INTRODUCTION

“Sport has the power to change the world…it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”
Nelson Mandela


Mandela’s statement is wonderfully accurate, and especially so when speaking of soccer, the world’s most popular sport. Soccer is a universal language, and therefore soccer can elicit harmony, empathy, and brother/sister hood. Soccer is, and can be, and force of genuine good in the world.

The mission of Carolina Soccer Center of Excellence is to provide an enjoyable, development-based, family environment to players, parents, and coaches. And to enable soccer to be a force for good in our corner of the world. This is most effectively achieved with a three-step methodology:

1.   By fostering a life-long love for the game through the association of soccer with intrinsic enjoyment and happiness. The game should be fun for those playing it.

2.   By developing players to the peak of their ability. In reference to point #1: people tend to enjoy things they are good at.

3.   By emphasizing the importance of good character on and off the field. The traits we most believe make a good soccer player – hard-work, selflessness, an thoughtfulness – are also traits we believe can make a good person, and a productive member of society.

QUALITY AND COMMUNITY

QUALITY
Respect for Player Development & Respect for Parent Investment


Respect for Player Development

·      Creating an environment where working hard and improving is what is enjoyable

·      Professionally structured programs

·      Quality instruction from qualified coaches

·      Coaches that are demanding, honest, and caring

·      Promoting player values of selflessness, hard work, and intelligent decision making

Respect for Parent Investment

·      Acknowledgement that parents are customers who have paid for a product, and therefore have a right to be respected

·      A willingness to listen when there is a question or concern

·      Honest, thorough, and timely communication

·      Education on what we are doing and why we are doing it

·      Setting clear boundaries and expectations

COMMUNITY
A club run by the community, for the community and fully engaged in the community

·      Creating a pleasant, welcoming and enjoyable family environment

·      Participation in community events, such as Independence Day parades

·      Hosting free clinics for after school programs and special needs children

·      Support for charities and participation in their events.

·      Sponsoring adult teams

·      Fostering relationships with local college soccer programs.





                                                               DECISIONS and EXPECTATIONS

DECISION MAKING
We use the following priorities, in order, in making our decisions:

·      Conscience – what is best for the player.

·      Customers – what is best / what is owed to you, the parents, who have paid for a service.

·      Club – what we need to do as a business to survive, strengthen and grow.

EXPECTATIONS
It is essential to clearly communicate our expectations, so all parties know where we stand from the beginning of our relationship.

What you Should Expect from the Club

·      An enjoyable environment for your child

·      Honesty & transparency

·      Polite & timely communication

·      An open & accepting attitude towards feedback you provide

·      Genuine care towards you, your child, and the community

What you Should Not Expect from the Club

·      Wins – they are a bonus

·      Trophies – they are a bonus

·      Your child playing with their “bestie” – this is a bonus

·      Your child playing on the team you think he or she should play on – this is a bonus

·      Immediate developmental results: results take time

What the Club Expects from Players & Parents

·      Effort

·      A willingness to listen and learn

·      Commitment to the team, the club and the process

PLAYING STYLE

Fundamentally, soccer became the world’s most popular sport for two reasons: people want to play it because it is enjoyable to play, and people want to watch it because it is enjoyable to watch. The game should be enjoyable to play, and it should be enjoyable to watch. If the game fails either one of these benchmarks, then there is a problem. If it fails at both then it is not true soccer.

The game should be honored in the way it is played. Our way of honoring the game is for our teams to play an attractive, aggressive, and adaptable brand of soccer:

·      Attractive in possession

·      Aggressive in transition

·      Adaptable in defense


We try to win every game but try to do so while not forgetting our principals.