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RANGERS

ACADEMY

RANGERS ACADEMY

Ages 16-18 (Preparing to Compete)

Youth Development 

At this age,young adults are learning to be more independent and are capable of advanced reasoning and logic. They are working to find their place in society and are extremely social. This is the age where the world around them becomes their classroom. They need adult oversight in a safe environment, but learn best by being able to dialogue with adults role models, then process information to make their own decisions.  They need to be given these opportunities to develop adult behavior as they find their role in society.  To further develop the individual and player, they must take responsibility for their own success and push themselves to reach their highest potential.

 

Player Development Goal

The model player will have the technical and tactical abilities to compete as an individual and the ability to win comes through execution as a team.  At this stage, further development is up to the player. They must take responsibility for their own success and push themselves to reach their highest potential. Our goal is to improve each players core skills and tactical application (with positional specificity) in competitive environments.  We emphasize the individualized physical development, with strength, power and anaerobic power (with aerobic endurance being developed as a consequence of appropriately designed anaerobic endurance training) being the focus of the training program.


Our Philosophy

We promote the player taking responsibility for their own development and they are encouraged to adjust their lifestyle to fully support playing, training and developing as an overall soccer player and a student.  Coaches will provide objective and constructive feedback and will involve the players in reviewing this to maintain confidence and focus.

 

Competition

U17 / U19: 

Team structure and participation of individual players is based on their desire to work to succeed.  Teams are placed in the highest competitive divisions possible and players are expected to not just attend their practices and games but be prepared to participate at their highest levels. 

What does my player need from me?

Parents, please allow your player to have ownership of their commitment to the team,because it needs to be theirs.  They need to be able to talk with you and receive your input (and sometimes boundaries), but they need to make the decisions.  This does not mean that you should not help, but your players will need for your parental role to change. Hold them accountable for the things they commit to, but know that forcing them to do something will not get the result you desire. Sometimes your players will fail. These failures are known as learning opportunities and build their character.  Find other ways to help them understand commitments and expectations.  While much younger than you, young adults see you as an adult. Give them the chance to behave like one (knowing that they won't always get it right).

Coaching Strategies

  Rangers coaches for this age group focus on a few important concepts that are the building blocks for the future development of the players and teams.
 

1.  Commitment: 

Players must be fully committed to all training.  This includes all practices, games and also in developing their own personal physical development off the field. 

 
2.  Player Confidence:

All players should have a high degree of confidence in their primary positions and actively work to keep their positions.

 
3.  Conditioning: 

Players are fully responsible for their own level of conditioning.  Those that are not properly conditioned will not be successful in their team participation nor their development as a player.

 
4.  Goal Setting:

All players will work with their coaches in developing individual goals and the player is responsible for their achievement.  Coaches assist and promote the achievement of individual goals.

 
5.  Desire:
Individual players are pushed to develop a desire to win.
 

FALL/WINTER/SPRING TRAINING

 

Practices:

Team practices will begin at the completion of the fall school soccer season. This is generally at the end of October.  Team practices are one time per week, with an additional academy practice one time per week.  In April, teams move outdoors and an additional team practice or two is added.  All players are expected to conduct individual training as well on off days that involves technical and physical development.   

 
Games: 

All teams will be placed in the ISL or MRL, depending upon their level of advancement.  We place teams in the divisions that we consider most comparable to their level of development.  With the success of the team, it will advance through the divisions of the leagues. 

 
Tournaments:

The teams participate in the spring club tournament and may attend a fall tournament subject to the desire of the coach and the team.  All teams may qualify for the state cups as well that are in May / June.  The coach may recommend additional tournaments to allow members to have exposure to potential collegiate teams.  

 
Camps: 

We highly recommend all players attend the Rangers Soccer Camp in June.  This is the age that we are highly active in identifying those that may have a future in playing at the collegiate or professional levels.  Those players that are identified may be invited to Scotland to participate in professional play.