Grassroots Soccer / Long Term Player Development


Ponoka Minor Soccer's goal is to improve the quality and performance of Ponoka’s players and coaches, by following Canada Soccer, Alberta Soccer and Central Alberta Soccer Associations philosophies of LTPD and creating a player centered approach, where safety, fun and development of the players are first and foremost, while offering on field training sessions designed by their TD, which follow all CSA age and stage appropriate content. 

PONOKA MINOR SOCCER GRASSROOTS HOUSE LEAGUE PROGRAM

Canada Soccer Grassroots Standards - Canada Soccer

Alberta Soccer- Long-Term Player Development

PMSA house league program consists of three different programs:  U5 Active Start, U7 FUNdamentals and U9 FUNdamentals.  Programs run gender specific, unless numbers warrant co-ed.  It is our aim to run gender specific, which has helped see our female program thrive.

U5 PROGRAMMING

- the U5 program runs for 45 minutes 1x/week in the spring for 8 weeks.

- the teams participate internally and do not travel outside town limits.

- majority of parents stay and watch their children along the sidelines. 

- the 1st part of the session is run as a practice where players learn age-appropriate skills, ending with fun mini games that follow CSA grassroots standards.

- any coach with direct involvement with teaching the game to the kids is certified at minimum of “Coaching Soccer in Canada”, CPIC, RIS/MED.  We highly recommend active start.

- any parent that is helping as a bench parent/manager is required to have CPIC, RIS/MED

- field size: mini grids 15 yds x 20 yds

- net size: Pop Up nets 3 feet x 5 feet

- coaches are on the field supporting and encouraging players.

U7 PROGRAMMING

- PMSA runs its U7 program 2x/week in the spring for 8 weeks.

- teams participate internally and do not travel outside of town limits.

- majority of parents stay and watch their children along the sidelines. 

- one night week players are trained using the preferred training module, AKA station rotation.  

- using age-appropriate content, players rotate between 5 different stations including ball mastery, dribbling, passing/receiving, fun game-based stations and a physical literacy station.  The 2nd day they play a game vs another team from Ponoka following CSA's grassroots standards with one adaptation, teams will play 2 - 20-minute halves.  PMSA is in the process of changing to 4-10-minute quarters or 4 - 10-minute mini games, switching opponents every 10 minutes.

- any coach with direct involvement with teaching the game to the kids is to be certified at minimum of “Coaching Soccer in Canada”, CPIC, RIS/MED but we highly recommend coaches to attain FUNdamentals. 

- any parent that is helping as a bench parent/manager is required to have CPIC, RIS/MED

U9 PROGRAMMING 

- PMSA runs its U9 program 2x/week in the spring for 8 weeks.

- majority of parents stay and watch their children along the sidelines. 

- one night week players are trained using the preferred training module, AKA station rotation.  

- using age-appropriate content, players rotate between 5 different stations including ball mastery, dribbling, passing/receiving, fun game-based stations and a physical literacy station.  The 2nd day they play a game vs another team from Ponoka following CSA's grassroots standards with one adaptation, we still use throw-ins instead of pass ins.

- PMSA uses ASA certified mini refs.

- any coach with direct involvement with teaching the game to the kids is to be certified at minimum of “Coaching Soccer in Canada”, but we highly recommend coaches to attain FUNdamentals, coaches must also have CPIC, RIS/MED.  

- any parent that is helping as a bench parent/manager is required to have CPIC, RIS/MED and minimum “Coaching Soccer in Canada.”

PONOKA MINOR SOCCER COMPETITIVE PROGRAM

PMSA competitive league consist of U9 (development), U11, U13, U15, U17 and U19, programs run gender specific, unless numbers warrant co-ed.  It is our aim to run gender specific, which has helped see our female program thrive.

Canada Soccer Grassroots Standards - Canada Soccer

U11 League

- games will be played in the match style, using the 8v8 rules from previous years, this is based on the best practices for CASA and its local associations.

- equipment size 4 soccer balls

- all other standards will be followed with the expectation of the pass-ins/throw-ins.  As per FIFA Law the match officials are not aligned with this new standard.

U13 League

- games will be played 9v9 with a size 5 ball.

- all standards will be followed, with the odd expectation of distance traveled, due to the geographical locations of our association members. 

- all travel coaches will be trained according to the outlined CSA and SQS standards.

U15 - U19 Leagues

games will be played 11v11 with a size 5 ball.

- all standards will be followed, with the odd expectation of distance traveled, due to the geographical locations of our association members. 

- all travel coaches will be trained according to the outlined CSA and SQS standards.




RAMP Registration

Join thousands of association partners using RAMP Registration Solutions.

More Information

RAMP Official Assigning

#1 with Officials...for very good reasons.

More Information

RAMP Websites

Manage your identity from the palm of your hand to the top of your desk.

More Information

RAMP Team App

Keep your coaches, parents, athletes, and fans connected, seamlessly.

More Information