Thompson Soccer Association exists to provide soccer opportunities to the youth of northern Colorado. TSA offers three programs: Recreational, Intermediate and Competitive. All TSA programs follow a predictable year-long calendar based on a chronological age-specific player development curriculum that allows players to develop and peak at proper times through the year.

TSA is comprised of five main constituents: players, coaches, administrators, management and families. The dedication of each of these constituents is paramount to success and it is vital that each member has a great respect for the roles of politics and administration.

Philosophy is a result of background, education and experience. As these factors grow and change, philosophy evolves. The basis of our philosophy is to provide a positive, enjoyable and educational environment that fosters player development. The player is our primary concern when making coaching, administrative and executive decisions.

Developmentally, it is our goal to maximize every player's ability based on each individual's passion, natural athletic ability, work rate, and dedication to the team, club, and game. It is our belief that the game is the best teacher and our role is to provide a safe, enjoyable, positive, and educational environment that allows players to solve soccer problems through self-realization during competitive training sessions. It is our responsibility to our players to produce soccer players, not positional players who excel at only a single aspect of the game. It is our goal at TSA to equip our players with the necessary technical, tactical, physical, and psychological tools that enable our players to become well-rounded players on the field, and the necessary social and sportsmanship tools to become well-rounded members of society off the field.

Bobby Howe professes there is "no magic formula or short-cut to player development. Coaching at youth levels is about development, not recruiting players to win championships." Further, Coach Howe states, "soccer is an art and not a science. The game should be played attractively as well as effectively. Soccer is a game of skill, imagination, creativity and decision making. Coaching should not stifle but enhance these elements." At TSA, it is our belief that the genius of the game lies in an artistic application of the scientific aspects of the game. This fleeting genius is what we strive for in our players and our teams.

Every member of Thompson Soccer Association is expected to strive for excellence and demand excellence in themselves and their club mates. In doing so, every member is expected to better themselves each day, have class, support one another, and never compromise the integrity of the self, team or club. Whining will not be tolerated, nor will negative comments toward teammates, club mates, officials or opponents. We must never confuse excellence with success. As Joe Paterno stated in a 1990 address to sports medicine physicians:

There are many people, particularly in sports, who think that success and excellence are the same thing and they are not the same things. Excellence is something that is lasting and dependable and largely within a person's control. In contrast, success is perishable and is often outside our control. If you strive for excellence, you will probably be successful eventually. People who put excellence in first place have the patience to end up with success. An additional burden for the victim of the success mentality is that he/she is threatened by the success of others and resents real excellence. In contrast, the person fascinated by quality is excited when he/she sees it in others.

Many youth clubs profess a player-based developmental philosophy only to seek short cuts and short-term success. Soccer is a game for youth players to enjoy. To enjoy the game, they must have fun while improving. TSA believes that player development is a long-term process. During this process, we must place the good of the player above all other considerations. In doing so, our integrity and character will remain intact.

Our success will be judged by the passion and love of the game we foster in our players. We will compete for each medal and trophy, but our success will be gauged in the excellence we instill in our members and our programs.