Player Feedback

Our approach is:

• Child-centred and age-appropriate

• Aligned with Long-Term Player Development principles

• Consistent with our club’s development model across all age groups

• Respectful and Safe Sport aligned

• Realistic and manageable for volunteer and staff capacity

Placement reflects where a player is at this time. Children develop at different rates and movement between teams can happen as growth and readiness are demonstrated. Formal placements are reviewed each year, with opportunities for increased challenge provided when appropriate.

For most questions, the best first step is to speak with your child’s team coach. Coaches work with players week-to-week and can provide helpful context around learning goals, confidence, habits and next steps.

How to begin:

• Request a short time to connect with your child's coach (before or after training — not during).

• Keep the focus on your child’s development and experience.

In many cases, this conversation provides clarity and direction.

If questions remain after speaking with the team coach, families may request support from the Age Group Technical Lead.

This step provides an additional layer of review and perspective. The Technical Lead works across the entire age group and can help:

• Offer a broader perspective on your child’s development within the age group

• Provide clarity around areas of strength and growth

• Help identify clear next steps and areas of focus

Technical staff consider a combination of:

• Technical ability

• Game understanding

• Training habits

• Effort, engagement, and coachability

• Physical literacy

• Readiness for challenge

If you would like the Age Group Technical Lead to review your child’s development and provide additional perspective, please use the link below. Once you open the form, you will be prompted to select the child you are submitting feedback for.

Request Player Feedback (link not active yet)

In some situations, the Technical Director may support or guide conversations, particularly when questions relate to division placement processes, program structure, or more complex development situations.

Development conversations are designed to support learning in a positive and constructive way. Topics may include:

• Training habits and effort

• Confidence, engagement, and enjoyment

• Technical development themes (first touch, passing, receiving, 1v1, finishing, etc.)

• Decision-making and game understanding

• Positional exposure appropriate to the age group

• Simple next steps players can focus on at home and in training

Commitment Expectations

At the Division 1 level, the training schedule and expectations are higher so families should be prepared for soccer to be the primary sport commitment during the season. Division 2 and Division 3 offer greater flexibility for multi-sport participation.

To ensure development conversations remain constructive, respectful and centered on your child’s growth, they are not intended to address:

• Requests for guaranteed playing time

• Comparisons between players (e.g., “my child vs. another child”)

• Selection decisions framed as complaints

• Criticism of other players, families, volunteers, or coaches

Development conversations are focused on supporting learning and growth. They do not guarantee movement between teams or programs. Team movement occurs through ongoing observation, evaluations and technical review; not individual meetings.

PoCo FC supports fair and meaningful playing time for all players, in alignment with Canada Soccer’s Grassroots Standards, which emphasize active participation and development particularly in the younger age groups (U4–U12) where broad involvement and balanced playing time are prioritized.

As players move into older age groups (U13–U17), playing time continues to support development and reflect commitment within the team environment.

Canada Soccer commonly references a 50% participation target as a guideline to encourage consistent involvement over the course of a season. It is intended as a development benchmark, not a game-by-game rule.

Playing time decisions are made by the team coach and our expectations are that coaches to align with Canada Soccer’s recommendations in a way that supports growth, confidence and a positive soccer experience.

If your concern relates to safety, bullying, harassment, discrimination, or misconduct, it should not be addressed through the player development feedback process.

Instead, please use PoCo FC’s Safe Sport reporting pathway so the club can respond promptly, appropriately and confidentially.

Report a Safe Sport Concern Here.

If a child is at immediate risk or in danger, call 9-1-1.

We understand that conversations around player placement and development can feel difficult at times. Our goal is always to support children in a way that builds resilience, confidence and a long-term love of the game.

PoCo FC is committed to respectful communication, inclusive practices and providing a positive soccer experience for every player.

Player development is a journey and we are committed to supporting every child along the way.