FFC U8 Academy
FFC U5-U8 Academy “Developing the Future”
FFC U5-U8 Academy Introduction Fredericksburg FC’s mission for the U5-U8 Academy is to provide an introduction to the game of soccer in a fun but challenging environment. Player and personal development are central goals for the U5-U8 Academy and we work tirelessly to ensure your child grows not only on the field, but off the field as well. Players will learn key Technical, Physical, Psychological, and Social skills that will allow them to build a developmental foundation for the future. Our professional staff focus on these 4 developmental foundations to ensure all players, regardless of skill level, reach their full potential. Week 1 Fundamentals of Dribbling
Week 2 Purposeful Dribbling
Week 3 Fundamentals of Passing
Week 4 Purposeful Passing
Week 5 SKILLZ Competition
Week 6 Fundamentals of Shooting
Week 7 Purposeful Shooting
Week 8 Dribbling
Week 9 Passing
The Curriculum is 10 weeks in duration, but broken up into different progressions to ensure total player development.
Week 10 Shooting
Technical The technical component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy program focusses on the individual’s ability to manage and manipulate the ball properly. It is absolutely vital for players to develop this relationship with the ball at a young age to ensure they have a proper developmental foundation for the future. FFC’s U5-U8 Academy curriculum offers intensive and repetitive drills, which are designed to build and master these fundamental technical abilities. These technical abilities include:
• Dribbling - Ball mastery, manipulation, retention and skills • Passing – First touch, Ankle Technique, Directional Movement, Weight
• Receiving – First Touch, Ankle Technique, Directional Movement
• Shooting – Weight of the shot, Ankle Technique, Directional Movement
Physical The physical component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program focusses on the individual's ability to perform the complex movements and the basic skills required to play the game of soccer. The FFC U5-U8 Academy Curriculum offers an intensive program, which targets movements that are necessary for, not only the game of soccer, but for a healthy lifestyle as well. These motor skills include:
• Agility – The ability to change one’s body position quickly and efficiently
• Balance – The ability to remain upright and steady • Coordination – The ability to perform complex body movements
• Stamina – sustaining prolonged physical and/or mental effort
Psychological The Psychological component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program focusses on the character development and mental skills of the individual. The FFC U5-U8 Curriculum is constantly challenging the player to receive and retain information in a short amount of time. In an effort to challenge all players to make decisions quickly in tight areas, we have designed small, age-appropriate, 12x12 grids for the Academy to train in. Our professional staff is always positive, giving your child the affirmation necessary to build their confidence. The psychological benefits of the FFC U5-U8 Academy for each player include: •
Learn to develop quick decision making
•
Ability to learn, receive, and retain information
•
Builds self-esteem and confidence
•
Builds pride in physical accomplishments
•
Builds and improves the ability to cope with stressful situations
Social The Social component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program focusses on the character development and social skills of the individual. It teaches the individual how to interact with others in a team environment. The FFC U5-U8 Academy has 100+ players in the program each season. These daily interactions that the players have with one another teaches them valuable social skills and creates life-long friendships. The FFC U5-U8 Academy provides all players the opportunity to experiment and develop these very important social skills with a larger, more diverse group of individuals. The social skills learned throughout the FFC U5-U8 Academy include: •
Learning the ability to win and lose
•
Learning to work together in a team environment
•
Early stage of interpersonal skill development
•
Values such as respect, dedication, selflessness, responsibility, etc.
Conclusion These 4 Developmental Foundations (Technical, Physical, Psychological, and Social), are vital to a child’s player and personal development. Each foundation is equally as important to the next and that is why all 4 of these foundations are touched on at EVERY training session throughout the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program. The FFC U5-U8 Academy prides itself on offering all players, regardless of skill level, the opportunity to develop BOTH on and off the field. Pursuing a true foundation for player and personal development is central to the mission of Fredericksburg Football Club and we a honored to have you be a part of our exciting soccer family.
