We believe in fostering a strong and positive self-image by providing our players with the tools for success. Soccer is fundamentally only a game played for fun. Yet there are many lessons that this wonderful sport teaches us. We place a premium on individual skills applied in a creative, yet disciplined fashion. Fitness, courage, initiative, and the ability to communicate are important parts of a winning formula. Success in this difficult, demanding sport can impart a tremendous sense of pride, accomplishment, self-worth, and self-confidence.

            As is the case with athletes in general, girls who play soccer are more likely to feel better about their bodies and themselves. In study after study, female high school athletes get better grades, score higher on standardized tests, are more likely to go to college and are less likely to get pregnant than their non-playing peers.
 

            Highly motivated girls who love soccer and truly want to improve enjoy being surrounded by like-minded peers.  Too often girls are socialized to “not stand out” and to avoid competing against friends.  Our players learn that it’s perfectly acceptable to compete wholeheartedly against their teammates.  In fact, it’s expected and encouraged since competition makes everyone better.  Most find this environment liberating and are motivated by the challenge of competing against their talented teammates.

            Although we seek to instill an intense “dueling” mentality in all our players, this is not at the expense of teamwork.  Choreographed technical warm-ups, complex passing drills, relay races, small-sided games, and match play teach the importance of cooperation, communication, and interdependence.  Off field group activities such as team parties, social outings, Secret Santa gift swaps, and field trips further strengthen the ties that bind teammates together.  All possible measures are taken to ensure that players interact in a friendly and respectful manner.

            Our idea of an ideal training session is one that combines organization, competition, passion, sweat, laughter, and teamwork in a safe environment.

Age-appropriate instruction in technical (skills) and tactical (decision-making) development is combined with physical training in a competitive environment. 

            At the younger ages, the emphasis is on individual technique.  Our curriculum relies heavily on the acclaimed Coerver Method, which has been adopted by youth programs worldwide.  In the Coerver “pyramid,” ball mastery is the foundation upon which all else is built.  Players are led through an increasingly complex series of ball exercises.  Through repetition they develop touch, balance, and flexibility in the ankles, knees, and hips.

            The ball mastery exercises lead naturally to dribbling stops and starts, basic shielding moves, and moves to beat opponents 1v1.  This is invariably a fun and popular part of the training program.  As their ball skills and moves improve, the players gain confidence and their enjoyment of the game grows.  They are prepared to hold onto the ball and challenge opponents directly.  Risk-taking is encouraged and praised.

            Fundamental receiving, passing and shooting technique is introduced.  Again, the emphasis is on proper form and execution.  Flat, two-sided kickback goals are used to ensure that each player gets plenty of repetitions and avoids standing around in long lines.  As with all technical work, care is taken to develop both feet.

            For players with an aptitude for soccer and who aspire to play at a high level, ball mastery skills should ideally be introduced before age 12.  The period from ages 10 to 12 is often referred to in coaching circles as “the golden age of learning.”  Before this age, balance, coordination, concentration, and spatial logic can be lacking and often limit the players’ abilities to master complex ball skills.  On the other hand, after age 12 it is more difficult for a player to truly develop the same sense of comfort with the ball.  As with learning a foreign language, there is a definite window of opportunity, a “use it or lose it” phenomenon of development.

            Tactical training relates to decisions.  Rather than stressing formations, or systems of play, young players are exposed to fundamental principles of play.  Concepts of space, offensive and defensive support, and mobility are introduced in small-sided training games and reinforced during match play.  Importantly, players acquire a “soccer vocabulary” of terms (such as square, overlap, wall pass, through, pressure, cover, etc), which allows them to communicate effectively.  Familiarity with common soccer concepts and vocabulary is necessary to facilitate their transition to new coaches and teammates in the future.

            Soccer is inherently a physical sport and players must be fit to succeed.  However, we do not believe it necessary or desirable to devote large segments of training time to fitness training.  We do believe that a well-organized combination of technical training activities and small-sided games (1v1 through 4v4) provides an economical approach to aerobic fitness.   Various specialized running exercises including sprints efficiently address anaerobic fitness, explosiveness, and injury-prevention.  Contrary to popular opinion, it is our experience that speed and quickness can be positively impacted.

            While technical, tactical, and physical training issues dominate most soccer curriculums, the psychological development of a player should not be ignored.  Positive thinking, “best friend talk” (internal dialog to encourage oneself as one would a friend), constructive communication, imagery, and resilience, do not always come naturally to our players but can be taught.  Young players must be encouraged to take risks and should be shielded from criticism if they fail.
 

            At Desert United, we are fortunate to be able offer specialized, professional training for our goalkeepers.  Steve Bircsak is a former professional goalkeeper (ask him about the save he made against Pele!).  Steve brings a wealth of coaching credentials and experience to the Desert United SC.  He is also integrally involved with the Olympic Development Program (ODP) both as a scout and coach.  Our goalkeepers train with Steve on a weekly basis.

             The Palm Desert Soccer Complex, home to the Desert United Soccer Club, is ideally situated in the center of the Coachella Valley.  These 5 well-maintained, full-size lighted fields are among the finest in southern California and provide for a spacious, clean, and safe environment for training and matches.  The selection of our facility as a host site for several preliminary rounds of the prestigious State Cup speaks to the quality of the complex.

 

            Susan St. Louis and Khoi Le have been coaching in the Coachella Valley since 1996 and have been with the Desert United Soccer Club since 2002.  That year, they started with the DUSC G91 team which progressed from Bronze to Silver, and the following year from Silver to Silver Elite.  In 2005, Susan and Khoi gave up the G91 team in order to focus on creating the new G94 squad.

            Susan grew up in Groton, CT playing multiple sports.  She was a 4-time All-Ivy performer in soccer at Harvard University and was second team All-American her senior year.  Her senior year Susan captained the Harvard team that participated in the first ever post season championship tournament in women’s soccer.  Harvard finished third, defeating the University of North Carolina in the consolation game.  She was the first woman to be named Player of the Month by Soccer America magazine.  Susan graduated with all of the game, season, and career scoring records at Harvard University.  During her time at Harvard, Susan also lettered in Lacrosse and Track and Field.  In 1996 she was inducted into the Harvard Varsity Club Hall of Fame for her athletic accomplishments.

            Khoi grew up with soccer in Vietnam as a child and played club soccer during his high school years in South Bend, Indiana.  However, his playing days were ended by a torn posterior cruciate ligament sustained in collision with a goalkeeper his senior year.  Khoi is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and works as an Interventional Cardiologist when the soccer fields are closed.

            Susan and Khoi hold National “D” Licenses and are members of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Susan St. Louis and Khoi Le
May 20, 2006