U.S. Developmental Academy

Parent Meeting 2-26-2017

“If you always do what you’ve always

done, you will always get what you’ve

always got.

Insanity: “doing the same thing

over and over again and expecting

different results.”

Albert Einstein

• Jill Ellis – U.S. Women’s National Team, December 15th 2016, Chicago U.S. DA Meeting

• Looking for “Brains and Feet”

• Can players solve a low block, collectively or individually? (Sweden, WC 2016)

• Evolve or become irrelevant

• “What we did in 2015 will never help us in 2019”

• Embrace being authentic to who we are. We are known around the world for being mentally tough, hardworkers, and athletic, these are not descriptors we want to disown, we are all of these things, BUT weare also skillful and intelligent players. Our responsibility is to play a style that blends all of thesequalities.

• It boils down to technical speed / quality and execution.

• Technical Break Down, poor technical ability and poor decision making (produce autonomous thinkers)

• Not producing high enough quality in technical ability, in the game, with pressure, being able to play, retain possession.

• Three Things, Athleticism, Technique and Attitude / Mentality (Trifecta)

• Strong with Athleticism and Mentality

• Must improve technical speed and decision making

• Other Nations are catching up: Japan, China, Germany, France,

England. Must ensure there is still a gap between the U.S. and

increase that gap.

• We will do that through the Development Academy by:

• Improve quality of coaching (Minimum License Requirements)

• Implement technical standards that benefit players

• Create a pathway to youth national teams

• More training. Better training. Deliberate Practice.

• Less Games, better quality.

• Games scouted by U.S. National Staff

• Our promise is that your daughter will receive the most bespoketraining environment in order for her to maximize her “OWN”playing potential:

• Individual Action Plans

• 6 week / 12 week meetings

• Individual and unit challenges in training and matches

• Constant feedback from technical staff

• Athletic Trainers at every training session

• Strength and Conditioning resources

• An environment that encourages creativity but demands hard work

• Training opportunities with FCKC in the NWSL

• FCKC Performance Plan Link: http://fckcsoccer.com/us_soccer_da

• All four teams will travel together and likely play back to backgames, beginning with the U18/19’s.Schedule TBA. Texas /Frontier 16-30 Regular Season Games, 35-39 Games includingshowcase events. (We will travel 17 players per team – 15outfield players and 2 goal keepers)

• From Jan 20th – March 5th Futsal and alternative gamesschedule. Futsal block, 3 nights per week, 2 nights training, onenight playing (mixed age groups). The 4th night of training willbe an alternative sport, Basketball, Volleyball, Flag Football,Hand Ball for example.

• Game Lengths: U18/19 – 2x45 (15 min HT); U16/17, U15,

U14 2x40 (15 min HT)

• Game order: U18/19, U16/17, U15, U14 with 30 Min of

warmup between matches

• Game Day Roster: 18 players, 5 technical staff members

permitted on bench / technical area

• Substitutions: no re-entry, 5 substitutions across three

opportunities

• A double fixture weekend may be players, provided 18 hours

of rest is scheduled between kickoffs; games may not start prior

to 9 am.

• Training Schedule: Mandatory x4 Sessions PW

• Home

• Saturday (Match), Sunday (Off), Monday (Recovery Session) Tuesday(Training), Wednesday (Off) Thursday (Training), Friday (Training)

• Away

• Saturday (Match), Sunday (Travel /Off) Monday (Recovery Session), Tuesday (Training), Wednesday (Off), Thursday (Training), Friday (Training / Potential Travel)

• Winter

• Futsal / Alternative

• Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

• Buses

• KC to Colorado Rush, Littleton 613 Miles (8.5 hours)

• KC to Real Colorado, Centennial 607 Miles (8.5 hours)

• KC to Dallas Texans, Plano 486 Miles, (7.5 hours)

• KC to Solar SC, Allen 480 Miles (7.5 hours)

• KC to Sting Soccer Club, Addison 496 Miles (8 hours)

• Flights

• MCI to Texas Rush, Woodlands

• MCI to Houston Dash

• MCI to Houston United

• MCI to Lonestar Soccer Club, Austin

• There will be Mandatory Study Hall during away matches

• We hope through the use of Individual Action Plans that once

you are in the Girls’ Developmental Academy, you stay here

through the U19 Age group. There will be underlying factors

that may not allow this, but it is our goal.

• The DA’s priority is to develop the best players in order for the

U.S. National Teams and to play in the NWSL

• The Player Pathway is still through the University System

• Maybe there will be exceptions?

• The U.S. Girls’ Development Academy will be seen as thehighest level of youth soccer for females

• University Coaches will attend our home and away fixtures,along with U.S. YNT Scouts

• We will personally invite University Coaches to watch you play

• University Coaches will attend the showcase events

• We will hold recruiting evenings where University Coaches willpresent and talk about their recruiting process

• We will help with developing your resume and playinghighlights to send to potential schools

• While we are waiting for our travel schedule it is hard tobudget. We have estimated costs, we do not see there being asignificant difference between what a current FCKC Academyplayer is paying now to compete in the National League or thehighest level of MRL. The cost will be prorated over the tenmonth season and all balances in the fall and winter will needto be paid in order to play in the spring.

• http://developmentfund.ussoccer.com/about-the-fund/

• Scholarships are available, they need to be applied for by 9-11-2017

• Can you play other club sports?

There is nothing stating you can not, however with 4 training sessions per week and games it may be tough. (The DA must be your priority)

• Can you play ODP?

You will not longer be able to play ODP, unless you are a “DP”

• Can you Dual Roster with other FCKC Teams?

No, you will only be able to train and play with your DA Team, in your age group unless you have been moved up. The only exception is a Developmental Player.

• A “DP” is a “Bubble player” who trains regularly with the DA Team but plays primarily with the team just below. They may play in a maximum of 6 DA games. They can become full time “DA” players but this does not happen automatically after the completion of those 6 games. (Can not participate in playoffs or championships)

• What will the roster sizes be?

• Roster sizes will be capped between min 16 FT players and max 23 FT

players per age group.

• U14: 16-20, U15: 16-20, U16/17: 16-23, U18/19: 16-23

• (Minimum of 32 players across oldest two age groups)

• All FT players must start a minimum of 25% of all regular season games,

and may not compete in outside competitions (i.e. guest playing, ODP etc)

• A “DP” is able to compete in non-Academy competition concurrently, as

long as part of their LTPD

• Younger players are encouraged to “play up” with older teams to

accelerate development.

• Can my daughter still play High School Soccer?

• Players in high school during the 2017-18 academic year will be able to play

high school soccer throughout the remainder of their high school career

• If a player chooses to play high school soccer she will not be allowed to play

with her Girls’ Development Academy club during that portion of the

Academy season

• We believe that players need to focus on one environment in the best interest

of their development and safety

• Beginning with the 2021-22 season, participation in high school soccer will not

be permitted for Girls’ Development Academy Players

• The decision on whether to play High School Soccer for each individual will be

based after discussion with the Player, Coach and Academy Manager,

planning out what is best for the players LTPD.

• Thank you for your time this evening, we are delighted you all

have an interest in representing the FCKC U.S. Girls’

Development Academy.

• mabriggs@kcprosoccer.com