FFC U5-U8 Academy Introduction Fredericksburg FC’s mission for the U5-U8 Academy is to provide an introduction to the game of soccer in a fun but challenging environment. Player and personal development are central goals for the U5-U8 Academy and we work tirelessly to ensure your child grows not only on the field, but off the field as well. Players will learn key Technical, Physical, Psychological, and Social skills that will allow them to build a developmental foundation for the future. Our professional staff focus on these 4 developmental foundations to ensure all players, regardless of skill level, reach their full potential. Week 1 Fundamentals of Dribbling
Week 2 Purposeful Dribbling
Week 3 Fundamentals of Passing
Week 4 Purposeful Passing
Week 5 SKILLZ Competition
Week 6 Fundamentals of Shooting
Week 7 Purposeful Shooting
Week 8 Dribbling
Week 9 Passing
The Curriculum is 10 weeks in duration, but broken up into different progressions to ensure total player development.
Week 10 Shooting
Technical The technical component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy program focusses on the individual’s ability to manage and manipulate the ball properly. It is absolutely vital for players to develop this relationship with the ball at a young age to ensure they have a proper developmental foundation for the future. FFC’s U5-U8 Academy curriculum offers intensive and repetitive drills, which are designed to build and master these fundamental technical abilities. These technical abilities include:
• Dribbling - Ball mastery, manipulation, retention and skills • Passing – First touch, Ankle Technique, Directional Movement, Weight
• Receiving – First Touch, Ankle Technique, Directional Movement
• Shooting – Weight of the shot, Ankle Technique, Directional Movement
Physical The physical component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program focusses on the individual's ability to perform the complex movements and the basic skills required to play the game of soccer. The FFC U5-U8 Academy Curriculum offers an intensive program, which targets movements that are necessary for, not only the game of soccer, but for a healthy lifestyle as well. These motor skills include:
• Agility – The ability to change one’s body position quickly and efficiently
• Balance – The ability to remain upright and steady • Coordination – The ability to perform complex body movements
• Stamina – sustaining prolonged physical and/or mental effort
Psychological The Psychological component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program focusses on the character development and mental skills of the individual. The FFC U5-U8 Curriculum is constantly challenging the player to receive and retain information in a short amount of time. In an effort to challenge all players to make decisions quickly in tight areas, we have designed small, age-appropriate, 12x12 grids for the Academy to train in. Our professional staff is always positive, giving your child the affirmation necessary to build their confidence. The psychological benefits of the FFC U5-U8 Academy for each player include: •
Learn to develop quick decision making
•
Ability to learn, receive, and retain information
•
Builds self-esteem and confidence
•
Builds pride in physical accomplishments
•
Builds and improves the ability to cope with stressful situations
Social The Social component of the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program focusses on the character development and social skills of the individual. It teaches the individual how to interact with others in a team environment. The FFC U5-U8 Academy has 100+ players in the program each season. These daily interactions that the players have with one another teaches them valuable social skills and creates life-long friendships. The FFC U5-U8 Academy provides all players the opportunity to experiment and develop these very important social skills with a larger, more diverse group of individuals. The social skills learned throughout the FFC U5-U8 Academy include: •
Learning the ability to win and lose
•
Learning to work together in a team environment
•
Early stage of interpersonal skill development
•
Values such as respect, dedication, selflessness, responsibility, etc.
Conclusion These 4 Developmental Foundations (Technical, Physical, Psychological, and Social), are vital to a child’s player and personal development. Each foundation is equally as important to the next and that is why all 4 of these foundations are touched on at EVERY training session throughout the FFC U5-U8 Academy Program. The FFC U5-U8 Academy prides itself on offering all players, regardless of skill level, the opportunity to develop BOTH on and off the field. Pursuing a true foundation for player and personal development is central to the mission of Fredericksburg Football Club and we a honored to have you be a part of our exciting soccer family.
