Updates from the Academy training ground

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Dec 7, 2023
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The Academy season is now well underway, with only a couple of weeks to go until the Christmas break.

Training down on the all-weather surface at the KGV has enabled sessions to continue, despite the high levels of rain in November and December.

Focus so far

Academy groups have been working on a variety of ‘In possession’ and ‘out of possession’ themes so far this term.

These will combine the FA recognised ‘core technical skills’, such as passing or finishing, with different ‘principles of play’ such as creativity or support play.

The first 4-week block allowed most groups to work on individual creativity and team build-up play, giving a heavy focus on the core technical skills of passing and receiving, as well as moving with the ball. The out of possession focus was on the concept of pressing high up the pitch, combining defending principles such as delaying opponents, and providing cover.

The second block has so far drawn some focus to finishing in and around the box. In the coming weeks we will also be working on marking, challenging players to scan and look for opposition threats in dangerous areas.

See below for a list of the core technical skills that we will work through during the season.

Core Technical Skills:

Attacking