Blogs, News & Articles

FROM FIRST TRYOUT TO COLLEGE COMMITMENT: BRODY BALLENGER'S DUTCH FC STORY

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 19:20:00 GMT

Not every college player starts where you'd expect.

Brody Ballenger walked through the Dutch FC doors in February 2024 having never played select soccer a day in his life. No club resume. No highlight reel. Just a player with raw ability, a willingness to work, and a lot to prove.

It was during his sophomore year at high school, playing JV soccer, when Brody and his family first connected with Dutch FC founder Wilco Ravestijn. He had only ever played rec and high school ball. Club soccer was a brand new world.

When Brody first joined, it was clear he had tools to work with — good speed and athleticism — but technically he was behind. Agility with the ball, confidence in tight spaces, decision-making under pressure — those things needed to be built from the ground up. Throwing him straight onto the top team would have done more harm than good. So he was placed on our 08 PSV squad — Dutch FC's developmental team — exactly where The Squad System says he should be.

The goal at that level wasn't just to develop his technical ability. It was to build confidence first. Because without confidence on the ball, nothing else can follow. PSV gave Brody the environment to find his footing, express himself, make mistakes, and grow — without the pressure of a higher-stakes environment stalling that process before it could begin.

It worked. His progress was hard to ignore. By the following season, he was dual-rostered — getting his first opportunities to play with the 08 Ajax squad while continuing to build. And by spring, the transition was complete. Brody Ballenger was a full-time Ajax player.

His family saw the transformation up close:

"Brody's confidence and skill grew quickly, helping him realize that playing soccer in college could become a real possibility. We are incredibly thankful to Dutch FC and Coach Wilco for the opportunities they gave Brody and for playing such an important role in his journey."

Once that belief was there, Brody went to work. He built a highlight video and player profile, emailed coaches attending showcase tournaments, and competed in front of college programs at the Adidas Oklahoma Showcase in Tulsa and the Sport Source Showcase in Dallas. The preparation was his. The opportunity was earned.

That's when Coach Dylan Perdue of Central Baptist College took notice.

"We had the opportunity to watch Brody at the Adidas Oklahoma Showcase in Tulsa and again at the Sport Source Showcase in Dallas," said Coach Perdue. "We feel that his speed and athleticism could correlate to our program's style of play almost immediately."

But Brody didn't wait to be recruited — he pursued it. After the first showcase, he followed up with Coach Perdue directly and invited him to the second tournament. After that, Coach Perdue invited Brody to an ID Camp in Arkansas, where he competed against current players, other recruits, and incoming commits. He showed out. An offer followed shortly after, and Brody accepted.

"He had the opportunity to come out to our ID Camp to compete with current players, other recruits, and committed players joining us in Fall '26. Brody showed out well enough for us to send him an offer shortly after the camp and he accepted not long after. We are very excited to have Brody joining our program and feel that it's a good fit for both parties. GO MUSTANGS!" — Coach Dylan Perdue, Central Baptist College

This week, Brody officially committed to play collegiate soccer at Central Baptist College (NAIA, American Midwest Conference) beginning Fall 2026.

What makes this moment even more special — the 08 boys are Dutch FC's founding age group. This club started with just four rec players in that class. From four kids kicking a ball around to a college signing. Brody is the first from this inaugural group to make that leap, with more announcements to come.

"Brody is a perfect example of a player who committed to the process we have at Dutch FC in our College Placement Program," said Dutch FC founder and Executive Director Wilco Ravestijn. "We do a lot of leg work to attend showcases and connect with college coaches to get them to our games. And once that connection was made with Coach Perdue at Central Baptist, the Ballenger family took ownership, got to work, and did their part in getting Brody across the finish line. It's the way it's supposed to work. We're super excited for Brody and the family and know they will have great success in their program."

Brody's journey is a reminder of what we believe at Dutch FC: it doesn't matter where you start. It matters what you do with the opportunity.

Congratulations, Brody. Go get it. ��

#DutchFC | #CompeteForGlory | #CollegePlacement

Results vs. Performance: The False Choice in Youth Soccer

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 22:44:20 GMT

There's a belief in North Texas youth soccer — and across much of the U.S. — that you have to choose: play beautiful, intelligent football or win games. Development or results. Pick one.

At Dutch FC, we reject that choice entirely.

Two Ways to Measure Progress

The progress of a team — and of individual players — can be measured in two ways: Results and Performance .

It's not uncommon to have a great performance but not get a result. Your team possesses the ball, creates chances, plays with intelligence — and loses 1-0 on a counter-attack.

Likewise, a result can sometimes come without a good performance. You win 3-2, but it was scrappy, disorganized, and you were outplayed for 70 minutes.

The goal is to achieve both simultaneously. But when forced to prioritize, we believe focusing on performance wins more games in the long run than focusing on results.

When neither is present for a sustained period, discontent follows. Just ask the U.S. Men's National Team after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup — a painful reminder of what happens when performance and results both disappear.

The Results-Focused Trap

In the youth game, we often see teams playing a direct style of football: leverage athleticism, capitalize on mistakes, loft the ball up the field, chase it down, and overpower opponents physically.

This approach doesn't require much skill, tactical intelligence, or creativity. And in the short term — especially at younger ages — it works. Players haven't yet developed the technical foundation or problem-solving ability to deal with high-pressure, physical play. Results come quickly.

But here's the problem: those results are borrowed from the future.

As players age, the developmental gap becomes painfully clear. The teams that prioritized athleticism over intelligence find themselves outplayed by more skillful opponents. And the players? Many quit altogether.

