As a youth football academy, we actively encourage players to ‘express themselves’ as a way of creating and developing their football capability within a structured programme.
A players development is much more than winning a game of football, its about the journey. At EFA, we see our coaches developing the players ‘body and mind’. We continually challenge a players cognitive thinking (strategic thinkers and problem solvers) and technical capability (effective use of skills) in a fast-paced team environment. The ultimate goal for the Academy is to develop smart, creative, resilient and high performing players driven by their want to be the best player they can possibly be.
The Academy core values act as a moral compass ensuring the coaches and players do not lose their direction or focus on or off the field. Importantly, the core values engender respect for oneself and others, builds strength of character, self-discipline and persistence to strive for excellence in all that we do.
We see our role being more than just a football academy, we want to partner with parents to support them to develop their children into future role models and leaders in sport but also the wider community.
The tactical content covered in our sessions include general and specific ideas, concepts and principles of the game to make players as performing as autonomous as possible. We seek to design players who will show resourcefulness in the game and reach top performance during their career. This starts from knowing what is attacking or defending, to much more detailed ideas of team play.
To develop tactically aware players implies a deeper knowledge of “moments”, responses adapted to different game scenarios, and a good sense of space.
To develop better individual players is to make them manage the ball with both feet equally and shape them for what they will need for future football
To develop physically fit players is to make them run, change directions both ways, anticipate others’ movements, think fast and make quicker decisions, prevent injuries.
The Psychological component reflects great leaders, team players and a strong sense of discipline. We aim to create hard workers who demonstrate sportsmanship.
