Columbia United FC

PDP Fees and Training Jersey

PDP Registration

To register for the PDP, you will register in the same way that you register for the Fall 2008 Recreational season. This is done via the Manage Recreational Player option. Select the PDP program from the dropdown box labeled "Program".

Player Development Program

In our continuing effort to improve service to the players of Columbia United FC, commencing with Academy Evaluations and Elite U12 Tryout in May 2008, we will be implementing our new Columbia United FC Player Development Program (PDP) to supplement our Academy program.

The PDP will be recommended for players in the U7-U12 age groups whose soccer skills are not yet developed to the point that it serves them best to be in the Academy. Indeed, we understand that children grow and develop at different rates, regardless of age, and that first and foremost soccer should be fun and enjoyable. Our goal is for every child, regardless of current ability, to be placed in a position where he or she can experience success at a level commensurate with his or her current soccer ability. We firmly believe that the PDP, coupled with our Academy, will permit players in our club to better reach their full potential developing alongside players with similar current abilities, strengths and weaknesses.

Player Development Program Description

Players participating in the PDP program will be placed in pools according to age. PDP pool players will train with our PDP trainers primarily on Friday evenings during a two-hour session over a three-month period each season. This will be in addition to their normal participation in the recreational program. That is, they will play on a Columbia United FC recreational team, practice during the week with their recreational team but then they will also train with their PDP Pool trainers primarily on early Friday evenings, but also from time to time on late Sunday afternoons, and play in-house, inter-Pool matches during those sessions as well. It is anticipated that one Friday in each of the three months during each season will be an “off” night. As such, parents and players should expect to train, on average of three out of the four Friday nights each month during the fall season as well as during the spring season.

The goal of the PDP is to provide players quality training and in-house, inter-pool match play, while also permitting them to practice and play on a regular recreational team.

PDP players can be recommended for movement to the Academy program based on PDP staff recommendation. In the spring of each year, the PDP staff will evaluate and work with the Director of the Academy to recommend and possibly form additional Academy teams for the spring season.

PDP Program Leaders

Adrian Pinasco

Adrian Pinasco Tripp Miller

The PDP Program will be led from an administrative standpoint by our Co-Director of Soccer, Tripp Miller, and from a training/instructional standpoint by our Director of Technical Development, Adrian Pinasco. Adrian, who is a USSF B licensed coach, former youth player in the heralded Argentine professional soccer club Boca Juniors, and a South Carolina Olympic Development Program coach, has done an exemplary job training our Select players for the last two years. We believe the energy, knowledge and commitment he has displayed will be extremely well received by players and parents in the PDP program.

Tripp will organize the age groups and will assign Pool Trainers on the West and East sides of town to assist Adrian, who will rotate Friday sessions between the East and West. To clarify, Adrian will alternate leading training sessions alongside his PDP Pool Trainers on the East or West on a given Friday, While Adrian leads training on one side of town, the PDP pools on the other side of town will engage in training and inter-Pool match play with their PDP Pool Trainers that day.