Soccer requires foot-to-eye coordination that takes years of repetition to develop — far more muscle memory than hand-to-eye sports like basketball or baseball. Players can pick up those sports at older ages with relative ease.
Soccer doesn't work that way. If the technical and tactical foundation isn't built early, it's exponentially harder to catch up later.

This is why so many players in the U.S. drop out of soccer. They realize they're not that skilled. They lose the joy that comes from development and improvement. And they walk away.

The enjoyment doesn't come from winning games. It comes from the journey of overcoming challenges through personal and team growth.

The Development-Focused Overcorrection

On the other end of the spectrum, some coaches overcorrect. They become so focused on "development" that they forget a fundamental truth:

Winning is a skill.

It requires tactical understanding, strategic thinking, mental fortitude, and technical execution. The desire to win should be present in every practice and every game.

Here's an example: A team attempts to play out of the back because it's "supposed to encourage development." But every defender is being man-marked by an opposing forward. There's no attempt to punish the high press by playing in behind. What happens?

The opposition is rewarded for overcommitting. Easy goals are conceded. Players lose confidence in the system. The belief in attractive football deteriorates.

Spain experienced this at the highest level. In 2010, they dominated world football with their possession-based tiki-taka style. By 2014, they were knocked out in the group stage. By 2018, the Round of 16. The same philosophy that made them world champions became predictable when opponents realized there was no threat of balls played in behind.

Development without competitive intent is incomplete.

The Trifecta

At Dutch FC, we don't believe in sacrificing anything. We seek what we call The Trifecta :

Enjoyment — because players who love the game show up ready to work.
Development — because technical and tactical growth is the foundation of long-term success.
Competition — because the desire to win sharpens everything else.

We want it all. We believe you can have fun and develop and win — not by choosing one at the expense of the others, but by building them together in the right order.

Let's play the game the right way. Let's develop intelligent, skillful, adaptable players. And let's lift trophies doing it.

This is the standard we're setting. This is the culture we're building.

Join us as we raise the level of North Texas soccer — one player, one team, one season at a time.

A Comparison Guide of Club, School, and Recreational Soccer Programs

Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:24:58 GMT

There is no right or wrong way to any journey, only trade offs.

There are only three main choices when select your youth soccer journey in North Texas

Club Soccer (Independent Organization like Dutch Football Club)
School Soccer (Middle School & High School)
Recreational Soccer (Usually run by soccer associations within each city)

Each program offers distinct advantages and disadvantages and requires different levels of commitment. This guide will help you understand the key differences and make the best choice for your child's development and enjoyment of the sport.

Quick Comparison: The Core Differences

Before diving into the details, lets identify a sets of key differences for each program:

Time Commitment : Club soccer runs year-round (12 months), school soccer spans 3 months, and recreational soccer operates 2.5 months in both Fall and Spring.

Team Formation : Club teams use selection processes, school teams hold tryouts, and recreational teams guarantee placement.

Cost : Club soccer requires significant investment, school soccer is publicly funded (free), and recreational soccer has minimal costs.

Coaching Quality : Club programs offer professional coaching, school programs have certified teachers/coaches, and recreational programs typically rely on parent volunteers.

Playing Time : Both club and school soccer require players to earn their time on the field, while recreational soccer guarantees playing time.

Development Impact : Club soccer provides the highest level of development, school soccer offers moderate development opportunities, and recreational soccer focuses on basic skills and enjoyment.

College Exposure : Club soccer maximizes college opportunities, school soccer offers limited exposure, and recreational soccer doesn't typically lead to college recruitment.

Understanding Time Commitment

Different programs demand different levels of time investment from both players and parents. Let's explore what each requires:

Club Soccer: The Year-Round Commitment

Club soccer represents the most intensive time investment. Running from July through June, the program structures training based on age groups. Younger players (U6-U7) attend one session weekly, while older players (U8-U18) participate in two weekly sessions. The season includes both Fall and Spring games, plus 4-6 tournaments throughout the year.

School Soccer: The Seasonal Sprint

School soccer programs operate during a focused period from mid-December through early March. Players typically practice daily during the school week and participate in 16-20 games per season. This concentrated schedule requires intense dedication during the season but offers breaks during the rest of the year.

Recreational Soccer: The Flexible Option

Recreational soccer provides the most flexible schedule, operating in both Fall and Spring seasons. With just one weekly training session and nine games per season, it's designed to accommodate busy families and multiple activities.

The Team Formation Process

Club Soccer: Finding the Right Fit

Modern club soccer has evolved beyond simple tryouts. Players now participate in 2-4 training sessions with potential teams, allowing coaches to evaluate fit and skill level. This approach helps place players where they'll receive both adequate playing time and appropriate challenges for their development.

School Soccer: Traditional Tryouts

School programs maintain traditional tryout systems where players compete for limited roster spots. While this can be challenging, it often builds character and resilience. As one inspiring example, even Michael Jordan was initially cut from his high school team before becoming a legendary athlete.

Recreational Soccer: Open Access

Recreational programs guarantee placement for all registered players before deadlines. While players can request to play with friends, the focus remains on creating balanced teams and ensuring everyone has the opportunity to participate.

Understanding the Costs

Club Soccer: Investment in Development

While club soccer represents the highest cost option, it's essential to consider Warren Buffett's wisdom: "Price is what you pay. Value is what you get." The investment covers comprehensive year-round development, professional coaching, and maximum exposure to advancement opportunities.

School Soccer: Publicly Funded

School soccer programs come with minimal costs since they're publicly funded through the school system. This makes them an excellent value, particularly for families looking for a competitive experience without significant financial commitment.

Recreational Soccer: Affordable Access

Recreational soccer keeps costs low, typically around $50 for uniforms and $100 per season. This affordability makes it an excellent entry point for new players and families exploring the sport.

