By Lisa Schick

Sask Soccer is looking at taking the 1,2,3 out of youth programs

Feb 27, 2011 | 7:22 AM

Sask. Soccer is taking the phrase “it’s not if you win or lose, it’s how you play the game,” to a whole new level.

They are in the early stages of changing the emphasis of under-12 soccer from winning to skill building by removing team standings from the equation.

Dave Nutt, director of soccer operations for Sask. Soccer in Saskatoon, said they believe the changes will improve athletes as a whole.

“Long term, we want to be able to take the emphasis of a season off of wins and losses and so by posting standings… the message that we send to young players is where you are in those standings is what’s important. The message we actually want to send (to) those age groups is it’s important that… you’re having fun and enjoying the sport… and that you’re getting better,” said Nutt.

The idea for these changes stems from the Long Term Player Development Model which Sask. Soccer is using to help them create their best practices for youth soccer.

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Bob Maltman is the soccer technical director for Prince Albert Youth Soccer, and as such helps with youth soccer coaches and players and with youth skill development programs.

Maltman said when the emphasis is on winning games it can be detrimental to the players’ development, but that the proposed changes are going to make the players better in the long run.

“To develop a truly effective player takes about a span of seven to eight to 10 years. So if that player’s coming in at 10 or 11 and right away we want to go for the glory and go for the gold, we are going to start to short change that player,” said Maltman.

But Maltman also says the changes are only going to work if they are put into place across Saskatchewan and if all of the coaches are on board.

They need all the coaches to be able to work with the youth and not cave into the pressure to win all the time, he said.

He said there could be problems from parents who are used to going to sports to win, but Maltman explained it’s just a matter of educating them on why the changes are being made.

Randy Emmerson has a 10-year-old daughter who plays indoor and outdoor soccer and thinks the proposed changes are going to be a good thing.

“I think if the emphasis can be removed from the competitive nature of (the sport) and… if it’s all about athlete development and player development even more specific to soccer then that’s fantastic,” he said.

Other provinces are looking at making similar changes to their programs – Manitoba will have them put into place in 2014.

This shift is currently in the planning stages in Saskatchewan and Nutt said they don’t have a timeline for implementation yet.

lschick@panow.com