OUR PHILOSOPHY
The Barons' Philosophy – Football Player Development
At the St-Bruno Barons, the safety, well-being, and overall development of young people are at the heart of our philosophy. Every decision made by the organization aims to provide a safe, structured, and respectful environment, allowing each player to progress while enjoying playing football.
Football is the ultimate team sport. By playing it, young people develop essential qualities that will serve them well beyond the pitch: respect, discipline, courage, perseverance, leadership, a sense of sacrifice, and loyalty to their teammates. In a team, each player has a specific role. Some are more visible, others more discreet, but collective success depends on the commitment and execution of each individual.
The essential role of parents
Parental support plays a crucial role in the success and development of young players. At the Barons, we believe that parents, players, and coaches must work together in a spirit of collaboration and respect. Therefore, it is essential that parents, like the players, respect the team's guidelines and those of the Barons organization to ensure a positive experience for everyone.
​
A gradual and structured development
As in all sports, player development is progressive and pyramidal. The Barons support and guide young players from the Atom to Pee-Wee categories, emphasizing learning techniques, understanding the game, and developing good sportsmanship habits.
This progression aims to prepare players who wish to eventually move up to the higher levels, namely Bantam and Midget, where the physical, technical, and mental demands are greater. At these levels, football becomes more intense and requires above all character and determination, two essential elements for a player's success.
DEVELOPMENT PLAN
At these levels, the priority is placed on the enjoyment of playing and the development of a football player's basic physical and technical skills. Winning comes second and never before these three objectives.
For these categories, a minimum playing time is guaranteed for players during games, specifically one position out of two. This means that the player will share their position with another player on the team. Of course, the minimum playing time only applies to players who attend practices during the week.
Finally, if the number of players and coaches allows, the Barons organization prioritizes small teams in terms of the number of players and balanced in talent in order to maximize their playing time.
Peewee AAA
This level is considered competitive. A selection is made from among the best first- and second-year players. Winning is emphasized as much as the enjoyment of playing and the development of players' physical and technical skills. The goal of the AAA teams is to prepare young players for the high level of competition in Bantam and Midget.
There is no guaranteed minimum playing time at this level. However, the head coach must take the necessary steps to ensure that playing time is equitable based on each player's performance and attendance at practices.
It's important to understand that player development varies from person to person. Some players will take longer to develop and only reach their full potential later, at the Bantam level, and vice versa. This underscores the importance of support from coaches and parents for young athletes.
Bantam and Midget
Both levels are competitive, and a selection of players may be made depending on the number of registrations. There is no guaranteed minimum playing time at these levels.
In conclusion, the Barons organization and its coaches are committed to respecting this philosophy of football player development in order to ensure that young athletes benefit fully from their experience of practicing this wonderful sport.