Coaching and Development

Club Soccer: Professional Guidance

Club programs employ professional coaches focused specifically on soccer development. These coaches implement structured methodologies and work to improve both individual skills and team performance. They're typically more experienced in player development and have deeper knowledge of the sport.

School Soccer: Dual-Role Educators

School soccer coaches often balance teaching and coaching responsibilities. While many are excellent mentors, their primary focus typically lies in education. This can lead to varied coaching quality, though many programs still produce strong teams and players.

Recreational Soccer: Volunteer Leadership

Recreational programs rely on parent volunteers who generously give their time to coach. While these coaches may lack formal training, they often bring enthusiasm and a focus on fun that helps young players develop a love for the sport.

College Prospects and Future Opportunities

Club Soccer: The Primary Pathway

For players with college aspirations, club soccer provides the clearest path forward. College coaches primarily recruit through showcase tournaments and club networks. The year-round structure and high-level competition prepare players for collegiate play. Dutch FC has a College Program Road Map for our club members specially focused on guiding players to playing at the college levels if they desired to do so.

School Soccer: Supporting Role

While school soccer may not directly lead to college recruitment, it plays a valuable role. School coaches often provide character references and help develop important qualities like leadership and teamwork. The program also offers unique opportunities to represent your school and build community connections.

Recreational Soccer: Focus on Fundamentals

Recreational soccer emphasizes playing the game as a hobby rather than developing in the sport to a players maximum potential. Playing at the recreational level makes it extremely difficult to compete at the Middle, High School or College levels because the development is very limiting.

Making the Right Choice

The best program for your child depends on several factors:

Their current interest and skill level
Your family's schedule and resources
Long-term goals in the sport
Balance with other activities and commitments

Remember that these choices aren't permanent. Many players start in recreational programs and progress to club soccer as their skills and interests develop. Players don't have the choice to play Club Soccer and Recreational Soccer at the same time, as the governing bodies do not allow this. However, Dutch FC is very supportive of the School Soccer programs and reduces the level of Club Soccer activities so players can participate within their School Programs.

School Programs do not always understand the importance of Club, and often continue to be physically demanding during the School Off-Season with heavy fitness and weight training that negatively affects the players during their club seasons. This can cause injuries to the players as they are overworked or can't perform during their club seasons. Good communication is required from the players with both their Club and School coaches to help navigate where their focus should be at different times of the year.

The Dutch Model

Interestingly, the Netherlands takes a different approach to youth soccer. There are no recreational or School sports. Instead, each city has multiple community based clubs within their communities offering lots of choices for players to play at any level they choose. Players from Under 6 through Over 50 participate in the same club system at various competitive levels. This unified structure combines the benefits of all three program types within 1 organization. Dutch Football Club’s vision is to emulate this model right here in Frisco and want to encourage US Soccer governing bodies to explore the successful soccer culture developed in the Netherlands.

Final Thoughts

Each soccer program offers unique benefits and serves different needs. Specifically at Dutch FC we strive to provide an environment that grows a passion for the game, maximizes development within each player and seek to compete at the highest levels. We want to prepare our players to be able to make the Middle and High Schools teams and possibly even a college team.

This guide aims to help families make informed decisions about their children's soccer journey. Success in soccer, like in life, comes in many forms – whether that's playing professionally, earning a college scholarship, or simply enjoying the beautiful game with friends.

Dutch FC Welcomes Tim Trevino as Director of Coaching

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:16:32 GMT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dutch Football Club Welcomes Tim Trevino as Director of Coaching

Dutch Football Club is thrilled to announce the hiring of Tim Trevino as its new Director of Coaching (DOC). With an impressive playing and coaching background, Trevino brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to our growing club.

Player Background
Tim Trevino’s soccer journey began at Dallas Jesuit, where he earned All-State honors during his junior and senior years, leading Jesuit to two TCIL State Championships. Trevino was the leading scorer and team MVP of the undefeated 1988 Jesuit squad, which was ranked #1 in Texas and #2 nationally. He continued his soccer career at Oklahoma City University, where he became the all-time leading scorer and earned NAIA All-American honors in both 1990 and 1991. Trevino was also a finalist for the 1992 Olympic Team and represented the United States in the CONCACAF Champions League while playing professionally for various USISL clubs and in the Czech Republic.

Coaching Background
Trevino's coaching career spans over two decades. He founded Soccer America FC and served as Director of Coaching for Liverpool FC America, Texas Football Club, and the American Academy of Soccer. He holds a USSF "A" license and has been inducted into both the High School and Collegiate Hall of Fame.

Tim Trevino’s Statement:
"I am extremely excited to be joining the Dutch FC family! The club's vision and impact within their local community in its short 5 years of existence is impressive and unique in the North Texas soccer market. The coaching staff I've met with are passionate about developing their players and teams, and the facilities provide a strong foundation to build on. I look forward to contributing and helping take the club to new levels."

Wilco Ravestijn’s Statement:
Wilco Ravestijn, founder and executive director of Dutch FC, expressed his excitement, stating: "Today, Dutch FC instantly raises its standards with Tim Trevino joining us as DOC. Tim has been successful as a player, coach, and leader, having created and successfully run multiple club programs over the past few decades. Ideologically, he aligns perfectly with Dutch FC's philosophies and methodologies. His servant leadership approach is what our club was founded on. We are grateful to have filled our DOC position with such an experienced and ideal fit for the club."

About Dutch Football Club
Founded five years ago, Dutch Football Club is rapidly becoming a standout organization in North Texas youth soccer. Committed to providing a Low-Cost, High-Value player development model, Dutch FC strives to foster a positive, competitive environment while making a lasting impact in the local community.

