Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

MISSION STATEMENT
The Albion Hurricanes FC (AHFC) Academy program will introduce, develop and educate young players in the game of soccer. AHFC Academy will assist in the individual development of players who will have a passion and understanding of the game even if they do not aspire to play at the next level within or outside of the club. AHFC aim is to teach the players to love and enjoy the game from an early age, in the hope that they will stay involved in the game as a spectator, parent, coach, referee, volunteer, or play recreationally. The AHFC Academy will provide a safe, enjoyable training and developmentally appropriate environment for each player. The training will be based around the technical fundamentals of soccer and the curriculum consist made up of developmentally appropriate activities that are based around the USSF and NSCAA National Youth Licenses, USYSA and UEFA programs.

AIMS
To assist in developing the participation, quality and enjoyment of soccer in our Academy, AHFC will: Provide Players with quality developmentally training. Provide players with a safe and professional training environment. Provide all players regardless of ability the chance to play soccer. Educate and develop players, parents and administrators in National, State and Club policies on youth soccer development.

ACADEMY
ACADEMY STAFF
The AHFC Academy staff is led by: Dylan Glad, USSF A License, National Youth License Nick Hallam, NSCAA Premier Diploma, National Youth Diploma, USSF National Youth License

ACADEMY CURRICULUM
The AHFC Academy Curriculum will provide a developmentally appropriate environment to teach the fundamentals of technical play in the game of soccer. We will also use warm ups to develop our players with speed, agility and quickness through fun games and activities. We will build our sessions around the USSF and NSCAA National Youth License and the English FA Level 1 and Soccer Star training practices.

CONCEPT
The concept of the AHFC Academy Training Curriculum is to build learning blocks around the specific technical elements of soccer and the training needs and demands of the player. The training will be

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

developmentally appropriate and the activities in the training will be tailored to the learning and progressive technical abilities of the player.

ANNUAL CURRICULUM
The AHFC Curriculum will be based on an annual program that will be conducted in 6 week cycles. The curriculum will be reviewed every 6 weeks to ensure that it is meeting the needs of the players.

MEASUREMENTS OF SUCCESS
The success of the Academy Curriculum will be measured by: The amount of players retained. The amount of players introduced. The Technical progression of the players. The amount of players who progress to competitive soccer. The amount of players who progress to older recreation soccer

TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT
The following techniques and skills will be developed through fun and challenging soccer practices: Running with the ball. Turning with the ball. Dribbling, moves and fakes with the ball. Shooting the ball. Passing and Receiving the ball. Heading the ball.

SPEED, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS

All training sessions will start with a dynamic warm up and this can be built around speed, agility, quickness and balance stations where the emphasis is on the correct body mechanics and building core strength through appropriate core building exercises.

CONCLUSION
The AHFC Academy is one of the main priorities for the club. It will provide the player foundation for the longevity of the club. We will introduce soccer to the young people and parents in the community by providing a safe, fun and professional training environment where players can enjoy and develop their soccer skills and techniques without fear of failure or pressure from over enthusiastic adults.

Dylan Glad AHFC Player Development Director Nick Hallam AHFC Technical Director

05/12/11

Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved.

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

AHFC ACADEMY TRAINING CURRICULUM 6 WEEK PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM: TOPICS U9 U10 Week
1

Topic
RUNNING WITH THE BALL (INCLUDE TRICKS & TURNS) TURNING WITH THE BALL DRIBBLING WITH THE BALL (INCLUDE TRICKS & TURNS) PASSING /RECEIVING
THE BALL

Warm Up
SPEED, AGILITY & QUICKNESS ACTIVITIES SPEED, AGILITY & QUICKNESS ACTIVITIES SPEED, AGILITY & QUICKNESS ACTIVITIES SPEED, AGILITY & QUICKNESS ACTIVITIES SPEED, AGILITY & QUICKNESS ACTIVITIES SPEED, AGILITY & QUICKNESS ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
RUNNING 1

Activity 2
RUNNING 2

Game
SMALL SIDED GAMES SMALL SIDED GAMES SMALL SIDED GAMES SMALL SIDED GAMES SMALL SIDED GAMES SMALL SIDED GAMES

TURNING 1

TURNING 2

DRIBBLING 1

DRIBBLING 2

PASSING/RECE IVING 1 SHOOTING 1

PASSING/ RECEIVING 2 SHOOTING 2

SHOOTING

HEADING

HEADING 1

HEADING 2

NOTES
Warm Up will be for 15mins and will start every coaching session. Speed, Agility and Quickness sessions will be fun and challenging. Players should enjoy these activities and build up a training habit of warming up before playing. The fundamentals of soccer movement are based around speed, agility, coordination and balance. The emphasis in these areas is to teach appropriate body mechanics and build on the core strength of the players. Activities 1 & 2 will last for 20mins each. Players where possible should have 1 ball per player or 1 ball per 2 player activities. Activities will challenge the players and activities will be interesting with lots of movement. A points system will be utilized to keep games and activities close and interesting. Players will always be encouraged to think for themselves. Games will always complete the session and will be played in: 1v1, 2v1, 2v2, 3v2 and 3v3, 4 v 4, 6 v 6 teams as well as overloading games such as 3v1 4v1 & 4v2.

TECHNICAL ELEMENTS OF SOCCER & SAMPLE PRACTICES

The curriculum will teach and develop players in the technical elements of soccer that are listed below. Running with the ball is the first technique that youngsters learn - they kick and then chase after the ball. Running with the ball is not the same as dribbling. Dribbling involves beating players whereas running with the ball involves moving the ball across areas that do not contain defenders. To be able to cover the ground quickly with the ball under control is a very important and valuable technique.

05/12/11

Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved.

