The principal aim of the GFA Aztech Academy is to identify and nurture the island’s talented footballers between the ages of 8 and 14. Through weekly sessions and game-based coaching, the emphasis is largely based around the FA 4 Corner Model, where the Academy players will receive quality coaching in a fun, safe and aspirational environment. The FA 4 Corner model highlights the key areas of player development in football:

 

Technical/Tactical – I.e. Passing or Scanning

Physical – I.e. Speed or Endurance

Psychological – I.e. Decision making or Reading the game

Social – I.e. Leadership or Communication

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Foundation Phase - Year 4 – 6 (U9s/10s/11s)

 

Maximum touches of the football is the priority at the younger ages in order to get each player to become a master of the ball.

 

Group sizes and match ups are small to allow small-sided matches (2v2, 3v3 or 4v4), enabling players to have a big impact on every attacking and defensive play.

 

The goal is that, by the time players reach secondary school age, they will have a solid technical understanding of all the skills required in the modern game, and can perform these with confidence and consistency. It is hoped that knowledge of the basics of game understanding, especially in overload/underload situations on the pitch, are also developed at this stage.

 

Players will hopefully develop socially within the environment as well, and although they might not all be leaders at first, they learn how to communicate and work with teammates.

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Development Phase – Year 7 – 9 (U12s-14s)

 

The technical skills learned at the younger ages then allow players to progress their football learning further in what we term the ‘development phase’. Gamecraft, tactics, and psychological challenges now come into sharper focus, as players can now draw on their large range of technical skills to help them in a variety of different match situations.

 

We focus on more in-game coaching at this stage, setting various challenges or restrictions to allow for repeated practice of moments that occur often in matches.

 

I.e. Working on ‘out of possession’ decision making when overloaded in different areas of the pitch.

Do we press quickly as a group to try and win it back early/delay an attack? Or do we drop off to cover, and allow our team to get back into shape? Does this decision depend on where we are on the pitch? On the score at the time?

 

It’s these scenarios that allow players to grow their confidence in what to do, individually, or collectively, in various situations. Decisions that can become more repeatable and have a higher chance of success when applied to a pressure situation in a game for their club or Island.

 

It is our hope that by this stage, players are also showing effective leadership in multiple areas. It may be that they are good at being vocal, or getting the team organised in challenging moments; or they may simply apply a willingness to learn and work hard attitude, and set an example in the way they play, encouraging those around them to follow.

 

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A note on player physicality

Throughout both phases, player physicality is something that is worked on as an extension of the sessions we put on. Players will naturally be challenged in speed, endurance, strength and mobility within the sessions.

 

We understand that all kids develop at different rates, and so we simply encourage an understanding of the importance of staying fit, warming up properly, as well as cooling down effectively after the session.

As they physically mature, hopefully they have learnt a strong understanding of what is needed to prepare them to have a long and successful career, enjoying the game of football.