In 2001, a research program was initiated in a Master’s soccer context. This takes place at 3 levels:
1) Bi-annual Masters/Veterans World Cup Tournament and International Symposium
on Soccer Communities: Local and Global Contexts
2) Inter UBC Masters/Veterans 6-a-side Select Team Development Program
3) Inter UBC Masters/Veterans Soccer Program
1) Bi-annual Masters/Veterans World Cup Tournament and International Symposium on Soccer Communities: Local and Global Contexts
This unique research-based Masters/Veterans World Cup Tournament focuses on 6-a-side football and is limited to 10-12 representative teams of Over-45 year old players whom are selected from clubs, communities, institutional groups or football associations within a country. Participating teams to date include: Canada, England, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Switzerland, Turkey, USA, and Wales. In June, 2006, the first Universities Masters/Veterans 6-a-side World Cup Football Tournament and Symposium took place at the Chelsea School, University of Brighton, Eastbourne, England. In 2008, the second Universities Masters/Veterans 6-a-side World Cup Football Tournament and Symposium took place at Filzbach, Switzerland. In June 2010, the 3rd Universities Masters/Veterans 6-a-side World Cup Football Tournament and International Symposium will be held at the University of Aston, England.
Hubball, H.T., Mitchell, S. & Reddy, P. (2009). Universities masters world cup soccer: Integrated sports science research and implementation of an international masters soccer community.
2) Inter UBC Masters/Veterans 6-a-side Select Team Development Program
Recent advances in sport pedagogy have made a significant contribution to team and player development programs across Canada. Context based learning (CBL) provides an integrated approach to team and player development and draws upon a wide range of sports science disciplines in order to meet the diverse needs and circumstances of a masters/veterans soccer team. Action research methodology was employed to evaluate the implementation of team and player development experiences for a select masters/veterans soccer team at the University of British Columbia. Data suggest that CBL organizes a team and player development program around critical game issues relevant to masters/veterans players; ensures that the practice environment closely simulates the competitive context; engages masters/veterans players as stakeholders in the team development process; and enhances performance!
3) Inter UBC Masters/Veterans Soccer Program
Masters soccer communities can play a valuable role in sustaining the physiological health (e.g., active living, bones, muscles, organs), psycho-social health (e.g., camaraderie, support network, interpersonal skills) and quality of life (e.g., morale, happiness, spirit) of masters/veterans players in team contexts (Earles & Chase, 2001; Lyons & Dionigi, 2007). Emerging 6-a-side masters/veterans soccer environments (e.g., FIFA standard 40 X 30 metre fields with 5.0 X 2.0 metre goalposts) focus on a series of 15-20 minute round-robin games. In comparison with the traditional 11 v 11 soccer format for masters/veterans players, 3v3 and 6v6 small-sided masters/veterans games on quality turf/field surfaces can be more exciting, with intense end-to end action, more goals and touches on the ball, more passes, more interactive offense and defense teamwork, and result in a greater energy expenditure and high quality soccer. Various levels of competition (e.g., recreational, developmental and high performance levels) are often implicit within masters/veterans soccer programs. Essentially, levels of competition differ on key variables such as primary motives for participation, player abilities and access, as well as expectations for adequate support resources, player commitment, team roles, quality of play, and the extent to which performance outcomes influence further development. Attention to differential levels of competition will help to ensure that masters/veterans soccer games are close (rather than one-sided), safe, exciting and enjoyable soccer experiences for all players.
INTER UBC was the first research-based youth soccer academy program in Canada (Hubball & Robertson, 2003, 2004; Hubball, 2006; Robertson & Hubball, 2005). A combination of qualitative and quantitative research data in this context indicated, for example, that nine out of the ten boys selected for the team were born in the first five months of the year, illustrating the sensitive effect that birth dates have on physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development and performance of children within a given environment (Helsen, et al., 2000). These data also suggested that Problem-based Learning (PBL) methodology: organized a coaching program around issues relevant to the team/players; ensured that the practice environment closely simulated the competitive context; engaged players (and parents) as stakeholders in the team and player development process; and, developed critical thinking, problem-solving skills and an appreciation for games for understanding. While many factors influence team performance results in competitive games, this successful youth soccer team won 10 of 11 select tournament championships. This culminated in the first U11 Canadian team to be invited to play against English Premier League Youth Football Academies at Liverpool FC, Everton FC, and Aston Villa FC, during a memorable 13-day overseas soccer field trip to England (Hubball & Robertson, 2003; Hubball, 2004).
Publications
Hubball, H.T., Lambert, J., & Hayes, S. (2007). Theory to Practice: Using the Games for Understanding Approach in the Teaching of Invasion Games. Physical and Health Education Journal.
Hubball, H.T., & Butler, J. (2006). Learning-centred Approaches to Games Education: Problem-based Learning (PBL) in a Canadian Youth Soccer Program. Journal of Physical Education New Zealand. 39(1), 20-33.
Hubball, H.T. (2006). Effective Team Strategies: Developing 'game sense' in youth soccer programs. Submitted to Strategies Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 19(5), 8-11.
Robertson, S., & Hubball, H.T. (2005). Coach-to-Coach Mentoring: Raising the Bar. Strategies, Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 18(5), 6-10.
Hubball, H.T., & Robertson, S. (2004).Developing a Coaching Portfolio: Enhancing Reflective Practice. Strategies, Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 18(2), 16-18.
Hubball, H.T., & Robertson, S. (2004). Problem-based Learning in a Youth Soccer Academy Program. Journal of Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance, 75 (4), 38-43.