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

SAMPLE PRACTICE

Area: as marked 1. 3 Red players begin the practice in Area A by playing against one striped defender D1 in order to free one Red player into Area B. No Red player can enter Area B before the ball arrives there and the defender must stay in Area A. 2. For example, the Reds interpass before Red 1 has the space to run the ball through Area B to Area C, where the exercise is repeated in the opposite direction. Likewise no Red player can enter Area B before the ball arrives there and the defender D2 must stay in Area C. Change defenders at the appropriate time or when the defenders have forced the Reds into a required number of mistakes. Key Factors 1. Control the ball in front of you, to be able to run with the ball. 2. Dont pass the ball square when you run forward with the ball. 3. Run straight through Area B and pass with the laces to maintain momentum. Turning. Once you have learnt to run with the ball you will now need to stop, start and change direction with the ball. Soccer is not played in straight lines and whilst soccer is a FORWARD thinking, FORWARD passing, FORWARD running game, sometimes it will be necessary to work the ball out of a crowd of players in order to run or pass the ball forward or have a shot at goal. It is essential therefore that you are comfortable enough on the ball to be able to turn with the ball and change direction.

05/12/11

Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved.

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

SAMPLE PRACTICE
1. Pairs

Organization: 2 players, 10 yards from each other. Two balls required.

KEY FACTORS
1. Keep your head up to observe the ball and your partner 2. Turn and accelerate away in the opposite direction, when opposite your partners shoulders. 3. Keep your body between you and your partner when turning. Use your furthest foot away from your partner. Turn away from him, not in towards him. Dribbling is one of soccer's most effective and exciting techniques. Where to dribble? Dribbling involves risk so DON'T dribble in or around your own penalty area, but DO dribble in or around your opponent's penalty area. When to dribble? DO be prepared to dribble as often as possible. Even the best dribblers fail more often than they succeed. DON'T be afraid to have a go! Why? Good dribblers dribble for a purpose - to create space to shoot at goal or pass to a colleague to shoot at goal. So . . . DO get maximum benefit from your dribble. DON'T waste the chance to shoot or pass to a team-mate who can.

SAMPLE PRACTICE
4 Markers Organization Area: 10 yds x 20 yds markers A, B, C and D

05/12/11

Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved.

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

RULES
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. The Striped defender starts the practice by passing to the Blue attacker. The Blue players target is to kick the ball against any of the four markers (A, B, C, and D) The Blue player must keep the ball inside the area. The Striped player may challenge anywhere for the ball once the Blue player has received it. If the Blue player goes into area 2 he/she cannot attack markers A or B. Players change places after three attempts.

KEY FACTORS
Be positive from the moment you control the ball. Control the ball in front of you and attack the space either side of the defender on your first touch. Attack with the ball in the direction of one of the markers Commit the defender to going one way and then use one of your favorite moves to wrong-foot him/her to accelerate the other way. Shooting. The object of soccer is to score goals: shooting is therefore obviously vital. All other soccer techniques are wasted if shooting chances are not taken - therefore, take each and every shooting opportunity that occurs. One aspect is certain: you may not score every time you shoot BUT YOU WILL NOT SCORE UNLESS YOU SHOOT. Be sure to take your responsibility to shoot, score and . . . sometimes miss.
05/12/11 Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved. 6

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

SAMPLE PRACTICE
3 and IN Organization: The goalkeeper kicks or throws the ball out of goal into space. The Blue and Striped players challenge for the ball. Whoever gains possession attacks; the other player becomes the defender. The first player to get 3 goals stays as the Attacker; the loser and goalkeeper change.

KEY FACTORS
Take your opportunities to shoot. Aim for the far half of the goal. Keep the ball low. Follow in all shots for rebounds. Receiving the ball. Develop an understanding and the importance of a good touch. Vary the speeds, heights and angles of balls delivered into the player. Manipulate the activity to get the results required. Incorporate it into a game, for example every time a ball goes out of play, the player restarts with an instep pass to a team mate, or a throw has to be controlled before play commences. Passing. An obvious key skill, but the ability to master the ball (move it, dribble, roll it, control it, etc) must come first. Start basic short distance passing, instep pass, push pass, and progress to bigger distances, laces, and chip pass, etc. Avoid static drills when passing, and use movement type games to encourage a game realistic environment. Develop the skill of when to release the ball, how hard to place the pass and what part of the foot works best for the pass to be executed successfully.

SAMPLE PRACTICE

ORGANIZATION
Both players must stand behind their square as shown. Player (A) must try to pass (1) the ball through
05/12/11 Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved. 7

Academy Curriculum 2011/2012

the middle of his partners square. Player (B) must wait behind the square for the ball to arrive. Player (B) must then prepare the ball diagonally through the side of the square before attempting to return the ball (2) to his partner in the same fashion. Preparing the ball diagonally will teach the players to align the ball into the correct position to make an accurate pass. Points are awarded for each successful pass through the square.

KEY FACTORS
Accuracy and weight of the pass are equally important. Strike through the middle of the ball with the inside of the foot The preparation touch on a diagonal will enable players to have more success in their passing accuracy. Heading should be a PLEASURE not a PAIN and needs to be learnt as well as all other techniques, as many goals will result from headers and all outfield players will be required to head the ball many times during a game. Headers not only finish movements with a strike at goal but also START movements by intercepting a pass and heading to a player on the same team or heading to a team mate to shoot at goal.

SAMPLE PRACTICE
Paired Headers

Maroon players play against 2 Striped players. Goal 8 yards apart. A throws to B to attempt to head past C and D under head height into the goal Return headers score 2 goals.

KEY FACTORS
To angle the header from B, A must: Get on line with the ball. Rotate the head on contact with the ball, towards the goal. Not attempt to angle the header by using the side of the head.

05/12/11

Copyright 2011 Albion Hurricanes FC. All rights reserved.