Built for Long-Term Success: Inside the Phase Model That Guides Steel City FC
In most soccer clubs, the unspoken balancing act of determining who a coach is for a team is based on how long a coach can keep the parents happy. If the parents are happy, then everything is OK. Right?
We don’t believe so.
This approach overlooks the most crucial components of the equation — the players and their development.
Instead of asking ‘Are the parents happy?’, we believe that the measuring stick needs to be constantly asking: What is working at the top academies around the world? What are the best practices for player development in the 21st century?
The residual answer we found and implemented in the 2016/17 season is the Phase Model.
The Start of the Phase Model
In 2012, the Premier League, along with the English Football League, launched the ‘Elite Player Performance Plan’ (EPPP) to develop more and better homegrown players.
The plan focused primarily on developing players between 5 and 16 years old from the local region. (While not the structure in the US, these academies pave the way to promotion-relegation. With youth clubs receiving monetary support for developing top players that compete in the Premier League.)
Within the EPPP, there was a call to restructure academies to put all players into ‘Phases’ based on their age. The plan promotes the empowerment of each player through a player-led approach, with each Phase having its own team of coaches.
Check it out: Swansea was a club that fully embraced the EPPP, and within five years, saw significant improvements.
Adapting the EPPP to fit our leagues/players, we group our phases as:
⚽ Foundation Phase (U8–U12) — Train to Love the Game
At this age, the most important things are building confidence and fostering joy. Players are encouraged to explore, make mistakes, and fall in love with soccer.
We focus player development on:
- Create the foundation of skills, style, expectations, and mindset.
- Instill a love for the game, then train for the love of the game.
- Establish a functional body that can move multi directions and keep players involved and active – 5v5, 7v7, 9v9
When kids love what they’re doing, they learn faster.
🧠 Youth Development Phase (U13–U14) — Train to Understand the Game
Once players enter their teenage years, their understanding of the game starts to deepen. Here, we introduce more tactical concepts—how to read the game, find space, and think one step ahead.
We focus player development on:
- Transitioning to the full 11v11 format
- Understanding positions and roles
- Problem-solving under pressure and learning through competition
This is also when players start developing their “soccer brain.” Every decision on the field becomes a learning moment.
💪 Performance Phase (U15–U19) — Train to Win the Game
By this point, players are ready to refine everything they’ve learned and prepare for what’s next—whether that’s college soccer, semi-pro, or simply being the best version of themselves on the field.
We focus player development on:
- Consistency, commitment, and leadership
- Understanding team identity and playing style
- Competing to win, while never losing sight of development
The Performance Phase is about confidence—helping players step into bigger stages with belief and preparation.
Why We Use This Model
As with anything, though, we only know what we know. And the Phase Model isn’t what American sports are familiar with. Here are the top 3 views embedded in US youth soccer culture that pin the Phase Model vs the Traditional Model that we encounter:
One Coach for the Entire Journey vs. a Team of Coaches for Each Phase
A strong coach is often perceived as someone with a winning record. In professional sports, coaching changes are frequently based solely on these records. However, at the academy level, we must remember that we are working with youth athletes who are still in their development phase.
When one coach oversees a team through all their years together, the players tend to become “mini-me’s” of that coach. They develop in one style of play and learn to respond to a single coaching approach. However, when the team faces competition that disrupts their preferred style or challenges a specific element, they can struggle.
As these players move on to college or higher-level teams, many find it challenging to replicate the same level of success they achieved with their previous coach. This is often because they haven’t learned how to adapt to different coaching styles.
In response, the Phase Model aims to expand players’ opportunities.
At Steel City FC, each Phase is led by coaches who specialize in that stage of development. They understand what motivates players at that age and how to challenge them the right way.
Consistency of Coaches vs. Changing Coaches
The reality of the traditional model, where one coach remains with a player throughout their development, can feel like a roll of the dice. Not all players will respond positively to a particular coaching style. This issue also exists within our Phase Model. The downside of the traditional approach is that players are often stuck with a coach if they want to continue participating, which can lead to a decrease in their love for the game and halt their development.
When we examine the club aspect more closely, you’ll find that only specific players or age groups receive the perceived “best” coach. This leaves many players with a coach who may not be the best fit for their particular age or development needs. This does not imply that the coach is not a great coach — instead, they may not be as successful with all age/maturity levels.
In contrast, the Phase Model fosters consistency in a club’s identity and style of play. As players work with and respond to a variety of coaches, they have the opportunity to develop their own unique playing style.
This concept is validated in the school system. As children grow, they transition to new teachers who specialize in different age groups. While you may have loved your child’s kindergarten teacher, that same teacher might not achieve the same success in teaching calculus.
At Steel City, your child benefits from learning not just from one coach but from a team of experts, all unified by a shared philosophy. Every player experiences consistent standards, clear expectations, and a cohesive approach that is applied throughout every level of the club.
Complete Pathway and Club Identity
Finding the “best” club for player development can be challenging, especially when the overall structure is unclear. When a single coach follows a team throughout their journey, it limits the opportunity for adjustments and improvements based on experiences from previous seasons. As coaches shift to new teams each year, the pathway for players becomes less defined.
The Phase Model addresses this by allowing coaches to refine their approach from season to season, tailoring it to the specific needs and development of the players of that age and maturity. This creates a clear pathway for both players and their parents. The focus transitions from a few winning age groups defining the club’s identity to every team having a recognizable style, brand, and developmental pathway.
How the Phase Model Coaching Structure Works
In our implementation of the Phase Model, each site has a designated Phase Leader responsible for their specific Phase. They oversee the curriculum and collaborate closely with all leaders in the club to maintain a consistent pathway across the organization.
Phase Leaders work directly with staff coaches and lead coaches to make constant adjustments based on the unique needs of each player group.
Ideally, players would start with us at 4 years old so that when they transition to the Foundation Phase, then our Youth Development Phase, and onward. Coaches then would always know exactly what skills the players possess. We know that’s not the reality. As a result, each Phase Leader customizes the training to meet the needs of each age group, while maintaining the club’s style of play, emphasizing player strengths, and fostering individual development.
The Steel City Way
Long-term success is built on patience, purpose, and passion. Each year since we implemented our model, we have made refinements. We continuously ask ourselves: “What can we do to improve player development? How can we help our players compete at the highest levels?”
The Phase Model enables us to nurture players step by step—helping them not only perform better but also enjoy the process.
So when you see your child out there smiling, trying something new, or showing pride in their progress—that’s the Phase Model at work.
It’s the Steel City Way.