PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND INFORMATION
Covid-19 Note: During the Fall 2020 season, the Youth Game Leader program is suspended. The information below is for informational purposes, only, and we hope to be able renew this program for the Spring 2021 season IF we are able to reopen this program, a notice will post on this page.
The Player Development Program (PDP) for 1st and 2nd graders often is the first exposure players and parents have to MSI’s programs. It also often represents a child’s first experience of any sort with organized sports programs. A young child's experience with PDP can do a lot to determine a child's attitude toward MSI, playing soccer, and team sports in general.
One of MSI’s key ingredients for a successful Player Development Program is the PDP Clinician, a person in 7th grade or older who enthusiastically helps to facilitate the game play for first and second grade games. PDP Clinicians who have accepted a work assignment for a given Saturday take responsibility for leading two or three hour-long games. In the fall, first and second grade games are 4 v 4 scrimmages on side by side small fields. Spring gameplay is different as it's a 7 v 7 set up. The small sided games provide players maximum opportunity to apply the skills they are taught by their coaches and to get maximum touches on the ball, a critical element of the player development model. Clinicians are asked to help foster enthusiasm, energy and fun so that the children are always excited to return the following week.
Clinicians who work at first or second grade games are paid $8.00/game for the first 28 games they work over the course of one or more seasons. After the first 28 games have been completed, PDP clinicians are paid $9.00/game. Clinicians also have the option to work for SSL hours in lieu of pay. (Please note: PDP Clinicians do not have to accept work assignments every Saturday to work in the program, although working many Saturdays is desirable.)
Being a PDP Clinician is a lot of responsibility and it is also a lot of fun. It provides a great chance for high school students to earn money (or community service credits) doing something they enjoy. It also is a great way to develop self-confidence and leadership skills, and we are very grateful to have you with us.
Spring 2018 PDP Clinican Manual
New and Returning PDP Training (all Youth Game Leader programs are suspended for Fall 2020; the information listed below is for informational purposes, only)
Mandatory training for new or returning PDP Clinicians will be held on Saturday March 14, 2020 and Sunday March 15, 2020. Each session is 90 minutes and will be held at Julius West MS fields.
Training for first grade PDPs will be at 9 am Saturday March 14, 2020 and 4 pm Sunday March 15, 2020. (CHOOSE ONE if you’d like to work first grade games)
Training for second grade PDPs will be at 10:30 am Saturday March 14, 2020 and 5:30 pm Sunday March 15th, 2020. (CHOOSE ONE if you’d like to work second grade games)
You must attend at least one session, and if you’d like to do both grades, you must attend a session for each grade. There is no need to attend duplicate sessions. Duplicate sessions are occurring just to give a choice of day and time.
If you are interested in being a new or returning PDP Clinician, please email Natalie Childs at [email protected]. Please list your name, your grade, whether you are new or returning, and what session(s) you would like to attend.
For more information on PDP Clinicians, please go to msisoccer.org, recreation tab, youth game leaders, PDP clinicians.
If you are in tenth grade or above, please let us know if you are interested in being a kindergarten youth game leader for MSI’s kindergarten program. There will be a separate training scheduled later in March for kindergarten game leaders.