PLAYERS FIRST™​

Players First is a branded, holistic club soccer experience for parents and players, which emphasizes the development of each individual to his or her full potential, and helps parents make better choices about where their children should play.

Players First licenses clubs are leaders in their respective marketplaces. These 59 clubs nationwide have demonstrated a commitment to the Players First philosophy by giving every athlete a chance to reach their potential through the proper facilitation of relationships with their coaches, parents and players.

Read our club's president, Joe Dugan, on why the San Francisco Elite Academy values Players First™.

• Players First™ represents SFEA's commitment to placing the long-term interests of each individual player at the heart of every decision in structuring, operating, and managing our club.
• Players First™ represents SFEA's commitment to providing a holistic approach in player development for all of our players, recognizing that the soccer experience must include lessons and opportunity both on the field and off.
• Players First™ represents SFEA's commitment as professionals in youth development to expect ongoing learning, education and development from all of our staff members in order to ensure that our players have the benefit of best-in-class information and resources in teaching and training young athletes.​
• ​Players First™ represents SFEA's commitment to engage with and educate parents to help them understand and embrace the appropriate expectations and roles for them in their child’s overall soccer and athletic development experience.

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How does the San Francisco Elite Academy put "Players First™" ?

COACHING
​DEVELOPMENT

Clubs should encourage their coaches to continually seek out educational opportunities, and Players First provides resources to help coaches to grow.

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PLAYER
​DEVELOPMENT

Players First provides tools to clubs and coaches to encourage their players to individually invest in their own development.​​
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CLUB
​DEVELOPMENT

US Club Soccer believes better clubs develop better coaches, and better coaches develop better players. Players First expands US Club Soccer’s philosophy of empowering clubs.​

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PARENT ​ENGAGEMENT & EDUCATION​

Players First provides a framework for parents to understand how to value their child’s soccer experience, replacing the reliance on match outcomes, which has hindered proper player development methodology.​

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PLAYER
HEALTH & SAFETY

Players First provides resources to help clubs and coaches better ensure the health and safety of their players.

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