new canaan soccer association kicks it up a...

9/5/13 New Canaan Soccer Association kicks it up a notch | NCAdvertiser.com

www.ncadvertiser.com/24511/new-canaan-soccer-association-kicks-it-up-a-notch/ 1/3

New Canaan’s Will Robey does battle with a Darien BlueWave player during a soccer match last fall. The New CanaanSoccer Association is building a stronger relationship betweenthe Rams and the town’s youth league and travel teamplayers, hoping to make even more of these rivalry games goNew Canaan’s way. (Dave Stewart/File Photo)

When the NewCanaan SoccerAssociationrestructured itsoverall approach lastfall, it did so with aneye on offering moreopportunities to allplayers at everylevel, while at thesame time setting upa natural progressioninto the future.

“If you look at a lot ofdeveloping programsand a programswhich have beensuccessful, it’s beendone with how theyput the buildingblocks in place,” KirkBamford, head coachof the New CanaanRams’ varsity girlsteam and director of coaching for the New Canaan Soccer Association, said atthe time.

If the first year of the new program is any indication, those “building blocks” areproviding a strong foundation for the Rams’ future endeavors.

The NCSA has had a remarkable spring on several fronts, as the soccerprogram created more of a continuity to the high school level while alsocontinuing to develop the players in its ranks.

The Academy program (grades 3-8) moved a number of players into the travelteam ranks, while the kindergarten through second-grade program was a crowd-pleaser with both parents and kids.

“We’re looking to keep improving the K-2 program which has been well-receivedand successful,” Bamford said. “We’ve gotten great feedback and were lookingto keep building on that. We aim to add additional support utilizing NOGAcoaches that also coach in the Travel and Academy programs plus age groupmonitors to help this program evolve.”

About author

Dave Stewart

New Canaan Soccer Association kicks it upa notchBy Dave Stewart on August 30, 2013 in Sports, Sports Lead, Youth League Sports ·∙ 0 Comments

Latest News

New Canaan Cares ushers in fall program seriesNew Canaan Cares announces its line-up of programs for allages for the fall. Leading things off [...]

Himes to meet with constituents on Syria SundayU.S. Congressman Jim Himes (D-4th) will host a town hall-stylemeeting with constituents on the topi[...]

SearchHome Subscribe E-Edition Print Edition Sign up for Breaking News Marketplace Advertise Visit Vermont Help

News Sports Schools Obituaries Opinion Around Town Real Estate Classifieds Arts & Leisure Special Sections Login



The retention of players from one season to the next was strong, and thespring campaign saw a good turnout, despite the fact that a greater variety ofathletic choices are available during that season.

With that in mind, the NCSA fielded 20 travel teams from the U-9 to U-14 agegroups during the spring, and many of those rosters featured players who werestepping up after honing their skills in the Academy program last fall.

“We’ve seen Academy players who weren’t quite ready for travel last fall,graduating into the travel program this fall,” Bamford said. “It shows that ifplayers are committed to improving and putting in additional practice on theirown guided by their coach they can progress. Obviously, there is moreconsistancy within the whole program helped by the fact that the samecoaches in the travel program are also coaching the Academy. The Academyin-house program is helping develop players and a handful of players havedone so from what we’ve seen in the spring.”

A big part of what the NCSA is looking to build concerns the continuity betweenthe younger and beginning players, the travel teams, and the high schoolprograms for the Rams.

The NCSA not only has Bamford, but new NCHS boys varsity coach RichSutherland, and St. Luke’s girls varsity coach Dan Clarke, and BridgeportUniversity assistant coach Scott McBride, working within the NCSA program.Their combined 80-plus years experience of working with professional, premier,high school, and collegiate programs brings a high level of quality that iscomplimented with the use of professional qualified NOGA coaches some ofwhich also assist in the high school soccer programs.

“It gives kids the ease in terms of making the jump (to the next level), and ithelps them realize that they’re going to be guided and doing the things that willhelp them progress to the high school level,” Bamford said. “It’s not a culture-shock when they get there. It hopefully makes them a little more comfortablewith that transition.

“You’ve got that link and continuity now from the NCSA to the high schoolwhich bodes well for the evolution of the program.”

This week, the New Canaan varsity coaches and some players are workingwith the up-and-coming athletes in the NCSA program during the All-SportsBooster Club Soccer Day Camp at Saxe Middle School.

That camp helps further the link between the programs, as well as creating arelationship between the young players and the older athletes.

“We’ve done that for the last couple of years as we’ve evolved,” Bamford said.“Now, as the programs become more integrated from an organizationalperspective, it works nice. We’ll try to have players coming out their practicesin the fall and that helps build that link.”

For more information on the New Canaan Soccer Association, or to register,visit newcanaansoccer.org.

Related News:

New format a big hit for New Canaan Soccer Association

New Canaan Soccer Association kicks in with new…

Soccer camp kicks in August 19, registration open now

Soccer Fest boots up Saturday in New Canaan

Youth soccer educational session Tuesday at NCHS

Tags: kirk bamford, NCSA, soccer

Churches prepare for new year of worship, Sunday school,

programs and events

New Canaan’s houses of worship will be welcoming theirparishioners back from summer by holding thei[...]

Debicella wants another shot at Himes' seat

Former State Senator Dan Debicella of Shelton is once againrunning for Congress, he announced in a [...]

New Canaan's Harry Connick Jr. joins ‘American Idol’ panel

“You’re going to Hollywood!” Resident Harry Connick Jr. will beuttering those four infamous word[...]

Like One person likes this. Sign Up to see what your friends like.

Previous PostYoung Women’s League recruits

new members

Next PostCaregiver support group forms this

fall



You must be logged in to post a comment.

Hersam Acorn News Sites

Amity Observer | Bridgeport News | Darien TimesEaston Courier | Fairfield Sun | Greenwich PostLewisboro Ledger | Milford Mirror | Monroe CourierNew Canaan Advertiser | Redding Pilot | Ridgefield PressShelton Herald | Stratford Star | Trumbull Times Valley Gazette | Weston Forum | Wilton Bulletin

E-EditionSubscriptionsThe Home MonthlyAdvertiseClassifiedsPhoto StoreArticle ReprintsPrint ArchivesUser Agreement &Privacy Policy

Follow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookNew CanaanAnswerbook100 Things to DoOpen House GalleryLogin/RegisterSubmissionsContact Us

© Hersam Acorn. All rights reserved. The New Canaan Advertiser, 42 Vitti Street New Canaan, CT 06840

Submit your comment

new canaan soccer association kicks it up a...

Documents