For more information:

Contact: Dutch Football Club
info@dutchfc.com
www.DutchFC.com

Playing Time In Club Soccer

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 21:42:46 GMT

Playing time in youth soccer can be a challenging balancing act for coaches and confusing for players and parents. What's fair and just? Well, the real answer is, "It depends," as many factors contribute to how much playing time a player receives. In this blog post, we will address the most important key factors, prioritize them, and attempt to bridge the gap in playing time expectations between coaches and players/parents.

U10 & Younger vs U11 & Older

For clarity purposes, this article is geared toward U11 Select teams and older. In my opinion, any age U10 & Younger, whether they be at Academy or Recreational level,all these kids should be given at least half a game to play. There might be a few minor exceptions but for the most part, these kids are so young and they all need to play. Not necessarily equally, but play nonetheless.

PLAYER/PARENT MINDSET & PERSPECTIVE

First and foremost, who determines playing time? Most would say, "The coach, of course." However, it depends on your mentality. Successful coaches aim to win, so why would they NOT play someone if it would help the team win? Here's the key point: playing time is determined by the PLAYER. It's the player's responsibility to prove to the coach, the team, and the spectators that they can contribute. This shift in mindset must be embraced by players and parents to prevent a victim mentality and excuses for lack of playing time. Blaming others and circumstances is not a path to success.

This doesn't mean coaches never make mistakes or underestimate players' abilities. Over my 20 plus years of coaching thousands of kids, I've made numerous mistakes and been proven wrong by players. So, take responsibility and prove the coach wrong by demonstrating a positive attitude, not by developing a bad one.

WINNING vs. DEVELOPMENT

Which objective holds more significance? These objectives are more interconnected than most realize. Development contributes to winning, while winning reinforces development. There are instances when they occur simultaneously and others when they unfold at different times and under varying circumstances. In general, players tend to make greater strides in their development during practices compared to games.

Each week, coaches are confronted with the challenge of balancing these two objectives. They may tilt toward one direction or the other based on a multitude of factors and circumstances, which we will explore shortly.

The crux of the matter lies in the coach's role in setting expectations and standards. Effective communication of these expectations and standards to both players and parents fosters trust in the coach's fairness and judgment.

COMMUNICATION

Assumptions, misunderstandings, and miscommunication are responsible for most (95%) conflicts between coaches and players/parents. Respectful communication is the key to resolving these conflicts. All parties involved should assume responsibility and communicate openly to address and resolve issues effectively.

6 PLAYING TIME FACTORS

There are 6 key factors that go into deciding a how much playing time a player earns.

Attendance & Commitment
Attitude & Mentality
Talent & Ability
Game Day Performance
Playing Position
Game Significance

1. Players Attendance And Commitment at Practices & Games

Attendance at practices & games should be a cornerstone factor in deciding playing time. If a player plays all the time and never shows up to training, what message does this send to the rest of the team? It might benefit the team in the short term but eventually, it will negatively impact the team's performance and results because the message that is sent to the team by the coach is that the standard is set to low attendance and commitment.

Simultaneously, life happens. There are more important things in life than soccer. Kids get sick, take vacations, have school commitments etc. The reasons why players miss, is really the crux of the matter and the real question to ask is “At what level of priority does soccer live in the players’ life”?

OVERCOMMITMENT

MYTH: Playing multiple sports will improve the overall athlete. I’ve heard this one many times. If you want to be an athlete, play as many sports as you wish, but if you want to be a soccer player, soccer has to be a priority from U11 and up.

The reality is that if you play multiple sports simultaneously, you can’t really be great at any of them because it’s physically impossible. To play competitively in any sport, you need to train at least twice per week if not more. So you could play 2 sports competitively at a time and be a decent play at best. The reality though, is this only gives you 1 day of rest per week. Very little time for homework and friends and free time.

As a kid growing up, I played soccer and other sports. Meaning, soccer was my priority and other sports were side sports I played by only training once per week and a game every so often. They never conflicted with soccer or if they did, soccer came first. Kids these days are overcommitted because everyone thinks more is better. They're on the Cross Country team in HS, play on the football team, and try and play competitive club soccer at a high level. That’s 2 football games during the week and a cross-country meet. That doesn’t even take into account the practices associated with each of these sports. Only then….. comes soccer. In my experience, these types of players attended less than 50% of the practices and are usually exhausted on game day. Their performances suffer and the team doesn't benefit from them being on the team.

SET EXPECTATIONS

What are the proper expectations and standards with reasonable expectations for playing competitive youth soccer?

It’s unrealistic and unfair to expect 100% attendance. However, with anything less than 75%-80% attendance at training and 90% at games, players stagnate their growth and the teams progress will not keep pace. Could you imagine attending school less than 75% of the time? How far behind would most students fall by only missing one day per week in school? A lot.

The focus is not to PUNISH a player for being over-committed or passionless, but rather to REWARD committed, passionate players with more playing opportunities. This creates an incentive loop that creates a fantastic dynamic within the team and delegates the responsibility from the coach to the player on how to prioritize soccer in their life. It reinforces

" Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard. " — Tim Notke

It's the player's responsibility to meet the standards and expectations. For players who lack commitment, recreational soccer, where training occurs once per week, can be a suitable alternative that aligns with their priorities.

2. Attitude, Work Ethic and Desire

WORK ETHIC & DESIRE

Attendance alone doesn't necessarily translate to commitment. True commitment stems from a desire to want to learn and improve with hard work. When players behave uninterested and indifferent they are uncommitted to the team's success. Various factors can contribute to a lack of passion and effort or a poor attitude. Coaches, players, and parents can often collaborate to address these issues and help improve a player's attitude.

