The TAP Futbol Club developmental program begins with the purpose of making soccer fun for our youth participants. To feel the passion and enjoy the game the way it is to be played, they must develop a passion. Making children want to practice, making the sessions fun, is what we constantly strive for in every soccer activity. The TAP Futbol Club follows a club centric model. All activities focus around the club way of doing business. Teams are not coached by parents. Professional Players, former collegiate Players and/or professional coaches train each team. All have considerable experience with coaching youth soccer and many have state and national level licenses and certificates to complement their experiences as players and coaches. The well-tested (in Europe and South America) club centric approach provides young players the opportunity to see and interact with the most skilled club athletes. In the TAP Futbol Club, younger teams regularly train with older teams. TAP’s winter indoor training environment brings all teams together for nearly two hours of workouts that end with scrimmages where younger teams include older players for “on field” direction and guidance.
TAP Futbol Club provides year round training for its players. Our youngest players are encouraged to participate in the “Ball Masters” program with its focus on the very basic skills needed to play the game. The TAP Futbol Club uniquely combines world renowned Dutch and Brazilian training practices and techniques. Almost every other year (when appropriate), at least one TAP Futbol Club travels to either Holland or Brazil and spends time with a professional club, working with their youth counterparts. Team training is conducted two to three times per week. Players in need of specialized training receive it from their team coach with additional training sessions an option. In addition, TAP Futbol Club is moving towards having a full-time specialized goalkeeper coach to ensure a high level of play among the club’s keepers.
The TAP Futbol Club builds its new teams in a very deliberate manner. Beginning with a core group of players (from one to four quality players), TAP coaches seek players with the potential to develop into premier level players. Their personal playing and coaching experiences allow them to identify players who they feel are both trainable and coachable. All TAP teams hold annual tryouts. TAP tryouts are open to everyone. Every position is competed for each season by every player. Several age groups combine tryouts for coaches to observe and monitor player interactions. Even with the large number of local clubs seeking many of the same players, TAP teams are able to attract the players interested in taking soccer to the “next level”. For our youngest teams, TAP Futbol Club is currently working with the Gunston Soccer Club (GSC) to develop an identification and training effort for Under-8 and -9 age players for future TAP teams.
TAP Futbol Club holds a specialized club centric 12 – week winter Skill Development training program for all TAP teams. This season’s program begins the first week in December, through March 2008. The program is held at Lee District Recreation Center. All teams participate in the Club Centric Model development.
