SCUSC Youth Development Program
All of the information regarding the SCUSC Youth Development Program (YDP) will be posted to this page. Please check this page frequently for updated information. Questions regarding the YDP should be directed to our YDP Director, Carlos Manuel, or our Director of Coaching, John Duguid.
Training Schedule
All YDP training sessions for the 2008 Fall Season will start the week of Monday August 18th and end on Friday November 7th. Note the specific day of the week and time that your child’s particular age-group will train (practice). Remember that with the new YDP format, players will train with their age-group and not with a “team”.
| Age Group | Wickham | Viera |
|---|---|---|
| U5/U6 | Thursday 5:45-6:45 PM | Tuesday 5:45-6:45 PM |
| U7/U8 | Monday & Wed, 5:45-7 PM | Wed & Friday, 5:45-7 PM |
| U9/U10 | Tues & Fri, 5:45-7 PM | Monday & Thurs, 5:45-7 PM |
Where to meet for the training sessions
During registration parents were given two options for field location preference: either Wickham Park Fields or Viera Regional Park. The selected field location will be the fields you will use for both training sessions (practices) and games throughout the duration of the year, unless otherwise notified. Please contact us if you need to switch locations.
Wickham Park Fields: All YDP training sessions will occur at the U8 & U10 fields (the two fields) on the WEST END of the complex. If you are facing the fields from the parking lot, it’s the two fields that are to the far LEFT of the complex.
Viera Regional Park: All YDP training sessions will occur at Fields #5, #6 & #7 of the New VRP field layout. These are the U8/U10 fields (the three fields) that are located in-between the Pavilion/Playground/Concession Stand Area and I-95. Please look for an updated Field Layout Link to both fields on the SCUSC website to further illustrate the training (field) locations.
Dropping Off & Picking Up at Training Sessions
The YDP Training Staff will be composed of the following: a Lead Trainer, SCUSC Certified Training Staff and Game Day Managers (GDMs). Prior to the start of each session, the players should be escorted to the training area from the parking lot and gather in the middle of the training area (along with the YDP Training Staff). At the conclusion of each session, the players will, again, be gathered into the middle of the training area and a parent must escort their child from the gathering area to their respective vehicle. Parents are responsible for making sure that players are dropped off and picked up in a safe and timely manner.
What to Bring to the Training Sessions
Players should bring the following to every training session:
- Players need to wear appropriate clothing to train in (we ask that players wear their official SCUSC YDP shirts to training, as well as games), this includes wearing the appropriate footwear (soccer cleats).
- Soccer Ball (use age-appropriate size & make sure it is properly inflated)
- Shin-Guards (all players must wear shin-guards during training)
- Water/Drink
Game Schedules
All YDP Games will begin on Saturday, September 6 and conclude on November 8, 2008. Game schedules for all age-groups will be distributed via e-mail during the first couple of weeks of training. Prior to the start of the games, there will be a link on the SCUSC website so that parents will have the opportunity to check YDP game schedules and general information. The complete U5-U8 age group game schedule will be provided at the beginning of the season.
The game schedules for U9/U10 age-groups will initially only be complete for the first 2-3 weeks of games. The coaching and training staff will use that time as a Player Evaluation Period. After the evaluation period, a tiering system will be used when comprising the teams and game day match-ups and then the schedules for the remaining games will be distributed accordingly. This is to make sure that the competitive environment created is developmentally appropriate and challenging.
Game Day Information
Our FAQ document (PDF) provides an in-depth explanation of the YDP game format. With the YDP game format, players will not be on a set “team” or have a set “coach”. Rather, they will be placed in a pool of players within their respective age-group and be placed on a team to compete with on a given Saturday. A Game Day Manager (GDM) will be assigned to facilitate a team and the game. The GDM assigned to your particular team will contact you the week prior to each game to let you know that he/she will be the GDM for your child’s team for that particular game and to let you know any other pertinent information (like where to meet before the game). The game schedule that you receive will have the game time and field number included, but you will need to show up at the designated meeting time and location that your GDM gives you to get organized. Please remember that the field location preference you have requested, either Wickham Park or Viera Regional Park, is the only one you will use for both YDP training and games, unless otherwise notified.
Uniforms
We are anticipating that the YDP uniforms will be ready to be handed out during the first two weeks of training sessions.
U7/U8 Soccer Festival
On Saturday, November 15, 2008, SCUSC and the Rockledge Soccer Club will co-host a U7/U8 YDP Soccer Festival at Viera Regional Park. All players within the U7/U8 age-group from both clubs will be invited to play in the Festival. More information, including game format and schedule, will be passed along to those players prior to the event, but please mark it down on your calendars and make every effort to join us!
Soccer Camp
SCUSC will be hosting a soccer camp for the recreational-level player August 11th-15th (Mon-Fri) from 9 AM-Noon at Viera Regional Park. This is a great opportunity for your child to work with the highly skilled SCUSC Coaching and Training Staff, from both the YDP and comp divisions and be introduced to the YDP training environment. This is the best age and developmentally appropriate environment for the young soccer player! The camp application can be found here (PDF). Hope to see you there!