rangers academy

player development

We utilize an academy focus in developing our players.  The focus of the academy is to develop the individual technical skill of all players in the club.  This means all members of the club are a part of the academy first and foremost and during academy training we focus on the development of the individual player.

Players that have achieved a proficient level of technical development and physical development are invited to join a Rangers Academy travel team.  The focus of the travel teams is to take the individual players and expose them to team concepts and tactics.

The Rangers Academy player Model

PLAYER EXPECTATIONS

  1. Players show up early.
    "Early is on time, on time is late and late is unacceptable!"
         (Eric Jerome Dickey)
  2. Players will help, support, and challenge each other. We before me.
  3. Players take responsibility and accountability for their own development and performance.
  4. Players read and understand the game and make autonomous decisions.
  5. Players are brave, play to win, deal with adversity, and are good role models.
  6. Players clean up.
    “Leave it better than you found it.” (Sir Robert Baden-Powel)
  7. Players win with humility, lose with grace, and do both with dignity.

How we train:

  1. Age based development, incorporating all Team Tactical Principles (TTPs) set forth by US Soccer in a phased approach utilizing the milestones of Learning, Understanding and Mastering as players progress.
  2. Following the lead of US Soccer and Indiana Soccer, Coaches will guide players through discovery led training in a reality-based learning environment.
  3. Players are allowed to fail to gain better insight into what is being taught rather than being “commanded” to early success without learning.
  4. We play like we train with high focus & intensity.
  5. At the youngest ages, 100% of match-play is training. Older teams progress towards 100% competing in matches while still learning.

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” (Benjamin Franklin)

how we play:

  1. We run forward together, run back together, and work as a team in all 4 phases of play.
  2. We are obsessed with retaining and regaining possession of the ball.
  3. We strike quickly, with patience & skill to create high percentage quality shots to score goals.
  4. We believe that supported 1v1 defending is the foundation for solid team defending.
  5. Quick & calm; head on a swivel; learning from failures.

“About winning and losing: It isn't important, what really counts is how you play the game. About playing the game: PLAY TO WIN!” (Robert Fulghum)

“Play is the highest form of research.” (Albert Einstein)

Rangers Player Development Framework