Soccer Programming

Technical Training Overview

Elevate Your Game with Sting FC’s Technical Training!

At Sting FC, we’re passionate about helping players excel both individually and as part of a team. That’s why we offer weekly Technical Training designed to give players exposure to certified coaches and a high-caliber environment. Here’s what you need to know about our program:

What is Technical Training?

  • Personal Attention: One-on-one focus with certified coaches to enhance player skills.
  • Diverse Perspectives: Gain insights from multiple certified coaches for comprehensive development.
  • Fun & Growth: A dynamic way for players to learn and grow while enjoying the game.
  • Unbiased Feedback: Objective evaluations to guide player improvement.
  • Future Opportunities: Potential to be identified for advanced development beyond the youth program.

Indoor Season Format

  • Talent Phase 2 (8-12 years): Rotate between striker, defender, and midfielder positions every 3 weeks for 15 weeks.
  • Talent Phases 3 & 4 (13-14 years): Focus on specialized positional training.

Position-Specific Training:

  • Strikers: Work on shooting form, finishing placement, movement into dangerous areas, combination play, and 1v1 duels with Coaches Michael Cox and Steve Spencer.
  • Midfielders: Focus on directional passing, possession, transitions, and duels with Coaches Kwabena Dominic Oppong and Mikey Ho.
  • Defenders: Train on passing, decision-making, pressing, defending body shape, and group defense with Coaches Mario Dolanjski, Amanda Torres, and Moe Chehimi.
  • Goalkeepers: Receive specialized training with Coach Armando Sanchez.

Who Provides Technical Training?

  • Certified CSA Coaches: With experience in college, university, and professional teams.
  • Sting FC Alumni: Current and former players offering valuable insights.
  • Dedicated Trainers: Each with unique expertise and a commitment to integrity, loyalty, and honesty.

What to Expect:

  1. Season Review (60-75 mins): Discuss progress, identify areas for improvement, and set goals.
  2. Customized Drills (60 mins): Engage in tailored drills to develop both individual and team skills.
  3. Ball Control & Manipulation (15-20 mins): Improve touch, speed, agility, and ball confidence.
  4. Phases of Play (15-20 mins): Focus on defending, possession, and attacking strategies.
  5. Set Plays (15-20 mins): Develop skills for defending and attacking set plays, including corner and free-kick routines.
  6. Game Scenarios (15-20 mins): Analyze game situations to exploit opponents’ weaknesses.
  7. Ongoing Player Evolution: Continuous learning and development every week—no additional cost!

Why Choose Sting FC? Our technical training is a core part of our program offerings, included at no extra charge. We are committed to providing top-tier development opportunities for every player in our club.

U9 Development Program

At Sting FC, our U9 program is designed to nurture young players' love for soccer while building essential skills. Here’s a look at what players can expect:

For U9 Players: Players are expected to have basic motor and coordination skills along with some technical abilities. This includes dribbling the ball at speed and controlling it with various body parts (excluding hands and head).

What to Expect:

Fundamentals (60 minutes)

  • Movement Skills: Basics of general movement, coordination, technique, and small-sided games.
  • Dribbling: Core skills in dribbling with the sole, inside, and outside of the foot.
  • Passing: Developing short passes using the inside of the foot.
  • Shooting: Introduction to receiving with different parts of the foot and shooting while dribbling.

U9 Teams

  • Format: Play 7 vs. 7, including a goalkeeper.
  • Ball Size: #4
  • Training Commitment: Players are expected to attend 1-2 team practices and 1-2 games per week, plus 10-12 technical training sessions per season.
  • Tournaments: Participation in up to 2 tournaments per season (Sting FC includes 1).

Development Philosophy:

  • Creativity & Enjoyment: Children should have the freedom to explore, play freely, and experiment during practice without interference.
  • Competitiveness: Players naturally compete and strive to win, even without league standings. Our focus is on player development, not winning at all costs.
  • Player Development: The aim is to develop and promote each player. Every child’s growth and enjoyment are equally important. Sting FC adheres to the Canada Soccer Association’s broad-based player development philosophy and Alberta Soccer Association’s guidelines for formal try-outs.

