WELCOME TO THE OWN TOUCH STRADA MOVEMENT.

STRADA : Italian for Street

CALLING ALL BALLAS AND FOOTBALLISTAS! THE STREET IS WHERE PLAYERS ARE MADE.

FRIDAYS 5:30PM-7:00PM
Our OPEN PLAY’s are now STRADA!
$10 FOR THE PUBLIC, FREE FOR MENTEES

Those of us in the soccer training and education realm know that the single most important aspect of developing a complete and effective footballer is the time spent on unstructured play with their peers of mixed ages and skill levels. This belief has been supported for decades by research and findings in youth systems across the globe. However, we know that in our current US landscape the opportunities for this aren't available and are rarely supported.

There is only one consistent in the world of football, and it is largely ignored in the United States, and that consistency is simple: Cultures who are able to engage in the sport of football freely, without structure, and on their own terms from an early age develop some of the world's most talented players.

It is these reasons that we have decided to merge our Strada movement with our already set up Open Play. Not only will we merge these two, but look at expanding the times and options as we grow.  OUR END GOAL IS TO CREATE POP UP STRADA GAMES THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

Ages 6-18 are welcome! We will set up more courts if needed! OUTSIDE ON ASPHALT. (inside if needed due to weather)

PLAYERS WILL BE DIVIDED BY AGE AND SKILL AT THE EVENT. 

45 minutes of Street Soccer/Futsal Training.
45 minutes of Open Play/Street Soccer small sided games.

Players will experience all the benefits of futsal development without the mess. Develop the way the rest of the world develops... On the street. 

The Benefits of Free Play are the same as any list of futsal academy benefits you have seen or experienced. Amazingly, you can achieve ALL of these without the fuss. Combining this truly supplemental experience with your training and club environment will produce amazing results:

• Small sided games give players the opportunity to develop their skills, contribute to and be more involved in the game. It’s harder to ‘hide’ or ask your teammate to make the difficult pass when you might be the only person on the field at the right spot to do so. This also reduces the chances of more dominant players taking over the match.

• allow players to incorporate mental elements such as awareness and decision-making are vital attributes for the modern player.

• Overall, there are more opportunities to touch the ball more often, which means that there is more opportunity to become more skilful (technical development). Various studies have shown that skills like dribbling and making passes are increased by 300% – 600% in a 4 v 4 set up (as opposed to an 11 v 11 game).

• Playing in smaller sized pitches forces players to think quicker than on a larger field, sharpening their decision-making skills (tactical development). The ball is never far away, so it takes greater concentration on the player’s part.

• Every player loves the feeling of scoring. There is a 800% increase in scoring in a 4 v 4 set up (as opposed to an 11 v 11 game), increasing the enjoyment of the game.

• When there are less players in a match at any given time, there is more opportunity for the coach to focus on a player’s individual needs for longer. This is a huge benefit of small-sided games, as individual feedback and focus can stop bad habits from forming, correct wrong thinking patterns and applaud the right decisions made at the right time to reinforce learning.

• The players who are less inclined to shoot for the goal are forced to step out more often. Their motivation and confidence has improved.

• There are more 1 v 1 encounters, which are important for the development of both attackers and defenders to work on individual skills, techniques and tactics. Creativity is a by-product of 1 v 1 games.

• When you only have a small number of team members, there is much more exposure to attacking and defending principles. Players are not pigeonholed into one position all the time. Being exposed to a variety of positions from a young age improves the chances of a player making better decisions on the pitch because of a more well-rounded understanding.

How can rethinking how we develop through Strada make a difference?

Much of the Mediterranean region of Europe and South America has been dominating the street soccer scenes for over a decade. The street soccer culture in France has been attributed to their astronomical success in creating dynamic and creative players in every position on the pitch and the French Football Association has given it large credit to their most recent World Cup win. AND ALL OF THIS WAS DONE WITHOUT THE ORGANIZED FUNCTIONS NORMALLY AVAILABLE TO US.

There is only one consistent in the world of football, and it is largely ignored in the United States, and that consistency is simple: Cultures who are able to engage in the sport of football freely, without structure, and on their own terms from an early age develop some of the world's most talented players.

ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE!