ATTITUDE

However, I’ve also been in plenty of situations where a parent and player feel entitled and expect everyone else to bend over backward for their benefit without any commitment on the player to do their part and contribute to the team.

In some cases, the effort and desire is not in question but tear everyone down around them in the process because they lack leadership skills. They believe they are above the team and that the team serves them. These are attitude adjustments that need to be made and can be opportunities to develop leadership skills with the proper guidance and perspective.

3. Talent & Ability

If all is equal, attendance and attitude are within range of the standard, the most talented players should play the most. Equal playing time, often advocated within rec soccer leagues, is a non-merit-based playing environment and appropriate for equal playing time. However, in a merit-based environment such as competitive soccer, a player with talent needs to be rewarded.

Players can be categorized into 3 levels within a team.

IMPACT PLAYER
Players who can help win a game for the team, are the impact players. They clearly stand out, have a presence and get involved in the game.

ROLE PLAYERS

At the Role Player level, a player can be part of the game and play a solid role. They might not win the game but they also won’t lose the game.

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYERS

These players have not yet demonstrated they can compete consistently at the level the team is playing at. They need time to develop their skill and physical and mental maturity.

In most instances, it's better to be a Role Player or Impact Player on a team than a Developmental Player especially when discussing playing time. Players at these levels have improved confidence because they get more opportunities to compete at a level that fits them better.

Overall, a competitive team will play their Impact Players 75-100% of the time if they meet the commitment and attitude standards. Role Players will play 50% of the time. And Developmental Players will be given opportunities when the situations allow but playing time needs to be earned in practices and in games when they get an opportunity to prove they can compete.

It can be hard for parents to accept when their son/daughter is or drops within this developmental zone. Again, communication is an important part of being fair and realistic and creating a plan to get a player into the zone of a Role Player.

Just like in school, if a student falls behind, they do extra to catch up. And if a student excels amongst their peers, they get placed in advanced classes. The difference is, the grading in school is much clearer. Evaluating which category a player belongs in the game of soccer, can be much more subjective.

PLAYER EVALUATION

Here are some bullet points on some clear aspects you can use to evaluate a player.

Impact Player

Turnovers and Unforced Errors occur the minority of the time (<40%)
50/50 challenges are won the majority of the time (>60%)
Instigates and is involved in multiple game-changing moments or big plays that help the team achieve results.

Role Player

Turnovers and Unforced Errors occur about half the time (+-50%)
50/50 challenges are won half the time (+-50%)
Involved in a few big plays as a supportive player.

Developmental Player

Turnovers and Unforced Errors occur often (>60%)
50/50 challenges are won the minority of the time (<40%)
The player is more likely to make a mistake and give up the result.

We can come up with other factors, but the ones I mentioned are very visible and can be statistically evaluated and calculated which takes the subjectiveness out of the equation.

So why even take a Developmental Player? Why not only recruit Impact Players? Well, because a Developmental Player or Role Player, playing at 20% of their potential can be more valuable in the long run than an Impact Player at 100% of their potential at the same moment in time. Some players peak early and others later. I usually don’t carry more than 1 or 2 developmental players at a time if any at all. But it can take a long time for players to break through to the next level.

4. Game Day Performance

Anyone can have a great day or a bad day. For example, an Impact Player has had excellent attendance and has been working hard with a positive attitude, but for some reason is just off their game. A Role Player is playing fantastic and is earning attention and consideration to get more playing opportunities. These types of scenarios happen all the time. It’s important to prevent labeling or boxing players to any level. Players drift between the playing levels all the time and as a player/parent, you have to accept this. As a coach, it is important to believe in your players and help them rise up to get to the next playing level by giving them opportunities to prove themselves when they have earned them.

5. Playing Position

Playing positions can trump higher-priority factors. For example, let’s say the goalkeeper is out due to sickness for 2 weeks and then returns, most likely they will still perform better than someone who has attended for 2 weeks but playing keeper is not their primary position.

There is no reward for anyone to play keeper if that’s not their primary position. It becomes a punishment for the player because they don’t get to play their preferred positions and the team gets punished with a player playing out of position.

This creates a strong incentive for a coach to have depth on the team with more options to choose from. Build a deep enough roster and develop players so they players can step in when needed. It’s hard to enforce a standard if the players know you have no choice but to play them regardless of the standards set.

6. Game Significance

Another factor that occasionally trumps higher-priority factors is a particular game is more significant than most games. In rare occasions, a game can have a much higher significance than 75% of other games. These situations can really impact the team's direction in a positive way and the usual factors might be worth overlooking for a unique game that doesn’t happen very often. It’s important that it’s managed delicately because otherwise, Trust and Fairness are lost in the expectations and standards set.

CONCLUSION

It's not where you start but how you finish. Always remember this. All kids progress differently, at different rates at different times.

At age 10, I joined my local soccer club in my hometown in Vlaardingen The Netherlands. I was late to the game at that age and I mostly played on the 2nd and 3rd team up until the age of 16 when I hit my growth spurt and matured emotionally as well. My peak playing years were within my mid-20s.

Whether you're a player, parent, or coach, we can't predict when players will reach their peak and at what level a player is capable of playing. In most cases, if a player consistently plays less than 50% of the game, they should be looking to transition to a team where they can better compete on a more consistent bases.

