FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
WHY HIRE A DIRECTOR OF COACHING?
A Director of Coaching (DOC) will help provide a level of consistency for all players.
The DOC constructs a progression plan from our youngest age group to our oldest
that outlines the development objectives of a player/team as they move through.
This plan utilizes current youth soccer best practices/knowledge. FC Brandywine
(formerly BYC and GVSC travel) is pleased to announce that Jim Wallace, the Garnet
Valley High School coach, will serve as the new soccer club’s director of coaching.
Jim Wallace carries a UEFA B License, an SFA C, D, and E License, a USSF D and E
License, and a NSCAA level 1 and 3 diploma. Jim will lead a qualified coaching staff
to help (struck oversee) all travel teams and provide assistance to our intramural
coaches as well.
WILL PARENT COACHES STILL BE INVOLVED IN TRAVEL SOCCER? Yes, though
the level of involvement will vary from team to team. The DOC will recommend a
staff coach participation level for each team that will range from one staff-coach led
practice per week to that staff coach being the primary on-the-field coach for the
team (recommendation will vary based on the team’s level of play and other
circumstances). In all cases however a parent coach will be identified as well, to fill
in the duties not fulfilled by the staff coach. That recommendation of staff coach
participation level will then be shared at the team meeting that follows the teams
being set, and families of the team then ultimately decide to follow the
recommendation or deviate.
WHAT IS DDP (DIRECTORS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM)?
The Director’s Development Program (DDP) is a relatively new training curriculum
for U9 & U10 boys and girls that is consistent with current youth soccer best
practices. Following the lead of premier clubs like West Chester, West-Mont, Penn
Legacy, Sprit United and Nether Providence, FC Brandywine will help young players
advance their technical skills in a low-pressure environment that reduces travel
time/expense for families at the same time.
The DDP is a year round program that emphasizes technical skills and creativity to
promote learning and training in a less competitive environment. DDP is led by staff
coaches to ensure these trainings are consistent with these best practices.
Removing the pressure of “winning games” in a travel program allows players to
develop skills and creativity without the fear of failure/losing in a competitive game
atmosphere. Players practice twice a week during the fall and compete in festivals
and tournaments with clubs of similar ability. The biggest pro for families involved
in the DDP is that your time will be better spent improving your child’s skills instead
of driving 45-60 minutes on the weekend to compete in a Delco or PAGS schedule
game. The children will still have the opportunity to compete in festivals (multi
game day with other DDP clubs) every few weeks as well as tournaments as decided
by the team and parents. Each DDP group (U9 Boys, U9 Girls, U10 Boys, U10 Girls)
will consist of a maximum of 40 players – selected at tryouts consistent with the
other age groups.
Is my 8 year old eligible to try out for the U9 DDP program? Yes, though at
tryouts a preference will be given to true U9 players (born August ’05-July ’06) who
meet the standards deemed appropriate for inclusion in a DDP program. To the
extent that there are still spots open however (up to the 40 maximum), true U8
players (born August ’06-July ’07) will be eligible for the remaining spots.
DOES MY CHILD HAVE TO PLAY YEAR ROUND SOCCER? WHAT ABOUT OTHER
SPORTS? Upon accepting a position on one of the teams you’ll be making a
commitment for the Fall only. For DDP there will also be a Winter and Spring
option, and we hope to make that option available for as many of the other teams as
well (including combining teams to allow the opportunity for those who are
interested if we cannot carry over an entire team). We will also attempt to schedule
our Winter trainings/games so as to allow for other in-season sports as best we can
when we get to that point – we know this is important to many athletes and families
in the community.
MY U9 CHILD PLAYED TRAVEL SOCCER LAST YEAR, WHY CAN’T THEY PLAY
THIS YEAR? Travel soccer is a good way to play competitive soccer for older ages.
The goal of the FC Brandywine travel program is to produce high quality teams that
play in higher divisions in Delco and PAGS starting at U11 To become a quality club,
players need to learn the proper way to play soccer, work on foot skills and
understand the game from a young age. Playing travel soccer in Delco and PAGS at
U9 and U10 does not best utilize a player’s time. DDP involves training twice a week
with “friendlies” (scrimmages) every two to three weeks as well as tournaments.
The DDP structure is preferred over traditional travel soccer at U9 and U10 by the
US Soccer Association because it best utilitzes young players time by training
instead of traveling far distances. Beginning at U11, travel players will participate in
Delco/PAGS in a traditional travel soccer experience.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON’T WANT OUR CHILD IN A DDP?
DDP is a great way for youth soccer players to learn the skills needed for
competitive soccer for players interested in travel soccer at age u11 and older. BYC
will still offer a strong intramural program that will service the youth to teach
soccer skills to kids that enjoy the game of soccer. All players of every skill level
will have somewhere to play soccer.
HOW WILL THE INTRAMURAL PROGRAM WORK?
The intramural program will still run as a consistent way to improve our younger
players and provide a learning environment for all youth who want to play soccer.
Coaches will have guidance from the director of coaching on drills and specific
practice plans appropriate to each age and level of player. Each year, your child can
add to their skills and all players will have the same type of instruction from their
coach. The intramural program will be run in the fall and spring for those
interested.
ARE THERE RESIDENCY RULES WITH THE PROGRAM?
There are, but there are also exceptions. Please see our by-laws for more
information on players from outside the traditional BYC boundaries.
HOW MANY TEAMS WILL YOU HAVE?
Soccer is a great sport and we want as many kids as possible to enjoy the
experience. The number of Intramural teams will depend on the number of
registrants. Anyone who wants to play can join the intramural program. The DDP
program will include a maximum of 40 players at each age group (U9 and U10).
The Director of Coaching and the staff coaches will determine which players are the
best fit for the DDP. At ages u11 and higher, FC Brandywine will attempt to form as
many teams as possible. Prior club affiliation will not be considered- all players who
tryout will be evaluated fairly.
WHAT WILL THE FC BRANDYWINE UNIFORMS LOOK LIKE?
Decisions on uniforms are in the processed of being finalized. The club is looking for
a high quality, low cost uniform that will last for 3-5 years.
WHAT IS THE COST FOR PLAYING IN THE FC BRANDYWINE TRAVEL
PROGRAM?
The cost for the DDP ranges from $400-$600 per player, depending on the number
of tournaments. The cost for the u11-u16 age groups will be determined by the
number of tournaments, training and other decisions made by the team parents.
Paid coaches will be used for all of the Elite teams and other teams as needed. The
costs will vary by team..
WHEN ARE TRYOUTS FOR THE FC BRANDYWINE TRAVEL PROGRAM?
Tryouts will be spread across two weekends May 2-4 and May 9-10 at Maplezone on
Rt 322. Each age group will have two scheduled tryout times. Players wishing to
play must attend one tryout and are encouraged to attend both tryout times for
their age group. The exact times will be posted on the fcbrandywine.com and
bycsoccerclub.com website.