U9-U10: 

These age groups are often coined as the ‘Golden Age’ of player development, where

players’ increased capacity for learning and endless enthusiasm makes for an extremely fulfilling experience for students and teacher alike. It is also a crucial stage in player development, the cementing of a technical foundation and the dawn of tactics.

In both of these age groups, players’ individual technical development will be the main focus of the training sessions. Players’ Development will be the driven focus instead of Team Development.

Players will be trained to develop all basic soccer techniques so they can master ball control with all parts of their body. These basic soccer techniques include but are not limited to: Ball Control, Fast Footwork, Passing, Receiving, Turning, Shooting, Heading, Juggling, and Finishing. A lot of 1v1 drills will be performed to develop these techniques.

            Training sessions will also include some tactical aspects of the game so players can learn to read the game, find a problem and create solutions. This tactical component will include the principles of defending (pressure/balance) and attacking (support). Drills use to develop this Tactical awareness will be 2v1, 2v2, and 3v2.

            Training sessions will also include physical training so players’ would be able to keep up with the demands of the game. Physical activities will be planned to develop players’ Coordination, Balance, Agility, Power, Speed, and Quickness.

Players will train together, but play games within a pool of players. This pool of players may be divided into A and B teams or equal teams from all players. How players are divided will be based on skills level, training goals, performance at training, and level of play from the opponent in order to offer an environment in which each player can be successful on the field. 

Players in the U9/U10 Academy will train 2 times per week and will play 1 or 2 games per weekend. Game day format will be 6v6.

U11-U12: 

                Following their first 2 years of Academy soccer, players on these age groups will spend more time on the tactical aspect of the game in comparison to the previous years. Although the Technical aspects of the game will still be the main focus of their training sessions, players will be challenged to learn how to solve problems.

            At this time, Team Development will start to be implemented and it will be as important as Players’ Development.

Training sessions will be designed to further players’ technical skills but also to accomplish players’ tactical development. Tactical development will consist on furthering players’ tactical principles such as defending (pressure/balance/support) and attacking (support/runs). Drills used to develop tactical awareness will include 2v1, 2v2, 3v2, 3v3, 4v2, and 4v3.

Training sessions will also include physical training so players’ would be able to keep up with the demands of the game. Physical activities will be planned to develop players’ Coordination, Balance, Agility, Power, Speed, and Quickness.

Players will train together, although they might be separated on small groups to accomplish the training session objective based on their technical abilities and tactical awareness. Players will play games within a pool of players. This pool of players may be divided into A and B teams or equal teams from all players. How players are divided will be based on skills level, training goals, performance at training, and level of play from the opponent in order to offer an environment in which each player can be successful on the field. 

Players in the U11/U12 Academy will train 2 times per week and will play 1 or 2 games per weekend. Game day format will be 8v8.