Joy of the People

Child Centered Soccer Development
Soccer. Futsal. Free Play. Joy.

Congratulations to all JOTP players for a successful Chill out tournament.  U12 Boys take home the title and the U13 boys advance to the semis.  Super job everyone!

 CHA Sports, US Soccer Foundation's Planning Partner, has reaveled it's site Plan for the Joy of the People Center.  Site plan includes the building of a Field Turf all-condition pitch with the ability to divide fiield into small, medium and larger spaces. The lead planners at CHA were excited about this new idea of creating fun, inviting environment through the use of different sufaces and spaces.  Long term plan includes, outdoor futsal courts, a Sand court, grass fields, clay field, running/walking path with exercise stations, and a plaza area.  The building of all in one play and train center is a huge step forward in developing more time for kids of all ages to just PLAY, providing further sustainability to the JOTP model as a center for soccer and free play in the twin cities. An amazing community continues to grow, and we thank you for your support. 

This is from 2010, just after USA's disappointing exit from the World Cup.  Our newly named National Team Coach, Jurgen Klinsmann, was asked what he thought.  Please watch the video below.  This man has vision.  He single-handedly  changed the philosophy of German Soccer and now he is about to revamp the US.  He doesn't know about us yet, but he will and I guarantee you that Klinsmann is going to love JOTP!

See our inflatable courts and exciting new overspeed training. The most innovative training environments, more play, more learning, more fun, more joy. Special thanks to Dan Luke at Hard Working Pictures for these excellent videos.

Joy of the People is currently taking registrations in the following age groups:

• U6 Whippersnappers (grades K-1)
• U8 Shooting Stars (grades 2-3)
• U10 Boys   (Born  8-1-01 to 7-31-03)
• U10 Grils   (Born  8-1-01 to 7-31-03)
• U12 Boys  (Born  8-1-99 to 7-31-01)
• U12 Girls  (Born  8-1-99 to 7-31-01)
• U14 Boys  (Born  8-1-97 to 7-31-99)
• U14 Girls  (Born  8-1-97 to 7-31-99)

Teams will begin training in late August/early September.  All teams will be provided the one of of a JOTP skill Training and Free Play. More>>

We are pleased to announce that Joy of the People has been awarded a prestigious US Soccer Foundation planning grant.  One of six awards given, this grant provides a step toward the vision of a multi surface, soccer training and free play facility.  US soccer believes in the mission of JOTP delvering a heathier, more productive youth sport experience. Everyday we are seeing the positive results of kids simply playing together.  Thank you for your support and see you at the center soon!

More>>

Great new option. Take advantage of flexible punch cards used for camp dates, overspeed sessions or any combination. more>>

Free Assessment/ OverSpeed Soccer Dec 4

JOTP Lecture Series PEP program Dec 5th 4:30 JOTP Center Dec 5

Holiday Futsal Blast Dec 27-29 JOTP Center Dec 27-29

JOTP/SLPSA March 5th, 6th Futsal Tournament, SLP high School March 5,6

Earnest Grumbles blogs on JOTP.  more>>

Programs that inspire lifelong learning. 

The very best in futsal, skills, training and fun, for all age groups at our JOTP Center.  

More info>>

Sign up today>>

Two Joy of the People teams take home St. Paul City Championships!  The JOTP U12 girls  and the U12 Boys gold team took home City titles. Meanwhile, the JOTP U12 Boys Red team made the semi finals.  Building on hours of simple play all JOTP teams demonstrated exceptional skill and sportsmanship.  Thank you coaches for your terrific leadership. Congratulations to all JOTP teams for a very successful fall! 

JOTP is dedicated to creating an optimal learning and playing environment.  Our plan is to create spaces where kids play a lot. We now have 2 inflatable courts that turns average grass space into exciting soccer environments.  Kids love to play on it, when they play more they get better, learn more, make friends and create a community of skill, love and joy.  These courts will be used for free play, camps, tournaments, 4 v 4 and 3 v 3.  And we're just getting started.  Try out the inflatables during free play hours.  All ages!

Free Play Hours>>

Check out these cool videos below, find out how and why we do what we do. Special thanks to Dan Luke for putting these together.

The important role of street play in youth soccer development

A cool, unique  play area

cool down and have fun

The very best in developmental soccer.   We have program openings at U6 and U8 as well as U10 girls and U14 boys fall teams.

