Player development key goal for Bolton Wanderers
By Wally Mikulski BWSC

Former Bolton Wanderers player Erik DiLorenzo will be suiting up for the Toronto Lynx of the United Soccer League this season.

Former BWSC coach, Nick Indellicato recalls Erik as an extremely impressive sixyear old who stepped up to play with an under 9 squad in a tournament in Caledon; this prior to moving up to the Wanderers' representative ranks for a three-year stint at the age of eight.

Today, he's at the top level of men's amateur soccer in North America. We congratulate "DI-Lo" and encourage members of the Wanderers (teammates, coaches past and present) to take in Erik in his debut with the Lynx June 24 (details at: http://www.lynxsoccer. com).

Official kick-off to the Bolton Wanderer's 2007 season is three to four weeks away, however, groups of eager youngsters have been getting their first touch of the ball indoors at the Bolton Wanderers School of Development. Held each Saturday at Nashville Road Community Church, this is where the club has welcomed entry-level players aged four to six who, in the coming years, will form the nucleus of the club's recreational house league program or vie for positions with its competitive travelling teams. Along with four-to-six-year-olds, boys and girls seven, eight, and nine have also opted for the Wanderers' School of Development as a way to get a jump on the coming outdoor season by improving the technical skills.

The program's primary focus is "learning in a fun environment" with maximum touches on the ball, be it through developing skills or playing fun games. Maximum touches means more player confidence to stop, pass, or dribble the ball. Maximum touches also means more fun. And, the kids are certainly having it, much to their parents' delight. To walk away having learned something each session is a wonderful bonus. Pure and simple - this is grass roots level player development - development that will help both parents recognize the options of later having their child playing at either a recreational or competitive level resulting from player interest as well as ability. A strong, thriving recreational house-league program is the foundation of a successful competitive teams program.

School of Development staff coaches include Frank Fontana, head coach of the Wanderers' Boys Under 9 competitive team, along with the three of our senior female competitive players - Kate (Spike) Webster, Amanda Simone, and Christine Cattaruzza. The program is overseen by Wanderers' club head coach Billy McKenna.

Along with "grass-roots" School of Development, the Wanderers have also introduced a variety of other developmental programs designed to assist the club in not only raising the skill level of its players, but its coaches as well. Five Mentor Coaches will be introduced at the club's Recreational Coaches' Kick-Off. These mentors will be high-level senior players trained to assist and run coaching sessions for house-league recreational teams only. The goal is to assist recreational coaches in helping raise the skill level of house-league participants, and assist those who may possibly wish to play a higher level of soccer. The Wanderers also will also be introducing both intermediate and senior Elite Academies. These programs will not only focus on the technical aspects of soccer, but also functional, nutritional, physiological and fitness components of the game.

The Senior Academy will also make the older male/female student/athlete aware of academic/athletic scholarship opportunities both in Canada and the United States. Players registered with the Bolton Wanderers who've recently obtainined an academic/athletic scholarship over the past two seasons include Kelly Zinkiewich (Cleveland State University), and Carliegh Martin (Louisiana). Others are currently in talks with both U.S. and Canadian schools.

While the Wanderers' commitment to player development certainly isn't unique among soccer clubs in the area, it is one that's realistic. In-house efforts keep development programmes cost-effective, and just as importantly - present real opportunities for growth in skills and knowledge for players, coaches, and yes even parents. It all points to a bright future for the Bolton Wanderers, a soccer club that's doubled in size over the past five seasons.