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Blaze Philosophy

Our Philosophy

 

HF Blaze Development Philosophy

U9-U12: Player Development Focused


Goal: Develop as many skilled players as possible at the appropriate competition level for each player.  

Team Placement: The primary consideration for team placement is keeping grade level players together. This ensures maximum continuity as teams move through travel and inter-scholastic play. Some players are age level eligible to play below their grade level. A player in this situation may choose to play age level instead of grade level. This choice must be communicated at registration.
 
Playing Time: The target for U9-U10 players is equal playing time. Factors such as substitution opportunities and player safety may prevent exactly equal time for all players at each game. The goal for U11-U12 players is 50% over the season. Time beyond 50% is at the coach’s discretion and may be based on other factors, such as skill, fitness, attitude, and teamwork.
 
Game Play: The focus in this age group is on player development. In this spirit, we attempt to place players and teams at a level of competition that will support confidence building, risk taking, and decision making, but also challenge the players to improve. U9-U10 is considered non-competitive, in that standings and scores are not kept. At U11-U12, while game results and standings are public knowledge, the focus is still on skill/player development.
 


U13-U17: Team Development Focused

Goal: Develop competitive teams within an appropriate age group

Team Formation: Teams will be formed based on skill level. Grade, age, previous year team, and game roster size limitations will also be considerations for forming teams. There is no guarantee a team will be fielded at each age group. All reasonable attempts will be made to achieve a 15-18 player roster size for each age group. A player may request to play an age level up subject to meeting the requirements of the Blaze Play-Up Policy (see Policies page under the Blaze Board page). 

Playing Time: Playing time will be allocated based upon skill level, fitness, and overall contribution to the team’s goals. The Coach will be responsible for balancing team performance with player development. The player is encouraged to take greater responsibility for developing his or her skill level to increase playing time. 

Game Play: The focus in this age group is on team success and support of the Honeoye Falls-Lima scholastic soccer program. We strive to advance teams into higher levels of competition.

 

Note: The Club reserves the right to move players when it will be in the best interest of developing a player and/or to maintain an adequate roster size for a team at a particular age group. Any decisions that are contrary to the Team Formation Philosophy must be approved by the Board.