As a parent, I have 2 boys who I both coach. My youngest plays on the most competitive 2012 boys team in his age group and gets a lot of playing time. He checks the boxes when I evaluate him to ensure I keep an objective perspective. My oldest son (Plays on the 2008s) is very much like I was growing up and struggles to consistently get 50% playing time based on the evaluation criteria mentioned above. He’s a late bloomer and he will enjoy the game more and develop with better creativity when he's on a team with less pressure to perform. He will benefit from being an Impact Player on a less competitive team vs a Role Player or Developmental Player on a highly competitive team.

The player decides at what level they want to play at and how much time they have earned. The hope is, for the desire and passion of the player to be so strong, that it pulls them forward to playing at their maximum potential.

The Squad System

Wed, 03 May 2023 23:39:48 GMT

The Squad System - A better way to Enjoy, Develop & Compete

As a parent, we all want our kids to be in the best environment to help them succeed, especially when it comes to sports. But the word "success", can mean very different things to different people, especially when you throw a little pride and ego in the mix.

So what do you really want for your child when it comes to play soccer?

I've asked this question to 100's of parents over the years and I almost never hear them say, "I want them to play pro at all cost".

It's usually...

"I want them to enjoy themselves."
"I want them to develop and reach their potential."
"It would be great if they could develop to play at the HS level or maybe even college."
"I want them to experience and overcome adversity and learn life lessons by playing sports."

So why do parents desire to place their kids on the highest-ranked teams and leagues?

The reason is that parents associate success with the level of competition and believe the higher competition and pressure, the greater the development and chances of success. Not only could this be further from the truth, but in many cases, parents don't realize that this will stunt their kid's potential as a player. Please don't take my word for it. Christin Pulisic, the most talented American player in the history of US Soccer, opted to play for a less competitive team within his area. Here's the excerpt from the article:

Christian spurned the academy team of the Philadelphia Union, a unit consistently more talent-laden and successful than the PA Classics.

"When you are the best player on your team but your team is not as good, it means you handle the ball more, you have to do more to carry your team and in the process, you are developing your game," says Richie Williams, an assistant coach with the U.S. men's national team who coached Christian, then 15, at the U17 residency program in Bradenton and in the 2015 U17 World Cup. "If it is a loaded team, that same player might be identified as a role player and never develop those skills."

~ https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2713937-the-christian-pulisic-blueprint

Often, parents want the prestige of playing in "the elite" league or team so they can feel special. The players usually don't care.

Growing up in Holland, I started playing soccer when I was 10 years old, which is really late so I was behind from the get-go. On top of this, I was significantly smaller than my peers. (Still am today but that's a different story.) Because I was behind, I played for the Developmental Team within my club for many years but because I got on my bike and took myself to practices, my parents were never around and I really didn't care for which team I played as long as I played and had the chance to compete and develop.

The key word above is compete .

So let's break this down.

What does competition mean?

When you play on a team that loses 10-0 every game, you're not competing. Likewise, when you're on a team that wins 10-0 and you're scoring 7 out of the 10 goals, you're not competing. On the losing team, it's too competitive, and on the winning team, there's not enough competition. The goal is to find a balance between being challenged (so you develop) but not over-challenged, where there is not success because that takes the fun out of it. This is what competing means. Ideally, you're playing on a team with players who challenge you but you get lots of opportunities to play and the team is competing in a league where you win at least half your games. Even when you lose a game 2-1, you can still be competing.

So when we have multiple teams within an age group, for which team should your child play?

The framework we use to determine where a player fits best is based on 3 categories to evaluate a player's level of competitiveness.

Are they a:

Impact Player
Role Player
Developmental Player

IMPACT PLAYER

An Impact Player is a player who changes the game. They're preventing goals, maintaining possession 60%-70%+ of the time, creating chances, scoring goals, preventing goals, winning 50/50 challenges, and beating opponents to the ball. These players usually play 75%-100% of the game.

ROLE PLAYER

A Role Player is a player who can enter the game and support the team. They usually maintaining possession 50% of the time, completing passes and won't impact the result of the game positively or negatively but will do a decent job of playing for the team. Usually, these players play 50% of the game. These players aim to improve and enter the impact player zone.

DEVELOPMENTAL PLAYER

Developmental Players are players who are behind or have fallen behind in their skill level and speed of play. They get most of their playing time in friendly scrimmages, tournament games, or league games that are not competitive. In close games, they might not play as much because they are not ready and it's unfair to punish the team if a player has yet to reach the role player status. However, they deserve opportunities to prove themselves, but patience and hard work are required.

As the image below displays, a Developmental Player on the Advanced Team, might be better off playing as a Role Player on the Developmental Team. Or an Impact Player on the Developmental Team might be better off staying on the team vs being moved up to the more competitive team where they might only be a Role Player.

PLAYERS DEVELOP AT DIFFERENT RATES

The key to remember is that it doesn't matter where you start but how and where you finish. Over my 20 years of coaching, I've seen so many Developmental Players turn into Impact Players and the reverse. In my case, I played for the Developmental Team for many years. I was a late bloomer, physically , mentally , technically and socially . Because I was on the Developmental Team , I played more and had the opportunity to express myself and experiment more freely with less pressure, allowing me to enjoy the game more. And when the light finally came on, I transitioned from being a Role Player to being an Impact Player on the Developmental Team and caught the eye of the Advanced Team . I got promoted to the Advanced Team at 15 and on the Advanced Team I started out as a Role Player but quickly advanced to becoming an Impact Player there also and eventually overtook all my peers and was called up to the 1st Adult Team at my club at age 17.

Had I been placed on the Advanced Team too early, the level of competitiveness would have overwhelmed me and I might not have had the freedom to develop at my own pace. I might not have enjoyed it as much due to the pressure and could have lost interest altogether.

Christian Pulisic chose to play on a less competitive team during his youth playing days and was able to play with more freedom and creativity, which allowed his game to develop to where it is today.

