Focus on fun and watch young soccer players flourish.

That’s the opinion of NCE Soccer Technical Director John Curtis as he prepares for the launch of the Fall soccer program.

He insists it is more important to ignite passion in young soccer players than focus on over tactical ‘boring’ sessions.

Curtis feels too many youngsters are lost to soccer because they are forced to endure age-inappropriate coaching sessions, and are pushed too hard too early by overzealous coaches.

Passion

He said: “Many programs stifle this passion and enthusiasm with boring, lifeless sessions that provide little stimulation for the players. ZONE 1 is the antithesis of this.

“Once the passion for the game is ignited in these young players, there’s no stopping them. Their potential is literally limitless.

“Focus is fine and, our programs are designed to challenge, but we want our youngest players to have fun and enjoy what they are doing.’

Curtis created the National Centre of Excellence to provide elite supplementary soccer coaching to the very best young players.

Only players – aged between 11-and-15-years-of-age are allowed to attend the NCE Soccer’s Centre of Excellence program.

Their attendance must be secured via a tryout to ensure only those of a certain standard are permitted to train.

But the ZONE 1 program was created as a precursor to the COE program, and the emphasis is different for the younger players.

Future Development

Curtis, added: “ZONE 1 is the ideal introduction to NCE professional development environment.

“The program is specifically tailored to the very youngest players, with a focus on developing habits, that will significantly help future development.

“Players are grouped by ability in every ZONE 1 session to ensure the optimal levels of competition and allow the coaches to deliver sessions that challenge every individual.

“With a specific focus on the technical and psychological side of the game, the ZONE 1 environment, although open and fun, provides the ideal foundation for NCE’s highly selective COE program.”

Soccer Family

The ZONE 1 program has been created for boys and girls aged 7-to-10-years-of-age and is designed to ensure they fall in love with soccer.

The hope is, that they continue their soccer education with NCE Soccer right through the COE program and onto the College ID program, for aspiring college athletes.

Curtis added: “Players from ZONE 1 are able to participate in more competitive NCE events, including tournament and international tours and it’s great fun watching the strongest players from ZONE 1 get together for tournaments before selected players graduate into COE at the 11U age group.”

“The passion and enthusiasm they show is infectious and are exactly the qualities we strive to promote in every ZONE 1 session.”

NCE Soccer will run ZONE 1 programs in the North Atlantic, New York Metro and New England regions this Fall beginning this month.

To learn more about the ZONE 1 program or to sign up in your region click the link to the relevant venue below or email our team for further details on [email protected]

New England

North Atlantic

New York Metro