The Hotspurs Way
Fall 2020 Regional Training Centers
We’re excited to share more about our collaboration with Arsenal FC of Pittsburgh beginning this fall. The collaboration benefits all players, with those from the Arsenal Academy Program and the Hotspurs College Prep Phase (U16-U19) having the opportunity to earn a spot with the NPSL or WPSL First Team squad. The youngest players in our…
Read MoreAn Alternate Route to a Soccer Future: A Gap Year
The road to soccer in the U.S. is straight — and very narrow. Even some of the most passionate and skilled players follow the same journey. They begin with youth clubs, enter into high school, and immediately try out for a college team. However, the long-standing question for athletes and their parents remains: Is moving…
Read MoreThe Hotspurs Way: Team Targets
We talk a lot about longterm player development and a set style of play. But, what does that actually look like when put into a true game of soccer? To achieve this style, we focus on 6 Team Targets. This is for all phases and players within the Hotspurs Program. And allows coaches to structure…
Read MoreFind the Right Fit: The 6 Considerations for Choosing a Soccer Club
We’ve moved! Come check out if Steel City FC is the fit! The youth soccer industry can be a tough one to navigate. Unlike anywhere else in the world, there are comparably less ‘top-level’ organizations despite the country boasting more registered youth soccer players than many of the world’s leading soccer nations. There are multiple…
Read MoreThe Pittsburgh Hotspurs Goalkeeping Model
Let’s be honest, whenever anyone talks about “models” in soccer, rarely are the goalkeepers mentioned. No doubt, goalkeepers are part of the team process and approach and need to be included in all aspects of the team. But the role is unique and requires its own attention. At Hotspurs we have a plan along with…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Youth Development Phase – Train to Understand the Game
In the Youth Development Phase (YDP), we see kids who are going through the biggest period of ‘change’ that they will experience. Physical, cognitive, and emotional maturity plays a huge part in terms of soccer development. It’s our role in the YDP to help players navigate this. In a soccer sense, players at U13 move…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: College Prep Phase – Train to Win the Game
In the College Prep Phase (CPP) we look to challenge our players individually and as a group. With long term player development at the front of everything we do as a club, in the Foundation Phase (FP) we were teaching the players in a fun yet challenging way to ‘train to love the game.’ In…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Foundation Phase – Train to Love the Game
At the front of what we do, we are trying to help build a love and passion for the sport we all love so much. This is especially true in the Foundation Phase as we focus on ‘training to love the game.’ As a club and individual coaches, we strongly promote training our players in…
Read MoreThe Phase Model: Why It’s the Hotspurs Way
Throughout a majority of soccer clubs, the unspoken balancing act to determine who a coach is for a team is based on how long a coach can keep the parents happy. If the parents are happy, then everything is OK. Right? We don’t believe so. This approach leaves out the most important pieces of the…
Read MoreThe Ladies of Hotspurs: International Women’s Day 2020 Edition
Did you know… Between our 50 teams, more than half (62%) have a woman manager/co-manager! We have 5 female coaches — and based on our phase model, all of our girls work with a female coach at some point during their training! Both of our First Teams are managed by women. 38% of our players…
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