However, Christian also moved from Dortmund, where he was an Impact Player , to Chelsea, where his career has stagnated. He's now mostly considered a Role Player on Chelsea and not really finding the joys of playing like he was used to. I've seen this time and time again with players I've personally helped develop to become Impact Players . Then they bounce to play for teams competing in higher divisions only to find that they now are Role Players on those teams and their growth and careers stagnate. They lose the joys they experienced as Impact Players and their momentum stalls. More competition does not always mean more success because playtime, playing style, playing position, coaching philosophy and many factors change significantly, influencing the environment for players' potential.

A RISING TIDE LIFTS ALL BOATS

At Dutch FC we want to help all players reach their maximum potential and for this reason, we build a stair-step level of 2-3 teams so players can move up and down the level of competition based on what might be best for their growth. Coaches might keep certain players on the Developmental Team as Impact Players so they get more playing time even though they could be moved up to the Advanced Team but play less as Role Player .

All teams benefit from this system. The Advanced Team will likely compete in a higher-level league than the Developmental Team which means that the Advanced Team will likely attract competitive players to try out for this team. Some of these players might not be ready to compete at that level and would benefit by playing as an Impact Player on one of the Developmental Teams making these teams stronger at the same time . The Advanced Team benefits from this system because as players become ready to compete at a higher level, they can bump up to the Advanced Team to strengthen them. This creates a win/win for the age group and the entire age group grows stronger and more competitive.

Collectively, this is what we call the "The Squad System" . This approach to organizing youth teams is standard across clubs within the Netherlands that aids in helping individual players reach their potential, for which the Dutch youth development system is world-renowned. Many clubs in North Texas have a similar approach however, their objective is not always in the best interest player development but rather to generate revenue increased revenue. At Dutch FC, our club dues are on average about $1000 less than most comparable programs. And because. we're a non-profit, we focus more of our efforts on quality rather than quantity.

The Squad System requires patience and faith from the parents and players. It also requires teamwork between coaches to work together to make the system work. We're excited to adopt this system and apply it to our community here in Frisco, Texas.

Rize of the Dutch Lionesses in Women’s World Football

Sun, 01 Mar 2020 23:43:00 GMT

The Dutch Pride of Lionesses is on the prowl to dominate Women’s World Football. Over the last decade, the tiny country of the Netherlands has become a formidable contender on the national stage ranking third in FIFA Women’s World rankings behind the USA and Germany, but ahead of France, England, Brazil, and Japan. How does a country with a mere population of just 16 million compete with nations housing populations significantly larger with decades-long history?

The same unique footballing culture, methods, and philosophy that brought rise to this tiny footballing nation in the 70s and 80s and continues to dominate world football this day, are now producing some of the most exciting talents on the women’s side. In just a decade the Dutch have become a formidable force making two successive World Cup finals and winning the European Championship in 2017. (Watch the full journey here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHlk71I6v7A)

The progress and success of the Dutch Lionesses is the result of a deliberate plan and coordinated strategy by the KNVB and supported by a national attitude to advance the women’s game to a level of importance similar to that of the men’s rather than regard women’s football as just a by-product of people’s interest in football.

Women’s football, as a professional sport, is still in its infancy. Although it gained popularity in Europe in the early 1900s, its growth was impeded due to dominance by male administrators favoring the men’s side of the game. In some cases women’s football was even banned in countries, forcing the game underground. The bans in Germany and the UK were only lifted as recently as the 1970s.

Regardless, the Dutch have emerged as the next big powerhouse in women’s football. Against all expectation they won the 2017 European Championships, defeating Denmark in the final, beating Sweden and England along the way, and to prove it was no fluke, they then reached the finals of the World Cup in France in 2019, only to lose to the United States who hold a significant advantage in infrastructure, history, and population that is 22 times greater than that of the Netherlands.

It was the concept of total football that initiated the success of the men’s national team, who still benefit from this today, that was popularised by Ajax coach Rinus Michels, and Johann Cruijff as its arch exponent. By applying these same unique methods and philosophies and tailoring it to the women’s game in the Netherlands, it is a conscious decision by the country’s football authorities to intentionally invest in the women’s game at all levels.

Why the Women’s Team is Doing So Well

The success of the Dutch women’s national team is found at the grassroots foundation the country has in place.

Photo Credit: KNVB Media

The Royal Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) has set ambitious 5-year targets to grow the number of female members by 25% to 200,000 and to ensure that, at amateur clubs, at least 25% of all staff are female. They are also working with their main sponsor ING, with the bank decreeing that where they are the main sponsor of an amateur club, 25% of all money they donate must, at a minimum, be spent on girls’ and women’s football.

Amateur clubs are the building blocks that set the foundation of Dutch football to succeed on the national stage. This culture provides the environment for players to flourish and eventually get identified and advanced to the regional and national teams at various age categories.

The Dutch culture is much more accepting of the concept of women’s football than most countries in Europe and significantly more progressive than countries in South America and Africa, where it remains relatively alienated.

This sentiment is further demonstrated in the commitment to equal opportunities within football in the country when the Dutch FA (KNVB) appointed the coach Sarina Wiegeman as the ambassador for girls’ and women’s football. Already highly respected as the coach that brought them European Championship success and guided them to within one game of lifting the World Cup, Wiegeman brings a source of inspiration to advance the women’s game, particularly for the next generation of Dutch women who want to be involved with the sport in some capacity.

The increased standards instilled from the ground up to have set high expectations for the Lionesses which will surely continue to produce some exciting players going forward. The improvements are sure to positively impact domestic women’s football, although, similar to their male counterparts, the best Dutch women’s players will likely continue to migrate to the other top European leagues due to the financial rewards offered.

