THE SKILL CENTRES

The Skill Centre @ST Andrews is an excellent opportunity for young female athletes to develop their skills, teamwork, and passion for the game. With sessions held twice a week and an additional special session through our partnership with the Vancouver Whitecaps Island Prospects Academy, this program is designed to cater to players of all skill levels.

An after-school soccer development program with 3 sessions a week including a multi-sport component.

A comprehensive soccer development program with 2 sessions per week in the evening and 1 session with the Vancouver Island Prospects Academy on Sunday, that covers the four pillars of soccer development.

The placement of players is based on a variety of variables:

• “Soccer Age” (player’s maturity, physical age, technical ability and overall understanding of soccer)
• Stage of physical development and literacy (fluid and ever-changing)
• Team dynamic
• Biological age

Some players may play in their biological age group, while others are placed on teams based on their soccer age. WIA technical coaches decide a player’s placement on an individual basis.

Parents and players must understand the following as it relates to the Skill Centre and WIA Teams. WIA:

• Cannot enroll more players than the player-to-coach ratio allows
  • Priority registration will be given to players selected for WIA Teams
  • Should space allow, additional spots will be given to players seeking supplementary training from other clubs
• Cannot turn away players who show promise just because they are inexperienced at the present moment
• Cannot accurately predict the potential or future performance of a player
• Cannot guarantee that your player will make the BCSPL team at U13 because the characteristics of young players are not the same as those of mature elite athletes
• Can develop and support players who are ready and willing to train, follow our standards-based training methods and trust our judgement as it relates to their development

Technical – understanding of what a technical player is – willing to receive technical training, perceptive to developing technique (quality of the touch of the ball).

Playing games and taking part in tournaments does not equate to the technical development of a player.

Intelligence – understanding the game, understanding instructions and ability to apply those instructions to play and game… following through the instructions (Game understanding – tactical understanding)

Personality – attitude, attention, coachability, decision-making, creative thinking, motivation, concentration, communication (psychosocial)

Speed – physical development, speed of thought and speed of action, problem-solving, intensity of training