Home > Buffalo > About > Philosophy

Philosophy

• Why is Empire United supporting no dual carding for their older "A" teams?
• How do you balance winning games with player development?
• What is the club's philosophy on the players playing other sports, including high school sports?
• Why are so few of your top players playing up in age levels?
• Why is Empire United so set against playing more tournaments?
• What is Empire United's stance on playing time?
• How does the club feel about players playing different positions?
• Why do we both with Street Soccer?

Why is Empire United supporting no dual carding?

Theory

The belief in youth soccer by the people at the top (United State Youth Soccer) is that kids play too much organized soccer and they are burning out and developing overuse injuries. Starting at u13 our teams enter two leagues, train three times a week, as well as participate in a couple of tournaments. Just as important as what the kids are doing is what they are not doing. They need to be kids, rest, hang out with friends, play another sport (recreationally), etc.

I believe it also hurts the travel clubs because the players who are not willing or able to play for EUSA should be getting the lions share of playing time and involvement in the games at the travel level. Instead most coaches allow the EUSA players to not come to training and then operate during games at the critical positions and hog the majority of the playing time. Or worse yet, the roster positions these part time players (EUSA kids) take up prevent another kid from playing at all. The best thing for all kids is that they are placed athletically or academically, in the appropriate environment. Nowhere do you see students in both advanced math and general math. They are placed according to their abilities and readiness levels.

EUSA is a big commitment for both the players and their families. Soccer and growth in it has to be important to our members or the program will not be a fit for them. If soccer is important then playing with the same friends they see every day in school will be less important. The kids that make the jump to our program are surrounded by 17 other kids who share the same passion as they do and usually strong friendships result from that.

Buffalo Junior Soccer League does not allow any dual carding of players.  Our u12 players must be rostered and therefore fall under these guidelines.  Our 9, 10, and 11 year olds are not rostered in an official league and therefore do not fall under the ruling and may play for two teams. 

How do you balance winning games with player development?

Theory

Empire United places player development ahead of all else. In fact, we take a long term approach to player development that matches what we emphasize in soccer instruction with developmental milestones and readiness levels of children. Young men and women show the most gains in motor skills at ages u8 to u11. EUSA aligns its teaching of technical skills (the individual and the ball) with that rapid growth in development. Cognitively children are not ready to learn abstract and other dynamic concepts until they are around twelve years old. To align with this we begin emphasizing the teaching of low level tactical concepts and simple team play at those ages. Gradually the players are technical enough (hopefully) and cognitively ready to begin to learn high level tactical concepts and team play. We don’t expect this readiness level until at least 15 years of age or older.

What this means on the field is a developmental program that will not see immediate gains in wins and championships until the kids are older. We will not alter what is best for player development in the attempt to win more games. We focus on the how of player development and let the results be a product of the correct process. The competitive environment we create as a club increases slowly from u8 to u18 at an appropriate level and never interferes with the end goal, player development.

What is the club's philosophy on the players playing other sports, including high school sports?

Theory

Empire United is a program by design for players who have a passion for soccer and who are interested in developing and achieving as much as they can in the game.  Because of this EUSA has to be the first priority.  Other activities, including high school sports, are an important part of the overall development of our players as both soccer players and citizens.  However, it is our position that all other activities need to come second to EUSA programming, including appropriate amounts of rest and time away from organized activities.  It is the club's suggestion that all other activities for the players in our club be pursued at recreational levels, where the demand and required commitment are less.  If you try to be an Olympic level athlete at multiple sports/activities it is a recipe for mediocrity. 

Why are so few of your top players playing up in age levels?

Theory

Follow the thought progression to the end.  The top player in an age group plays up because they are good enough to make the "A" team in the age group above theirs.  It is only fair that those players get to train and play with players who are better than them.  Once we do that each age group has a new player who was "2nd best" and is now the "best" (with the departure of the "1st best").  That new "best" player has the same argument as the first "best" player.  The argument goes on forever.  Empire United, because it functions like a true soccer club, has implemented a practice where players, at the coach's discretion, can invite the top player(s) from their team to train once a week with the older 'A" team.  Like-wise, the top player(s) on the respective "B" teams can also be invited to train with the "A" team.  This policy allows us to give the top players in our club a complete developmental experience (being one of the top players in training and being one of the middle or bottom players in training).  Opportunities to play games with the older team is also available, but seldom happens because of the amount of competitions already available to each player in their own age.

We do have a small number of players who do play up.  It was determined by the coaches and the Director of Coaching that those players 'need' to play up.  Many of our players 'can' play up, but the ones we move are are the ones who 'need' to move up.  This is obviously very subjective and do our best to apply the policy fairly.

Why is Empire United so set against playing more tournaments?

Theory

Clubs who want to do the right thing for their players are always looking to find good competition for their teams without having to play multiple games in one or successive days. Knowledgeable people in the game all agree that tournament formats where three to five games are played in a 48 hour period is not good developmental practice as well as not being in the best interest of the players well being. Most teams, especially outside of coastal areas, are required to travel to find appropriate levels of competition. Once you start to travel families are expecting to play multiple games to make the money and time worth their while. Good intentioned clubs are constantly weighing the logistics versus what is best for the players. Empire United participates in the GLA friendlies (one day event) and multiple-league formats (Region 1 Director’s and WAPS Leagues) because they provide quality competition without the full weekend of games. EUSA will continue to look for and develop new competitive opportunities for its players that are developmentally appropriate and healthy.

What is Empire United's stance on playing time?

Theory

Players develop in training! The competitions allow players to demonstrate what their current readiness levels are and to allow the coach a chance to observe what areas individuals and the team needs to work on. Of course, games are also fun for players, coaches, and fans. Playing time in the club is not going to be equal. Like the competitive emphasis, playing time inequities will grow with the advancing age levels. Younger teams will tend to play everyone fairly equally, but older teams will be more likely to play players more based on merit and abilities. Overall everyone, regardless of age, should get the chance to play. EUSA asks parents to evaluate the amounts of playing time your child gets over multiple games. Concerns and issues if playing time should be addressed via the proper chain of command.

How does the club feel about players playing different positions?

Theory

From age 9 to 12 we believe players should have experiences at all positions on the field.  Some kids are clearly strikers and others are clearly defenders or goalkeepers.  Playing kids in positions that help the team to win means putting winning ahead of player development and we won't do that.  The best thing for our young players is to learn the complete game and to learn to play outside of their comfort zones.  If this means losing games as a result we are prepared to do so.  By 13 we would look to narrow the range of positions being learned down to a minimum of two.  Proficiency at certain positions can be achieved with a narrower focus at these older ages. 

Why do we bother with Street Soccer?

Theory

"It is the opinion of our national coaching staff that we are developing players with certain unfavorable trends. They are hoping to develop players who are problem solvers, who can think for themselves, and who are technically creative and competent with the ball. The belief is that our players lead over-structured lives, including their soccer experiences. The goal of Street Soccer is to allow players opportunities with the ball without an adult hanging over them. It is on the "street" that the best players in the world are created. Since it is becoming increasingly more dangerous for our kids to go play in the park or on the streets we are creating an artificial environment for this growth to take place. To read up more on this topic and how the US national staff feels about it read the USSF Best Practices manual. (Primarily pages 3 through 8)"