Unlike US-based pro leagues, the Dutch recognize this as a positive as it opens up spots for younger players to rise to a higher level of play developing a greater depth of talent across the board. Additionally, young girls seeing Dutch women succeeding in top European and US leagues, inspires them to match their achievements, raising the standard of the national and international game even further.

Below we’ve highlighted just three outstanding talents who are making history thanks to the result of the Dutch talent development system of the Netherlands and we expect many more to follow.

Lieke Martens

Photo: Ailura via Wikimedia Commons/DutchNews.nl

The 27-year-old Martens has already had a glittering career with 2017 being the highlight so far for her. Not only did she pick up a European Championship gold medal, but she was named Player of the Tournament. She was also voted UEFA Women’s Player of the Year and the Best FIFA Women’s Player. Martens can play as a midfielder and a winger has had a nomadic playing career. Beginning in her native country with Heerenveen and VVV Venlo, she has since had spells in Belgium (Standard Liège), Germany (Duisberg), and Sweden (Kopparbergs/Göteborg and Rosengard). She currently plays for Barcelona. She has won domestic cups in Belgium Sweden and Spain. Mertens has 110 caps for her country and scored 44 goals, although a foot injury ruled her out of most of the 2019 World Cup campaign.

Vivianne Miedema

(Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)

At only 23-year-old Vivianne Miedema has scored more goals for her country the Netherlands than any other player in history…yes we’re also including the men’s side in this record. She’s netted 69 times in 87 full internationals so far. Born into a footballing family, Miedema made her debut aged just 15 for SC Heerenveen, the youngest player ever to appear in the Eredivisie Vrouwen.

She then moved to Bayern Munich where, in her first season with them, she helped the German side go through the campaign undefeated, winning the title for the first time since 1976. And the following season she helped them defend that title. Miedema moved to Arsenal in 2017 and has now played 69 times for them, averaging almost a goal per game. She has won the WSL (Women’s Super League) and WSL Cup with the Gunners and was named PFA Player’s Player of the Year last season. Miedema’s unique characteristic is that she rarely celebrates her goals out of respect for her opponents.

Daniëlle van de Donk

Daniëlle is a dynamic 28-year old midfielder with 102 caps for her country netting 21 goals during this time. She was a member of the 2017 European Champions as well as a major contributor to the recent World Cup runner-up in 2019.

She began her career with Willem II, then moved to VVV-Venlo, and ending up at PSV Eindhoven. A brief spell in Swedish football with Kopparbergs/Göteborg followed in 2015, but later that year she joined WSL club Arsenal where she remains to this day, having recently signed a new long-term contract with them.

She was part of the side that won the WSL in 2019, and she has also lifted the FA Women’s Cup, ánd the WSL Cup.

Source:

https://www.knvb.nl/nieuws/themas/vrouwenvoetbal/59320/knvb-en-ing-gaan-voor-verdere-groei-het-vrouwenvoetbal

https://www.knvb.nl/downloads/bestand/21608/infographic-vrouwenvoetbal150220

The Origins of Dutch Football Philosophy and Methodology

Thu, 17 Oct 2019 00:56:00 GMT

The Dutch have earned a deserved reputation for their technical creativity, tactical awareness, attacking possessive style, and ability to know where and how on a football field to find their team mates. These qualities have not come about through accident, however. They are the result of a guiding philosophy and methodology that are instilled in players starting at the grass roots youth level.

Dutch football is known for its patient build-up from the back, and early deep pass to set-up the attack, and the use of the “third” – or free- man to exploit goal scoring opportunities. Dutch players have a certain arrogance on the ball. We embrace individuality, personality and confidence which has produced some of the most amazing talent.

Total Football

Dutch football did not always have this reputation though. Before 1974, it was known for being amateurish, unrefined and technically crude. That all changed with the World Cup of that year, as the national team played a brand of “total football”, led by their captain and talisman, Johann Cruyff, which saw them go all the way to the finals, before losing narrowly to West Germany. Cruyff also exported the style to Barcelona, whom he joined from Ajax, laying the foundations for the style of play that the Spanish club employs to this day.

Total football is a tactical theory which allows any outfield player on a soccer field to take the position of another. So, if one player moves out of position, a team mate will immediately rush to fill it, preserving the organisational integrity of the side. This means anybody can play as an attacker, midfielder, or defender, as the situation demands. The only player who sticks to their specified position is the goalkeeper.

To play total football, players need to be comfortable in multiple positions, so they need to be intelligent and technically gifted.

Rinus Michels

The Dutch did not invent “Total Football”. Instead a variation of it had been played by the great Hungarian national side of the early 1950s, by River Plate in the 1940s, and by the Burnley team that surprisingly won the Football League in the 1959 – 1960 season.

However, it was Rinus Michels, coach with Ajax and then the Dutch national side, who reworked the theory, with the use of Cruyff as his nominal centre-forward, but with licence to roam freely around the pitch, using his intelligence and technical ability to find weaknesses in the opposition defence, and to create chances.

Legacy

Even today, Michels’ ideas form the basis of all Dutch Youth soccer programmes, where the emphasis in training is always placed on a player’s ball control, and where development of tactical awareness always receives top priority. Technical and tactical instructions are carried out through the application of small-sided games, so that players get to experience a training environment that is similar to what they will face in a real game situation.

Players are grouped according to age and ability, and moved up to higher-level groups depending on individual progression and the recommendation of coaches. The emphasis is on providing a fun but challenging environment for youth players. By focusing on developing both their individual skills and ability players improve for the greater good of the team collectively achieving greater results in all aspects of the game.