Wayne C. Currie believes athletes develop to their fullest potential when placed in a highly competitive environment playing with and against quality players. That is why I choose only 18 players for the varsity team each year. This number will allow me to give quality instruction and attention to each player and give the player more of an opportunity to play in a game and develop. Players can not develop if they are not playing.

I also believe that the high school season alone is not enough to develop players. Players need to be expose to the game as much as possible and I encourage the player to play whenever they can. If an athlete is playing another sport then yes that sport takes priority over soccer. However, if there are no conflict then I expect the player to play soccer. The game is the best teacher. Each game and situation is different and players will develop when they are confronted with these situation.

In addition, competent, positive coaching over an extended period of time allows a player's full ability to be attained. By creating a positive, competitive environment every practice, players are constantly working hard and learning; thus they can only get better with each and everyday. Players who are dedicated, skillful, intelligent, aggressive, creative, and have a passion for the game will find themselves welcome within the team.

Goals of the Team:
To develop each individual soccer player’s technique and skills so that they become self-confident, creative, intelligent and skillful soccer players. To develop a player’s ability to function within a team. Introduce and understand advanced soccer tactics. Demand good sportsmanship by players, coaches, and spectators. Every year our goal is to win the Merrimack Conference Small School Division, to make the state tournament and to win a state championship. Provide the opportunity and visibility for those players who would like to obtain college scholarships. To demand high academic standards. For all players to succeed On and Off the Field!!

There is no guarantee that a player will reach her potential, but at least I must give her the opportunity to "Become The Best She Can Be".

In the words of Bobby Howe, US Soccer Director of Coaching Education, "Soccer is an art, not a science, and the game should be played attractively as well as effectively. Soccer is a game of skill, imagination, creativity, and decision making. Coaching should not stifle, but enhance those elements.

Training Sessions: An effective coaching session will allow for a strong player/coach relationship. This is paramount if effective learning is to take place. The session must be well organized, allowing and encouraging the player to fully develop her potential while having fun at the same time. Players also have a responsibility to understand the basic structure of the session so time is not wasted on unnecessary explanations. This is the fundamental idea behind the coaching sessions at Dracut High School. This breakdown gives an outline of a typical practice session. It shows the organization, format and expectations. The session is normally divided into five phases.
1) Stretching/Warm-up, 15 min
2) Individual Skill Development, 25 min
3) Tactical/Team Concepts, 30-45 min
4) Scrimmage, 20-30 min
5) Cool Down, 10 min

Each phase will be explained giving a general outline of its organization and function. Also the time frames on each activity are variable.

Stretching/Warm Up
Before each practice the squad will go through a set routine. The aim is to promote flexibility and prevent injury. At the same time the coach can review the session, explaining what is going to be coached and the expectations. It also allows us to focus on the session ahead. This is followed by five minutes of light ball work before moving into the individual skill with some tactical focus development.

Individual Skill Development
Individual player's skills are worked during this phase. Players are continually moving while working on all the fundamentals of the game. By keeping this phase interesting, it challenges players to improve their skills. Players are encouraged to move out their comfort zone. Small sided tactical games are used during this part of the session.

Tactical and Team Shape
This part of the session is based on what concept is to be coached and will be influenced by varying factors. Again small sided games developing towards the full sided game are used which help reinforce and teach the tactical concept being coached. The coaching session may move from 4 v 4 introduction game ending in a 9 v 9 game or shadow training fully utilizing the concept being coached.

Scrimmage
Depending upon the needs of the team, this can be conditioned or free.

Conclusion
The philosophy behind each session is an emphasis on coaching the fundamentals, tactics and team concepts through various stages of development, beginning with simple activities with and without pressure, ending in a more complex activities with realistic pressure situations. Goalkeepers will follow a similar routine based on their specialized skills. The session is designed to be very flexible within a basic structure that remains constant allowing players to understand the coaching philosophy.

Weekly Coaching Outline:
Depending on when we play, our weekly practice will tend to follow this routine. Practice will begin at 3:00 pm at the practice field and end approximately at 4:40 p.m. Within a normal week the schedule will be as follows.