U11 Development Program

At Sting FC, our U11 program focuses on enhancing skills through engaging competition and teamwork. Here’s what players can expect:

For U11 Players: League standings and competitions motivate players to utilize various skills, refine positional play, and develop teamwork and cooperation. Players will have opportunities to make quick decisions on the best techniques to use in different situations, all while receiving plenty of positive feedback.

What to Expect:

Fundamentals (60-75 minutes)

  • Movement Skills: General movement, coordination, technique, and small-sided games.
  • Health & Fitness: Developing speed, flexibility, and endurance.
  • Dribbling: Core skills in controlling the ball, dribbling with the sole, inside, and outside of the foot.
  • Passing: Developing short and medium passes with the inside of the foot and instep pass.
  • Shooting: Introduction to receiving with different parts of the foot and shooting while dribbling.

U11 Season

  • Format: Play 8 vs. 8, including a goalkeeper.
  • Ball Size: #4
  • Team Size: Rosters of up to 16 players.
  • Training Commitment: 1-2 games and 2 team practices per week, plus 10-16 technical training sessions per season.
  • Tournaments: Participation in up to 2 tournaments per season (Sting FC includes 1).
  • Seasonal Structure:
    • Indoor Season: October-February, with City-Wide Finals in late February.
    • Outdoor Season: May-August, with City-Wide Finals in the last week of July.
  • Standard Rules: Standard rules of soccer apply with slight modifications between indoor and outdoor seasons mandated by EMSA League.
  • Player ID Cards: Required for league standings.

Development Philosophy:

  • Broad-Based Development: Sting FC adheres to the Canada Soccer Association's philosophy for player development and supports the Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) pathway.
  • Competitive Edge: The top 4 teams in the SWEMSA Division advance to the City-Wide Finals, promoting a high level of competition and player growth.

U13 Transition Program

The U13 age group represents a crucial transition between Developmental and Competitive soccer stages. This period is marked by the adolescent growth spurt, making it an ideal time for players to enhance their endurance and delve into more advanced soccer skills and mental preparation.

For U13 Players: Players at this stage are introduced to concepts like mental preparation, goal setting, and coping with both winning and losing, alongside learning advanced soccer techniques and position-specific skills.

What to Expect:

Training Format (75-90 minutes per session)

  • Movement Skills: Focus on general movement, coordination, technique, and small-sided games.
  • Health & Fitness: Developing speed, flexibility, and endurance.
  • Dribbling: Advanced techniques in controlling the ball, dribbling with the sole, inside, and outside of the foot, and building a greater repertoire of soccer-related movements.
  • Heading: Introduction to heading the ball.
  • Passing: Development of short and medium passing with the inside of the foot and instep.
  • Shooting: Enhancing shooting ability with various techniques, including receiving with different parts of the foot and shooting while dribbling.

U13 Season Overview

  • Format: Play 11 vs. 11, including a goalkeeper.
  • Ball Size: #5
  • Team Size: Rosters of up to 20 players.
  • Field Size: Full-sized fields.
  • Training Commitment: 1 game and 2 team practices per week, plus 12-16 technical training sessions per season.
  • Tournaments: Entry into up to 2-3 tournaments (Sting FC includes 1 in fees).
  • Game Preparation: 15 minutes of pre-game planning and post-game review.
  • Playing Time: Balanced playing time during league play, playoffs, and tournaments.
  • Seasonal Structure:
    • Indoor Season: October-February, with potential for Provincials in March.
    • Outdoor Season: May-August, with potential for Provincials in mid-August.
  • Competitive Try-Outs: Required for team selection.

Development Philosophy:

  • Teamwork & Positional Awareness: Emphasis on consistent teamwork, development of positional awareness, and tactical combinations.
  • Competitive Play: League standings, competition, and tournaments motivate players to apply different techniques and practice game principles.
  • Positive Feedback: Constructive game analysis and positive feedback are used to foster training ethics and enjoyment of soccer.

Provincials: Teams may qualify for Provincials based on EMSA division league standings. Typically, Tier 1, 2, and 3 provincial berths are offered to the top 1st and/or 2nd teams. Provincials are held across Alberta, with team commitment and travel expected. Some compensation for post-season travel is provided, but fines may apply if teams fail to fulfill post-season obligations.

General Note: Sting FC adheres to the Canada Soccer Association’s broad-based player development philosophy and supports the Long-Term Player Development (LTPD) pathway. Competitive try-outs are conducted for U13 teams to ensure the best fit for each player.