Arena because of his ability to make adjustments to systems and personnel during a competition. Also, Bruce just has that special ability to motivate players. He's done it all, both in the World Cup and in the club setting. Everything he's touched at all levels of US Soccer has turned to gold and of course I'm wishing him the best with the U.S. Men's national team once again. What's been your favorite moment as a soccer coach? Winning a National Premier League Championships with players that I had in our program since they were 7 to 11 years old. It was truly special to see the excitement in those girls' eyes as the final whistle blew. Moreover that experience drove them to repeat the feat the following year. This also happens to be the 2017 class that was just ranked #11 in the nation by Top Drawer. November 2016 issue of The Academy News, a monthly newsletter from the SF Elite Academy View this email in your browser IN THIS ISSUE:
PRESIDENT'S LETTER As we wind down our fall season and begin a short winter break, it’s worth noting how far the Academy has come in only two years. We now have 14 teams competing at the top levels of competitive youth soccer; we’ve launched the first and only US Soccer Development Academy in San Francisco; we’re sending a record 5 teams to the nationally-recognized Surf Cup College Showcase; we have several teams competing this weekend in the NorCal NPL Showcase where over 125 college coaches will be in attendance; and we have multiple teams that have either clinched division championships or are on the cusp of doing so. And, of course, we’re just getting started. The Academy is working hard to expand the breadth of our programmatic support for players as well as our funding in order to further meet our commitment that no player be turned away for financial reasons. In just two years, we’ve already committed over $130,000 in financial aid and we will be doing more in the years ahead. But, for now, let me emphasize just how proud we all our of our players, families, and coaches. As we continue forward, we will stick to the core values that have helped us build a truly unique and special player development program—respect, excellence, perseverance, and community. Lastly, we will be announcing our winter training program shortly. For those who are away with high school play, we wish you the best of luck with your teams and a happy, healthy season. Joe Dugan, President DIRECTOR'S NOTE I’m often asked by players about what they can do to help themselves in the college recruiting process. The first step is just getting out and looking at different colleges. There are basic considerations to be made: Do you want east coast, west coast, mountains or beaches? This is a decision only you can make! And it’s important to remember you are the one going to school there as opposed to your mom or dad or anyone else. Honestly, you can begin evaluating colleges at just about any age, and initiating this process early in your sophomore year is a good start. Over the past five or so years, the recruiting process for soccer has really sped up, so the sooner you start thinking through the essentials of this process the better. Another tip is to not plan more than 3-4 unofficial visits in a week. If you try to do more, everything you see, hear, and do will start to feel the same. So what do you once your on campus? Start by educating yourself and making sure you get a campus tour. And also contact the soccer coaching staff to see if someone can spend 10-15 minutes with you in order to share a little about the expectations of their program and academic demands."...you can begin evaluating colleges at just about any age, and initiating this process early in your sophomore year is a good start." Of course, there is a lot more to learn: public universities and private universities can differ dramatically; the cost of a college education is substantial and may drive the determination of where you can go; class size differs between schools as well as overall enrollment numbers. As you look at different schools, you will start to gain more information and knowledge of each institution, and you will gain an informed picture of determining what kind of school you want to attend. From there, you will be ready to take the next step to find out if the school’s soccer program is interested in you, which is a subject I will speak about soon at our upcoming Academy College Night in February. Jim Millinder, Girls Director of Coaching AROUND THE ACADEMY Tryout Window Approaching While some discussion remains across the city about a viable tryout window and process for accepting player registrations for the 2017-2018 playing season, The Academy is allowing interested players and families to fill out our prospective player form online at www.SFEA.org. Filling out the form now will allow us to be in touch when tryout dates, times, and locations are finalized. Cultivation Event to Support Our Funding Campaign We would like to warmly thank Courtney and Seth Dallaire (USDA U12 Parents) for hosting a Cultivation Event for several families in the club as well as prospective parents. Joe Dugan and Eddie Soto described in great detail the inception of The Academy, the overarching pillars of success and the club’s mission and philosophy on coaching and player development, as well as efforts toward outreach and inclusion. It was a great evening of introduction to our capital campaign with astute questions, fantastic dialogue, and amazing insights into The Academy. Our goal is to get full participation from the San Francisco Elite Academy community in the campaign's efforts. Individual meetings are occurring and Foundation grant proposals are in the queue. Anyone who would like to be involved in the campaign please contact dj@cogeo.us. A Few Team Updates The following teams are heading to the Fall NPL Showcase this weekend…2001 Boys, 2000 Boys, 1998 Boys, 2002 Girls, 2001 Girls…the 2002 Boys clinched their NPL 2 division this weekend with two late goals to secure a 3-1 win over MVLA…the 2001 Boys can clinch their NPL division with a win and a tie at the showcase…2002 Girls got a hard-fought, 1-0 win last weekend against DeAnza North…the 2001 Girls are in 3rd place in NPL 1 and have a big game this weekend against Force 01G ECNL who sit atop the table…the 2003 Girls NorCal team has