Youth Soccer (U12 - U18)

In these programs, players are evaluated and placed in various divisions. Premier division and division two levels are considered competitive programs, whereas division three programs are for the more recreational minded player, or those who do not want to commit to at least three soccer events per week. These programs, including the recreational divisions are a continuance of Hollandia’s development philosophy. Hollandia provides a unique training program that offers all players (including recreational programs) weekly access to highly qualified skill development coaches provided by the ASTRA Soccer Academy.

Under 12 and Under 14 programming is categorized in the Long Term Player Development Model as ‘Learning to Train’ and therefore the emphasis remains on technical and tactical development, rather than on results. Winning is important, but it is not the most important thing. Another unique feature of Hollandia’s developmental model attempts to overcome faults of the current age group system in Saskatoon. Because the Saskatoon Youth Soccer programming is based on 2-year age brackets, it is damaging to the development of young players, because 2-year age brackets present the opportunity for as much as a 4-year physical differential between players. To overcome this major problem, Hollandia tries to keep players with their exact age group where practical, unless a player is advanced in the four pillars of development – physical, technical, social and psychological.

Under 16 players enter the ‘Training to Compete’ phase, and it is this phase where player performance is more closely monitored, and where coaches start to emphasize the mentality of competition in competitive divisions. This phase is still very distinct from the ‘Training to Win’ phase which follows at Under 18, and where coaches start to emphasize the mentality of winning as the main reason for participating in competitive leagues.