DEVELOP THE BEST PLAYERS
The fall season may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the development stops. (Do we need this? Trying to think of a better way to transition that but maybe it’s fine)
One of the things we love about Pennine is that soccer doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing commitment.
Maybe winter means training once a week.
Maybe it’s futsal.
Maybe it’s grabbing a ball and getting 20 minutes of touches in the basement.
Maybe it’s playing another sport and coming back to soccer with a fresh perspective.
There is no perfect path.
The goal is simple:
Keep playing.
Keep learning.
Keep enjoying the game.
Keep getting better.
Because development doesn’t happen only during a season.
It happens every time you put the ball at your feet.
November starts our winter training. If you are looking to continue your skills touch base to our email? Watch our social media for dates of training and futsal training
Focus on what young players actually need: first touch, receiving, turning, dribbling, protecting the ball, 1v1 ability, and becoming comfortable when the ball is at their feet.
The message: You don’t develop confidence by avoiding the ball. You develop it by spending time with the ball.
— More Touches = More Confidence
Every touch matters. good repetitions help develop good habits! The more often a player receives, moves, manipulates and plays the ball, the more natural those actions become.
An hour of purposeful training can create hundreds of touches, especially when the environment is designed around the ball rather than standing in lines.
Confidence isn’t something we can simply tell a player to have. It grows from experience.
— Why Futsal
Smaller space. Faster decisions. More touches. Less time to think. More 1v1 situations. Players have to receive, protect, turn and find solutions.
And then bring it back to outdoor soccer:
Futsal doesn’t replace soccer. It gives players another environment to develop the skills and confidence they bring back to the field.
— Let Kids Play More Than One Sport
This is very important. At Pennine we don’t want soccer to become an all-or-nothing commitment. Especially at our younger ages! Learn, adapt, have fun and create that passion for sport!
Playing another sport develops different movements, reactions, coordination, competitiveness, teamwork and problem-solving. And sometimes simply stepping away from soccer gives a kid a fresh perspective when they come back.
We don’t believe playing another sport takes away from soccer. Sometimes it adds to the athlete.
— We Want Players Who Want the Ball
Not just players who know where to stand.
Not just players who can execute a drill.
We want players who want the ball.
Who find space.
Who ask for it.
Who aren’t afraid to make a mistake.
Who can solve problems.
Who want to attack a defender.
Who are comfortable receiving under pressure.
At Pennine we want you to:
Keep playing → Master the ball → Get more touches → Use futsal → Play multiple sports → Become the player who wants the ball.