locked up second place in NorCal Premier Gold after a great 7-2-1 season. ACADEMY COACHING PROFILE Bobby Quinlan 2000 Boys & 2002 Girls Head Soccer Coach, SF Elite Academy What do you feel makes a great soccer coach? What makes a great soccer coach is communication and understanding that every decision we make as coaches has an impact. There are so many coaches out there with an amazing understanding of the game, but the best ones can communicate clearly to the players the techniques of the game and offer different ways to solve the problems the game provides. It is also critical that coaches understand that every decision has an impact on a player. The best coaches make decisions purposely, skillfully, and with the team’s best interest in mind. What is your soccer and/or player development philosophy? My soccer philosophy is that proper technique leads to a greater number of positive outcomes. I do truly believe that their are numerous solutions to every soccer problem a player confronts on the field. The quicker a player can digest what touch is needed and how to do it, the more effectively they can move on to what pass, dribble or shot to execute. The better a player is at using both feet (and all the surfaces of those feet) the more options they will have and the more creative they will play. In the end, it’s the creative players that can make a unique decision and keep the game simple, which is a goal for any player and team. Why do you work with players at the SF Elite Academy? I think SF Elite Academy is huge for the city. It has brought together the best players and the best coaches. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that! On top of the amazing environment, I work with the players because I want to match their thirst and energy for soccer and make them keep wanting to learn more and more. It is this search for the "more" that I think each SF Elite Academy player has; and, as a coach, it is a huge motivator for me each and every day. Who was/is your favorite soccer player? I get this question all the time, and it might sound cliché, but my favorite player is Zinedine Zidane. I was able to go to France for the 98 World Cup and watch Zidane in person. It changed how I viewed the game. His ability to see the field, his first touch, and his weight of his passes opened up passing angles I had never seen before. He controlled the game from start to finish, all while being able to score some of the most amazing goal ever scored. Who was/is your favorite soccer coach? My favorite coach would be Pep Guardiola. He understand the game better than most of his contemporaries, and builds a culture of creating angles and opportunities through movement and passing. What's been your favorite moment as a soccer coach? It is hard to pick just one moment. I would say what brings me the most joy is to see the large numbers of players that I have coached or interacted with throughout my coaching years in San Francisco and with the SF Elite Academy. It is great to see these players’ development, and to watch how they have matured as players and people. Seeing them on the field, in practices or games, reaffirms why I decided to coach—to not only develop a players ability but also their passion so that they can reach the highest levels of soccer. TIPS FOR PARENTS: CHOOSING SOCCER CLEATS One of the beautiful things about soccer is the lack of equipment needed to participate in the game. Perhaps the one key piece (beyond a ball) that most players in structured play require is that which they use to manipulate the ball—soccer cleats. Any parent can tell you they’ve seen the price of soccer cleats skyrocket over the last several years as a dizzying array of brands, styles, types and looks get marketed aggressively to a worldwide consumer. And, as most coaches will tell you, the soccer cleat should be an important consideration for your player athlete. Unfortunately, there are countless examples of players developing repetitive use injuries that can be traced back directly to their choice of footwear on the field. Start by thinking about where your player will use their soccer cleats. Will they be playing primarily on hard ground, soft grass, or field turf? There are different types geared for all of these surfaces, most offer a different kind of stud on the bottom to provide the ideal traction for the paying surface. However, as you will quickly notice, these studs can vary too—from blade-style patters to the rounded nubs that were once the only thing on the market to something in between. The idea behind these variations is better performance (traction and balance) on different surfaces. Nonetheless, these variations often affect stability in the shoe and abrupt changes in cleat style and/or pattern can take a player a little time to get used to. It’s important the player feel comfortable, confident and balanced; otherwise, they are only increasing the risk of injury and the possibility of a rolled ankle or worse. Another consideration is the material. For some players this is driven by comfort; for others it’s about longevity of the shoe and/or cost. Again, the proper thinking should be about fit and stability so that the player essentially forgets about their cleats. If something in the cleat isn’t right or is drawing a player’s attention away from the game, find another pair. Lastly, a portion of the soccer cleat often overlooked—yet important—is the insole. Some are attached and some are removable. For many, a removable insole is critical, especially if the player wants to use orthotics (prescribed or over-the-counter) in order to increase support or otherwise improve their movement dynamics. And one big advantage of removing an insole is that a player can get a close look at just what and where their foot is supposed to ride during play. If they are looking at a narrow sole, consider if their foot will be properly supported and likely to pronate or supinate during play. Of course, if you and your player have significant concerns, possible repetitive use injuries, or just want to learn more, please consult your physical for guidance and help. Some final thoughts on cleats:
For more information please see: http://www.soccer.com/guide/soccer-shoe-guide/ Copyright © 2016, SF Elite Academy, All rights reserved.
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