United Soccer Training Academy Development Model

U5/U6 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the U5/6 program should possess or strive to have the following skills:

• Begin to develop a love of the game
• Want to be creative
• Begin to develop ball mastery and an arsenal of quick feet and dribbling moves with both feet, i.e. stop turn, rolls, feints, scissors
• Confidence and a positive attitude in 1v1s
• Begin to develop a mastery of juggling
• Futsal play should be introduced to emphasize and reinforce quick feet and 1v1 moves
• Players should experience and enjoy free play and play with no fear
• Begin to develop focus and concentration in practice - practice isn't for wasting time and players should learn professional habits (show up early, wear correct uniform and footwear, shake coaches hand at end of practice, maximum effort, respect your teammates, etc...)
• Players should practice all skill work with both feet, gearing towards two-footedness
• Small group tactics/awareness, 1v1 / 2v2 (max)

U7-U9 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the U7-9 program should possess or strive to have the following skills:

• Continue to develop a love of the game
• Players experience all positions
• Want to be creative and be the most skillful player on the field
• Continue to develop ball mastery and an arsenal of quick feet moves, dribbling and change of direction moves with both feet (i.e. stop turn, cruyff, rivelino turn, kluivert, drag back, rolls, feints, scissors, rivelino, maradona)
• Confidence and a positive attitude in 1v1
• Attitude to win the ball back and defend
• Continue to develop a mastery of juggling and controlling the ball in the air and on the ground
• Introduced to basic heading, passing and finishing
• Futsal play should be introduced to emphasize and reinforce quick feet and 1v1 moves
• Enjoy free play with no fear
• Introduced to 2v1s for U9s
• Introduced to a variety of 4v4 small-sided games for a positive attitude on the ball and game awareness (i.e. Line Ball and 4 Goal Game)
• Continue to develop focus and concentration in practice - practice isn't for wasting time and players should learn professional habits
• Players should be developing two-footedness through all skill work
• U9s should begin to learn how to strike the ball
• U9s should learn to cope playing in tight spaces
• Small group tactics/awareness, 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, 8v8
• Introduce USTA club ethos

U10/11 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the U10/11 program should possess the following skills:

• Developing a strong love of the game
• Players continue to experience multiple positions
• Want and understand the need to be creative and be the most skillful player on the field
• Continue to develop ball mastery and an arsenal of quick feet moves, dribbling and change of direction moves with both feet (i.e. stop turn, cruyff, rivelino turn, kluivert, drag back, rolls, feints, scissors, rivelino, maradona)
• Recognise different 1v1 attacking situations (i.e. defender in front, side, at an angle)
• Confidence and a positive attitude in 1v1s and 2v1s (including developing decision-making)
• Attitude to win the ball back and defend
• Continue to develop a mastery of juggling and controlling the ball in the air and on the ground
• Continue to basic heading, passing and finishing
• Futsal play should be introduced to emphasize and reinforce quick feet and 1v1 moves
• 4v4 small-sided games should be developed for a positive attitude with and without the ball, and game awareness (i.e. Line Ball and 4 Goal Game)
• Play with no fear and be very competitive
• Learn to play quick and introduced to one touch drills/games (sets/finishes)
• Introduced to possession, including in tight spaces and '4 ball' (receiving, awarenesss)
• Develop focus and concentration in practice
• Two-footed players - all skill work should be geared towards developing both feet, including striking
• Continue basic heading, defending, passing and finishing
• Small group tactics/awareness (1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, 8v8)
• Develop USTA club ethos

U12 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the U12 program should possess the following skills:

• Love of the game developed
• Players beginning to know true position, although continue to play multiple positions
• Creative Free Play
• An arsenal of dribbling moves and change of direction moves in a variety of 1v1 situations (including with the defender behind)
• Confidence and competence in 1v1 attacking and defending
• Shooting technique
• Heading technique
• Passing technique
• Trapping technique
• Receiving techniques
• Mastery of juggling and controlling the ball in the air
• Play with no fear
• Play quickly and in tight situations
• Play with good awareness (including recognising switching of play) and imagination
• Futsal play should be leveraged to emphasize and reinforce individual technique
• Functional training introduced, including position-specific training
• Condition games continued (including one touch sets/finishes)
• Focus in practice
• Two-footed players - all skill work should be geared towards developing both feet
• Group tactics/awareness, 1v1,2v2, 3v3, 4v4, 5v5, 6v6, 7v7, 8v8, 11v11

U13/14 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the U14 program should possess the following skills:

• Players able to play multiple positions but now more knowledgeable of position
• Increased focus on position-specific training
• Increased focus on speed, strength and agility
• Technical emphasis continued from U1's
• Emphasis on style of play
• Switching the point of attack
• Functional training continued
• Creative free play is encouraged
• Futsal
• Tougher restrictions in conditioned games (including touches)
• Possession games/playing in tight spaces
• Passing to the proper foot
• Properly weighted passes
• Two footed players
• Greater tactical understanding:
Understanding and application of the principles of attack - width, depth, mobility, penetration, and improvisation
• Greater tactical understanding:
Understanding and application of the principles of defending - pressure, cover, balance, compactness, communication
• Combination Play
• Introduction to managing the game (Up late, down late)

U15/16 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the U16 program should possess the following skills:

• Players learn how to win
• High level of game awareness and decision-making
• Soccer IQ (i.e. when to overlap as wing backs, runs forwards should make and when, positioning of center backs - when to step and when to delay)
• Awareness and application of offside rule
• High-level fitness
• Tactical knowledge of the game
• Comprehensive understanding of managing the game
• Touch restrictions more prevalent
• Runs/movement off the ball (3rd man combinations)
• Mastery of possession games
• Understanding of importance and execution of offensive and defensive restarts
• Zonal/Marking defending
• Futsal
• Individual responsibility, learning to take ownership of soccer career and minimizing parent involvement (responsible for e-mails, college profile, etc...)
• Gamesmanship

U17/18 Model

A finished product/player at the end of the 18 program should possess the following skills:

• Professional approach to training
• Importance of weight training
• Importance of nutrition
• Knowledge of multiple formations
• Roles of different positions in various formations
• Understanding of the college level
• Interaction with professionals and what that level requires
• Film session intelligence
• Mastery of one touch passing drills
• Futsal

Ready to contribute at the college level or as a youth player at a professional club in Europe or South America.