WHY PLAY FOR CSA?
Center Soccer Association is a community association. We pride ourselves on providing soccer opportunities to players of all ages, all ability levels and for life. You can be new to the game or have already played your best soccer. We have a program for you.
CSA is focused at the youth level on player development. We believe if you teach players the skills and principles of the game you will provide them with an opportunity to enjoy the game regardless of what level they are at. Our programs from u12 and below are focused on individual player development. Beginning at u12 and above we will start to get into team tactics and positional play only after players have acquired the skill to be successful player.
Within our Recreational Program we offer teenagers and adults the opportunity to play at a variety of levels. If you are looking to get in some fitness around a game, just want to play with friends, are just learning the game because your kids are playing or want to be a weekend warrior in our Adult Premier League, we have that competitive option to beginner.
WHY CHILDREN SHOULD PLAY SOCCER?
Most young children from 5 to 8 enjoy running, jumping, rolling, climbing, skipping, falling down and shouting in their play. Most of these are included in the game of soccer. Soccer activities can be and should be set up to be appropriate for a child’s mental and physical developmental needs then the child will have a positive soccer experience. Soccer teaches balance, coordination, uses multiple body parts, requires players to be moving and includes social skills. The cost of soccer is low and is often a great choice for parents. Job of soccer organizations is to set up programming that KEEPS players/parents in the game.
Youth sports are a critical positive developmental tool for the children:
* 62% of kids ages 9-13 do not participate in any organized physical activity during non-school hours.
* 75% of these kids don't play because they cannot afford registration fees and equipment.
* 1/3 of children in the U.S. will be overweight or obese by the time they are 9 years old.
* Over $3.5 billion was eliminated from after-school sports programs in public schools around the US over the past 2 years.
Organized youth sports programs provide an action-oriented and successful path to discipline, leadership, crime-prevention, lower drop-out rates and healthy lifestyles.
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Within CSA's Developmental Program players are ability grouped for training for half the sessions. Think of the program as a 4 session cycle: 2 training sessions in ability group, 1 session with team and the 1 game with team, then repeat. Players are not only on a team but apart of a pool of players of the same age and ability.
WHY ABILITY GROUP FOR TRAINING?
If an activity does not fit the needs of the player, the player will show either frustration or boredom, depending on if the exercise is too easy or too difficult. By ability grouping we are able to make sure that the training activities are neither of these. Players are challenged but are able to find success in the activities within their group.
*The “Slanty Line” concept. Built on the belief that every activity, each participant should have the opportunity to participate at their own ability level.
Better question is why is AGE the measure we use to group players?
How do we keep players playing? Ability grouping may be the answer?
Children grow at different rates, even within the same age groups, some are shorter or taller, some have better balance, are stronger, etc.
More than 75% of kids who play organized sports quit by age 13. Teaching sport vs. just participating – does anyone like to keep doing something they are not good at? NO...so let's take time to teach them the skills.