Director's Development Program (DDP) Overview

Director's Development Program (DDP) Overview

Mission Statement

The Director’s Development Program (DDP) transitions players from the less structured environment of intramural or recreational soccer to the more defined player development curriculum.  DDP runs August to June.

DDP players are trained as an age group by the same professional training staff that works with our travel teams year-round, under a curriculum specifically designed for our U7 and U8 DDP players by Andy Wilkes, Director of Coaching. Festivals are held jointly with other like-minded clubs to allow players to use their developing skills in short, small-sided 4v4 games that maximize their number of ball touches. By not keeping score and maintaining a consistent and singular focus on the application of the skills learned in training, we eliminate the pressure of competitive travel soccer, while still maintaining the high training standards.  In the Spring, our U8 players will transition into a travel model, where they will participate in a developmental 7v7 travel league.

Details

Details


Program Objectives

  • Encourage creative freedom in training and in games
  • Reduce fear of failure by placing more emphasis on individual player development and eliminating the pressure of winning games
  • Reduce or eliminate labeling players at a young age by creating player pools instead of assigning them to "A," "B," and "C" teams with the goal of developing a larger pool of talented players at each age group
  • Create free player movement within age groups to ensure the top players can play up and be challenged
  • Provide appropriate training to game ratio
  • Maintain an appropriate travel to playing time ratio

DDP Program Information and Fees

DDP Program Information and Fees

Our Director's Development Program includes registration for the fall and spring intramural leagues, as well as year-round training with our professional trainers and participation in approximately 3-5 festivals. Festivals are multi-game events that take place with teams from other local soccer clubs. Although festivals will be competitive, the emphasis will be on development of soccer skills and game understanding, NOT on winning. Kids love these events and always have a lot of fun participating in them.

Below is a comparison of our DDP and intramural program. For an additional amount over the cost of fall and spring intramural, DDP allows your child to receive year-round training and participate in several festivals, as well as participate in a spring travel league (U8 players).  

Registration fees for the 2024-25 season are as follows and may be paid in one payment or in three installments.

DDP Program Full Year DDP Fall/Spring Intramural
Registration Fee $625/$575* $350
Summer / Fall
Professional Training
2x per week
Begins in August None
ADVANCE Festivals 2-3 None
Intramural Fall League
Intramural Uniform
DDP Uniform N/A
Winter
Professional Training
Winter Academy (weekly)
Optional $150
Spring
Intramural Spring League (U7 players)

Travel Spring League (U8 players)

N/A

Travel Soccer Jersey (U8 players) N/A
Professional Training
Spring Academy (2x per week)
Optional $125
Marc J. Small 3v3

ADVANCE Festivals 1-2 None

 

*U8 has higher cost than U7 for DDP due to the spring travel league offering.