Micros U4-U8

Fundamental Stage: Learning fundamentals like movement (running, accelerating, sprinting), balance, communication (sharing & participating), coordination and basic soccer skills like dribbling and kicking.

Training Style: FUN, active, achievable and encouraging. Avoid complexities & long periods of inactivity. Account for developmental differences to maintain balance and challenge individuals appropriately to support effective development and participation.

Small Sided Games U9-U12

Learning to Train Stage: Learing fundamental soccer skills like ball control (mobility, dribbling, direction change, trapping, 1st touch), positional awareness, individual attacking (striking/shooting) and defending (shielding) tactics and relevant communication skills.

Training Style: Organized, encouraging and accountable. Encourage engagement by providing instruction with clear expectations, simple instructions, and activities that support many touches on the ball and opportunities to succeed. Encourage player decision making (avoid "joystick" coaching) and simple combinations (like 1 - 2 or give & go passing) while focusing on individual skills and possession to increase successful outcomes, rather than complex combinations and strategies that could be hard to achieve without a strong skill foundation (yet).

Youth Training 11v11 U13-U15

Training to Train Stage: Development of enhanced attacking skills (penetration, depth, mobility, width, improvisation & deception, finishing techniques) and defensive skills (pressure, delay, depth, balance and unbalancing the opponent, compactness, control and restraint). Foundational fitness development to support competition and game readiness.

Training Style: Tactical and intentional training that is focused on the Principles of Play and fitness/competitive readiness. Constructively focus on accountability by providing clear objectives and opportunities to train, reflect, and improve. Develop solid tactical awareness skills; encourage recognition of transition and decisive action. Support team dynamics by insisting upon healthy training, feedback and communication patterns.

High school +

Training to Compete Stage: Enhance fitness and train to specific individual positional performance. Individuals specialize and focus on tactical support of deeper team strategies. Team dynamics and chemistry play a larger role and players & team become more goal and outcome oriented.

Training Style: Collaborative, active, challenging, and accountable. Players understand individual areas of opportunity and practice independently (on their time) while committing to team objectives in training. Trainings focus on achievement of team strategies (recognizing transition and responding, unbalancing opponents, attacking effectively and changing the point of attack, capitalizing on opportunities & recognizing vulnerabilities). Team communication must be effective; always honest, constructive, actionable, and fair. Prioritize opportunities to perform, reflect, and provide feedback for improvement.