Head Coach: Norm Riker
e-mail: Norm.riker@southeastsoccerclub.com

Biography:

Coaching Experience:
Head Coach Connecticut College Women’s Soccer: 2011 – Present
Head Coach Wittenberg University Women’s Soccer: 2002 – 2010
Head Coach (interim) Vassar College Women’s Soccer: 2000
2007 NSCAA DIII Great Lakes Regional Coach of Year

Education:
NSCAA Premier Diploma
USSF “B” License
Bachelor of Arts at Springfield College in 1992
Master of Professional Studies in Education from the State University of New York at New Paltz

Playing Experience:
New York Cosmopolitan Soccer League for Germania Football Club from 1996-2002
Four-year lacrosse letterwinner at Springfield College (Mass.) after an outstanding high school career in both soccer and lacrosse. He was a captain of Springfield's lacrosse team as a senior, and he was selected to participate in a pair of senior all-star games.


Assistant Coach: Shane Clarke
e-mail: shane.clarke@southeastsoccerclub.com

Biography:
Shane Lives in Waterford and has been an active member of the local soccer community on a number of levels since returning to the area after graduating college in 1997.

Coaching Experience:
Southeast Soccer Club 2009- present
St. Bernard High School 2006-present
Connecticut Coast Camps Coach 2008-2009
Waterford Soccer Club 1998-2007

Education:
B.A. Economics, University of Connecticut
M.S. Education, University of New Haven

Playing Experience:
College Soccer at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Buzzards Bay MA
High School Soccer at Fitch High School, Groton CT
C.S.L. Open Division
S.A.S.L. Over 30 Division

Manager: Robert Caporaso
e-mail: Robert



Shane and Norm believe player development is paramount for the girls.  This goal is also in line with US Youth Soccer's recently updated curriculum and the goal of Southeast Soccer Club.  Focusing on their technical skills at this age will provide them a comfort level on the ball, the tools to properly play the game in many systems and levels, and muscle memory that will last
a lifetime.   

Furthermore, the better their technique becomes the quicker their tactical mind grows.  The better the player's skill, the quicker their head comes up to see the field, the opponent, and the challenges the game presents.  So technique will be a priority, but not at the compromise of learning the game and being a soccer player in the context of building out of the back, combination play, team shape, possession games, defending 1v1 and as a team, and small-sided games.  Thus, focus on skill, but simultaneously enhancing both their technical and tactical game is the coaches' end goal.  

The typical practice is as follows:

Arrival: Juggle contest, footwork, street soccer
Warm-up: Plyo (for coordination, injury prevention, and muscle development) & technical focus
Phase I: Technical focus & tactical focus through technique (no pressure)
Phase II (add pressure): Small-sided games that highlight the technical or tactical focus, etc.
Play: Give them the game - let them play

As the spring season comes to an end parents should see the following from their
soccer playing daughters:

• Comfortable with the ball at their feet
• Confidently passing and receiving with the proper technique
• Attacking space on the dribble
• Possessing a dribble move or two
• Dealing with the ball as it comes to them in the air
• Shooting, serving & driving a ball
• The list goes on... but these are the key techniques for their development

Player development is a process.  Player development will take time, it will take repetition, and it will be a challenge.  And during the process the coaches will work to create a team that possesses the ball as a unit, defends and attacks as a team, and combines to get forward and score goals.

Team Accomplishments

• 2012 CFC Columbus Day Tourney U13 Girls Champs