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**ATP program is not a separate league or part of the recreational spring season. 
This program is offered to any AR United  U7/U8 recreational player for extra training, at an additional cost.

Little Rock Soccer extends partnership with the ATP program.
Current Little Rock players will assist AR United Staff coach RJ Moore with the sessions.

Cost: $60 (this cost is separate from and in addition to registration fees)
When:  7 week program starting on Wednesday, March 9th
Location: Verizon 2C from 6:00-7:00pm

Mastering Control of the Ball:

Control of the ball is the foundation of the Arkansas United development philosophy. Without control of the ball you can not progress to the next level of development. We will have a strong emphasis on basic and advance foot-skills in the ATP. Players should get at least 700-800 touches on the ball in every training session. The more touches a player gets, the more muscle memory they develop, which leads to greater control of the ball. Players will be learn several different skills they can use to practice at home.

1v1 Moves: 

After learning to control the ball, players are then ready to move on the the next phase of player development. We will encourage players to use the skills and moves they have learned in 1v1 situations. In this phase of added pressure, players will make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. They should become confident dribbling the ball under pressure and not use the "hot potato" method of playing soccer. Players will be encouraged to take chances in the attacking and middle thirds of the field, and not be afraid to make mistakes. This will instill more confidence with each successful time they beat a player. Players will learn many different 1v1 moves throughout the season and will be encouraged to try and master the two or three moves they like the most.

Passing and Receiving:

Once a player develops confidence controlling the ball, they will move to the next phase of learning to work with teammates in 2v1 and 2v2 situations. Players will learn the accurate method of passing the ball and receiving the ball. They will learn to use all surfaces of the foot to pass - inside, outside, and laces. It is important for players to begin to understand some decision making in this phase. When is the best time to pass the ball and when should I dribble? Players will be introduced to games that force them to make quick decisions, and control the ball at a higher rate of speed. They will also learn to work with their teammates, as an option to beat a player and get in behind the defenders.