"THE LION'S EDGE"
The Kingborough Edge
The Lion's Edge Development Programme will be the player development vehicle that carries Kingborough Lions United Soccer Club into the next decade and beyond.
The Player Registration Contact Form is available in WORD Format Here
It needs to be e-mailed back to lionsedge@klusc.org.au
WHO
The Lion's Edge will be a programme that will provide Kingborough players with the opportunity to reach whatever level they desire with an underlining emphasis on fun and learning but also on commitment to becoming a better player and person. It will cater to the young player who wants to learn and appreciate the many aspects of the game through a set curriculum of learning that mirrors current plans and thinking devised by the FFA. Training sessions can be tailored to address the needs of the individual players regardless of their level of skill, be it building on the basics (or if necessary to start with the basics) or at the elite ability level. The recipe for success will be in a player's eagerness to meet their goals and to achieve at the level they wish attain. We must also keep in mind that these goals should be realistic and achievable. There will be a focus on the individual but also on the team.
We want to develop players who love the game for the sake of the game. It's not called the beautiful game for no reason.
The Lion's Edge will also be able to identify players who are showing 'that little extra something' the element that attracts the eye of the spectator. This player will receive an invitation to join or to trial for entry into our full time academy (planned for 2009) and to develop in an environment with a football specific focus.
The Lion's Edge part time academy will cater to those players who have the desire to achieve but are still in the process of formulating and developing their technical skill. The part time programme will allow a player to choose how committed they are or want to be as each session will be on a needs basis.
No player will be expected or driven to get to the top as quickly as possible, they will be developed and nurtured at a pace that is deemed appropriate for the individual. Under these terms it is well recognised that each individual will develop at their own pace and the programme will be developed and tailored to the individual in a team environment.
In reality, many of the 'elite' players may already be receiving tuition and extra training through regional or state programmes. This programme will offer a real alternative to state programmes that can demand huge amounts of time and energy as well as considerable financial outlay. Players that are members of the State team will still play a vital role in The Edge programme as they will be seen as role models and their skills will be used if and when available. Generally though, the core group will be formed by the players that miss out on the representative programmes simply because it is no longer acceptable to see the gap grow between representative players and those that just miss out for whatever reason. The Lion's Edge will address these players' needs directly because we acknowledge that development is a long term commitment rather than an annual litmus test of who can perform best at trials. Players mature at different ages and this club will no longer tolerate losing a player to the game simply because they can't or didn't make a given representative team.
STRUCTURE
The Lion's Edge will be a two tiered programme that will appeal to any player as it can cater to all levels of commitment at a time and financial level. The full time programme will be targeted at the more adept player who already possess a firm base of technical ability and has either missed selection in State squads or has chosen to remain within the club environment due to club allegiance or simply does not have the financial resources available for them to commit to expensive state and regional programmes.
Full Time Academy
Players will be invited to trial for selection in a full time academy programme. This will be in the form of an open invitation but coaches may also make individual approaches to players who are showing potential. This programme will entail training 2-3 times per week and be restricted to players registered with KLUSC with a minimum age requirement that makes them eligible to play in the U13 FFT youth roster.
At this stage the club is looking at the possibility of forming three full time academy squads for 2009. One squad will be aimed at boys aged 12-14 years. The second will possibly be aimed at 15-16 year old boys, with the third team being a girls' team. The exact age groups for the girl's teams will be subject to availability of players that will most benefit.
The full time academy will entail a financial commitment from players and their parents. The financial outlay will be an 'all included' package that will cover the following:
o Full KLUSC & FFT registration (incl. insurance)
o 2 complete training/playing outfits (shirt, shorts and socks)
o KLUSC polo shirt
o Lion's Edge spray jacket
o Carry bag
o Beanie
o Training ball
o All coaching instruction and associated fees
o Instructional audiovisual material
o Home programme instructional material
o Accommodation for weekend and holiday resident camps
o Physiological testing
o Individual player feedback
All coaches will be accredited at a minimum of youth licence level and be the best available at the time of selection.
Full time squad members will also participate in holiday residential clinics of varying duration (subject to the focus of camp and what is aiming to be achieved). These residential schools will have adult supervision at all times. Accommodation costs for these residential schools is covered in the annual subscription fee however there will be an additional 'food kitty' component that will need to be paid.
The full time academy teams will be entered in FFT youth rosters at a level where playing will be challenging both mentally and physically. Any player who is looking to be part of a team focussed on winning as the primary goal will be disappointed. The main focus of this programme will be to develop individual players as opposed to winning a given age roster.
