PLAYER PATHWAY

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At OFA, our player pathway is designed to give every child a clear and supportive journey through soccer—starting with first touches in Tiny Kickers and growing all the way into competitive high school play. Each stage builds on the previous one, ensuring development in the technical, tactical, physical, and social-emotional pillars while keeping the game fun and inspiring.

 

We are proud to serve as a High School feeder program, preparing players to succeed at the next level by giving them the training, competition, and mindset they need to thrive.

 

Tiny Kickers (Ages 2–4) – Camp Programming

• Focus: Fun, movement, and first contact with the ball.

• Expectations: Players explore soccer through imaginative play, games, and social interaction.

• Goal: Build confidence, coordination, and a love for the game in a safe, playful environment.

 

U5/U6 Kinder – Club-Wide Program

• Focus: Introduction to structured soccer.

• Expectations: Develop dribbling basics, balance, and teamwork through small-sided games.

• Goal: Help players learn fundamental skills while nurturing joy and creativity on the ball.

 

U7/U8 – Club-Wide Program

• Focus: Ball mastery and decision-making.

• Expectations: Improve dribbling, passing, and 1v1 play, with an emphasis on teamwork and learning positions.

• Goal: Prepare players for larger-field play by instilling technical confidence and game awareness.

 

U9/U10 – Club-Wide Program & Tournament Teams

• Focus: Expanding skills into team dynamics.

• Expectations: Develop attacking and defending principles, passing combinations, and positioning. Players may begin competing in local tournaments.

• Goal: Build tactical understanding while continuing to prioritize technical growth.

 

U11/U12 – Developmental & Competitive Based

• Focus: Transition into competitive soccer.

• Expectations: Players commit to more structured training, improve tactical decision-making, and begin learning the demands of competitive play.

• Goal: Prepare for higher-level competition while ensuring players still develop holistically.

 

U13/U14/U15 – Developmental & Competitive Based

• Focus: Performance and preparation for high school soccer.

• Expectations: Increased commitment to fitness, tactical sophistication, and positional specialization.

• Goal: Equip players with the technical, physical, and mental skills to seamlessly transition into their high school programs.

 

High School (U16–U19) – Competitive Based

• Focus: College preparation and advanced competition.

• Expectations: Players compete at the highest youth levels while balancing academics and athletics.

• Goal: Serve as a direct feeder program to local high schools, ensuring athletes are not only prepared to make varsity/junior varsity teams but also to return to OFA during their freshman, sophomore, and junior years. This allows players to receive year-round training, development, and competition outside of their high school season, ensuring they don’t fall behind and continue to grow.

 

Our Commitment as a High School Feeder Program

OFA works directly with local high school programs (Hidden Valley, North Valley, Grants Pass, etc.) to prepare players for success. We focus on:

• Technical Excellence – Players enter high school confident with the ball.

• Tactical Understanding – Players understand systems of play and team roles.

• Year-Round Growth – We expect players to return to OFA during their underclassmen years (Freshman–Junior) to continue training outside of the school season.

• Character & Leadership – Players are resilient, respectful, and prepared to represent their schools.

• Player Pathway Alignment – Coaches across all ages work together to ensure each player’s development connects to the next stage.

By the time players reach high school, they are not only prepared to make teams but to thrive as leaders and competitors.

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