U7 Program

Primary Focus: To create a training environment where players fall in love with the game and continue to develop their movement ABC’s (Agility, Balance and Coordination) while gaining confidence with the ball.

The ASTRA U7 program is aligned with Canada Soccer’s Long Term PlayerDevelopment (LTPD), a model of athlete development that places the needs of the playerat the forefront of everything we do. This second stage, “FUNdamentals”, is about developing basic movement skills like running, jumping, landing, kicking, throwing, and catching, all in a fun setting built around positive reinforcement and informal play. Our focus remains on maximizing individual player development within the greater context of soccer as a team sport, technical skill development, physical development (coordination, balance, agility), neuro-soccer (strengthening neuro-pathways through stimulus/reactive activities), social skills within a soccer setting (cooperation, teamwork, sense of belonging). This means that careful consideration is given to the social well-being of each individual as we strive to unlock each individual’s ability to excel regardless of the level that they will go on to play at. We believe that this “process of becoming” not only helps to build better soccer players but also better people.

Sport Science: Fundamental Movement Skills Training and Neuro Soccer. These are built into the on-field training sessions. 

Competition Philosophy: The priority here is all about fun and falling in love with the game. From a technical perspective, we encourage ALL players to run with the ball and to become confident in expressing themselves in 1v1 attacking situations all over the field. Stepovers from the GK, sure! Maradona’s on the goal line, why not? It’s for this reason that parent education becomes extremely important in understanding that we’re playing the long game of player development, and that this style of play does not typically reward you with many triumphant wins at this age.