Members of the full time Lion's Edge academy will be required to attend senior home matches of either premier men's or women's teams. This will afford the players the opportunity of familiarising themselves with our senior club structure and playing personnel, but it will also allow them to learn from pre, half time and full time team talks, tactical awareness, analysis of team functions and play scenarios, etc.
Part Time Academy
The part time academy will be open to all players who are 10 years of age (playing U/10) or older who are registered players of Kingborough Lions United Soccer Club. Players in the part time academy will continue to train and play with their normal Kingborough team but they will have the opportunity to participate in additional and specific training by academy coaches. Additional sessions will be available through the week or on the weekend subject to ground availability.
Players will be encouraged to learn at their own pace but it would be expected that each part time member of the academy would attend a minimum of 12 hours additional coaching by academy coaches which is above their own team training commitments.
There are no compulsory costs associated with the part time programme but each session will attract a coaching and administration fee of $5.00 per player per hour. Each session will have a specific focus of learning and players will also be provided with a home learning package as part of their season of learning.
There will be a minimum dress standard required for the Lion's Edge Academy members and to this end the club will supply a complete training kit for all part time members of the academy programme for a reasonable cost of $150 (subject to variation without notice). This cost will provide the player with the following:
o 1 complete training/playing outfit (shirt, shorts and socks)
o KLUSC club spray jacket
o Carry bag
o Beanie
o Training ball
o Training notes
o Home programme instructional material
Certain items of clothing with be marked accordingly and will identify the player as a member of the 'Lion's Edge' development programme. This will have the added benefit of permitting the player to feel as though he/she is part of something that is just a bit special without creating elitist behaviour or attitudes. We believe this programme is a real and viable alternative to ultra competitive state programmes and will prevent a gap appearing between players who consistently make representative teams and thus receive additional coaching and those that miss out and return to one session a week of team training. The added beauty of this programme is that it will allow the player to commit to the academy mentality yet still permit them to live another life.
CLINICS
Various forms of clinics are being investigated but at this stage the following could be suitable:
Summer Residential Camps
o 1-2 nights - for U11-13
o 3-4 nights - for U/14-16
o U9 & U10 players will NOT participate in residential schools but are welcome as a day student only
These camps would be held during the summer or preseason months (November-February) and would be on a full fee paying basis (except for full time academy members who will only be required to pay a food kitty unless the camp is away from Kingborough's own facilities).
These camps could be multi focused e.g. skill building, fitness, technique, motivation, team building, etc.
Residential camps would be for both full time and part time academy members unless an opportunity arose to have 'invited' coaches at which time the camps could be opened up on a user pays basis.
Sunday School
Sunday School would be held (weather and ground availability permitting) each weekend in 8-10 week blocks
AM sessions - U9-12
PM sessions - U13-17
Specialty Focus Clinics
These clinics would have a specific focus and generally be day sessions. Various venues could be used as required by the specialty focus.
PROGRAMME COACHES
The Lion's Edge programme will come under the direction of the Football Development Manager, Soccer Management Committee (SMC) & the club's Senior Coaching staff.
o All coaches will be required to hold a minimum of the FFA youth licence.
o Suitably experienced coaches (who don't hold a current licence) should not be excluded and would be invited to participate and pass on their extensive experience in the game.
o This programme should also be seen as a development pathway for coaches as well as players. To that end team coaches would be encouraged to attend and actively participate in academy coaching under the supervision of academy coaches.
o Links will be established with playing and coaching staff external to the club structure and these resources will utilised on a regular basis.
This Lion's Edge Academy Programme should also be capable of identifying and fostering other non-playing team personnel required for a fully functional and cohesive team unit that is capable of offering a safe and practical environment in which to play football.
THE NETWORK
A network of personnel, coaches & clubs from various local, interstate and even international regions should be established through appropriate channels. This network should be fostered to enable an exchange of information, experience & development.
Hobart
A campaign should be instigated so that players from across the Hobart area become aware of The Lion's Edge programme. If nothing else players should be made aware of the programme through the media (newspaper, the club web site, etc.) and through personal contact but above all through reputation.
Statewide
The three regions that currently make up the geographical area for FFT are rich in opportunities for exchange of ideas and development. KLUSC has previously had exchanges with the Riverside Olympic S.C and these links should be re-established as urgently as possible. Recently links have also been created with Somerset Sharks S.C and to a lesser extent Burnie United. These links should now be fostered even further.
The Lion's Edge programme also has the opportunity of promoting the game itself. Training sessions or even matches could be held at numerous venues from the West Coast to the East Coast.