Ponoka Minor Soccer's goal is to improve the quality and performance of Ponoka’s players and coaches, by following Canada Soccer, Alberta Soccer and Central Alberta Soccer Associations philosophies of LTPD and creating a player centered approach, where safety, fun and development of the players are first and foremost, while offering on field training sessions designed by their TD, which follow all CSA age and stage appropriate content.
PONOKA MINOR SOCCER GRASSROOTS HOUSE LEAGUE PROGRAM
Canada Soccer Grassroots Standards - Canada Soccer
Alberta Soccer- Long-Term Player Development
PMSA house league program consists of three different programs: U5 Active Start, U7 FUNdamentals and U9 FUNdamentals. Programs run gender specific, unless numbers warrant co-ed. It is our aim to run gender specific, which has helped see our female program thrive.
U5 PROGRAMMING
- the U5 program runs for 45 minutes 1x/week in the spring for 8 weeks.
- the teams participate internally and do not travel outside town limits.
- majority of parents stay and watch their children along the sidelines.
- the 1st part of the session is run as a practice where players learn age-appropriate skills, ending with fun mini games that follow CSA grassroots standards.
- any coach with direct involvement with teaching the game to the kids is certified at minimum of “Coaching Soccer in Canada”, CPIC, RIS/MED. We highly recommend active start.
- any parent that is helping as a bench parent/manager is required to have CPIC, RIS/MED
- field size: mini grids 15 yds x 20 yds
- net size: Pop Up nets 3 feet x 5 feet
- coaches are on the field supporting and encouraging players.
U7 PROGRAMMING
- PMSA runs its U7 program 2x/week in the spring for 8 weeks.
- teams participate internally and do not travel outside of town limits.
- majority of parents stay and watch their children along the sidelines.
- one night week players are trained using the preferred training module, AKA station rotation.
- using age-appropriate content, players rotate between 5 different stations including ball mastery, dribbling, passing/receiving, fun game-based stations and a physical literacy station. The 2nd day they play a game vs another team from Ponoka following CSA's grassroots standards with one adaptation, teams will play 2 - 20-minute halves. PMSA is in the process of changing to 4-10-minute quarters or 4 - 10-minute mini games, switching opponents every 10 minutes.
- any coach with direct involvement with teaching the game to the kids is to be certified at minimum of “Coaching Soccer in Canada”, CPIC, RIS/MED but we highly recommend coaches to attain FUNdamentals.
- any parent that is helping as a bench parent/manager is required to have CPIC, RIS/MED
U9 PROGRAMMING
- PMSA runs its U9 program 2x/week in the spring for 8 weeks.
- teams participate internally and do not travel outside of town limits. With the exception if PMSA declares U9 team(s) in the CASA U9 development League, in this case all teams that leave town follow CASA’s U9 developmental League structure and coaches are certified to the highest standard in accordance with the CSA’s Grassroot Competitive stream.
- majority of parents stay and watch their children along the sidelines.
- one night week players are trained using the preferred training module, AKA station rotation.
- using age-appropriate content, players rotate between 5 different stations including ball mastery, dribbling, passing/receiving, fun game-based stations and a physical literacy station. The 2nd day they play a game vs another team from Ponoka following CSA's grassroots standards with one adaptation, we still use throw-ins instead of pass ins.
- PMSA uses ASA certified mini refs.
- any coach with direct involvement with teaching the game to the kids is to be certified at minimum of “Coaching Soccer in Canada”, but we highly recommend coaches to attain FUNdamentals, coaches must also have CPIC, RIS/MED.
- any parent that is helping as a bench parent/manager is required to have CPIC, RIS/MED and minimum “Coaching Soccer in Canada.”
PONOKA MINOR SOCCER COMPETITIVE PROGRAM
PMSA competitive league consist of U9 (development), U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19, programs run gender specific, unless numbers warrant co-ed. It is our aim to run gender specific, which has helped see our female program thrive.
Canada Soccer Grassroots Standards - Canada Soccer
U9 Development
- dependent on registration and committed teams, CASA will run either a 5v5 or 6v6 “travel” program.
- travel Coaches will need FUNdamental - online and on field, RIS, Making Headway, EAP.
- games will either be played as a match or festival style depending on teams and geographical location of teams registered.
- festival style will be either two to three, 20-minute mini games, with a 20-minute break between games or 2, 30-minute games with a minimum 30-minute rest between games with a maximum of only 60 minutes played in a day.
- match format would be a one - 40-minute game.
- one more adaptation would be the continuation of the throw-in as per FIFA Laws of the game, mini refs are still taught this, so we feel this will be up to the match official and coaches. All other guidelines and standards will be followed.
- equipment size 3 balls will be used, max net size 5’x8.’
- fields minimum and maximum length will be used, the only adaptation would be if communities have space issues within their recreation facilities, retreat line will be the halfway line.
U11 League
- games will be played in the match style, using the 8v8 rules from previous years, this is based on the best practices for CASA and its local associations.
- equipment size 4 soccer balls
- all other standards will be followed with the expectation of the pass-ins/throw-ins. As per FIFA Law the match officials are not aligned with this new standard.
U13 - U19 Leagues
- games will be played 11v11 with a size 5 ball.
- all standards will be followed, with the odd expectation of distance traveled, due to the geographical locations of our association members.
- all travel coaches will be trained according to the outlined CSA and SQS standards.