La Liga aims to develop young generation of soccer players

Written by Staci Gasser

Saturday, 09 February 2013 00:00

Soccer players of Sedona are giving back to the younger generation and having soccer year-round in Sedona.

The three coaches of Estudantez AZ Clube do Futebol, from left, Manny Arias, founder of Estudantez AZ Clube do Futebol, Juan Carlos Aguilar, head coach of the U16 team, and Reuben Philo, head coach of the U12 team, and their soccer team members are hosting La Liga, a so younger players can develop in the game and can play the sport year-round. Team members of the five-time State Club Level championship team U16 Estudantez AZ Clube do Futebol are hosting La Liga for young soccer players in the community.

Members of the new La Liga league play a game at Verde Valley School on Saturday, Feb. 2. La Liga is a soccer league that consists of small-sided soccer games involving fewer players and played on a smaller field, and team members of the U16 Estudantez team are coaching and refereeing the younger players. La Liga is a new soccer league that consists of small-sided soccer games involving fewer players, like three versus three or six versus six, and are played on a smaller field.

“This has a definite developmental impact on younger soccer players. This gets players to touch the soccer ball more often to therefore become more skillful with the ball,” said Manny Aries, founder and director of Coaches of Estudantez AZ Clube do Futebol. “It gives players individual technical development, plus with less complicated decisions, the players have tactical development."

For the full story, please see the Friday, Feb. 8, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.