SFA Club Model

Our club exists to provide an environment where players, regardless of financial limitations, can develop through the sport of soccer their physical, mental, and emotional skills to their fullest and highest expression.

• PREPARATION - Being prepared ives us a better chance at success today, tomorrow, and at the next level.
• HARD WORK - There is no other path to success than planned, purposeful hard work - every day.
• PATIENCE - Preparation and hard work applied over years delivers success.

When we have the ball, we want to keep it long enough to create a scoring opportunity, whether it takes one pass or twenty. Our focus is on creating chances while recognizing that sometimes the best route is an indirect route. When we lose the ball, we want to win back possession before the opponent can even get out of the immediate area.

• Fun comes first - Players who enjoy the game work harder and don't quit the sport.
• A good start matters - A player's initial experience impacts whether they continue and playing catch-up is difficult. That is why we invest so heavily in our youngest players.
• Versatility is vital - Players need to be exposed to the entire game, all positions, so they can adapt to whatever the game or their coach needs.
• Practice is not enough - Training outside of scheduled practices is necessary. That is why we provide a schedule that allows time for extra practice on your own, or with friends, or in pick-up type play.
• Coaches adapt to players - Our coaches must understand who they are coaching, the maturity level, developmental level, and soccer capabilities. That is why our coaches stay at one level for at least two years before moving to a different level.
• Patience is required - Development is a long, slow process that should never stop.

• Through the game - The match is what the game is all about. It is motivating and provides the ultimate feedback. There are many match situations that are very difficult to replicate in training.
• Through the drill - Structured exercises provide the necessary repetitions and can be adjusted to suit objectives.
• Through the coach - The coach provides correction, guidance, instruction, and context to translate what players learn at practice to the match.

• Repetition - Skill acquisition and game understanding requires high reps for learning to occur. Repeating exercises or sessions helps to cement that learning.
• Challenge - We try to push the players just beyond their current capability; high enough to challenge, but not so high that it creates discouragement.
• Reality-based - Training is as game-like as possible to create faster transfer from practices to matches.
• Continuous activity - Training sessions that are action-oriented are more fun, hold players' attention, and create growth and learning.