OPENINGS 

U6 Whippersnappers 

U8 Shooting Stars

U10 Girls

U14 Boys

More >>

We hear it all the time:  practice is more important than games.  But is there more?  There is...'cause if practice is more important than games, then...  more>>

Who: Boys and Girls 9-12

When: Wednesdays May 5-June 30 (9 sessions)

Time: 5pm-6:30pm (free play 4-5pm)

Format:  

Indoors and outdoors

• 30 minutes ball skills
• 30 minutes 1 v 1 or 2 v 2
• 30 minutes 4 v 4
• Lots of fun!

The very best in technical instruction led by Ted Kroeten.  We will make use of the center and all of it's surfaces to maximize learning and fun!  Let's see how much fun we can have as we hone our shooting, ball control, dribbling with high repetions and lots of games.

Tuition: $125 

 Sign up here

Want to help kids? Play soccer?  Want to give back?  Be part of a movement?  Join Joy of the People "corp of Joy,"  Trained kids and adults to monitor, mentor, guide kids as we build a free play environment. 

JOTP is a one of a kind center for all.  Open to kids of all ages to play safely and explore the game.

More hours mean more play.  Our goal this year is to provide 1000 hours of free play time-- sometimes several games at once --all on different surfaces for all ages, genders and levels.  We need the help of mentors to work with youth, monitor and uphold the core values of the Center.  By playing alongside kids you will model correct technical, social, and emotional behaviors.  Oh, and your own game might get better.  No matter what your age or ability or time commitment, if enjoyable and fun soccer is important to you, if you would like to help bring back the lost language of pick up, if you want to see our kids play with the creativity and hope, then you can help.  Come be a part of the movement.  Training begins in may.

To find out more contact Ted@joyofthepeople.org

Click here

JOTP team wins the U11 Boys bracket at the F3 tournament.  "Army of Joy," A team built on hundreds of hours of pick up play roll through the Prior Lake F3 Futsal Tournament undefeated.

The powerful cultural  idea that only elite youth sports programs produce top level players is simply not true.  Studies have shown that high level performers have one thing in common: the accumulation of deliberate practice, the more the better.  The most skillful soccer comes from love, time with friends, and hours and hours on the free play courts, opportunities to make and learn from mistakes, and the joy of play.

"It is those who are successful, in other words, who are most likely to be given the kinds of special opportunities that lead to further success. It’s the rich who get the biggest tax breaks. It’s the best students who get the best teaching and most attention. And it’s the biggest nine- and ten-year-olds who get the most coaching and practice. Success is the result of what sociologists like to call “accumulative advantage.”"
— Malcolm Gladwell (Outliers)

Joy of the People is changing that "accumulative advantage."  It's  a back to the future movement to simpler, better soccer: street play, play with friends, unstructured time. For many years this has been the standard for producing the happiest, most skilled players.

Our vision is to create a better, simpler way of enjoying soccer, building life skills, a healthy, lifelong love of the game.  By focusing on a better environment and thus a better delivery system, we will create the next generation of skillful players.  By focusing on quality hours close to home rather than travel kids will play more  Improving the soccer experience for the recreational player as well as the elite athletes. 

JOTP will serve as an advocate-ambassador, teaching players, parents, officials, coaches and youth associations by example, how to make soccer less structured and more fun while helping build the base of the pyramid. This method will increase the number of kids playing and increase their skill level at the same time. JOTP will be widely recognized as a leader and an innovator, providing a place where players and leaders share a common vision of what is really important for our youth playing soccer and other sports.

Already you can see the results,  with several kids putting in up to sometimes 3-4 hours in a session, logging many many hours of productive free play.  JOTP offers a safe, secure, monitored enviroment with code of conduct and core values.  It's really simple: kids that play more will enjoy it more, learn social and leadership skills, and have a better chance of reaching their potential.  JOTP offers measured programs and free play for all levels and ages.  Joy of the People is changing the way we think about youth sports.  Sign up for our newsletter and join the movement today.

"We worked on three things only: skills, skills and skills."
--Gerard Houlier, on the success of the famed
Clairefountaine French Youth Academy

The best in Futsal and technical training coming soon! Take advantage of experienced, energetic coaching, in Futsal and Futebol de salao (brazilan form of futsal with an even smaller ball), technical and skil development--right in St. Paul! 

• Cutting edge skill-based technical training--led by Ted Kroeten Bfut, USSF, NSCAA
• Long term player development plan, clear milestones, objectives and philosophy to back it up
• Futsal leagues
• Futebol de salao
• After school pick up and skills
• Hours and hours of play!
• Custumized individual and small group training, continual and never ending improvement. 

Futsal leagues, technical programs, Futebol de Salao,  testing and assessment, free play and pick up, and so much more.

Click on the age group link to the right for a program that's right for you.

Futsal League for U5-U8 starts in November!  More...