How to Build Youth Soccer Clubs
Youth soccer is often cited as the fastest growing sport in America, with clubs sprouting up around the country. Youth soccer clubs also have different levels, from recreational to very competitive. For instance, in some towns, the soccer club gives players a place to gather, play the game and socialize. In other towns, soccer clubs, such as the Nike Rush, have franchises in which they employ full-time staffs, and have recreational divisions and competitive divisions up to the under-18 age group, where they help players get recruited to college.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Challenging
Instructions
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1
Recruit a wide range of players. Do this by holding tryouts and advertising for players, both boys and girls in a range of age groups.
Your coaching staff should have a different emphasis to focus on depending on the age of the team they are coaching. Coaches of teams in a younger age group should conduct activities that are fun-based and focus on technical fundamentals. With teams in the older age groups, tactical elements and more competitive aspects of the game should be introduced.
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2
Solidify the integrity of your operation. Youth soccer clubs should be sanctioned and registered by a national governing body, such as US Youth Soccer or US Club Soccer. Governing bodies help with insurance for players and coaches who represent the club. The governing bodies also give your teams access to organized leagues and tournaments, thus ensuring a quality level of competition for your youth players.
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3
Find and confirm field locations for your club to use for practice and games. The more teams you have, the more locations you need. It is feasible to have four teams practicing, simultaneously, on one full soccer field. However, if you have more teams than that, it will likely require another location. For league and tournament play, one field per game is required. Games can be played back-to-back, all day long, if you own or have sufficient permits for a facility. This is common in youth soccer.
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4
Commit to the development of your youth players within the club in all aspects of the game. This can mean fun-based enjoyment for younger recreational players, or improvement in the four key elements of the game--technical, tactical, physical and mental--for the older and more competition-oriented age groups.
This can be done by finding qualified coaches to work at your club. One way to attract coaches is by offering your coaches educational seminars, or having a qualified trainer run clinics for your coaches.
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Create a competitive environment for your teams. Starting a soccer club requires you to be more than just a recreational gathering place. Research youth soccer in your state to find out when leagues start and when tournaments will be held. You can find a directory of youth soccer tournaments in the resources section below.
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Tips & Warnings
Get as many volunteers as you can. They can help with many of the administrative duties required, such as registration, a club website and the various other tasks needed to successfully run a soccer club. Others can help with the on-field work.
Research the governing bodies for youth soccer in your state and region. They are a valuable resource.
Be very careful and ensure you have sufficient insurance. Many young players go onto your fields and you must ensure a safe environment for both the players, coaches and your club.
