WWPSA has researched the benefits of the small-sided game as the most appropriate and fun learning environment for our youngest players. Following are some of the influences on the planned structure for the Travel Development Academy.

US Youth Soccer Recommendations

There is a worldwide movement toward small-sided games. Unfortunately, New Jersey Youth Soccer has not yet followed a national and international trend towards small-sided games.

US Youth Soccer recommends the following age-appropriate game formats:

• U6  3v3   Field 25 yds x 20 yds 
• U8  4v4   Field 50 yds x 30 yds
• U10  6v6   Field 50 yds x 40 yds
• U12  8v8   Field 70 yds x 50 yds
• U13+  11v11   Field 110 yds x 70 yds

Currently, our Travel Program participates in the MNJYSA League and trains to play as follows:

• U8  8v8   Field 70 yds x 50 yds
• U11+  11v11   Field 110 yds x 70 yds

All State Directors of Coaching in the United States support small-sided play including Rick Meana, Director of Coaching for NJYS. 

For more information, please read a powerpoint presentation by Mike Singleton, Massachusetts Youth Soccer Director of Coaching called Soccer: The Future of Soccer Development.

Another very good resource is Why Small-Sided Games ? by Tom Goodman, US Youth Soccer. 

WWPSA Recreational Soccer Program

In the past few years, WWPSA’s Recreational Program has taken multiple steps to introduce professional group training with a focus on technical development in a small-sided game environment for our youngest players. The key initiatives were as follows:

• Introduced Spring Recreational Soccer program including midweek professional group training and weekend unstructured small-sided pick up games (Spring 2004)
• Launched Summer Recreational small-sided pick-up (Summer 2005)
• Amended Kindergarten and 1st Grade Leagues to play 3v3 on dual-tiny fields replacing 5v5 format (Fall 2005)
• Introduced Big Brother/ Big Sister program with Varsity Soccer players working with volunteer parents with Kindergarten and 1st Grade Leagues (Fall 2006)
• Introduction of the Pre-K program (3-5 year olds) delivered exclusively by professional trainers (Spring 2006)
• Introduced technical skills training curriculum for K-7th Grades (Fall 2006)
• Introduction of Recreational Goal Fest 3v3 tournament (Fall 2007)

Over the same period, the training structure for our Travel program has remained unchanged.  We continue to offer professional training on an individual team by team basis.  Our players at U8-U10 age groups participate in the Mid-New Jersey League (MNJYSA) playing in an 8v8 format.
 
What Other Youth Soccer Clubs Are Doing

Recently, WWPSA has undertaken a series of meetings with local/ regional soccer clubs and other experts in the soccer field to learn about their initiatives.  In turn, their activities have been inspired by interaction with other Clubs both within the United States and overseas.  Some important influences include:

• US Youth Soccer
• Brazilian Football Federation (CBF)
• Manchester United Training Academy
• English Football Association (FA)
• Capital Area Soccer League (CASL)
• Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB)

In additional to Brazil, Holland and England, many international soccer federations have endorsed small-sided soccer as the premier player development system.

Local clubs (and their primary representatives) who have adopted a small-sided training environment and the Travel Development Academy approach include:

• Yardley-Makefield Soccer (John Greaves, Director of Coaching)
• Princeton Soccer Association (Michael Poller, Executive Director)
• Montgomery Travelers Soccer Club (Bruce Guest, Director of Coaching)

Other Clubs have developed a Futsal based training system including:

• Life Skills Through Soccer (LSTS)
• Parsippany Soccer Club

These Clubs have all introduced an Academy. While the details differ, the general principles of the Academies are as follows:

• Open to players aged 6, 7, 8 and, in some cases, 9
• Technical skills training curriculum
• Midweek training with professional trainers
• Weekend games in 5v5 format (includes Goalkeeper) on small fields
• Weekend games typically managed by volunteers/ older players
• Strictly no sideline coaching at games. Supervision only.
• No standings. No official score-keeping.
• Games played at home between Academy members
• Game days supplemented by “Festival Days”
• Festival Days are mini-tournaments hosted by participating Clubs (ie: YMS, PSA, MTSC)
• No participation in traditional U8 Travel Leagues. Some participation starting at U9 or, more often, U10.