The Whites Pathway

SALISBURY FC YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

The Whites' Pathway

Vision for 2020 and beyond

Salisbury FC is our ‘parent’ club and is a semi professional football club playing in the higher levels of non‐league football in England. SFC Youth is a volunteer run youth section that aspires to give young players the pathway into football at a semi professional or professional level.

However, Salisbury FC Youth is and has to remain a community club, and as such we look to be able to deliver a platform for all children in the area, irrespective of level of their ability, to play for the city’s leading club.

Club Structure and Goals:

It is important to us that our parents coming into the club at any stage are made aware from the beginning of the club’s philosophy regarding player development and selection. We aim for our parents to understand how the Youth system operates and why it is structured the way it is the, so that parents can make an informed decision if this is the right club for their child.

• The aim is to have three teams in each age group of Mini Soccer from U7 to U10. In U7 and U8 those should consist of mixed ability players who enjoy football. Their team names should be entirely neutral and not denote any reference to ability or team strength (colours or animal names or similar; why not let the kids choose)

• At U9 & U10 the players will start to be redistributed into 3 different aptitude groups with the aim to - develop their footballing skills alongside and against other players of equal ability - ensure that all children in each team get equal game time and - most importantly, continue to enjoy the game whilst developing their footballing skills.

• This will allow us to play the different teams in different strength leagues. It challenges the stronger players and gives other players more time to develop their football skills. If you play players at the right level against the right strength opposition, they will enjoy the game more and ultimately learn more regardless of the level they play at.

• At U11 & U12 we will run a minimum of two teams with at least one team playing in the Junior Premier League and at least one in the Southampton Tyro league.

• At U13 to U16 the number of teams will naturally reduce to 2 teams through players losing interest in playing and squad sizes increasing. At least one team should be playing in the Junior Premier League and at least one in the Southampton Tyro league.

• At U18 we hope to attract the best players in the area to run two teams. Progression into the U23’s (Development squad) comes from the U18’s plus lads now too old for U18’s that should at that point be on the fringes of 1st team football for us.

To download the full Pathway document please click here.