Soccer players throughout most of world, grew up playing soccer in the streets - learning finesse, control and TOUCH

Soccer players throughout most of world, grew up playing soccer in the streets - learning finesse, control and TOUCH – all skills that improve confidence and performance. Here in America, we grow up playing on teams. Teams must focus on team tactics to win the next game. Own Touch turns that philosophy inside out and focuses on individual development. When players learn to develop their touch, they learn precision, which leads to keeping possession of the ball, which leads to opportunities to score, and ultimately... to win.

WE MUST FIX THE CULTURE OF THE SPORT! This means putting the power of the sport BACK into the players. The sport can be played anywhere with a ball and anything that can resemble a place to score a goal. It doesn’t need adults on sidelines, coaches, or referees to be played. It doesn’t need local, state or federal organizations to provide a place to play.

Most soccer players at a young age only know of this sport as something they have to hop in a car on set times of the week and have permission to play. In almost every other corner of the world, this isn’t the case. Players can go at any time and find a game, jump on a pitch and safely play within their communities, sometimes for hours a day, generating more touches and skill acquisition in a year than most US players will develop in a lifetime. 

We want players to have choice and freedom. Choice to play when and where they want, and the freedom to play as who they are, to create and to experience the beautiful game as it was meant to be.

Their team, or club, is where they can put into action what they know.
The street is where they learn it.

If we can take this generation and reconfigure HOW they FIND the sport, then the next generation… These players’ kids and grandkids, WILL make the difference in the world. 

We will educate and inform parents. We will provide opportunities for players by investing in the communities where they live. We will bring together the communities to enjoy the sport charge. We will use this movement to build and install Small Sided pitches throughout the greater Charlotte Region. We will EMPOWER and EDUCATE players to take control of when and where they play.

The launch of STRADA will begin with replacing our Friday Open Plays with an extended time slot to provide quick, fundamental futsal/street ball technique training and then release the players into their Free Play environment. As this builds we will begin pop up games throughout the Charlotte Region for players between 8 and 16 years of age. These pop up pick up games will be announced via social media, email lists, and word of mouth. There will be no limit, other than any set forth by the location or laws in place, of who can participate. 

We will look to host these games at various locations: parking garages, parking lots, fields, our own facilities, small businesses, anyone who will have us.

What are the general rules of the free play (can vary):

1. Players will arrive and MUST be pre-registered and SIGNED UP TO ATTEND within the Own Touch System in order to participate. This system is required for waivers to be signed.

2. You can not arrive with pre built or pre selected teams. Players will be divided by age or skill level as needed. ONLY IN THE EVENT OF AN OBVIOUS TEAM DISADVANTAGE, SUCH AS A TEAM WITH ALL 9 YEAR OLD PLAYERS OR A TEAM WITH A DISPROPORTIONATE AMOUNT OF 16 YEAR OLD PLAYERS, ETC, WILL AN OWN TOUCH REPRESENTATIVE STEP IN AND REDISTRIBUTE TEAMS.

3. Format will be 3v3, 4v4, or 5v5 with NO GOALIES. Format is decided by area size of playing surface.

4. TOUCH LINES WILL BE DECIDED UPON (IF ANY) BEFORE THE EVENT STARTS.

5. There will be NO REFEREE and NO COACHING allowed. We encourage cheering and support, but no adult interference in the flow of the game.

6. NO SLIDE TACKLING OR GOING TO GROUND DEFENSIVELY IS ALLOWED! NO PHYSICAL CONTACT ALLOWED ON PLAYERS PLAYING ON HARD SURFACES!!

7. BALLS COMING BACK INTO PLAY CAN BE DONE SO BY THROW IN OR KICK IN. IT’S UP TO THE PLAYER PERFORMING THE ACTION.

8. All games will be Winner Stays On, first to 2 Goals or 4 minutes in length. If one team has more goals than another at the end of 4 minutes, the higher scoring team stays on. If it is a tie or a draw, the team with the YOUNGEST PLAYER on the pitch stays on.

9. Own Touch Strada Representative will be there to ensure fair play and no rough housing is allowed.

10. NO UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT SUCH AS TRASH TALKING, INSULTING, FOUL LANGUAGE OR FIGHTING IS PERMITTED.

11. Foul language and insults will have ONE warning. A second offense is a ban from participation on the day. Another offense on another date will result in permanent ban.

12. INSTIGATING A PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION OR STRIKING ANOTHER PLAYER WILL LEAD TO A PERMANENT BAN.