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I would like to acknowledge the work and dedication of the staff at the Dutch Soccer Association who have created the Dutch Vision. In particular Ab van der Velde, Gerard Molenaars, Jan Melchers and Gert Veldwyte for their commitment in coming to this country to share their knowledge. Thanks must also be given to the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association and its Director of Education, Graham Ramsay, for providing the forum through which ideas like the Dutch Vision can reach grass roots Americans and many of the ideas that can be found in this site.

The following comes from three primary sources. The first source are notes taken during lectures, coaching sessions, informal talks, critiques and handouts given during the MSYSA's Dutch Vision weeks from 1999 to 2002. The second draws from three books available through Reedswain. The Official Coaching Book of the KNVB, Coaching Soccer by Bert van Lingen, Teambuilding, the road to success by Rinus Michels and On Soccer by Sven-Goran Eriksson and Willi Railo. The third is based on experience gained using these lessons in daily sessions. The Dutch Vision is not a random set of exercises, it is a way of thinking. To appreciate how the KNVB views the game, coaching and children some key phrases and ideas are presented in bold italics throughout the site.

This site touches on some of the central ideas behind the Dutch Vision. In no way is it meant to be a complete account. Hopefully this website will fill in some blanks, generate some interest or at least promote some dialog about a system that is dramatically different from many others. The success of the Dutch Vision in youth soccer education is evident in the high percentage of world class players that are produced from such a small country. The relevance of the Dutch Vision to American youth soccer is that the two countries share common social, political and economic factors. American and Dutch children grow up in very similar environments.

About the author:

Larry Paul holds the USSF A license, the International Preliminary Badge from the Football Association, U.S. Youth Soccer's National Youth License and the KNVB's Introductory Coaching Certificate. He has studied the game and been involved in youth, high school, college and senior amateur soccer as a player, coach and administrator for over 30 years; is acknowledged as one of the founding members of the Washington Area Girls Soccer League; is a member of the Maryland State Youth Soccer Association's Education and Training staff; is the Technical Director of the Burke Athletic Club in Burke, Virginia; is the Program Director for the Chris Nedelcovych Scholarship Fund, a youth coaching foundation, see www.cnsfund.org and authored the DVD Street Soccer, An Introduction to Small Sided Games.

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