A Development Model That Works
March 24th, 2016
I want to extend my congratulations to all parents, players and parents who have contributed to Hollandias success this indoor season. A special thanks to our coaches and assistants for their leadership by inspiring and motivating the players, to team managers for doing the work that allows coaches to focus on coaching, and especially to our Culture Keepers who continue to spread the word about the great culture we continue to develop at Hollandia, sometimes in the face of adversity.
We continue to believe that winning results are not the only measurement of success. There are so many other measurements, most importantly the continued development of ALL of our players, regardless of the division in which they are playing. Success in this area is a result of our structured developmental plan which includes the promotion of single-year age groups, skill sessions for all players and our plan to develop groups of players, rather than focusing on the results of individual teams.
The best demonstration of this success was demonstrated this year in the U14 girls where several players who were elevated to higher divisions performed incredibly well over the season. This group also finished the season with one Provincial Championship, two Provincial runners up, two City championships and one City runners up medals. This group also produced a Provincial MVP winner in Zyna Centeno. The biggest indicator of the success of the U14 girls program is the continued growth in numbers with an incredible 67 players signed up for the outdoor season.
Another measurement of success is the gradual improvement of all of our teams. Some teams such as the U12 Premier boys and girls started out well behind other zones, sometimes losing by double digit scores, yet by the end of the season they had closed the gap on the league leaders, winning and tying games with them. When we consider that some of our teams are split down the middle during the winter season for developmental purposes, these successes are further amplified. One of the highlights of the City finals was watching our U14 division two boys, the smallest team in the league, overcome a big and physical opponent to win the final.
In watching the City Championships, I was incredibly proud of watching how many Hollandia teams competed in the playoffs and the finals. Eight Hollandia teams participated in 13 semi-final games, with seven of those moving on to the finals, and four of the seven finishing as Champions. ( http://www.saskatoonyouthsoccer.ca/plugins/userData/Indoor%202015-16/ID2015-16%20Playoff%20Schedule.pdf )
Rather than focus on the results of these games, it is important to note the quality of soccer that Hollandia teams play, along with the class that is exhibited by players, coaches and parents. Hollandia teams in all divisions are noted for their ability to play a style of soccer that focuses on the use of skill as opposed to a kick-and-chase style that is much easier to coach. This is a testament to our coaches who support our vision of the game, our skills coaches who help all players develop their skills, and to our developmental partners ASTRA who provide supplementary training to most of our top players.
As the zone with the smallest population of all, we continue to lead the way in terms of the number of registered soccer players, the behaviour of players and parents and the quality of players produced in all divisions. I thank you also for providing feedback for our coaches, which we will use to further develop and grow our coaches and improve their interaction with players and parents.
Laurier Langlois
President, Hollandia Soccer Club
