Player and Coach Development (PCD)
Welcome!
Who is responsible for Player and Coach Development?
John Bavota - Technical Director
James Payne - Assistant Technical Director
The PCD committee is comprised of 8 members.
Player and Coaching Development
About the WYSA Player and Coach Development (PCD) Program
WYSA Coaching Philosophy
"WYSA looks to develop skilled, knowledgeable and passionate players and coaches. WYSA will utilize guided discovery and learning through the game as the key tool for player and coach development. WYSA will endeavor to produce soccer that is fun to play, fun to watch and fun to learn by creating an educational and suitably challenging atmosphere for ALL players."
Committee Purpose
The Player’s and Coaches Development (PCD) Committee works on behalf of Wilmington Youth Soccer Association (WYSA) to enhance the development of players and coaches by providing and overseeing the playing standards and coach education within the association’s programs.
Committee Membership
- The PCD Committee should have no more than eight people, and consists of:
- Vice President of Development, Committee Chairperson
- Director of Coaching (DOC)
- Assistant Director of Coaching (ADOC)
- One Member of the WYSA Travel Committee
- One Member of the WYSA Intown Committee
- Up to three “at large” members selected from the WYSA membership
Terms of Committee Membership
The Vice President of Development serves on the PCD Committee during his/her term in office.
The DOC and ADOC serve for the duration of their time in their roles.
Other committee members are appointed by the Board of Directors annually.
Scope of Responsibility
The PCD committee is responsible for:
- Working with the DOC/ADOC to establish standards of play for all age groups and levels
- Working with the DOC/ADOC to establish appropriate clinics, camps, training opportunities
- Working with the DOC/ADOC on the establishment and implementation of a coaching development and training program
- Providing leadership in the recruitment of appropriate coaches
- Reviewing recommendations from the DOC/ADOC or coaching staff for new or enhanced programs, and make recommendations to the Board through the VP of Development
- Reviewing requests from the Board regarding new or enhanced programs, including seeking input from the DOC/ADOC and other coaches before responding to the Board
- Reviewing and making recommendations to the Board regarding external programs and opportunities for players and coaches Accountability
The PCD Committee
- Shall meet at least four times per year and more frequently if required
- Shall provide a written report to the next Board of Directors meeting following any PCD Committee meeting
- Shall advise the membership of activities through a report to the Annual General Meeting
About John Bavota
Technical Director
History
Technical Director John Bavota is a local native to the town of Wilmington, MA,
growing up as a player for the Wilmington Youth Soccer Association.
Coach John graduated from New England College in 2007 where he was a four-year member and senior captain of the NEC Soccer Team. Since 2008, John honed his coaching skills as Director of Soccer and Sports Performance at the FieldHouse in Sudbury, MA. In 2013, while a player for Mira Mar SC in Sao Miguel, Azores, he became Head Coach of the Mira Mar SC Junior Academy Team.
Before becoming the Director of Coaching for WYSA, Coach John spent time learning and coaching at the New England Revolution Academy and with Boston Bolts FC.
United Soccer Coaches Diplomas:
- National D License
- Foundations of Coaching
- Director of Coaching
Coaching Philosophy
The WYSA philosophy emphasizes developing complete players and coaches,
technically and tactically, so they can perform in any situation on and off the field. The player development model focuses on building each player’s technical ability within a controlled “pass and move” style of soccer with the objective to maintain possession of the ball. Each player is encouraged to play a controlled game, manipulate the ball, sharp and strong passing, quick decision making, and movement off the ball. WYSA is committed to developing players by allowing them to play, make mistakes, and then learn from those mistakes in a safe environment.
As coaches, we are not concerned with winning and losing games, we want to develop soccer players. We are fully committed to the development of players, everything else is secondary to that objective. We believes that kids should play soccer in a pressure-free environment to develop their soccer skills.
Developing players should be allowed to express themselves with the ball and without any concern for making mistakes. This is a critical component to the challenging, but fun environment necessary for kids to develop their skill as well as their passion to play.
Soccer Career Highlights
In 2008 John was selected for the USASA National Select Team Pool and Invitational Tryout for the New England Revolution.
From 2009-2011 he played in the National Premier Soccer League with both the Boston Aztecs and as Captain of Mass United FC.
In 2013, John ventured to Sao Miguel, Azores, to represent amateur club NE Rush, which resulted in him staying in the village of Povoacao, playing and coaching for Mira Mar SC.
Since 2014, Coach John has represented local amateur clubs, competing in the Division 1 Bay State Soccer League, as well as the then US Amateur and US Open Cup.