Post by goalie1 on Aug 9, 2017 6:52:20 GMT -6
I think everyone is focusing on the competition piece of LPDL a little too much. There are only 4 games per season in LPDL. How you group these teams, be it LCSL C1, C2, or LPDL really doesn't have any effect on how many of these kids can go play at the next level. The primary focus and shift in mentality for our club is coming within the training environment. We have revamped our LPDL program to now include partnerships with outside entities to further the player development process. We are now incorporating strength/conditioning and recovery sessions with the newly opened YMCA facility where players will have the opportunity to get exposure to being in the weight room and learning how to take care of their bodies as athletes. Willis Knighton health will be working with us regarding a nutritional plan and injury prevention and recovery. We have modified our training days to allow LPDL teams to have a full field for practice during certain tactical sessions. We will be filming every game and doing film study with the teams as well as tactical classroom sessions. On top of these things will be providing a more professional experience for the kids in regards to event participation. The logistics of RPL have not worked for our club in the past so we are concentrating on more elite level tournament participation with exposure to college coaches. Our players will travel by team bus (one girls and one boys) and stay together as a team, not with their parents. Their meals will be catered by the club to ensure they are eating correctly etc.
Long story short, we are trying to raise the bar of what happens in our own backyard in terms of professionalism and the training environment. As some have stated, we will probably struggle with our results early in this process but that is not the focus or what is on the horizon that has sparked these changes. We will see how it works and if it doesn't we will go back to the drawing board!