Hubball, H.T., & Robertson, S. (2004). Field Trip Experiences Enhancing Team and Player Development in Youth Sports Programs. Strategies. Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 17(4), 7-9.
Hubball, H.T., & Robertson, S. (2003). Player Selection Strategies for Youth Team Try-outs: Case Study Experiences with the INTER ubc Soccer Academy Program. Strategies. Journal for Physical and Sport Educators, 17(1), 7-11.
Hubball, H.T., (2002). PBL: Enhancing team and player development in a soccer academy program for grade 5's. CUPR research supplement, Physical and Health Education Journal, 68(3), 43.
Conference Proceedings
Hubball, H.T. (2004) Development of a Youth Soccer Academy Program: Teaching Games for Understanding. Conference Proceedings. International Conference on Teaching Sport and Physical Education for Understanding, University of Melbourne, Australia, 21 pgs.
Presentations
Hubball, H.T. (2009). Back-to-back World Cup Champions: Effective Team and Player Development in Masters/Veterans Soccer Contexts. Poster Presentation. International Council for Coach Education Conference, Vancouver, Canada, November.
Hubball, H.T., Mitchell, S. & Hayes, S. (2008). Building Effective Teams and Community Spirit: The Universities Masters' World Cup 6-a-side Soccer Tournament and Symposium. Poster Presentation. International Teaching Games For Understanding Conference. University of BC, Canada, May.
Hubball, H.T. (2008). Masters/Veterans Soccer Communities: Local and Global Contexts. Feature research poster, International Symposium, Filzbach, Switzerland.
Hubball, H.T. (2006). Co-Chair, International Symposium on Masters’ Soccer Communities: Sport and Fitness on the University Campus, Chelsea School, University of Brighton, June, UK.
Hubball, H.T. (2005). Scholarship of Coaching: Impact of Team Development Strategies in a Youth Soccer Academy Program. International Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, October Vancouver.
Hubball, H.T. (2004) Developing a Leadership Portfolio: Enhancing Reflective Practice. Canadian Student Leadership Conference, CAHPERD, October, Hamilton, Ontario.
Hubball, H.T. (2003). Developing a reflective practice for team and player development: Mental skills training in a soccer academy program for grade 5 boys. International Conference on Imagination and Education, July, Vancouver.
Hubball, H.T. (2003). Development and evaluation of a youth soccer academy program: Action research informing practice. Paper accepted to present at the International Conference on Teaching Games for Understanding, December, Melbourne.
Hubball, H.T. (2002). Collaborative learning for team and player development: The INTER ubc Soccer Academy Program for young players. International Conference for the Study of Co-operative Education, University of Manchester, England.
Hubball, H.T. (2002). Problem-based learning in a soccer academy program for young players. International Conference on Physical and Health Education, Banff, Alberta, Canada.
Hubball, H.T. (2002). BC Soccer Player Development Panel. Annual BC Soccer Fest, Metropolitan Hotel, Vancouver.
Hubball, H.T. (2001). Team and Player Development: Integrating Research and Coaching. Paper presented at the BC Coaches Association Conference, Vancouver.
Hubball, H.T. (2001). Design and evaluation of a ‘Team and Player Development Program’ for advanced young soccer players: The INTER Way. Presentation and paper presented to BC Soccer.
Hubball, H.T. (2001). Integrating action research into the teaching and learning process: Lessons learned in coaching and teacher education contexts. Paper presented at the International Conference on Teacher Research, Vancouver, BC.
Hubball, H.T. (2001). Learning styles and sport pedagogy: An holistic approach to coaching advanced young soccer players in a Team and Player Development Program. Paper presented at the International Learning Styles Conference, Cardiff, UK.
Media Reports
2008 North Shore News newspaper article. "Smart Soccer" Feature article on the Inter UBC Masters/Veterrans defence of Worldcup Title record and team success.
2006 Vancouver Sun newspaper article. "Athlete of the Week" Feature article on the Inter UBC Masters goalkeeper and the impressive defensive record and team success.
2006 North Shore News newspaper article, "UBC Team Takes the Cup" Universities Masters' World Cup report.
2006 The Undercurrent newspaper article, "Local Athletes Undefeated" Feature article about the Over-45's World Cup Soccer Tournament and participating teams from England, Turkey, USA, Canada, Switzerland, West Indies and Ireland. Victorious celebrations by the Canadian Inter UBC team.
2002 The Province Newspaper article, “He keeps kids in touch”, description of holistic soccer experiences and excellence for grade 5 boys in the INTER UBC Soccer Academy leading to an England soccer trip and competition with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Everton Premier League Youth Football Academies.
2002 BCIT Community TV Feature, “England Soccer Tour for Grade 5 Players in the INTER UBC Soccer Academy Program”, Player and coach profiles with description of unique soccer development program.
2001 BCTV Program Feature, “INTER UBC Soccer Academy Program”, description of research informing soccer excellence in a program for Grade 5 children at UBC.
2001 The Vancouver Sun newspaper article, “Smaller can definitely be better: INTER UBC Soccer Academy Program is changing the way that soccer is taught”, description of overseas field trip and learning experiences for Grade 5 children at UBC.
2000 The Vancouver Courier newspaper article, “Homework part of Hubball’s winning program”, description of research-based soccer development program for Grade 4 children at UBC.
2000 Province Newspaper article, “Hubball scopes the best in world”. Description of research informing soccer excellence in a program for Grade 4 children at UBC.
2000 UBC Reports newspaper article, “Program offers youth a kickstart”. Description of Hubball’s research-based soccer development program for Grade 3 children at UBC.