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 One of the #1 SAAC
initiatives is to support the development team programs by our member
academies. The purpose is to allow the academies to provide the quality,
professional technical training they are know for in a team environment.
The role of SAAC will be to administer the inter-academy programs, which
will include a competitive program, friendlies and travel.
All programs will be age-specific, meaning
different elements will be stressed at different times in the player's
development. At the younger ages, the focus will be on developing the
fundamental skills and techniques required to become elite soccer
players. As the players grow and develop, the emphasis will move
more and more towards game play and tactics, preparing the players for a
future beyond the academy programs, either at the collegiate or
professional level.
The academies will form teams at five
different levels. When players are chosen for the full-time program,
they will be placed at the level appropriate for their age,
physiological development and skill. As they progress through the
Academy, they will be continually evaluated and given feedback in order
to focus on their individual areas for development.
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Introduction to the
Academy
(6 to 8 years
of age)
 In 2008, SAAC
introduced a new Introductory Program. This program is for boys
and girls from the ages of 6 to 8.
This program is meant to introduce young
players to the game of soccer in a fun and positive environment.
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| Key
Elements: |
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Small-sided unstructured games to maximize time with the ball
- Professional coaching
- Environment that encourages individualism and creativity
- 5v5 (4+goalie) ** New for 2010 |
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Primary Development
Teams
(9 to 11 years
of age)
 The base of the development program is
the Primary Development Team. This program is tailored towards boys
and girls that are 10 years of age, although younger and/or older
players may be introduced at this level based on the recommendations of
the Academy director.
The development of basic individual skills
will be the main focus. Inter-academy competitive matches will be part
of the program, however the outcomes of the games will not be used to
measure progress.
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| Key
Elements: |
-
Small-sided (7v7) games to maximize time with the ball
- 3:1 Training-to-game ratios
- Professional coaching
- Competition results are NOT maintained (to
encourage development and reduce competitive anxiety) |
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Junior Development Teams
(10-13 years of
age)
 The next level of the team program
is the Junior Development Team. This program is tailored towards boys
and girls that are 12 years of age, although younger and/or older
players may be introduced at this level based on the recommendations of
the Academy director.
The players will build upon the
fundamentals stressed at the primary level. Team and field sizes will be
increased, but not yet to full size. Team tactics will be introduced and
competition will be part of the development program in which the
result is not the focus.
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Key
Elements: |
-
Small-sided (9v9) games to maximize time with the ball
- 3:1 Training-to-game ratios
- Professional coaching
- Competition results are NOT maintained
(to encourage development and reduce competitive anxiety) |
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Intermediate Development Teams
(13-15 years of
age)
 The final level of the development portion
of the Academy team program is the Intermediate Development Team. This
program is tailored towards boys and girls that are 14 years of age,
although younger and/or older players may be introduced at this level
based on the recommendations of the Academy director.
At this stage, the match intensity will be
increased to prepare the players for the next level of development.
Teams will play 11-a-side and begin work on tactical development and
positional play. Although the focus on match play will
increase, games will still be used to reinforce the key aspects of
the player’s individual technical development.
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Key
Elements: |
- Full
11-a-side games to create real game situations
- 3/4:1 Training-to-game ratios
- Professional coaching
- Competition results are NOT maintained
(to encourage development and reduce competitive anxiety) |
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Academy Showcase Teams
(15-18 years of
age)
The Academy team program shifts into high
gear at the Academy Showcase Team level. This program is tailored towards
boys and girls between 15 and 18 years of age. Beginning in 2007, the
program will be split into Junior and Senior Academy teams, to further
stage the development.
At this stage, the players are placed in a
high intensity, high pressure program to prepare them for the next stage
of their soccer career. The training programs will continue with its
focus on tactical development and positional play, while the
competitive programs will be expanded to add the component of wins and
losses in anticipation of the environment to be faced by the players
once they leave the academy program.
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Key
Elements: |
- Full
11-a-side games
- 3/4:1 Training-to-game ratios
- Professional coaching
- Showcase events, matches against older competition. |
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Competitive Program
SAAC will be planning inter-academy
competition for teams at each of the levels described above. 4-6 teams
per division are expected, and the competitive program will not only
include matches between academies, but also with other teams as well.
The outside competition SAAC hopes to
attract includes the following:
- U.S. based teams traveling to Ontario for exhibition matches
- Academy teams traveling to the United States for exhibition matches
- Showcase teams traveling to the United States for events designed to
enhance scholarship opportunities.
- Exhibition matches with Academy teams from outside of SAAC
SAAC Academies are planning an extended
outdoor program to maximize time spent in a representative match
environment. Although individual programs will vary, the goal is to
provide a 8-9 month outdoor season with the remaining 3-4 months used
for player ID sessions, fitness training and off-season rest periods.
SAAC held the majority of its 2006
programs at the The Country Day School in King City, Ontario.
Centrally located with a number of top quality pitches, the complex
provides an ideal local for the member academies to come together for
weekly exhibitions of attractive and competitive soccer.
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