Arsenal Development Academy Mission
The Arsenal Development Academy will consist of two parts; the Junior Academy for boys and girls ages 5-7 and the Academy for boys and girls ages 7-12. The Arsenal Development Academy Program in its entirety will strive to identify and correct technical weaknesses, inspire game understanding, instill positive habits and attitudes and develop player’s confidence to compete at the highest level possible at each step in their development. The Junior Academy is specifically designed to enhance the youngest player’s learning environment to provide a safe, fun training curriculum that will promote a life-long passion for the game of soccer. The Academy program’s curriculum will further develop those players who wish to make the transition from junior academy or recreational play to competitive soccer. The program is designed as a transition for the junior academy player and more technically-advanced recreational player who has a strong desire to increase technical skills while also learning more about the tactical and physical aspects of the game. Players who complete the Arsenal Development Academy will be well prepared to play at the highest levels of Georgia select soccer.
Academy Selection/Placement/Movement
Players will be evaluated and selected during spring tryouts held in late May each year and placed into age appropriate player pools. Players will be further evaluated during early fall training sessions and sorted into teams based on age, commitment and ability level. Players may be moved among pools and/or teams in order to get the best competitive fit for each match and provide each player an enjoyable, challenging learning environment. New players may be evaluated and placed into the academy program throughout the year provided space is available. New players and player movement will be closely monitored by the Academy Coordinators and Director in consultation with the team coaches to provide the best experience for each individual player.
Academy Training and Playing
It is expected that each player be committed to the Arsenal Development Academy for the entire year. It is imperative that each player make every effort to attend all training sessions and be attentive and prepared to train. Throughout the year players will benefit from both team training and pool training. Players will train the majority of their time with their primary team and coach. Twice per month the players will train together as a pool so they can be exposed to all pool players and coaches and challenge themselves within their age group.
The essential aspect of the Arsenal Development Academy is training rather than winning at all costs. Technical and tactical training is provided two times per week in 1.5 hour sessions with an option of a third technical skills session conducted by our Academy Staff. In addition, players are expected to work at home on basic technical skills such as juggling, receiving, passing and dribbling. The team's coach periodically gives each player a written assessment as a measuring tool to benchmark development. Included in the Academy will be multiple soccer activities and skill sessions to supplement the regularly scheduled training. Specialized goalkeeper training will be offered for those interested players.
The format of play will consist of two or more of the following for each pool. Intra-Pool - competition dates will include both small sided games (3v3 and 4v4) as well as the appropriate 6v6 or 8v8 contests. Academy Festival - a weekend day where each team plays approximately two games per day against another club’s academy program. The level of play will be as competitive as possible but teams will be set to avoid lopsided games as much as possible. The focus is on player development and enjoyment and not on winning and losing. Tournament Play – during which teams will play 3-4 games against outside competition. These more demanding matches will enable the players to become comfortable in a more competitive environment. Teams will travel within a three hour radius, additional expenses will be incurred. Academy teams are not ranked in the state, and the teams do not play to progress to a higher level of play each season like in the older age groups (U13-U19). Therefore, the purpose of all games is to focus on skill development, team development and individual player growth.
Academy Schedule
The format of play will consist of two or more of the following for each pool. Intra-Pool - competition dates will include both small sided games (3v3 and 4v4) as well as the appropriate 6v6 or 8v8 contests. Academy Festival - a weekend day where each team plays approximately two games per day against another club’s academy program. The level of play will be as competitive as possible but teams will be set to avoid lopsided games as much as possible. Score is kept, however the focus is on player development and enjoyment and not on winning and losing. Tournament Play – during which teams will play 3-4 games against outside competition. These will be competitive matches in order for the players to become comfortable in a more competitive environment. Teams will travel within a three hour radius, additional expenses will be incurred. Academy teams are not ranked in the state, and the teams do not play to progress to a higher level of play each season like in the older age groups (U13-U19). Therefore, the purpose of all games is to focus on skill development, team development and individual growth for each player.
Academy Curriculum Overview
The Junior Academy will train together twice a week. The focus at this junior level is to introduce the game of soccer and teach the technical tools required to play the game in a fun environment. Games will be played locally with no travel commitments. Quite often, the teams will be mixed around for the development of all the players. In addition, the Junior Academy players will be invited to attend AASC Academy camps and skill sessions during the season.
U6-U8 should have a ball at their feet at all times. Make the experience fun. Players should not be standing around and instructed heavily. Allow creativity, mistakes to happen and correct accordingly. We may use older players who are highly proficient demonstrators to show techniques. The whole focus on development has to be individual development; to take on players, to protect the ball and encourage creativity. Will play 3v3 and 4v4 as game situations predominantly. Encourage and demand playing the ball on the ground, roll in from side lines. By the end of the season all players will be familiar with names of moves and be able to perform them efficiently. Skill set will include all dribbling, 1v1 moves, turning moves, tight space moves
The U9/U10 Academy Pool - The focus of development will be mainly individual technique with some positional and tactical concepts. Players will play a variety of positions to get the experience and knowledge for future years.
U9 should continue with foot skill development. Begin to incorporate defensive concepts such as ball side-goal side and pressure-cover-balance. Should train with 3v3 or 4v4 and understand concepts of width, 2v1 situations in defense and attacking situations. Format is 6v6; therefore, we should play with a 3-2 or 2-3 shape to allow width and demand players to play out of the back. Encourage defenders to support strikers and get into 1v1 situations and encourage players to take on players. Teach the importance of width, ball played into strikers’ feet to develop the attack and changing the point of attack. Do not allow keepers to punt the ball out rather demand rolling the ball to feet or passing the ball with feet on the ground. Encourage goalkeepers to act as field player to have numbers up in the back to promote playing out of the back.
U10 continue all the same concepts as that of U9. Most important concept to teach is receiving the ball in an open body position and the importance of this to be able to play out of the back. Teach pressure-cover-balance in 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 situations. Introduce and develop the concept of zonal defending, covering space and passing lanes as well as players. In attack introduce simple attacking concepts such as 1-2s (wall pass), overlapping runs, set-curls. Teach tight space moves as a way to create passing lanes to help keep possession of the ball. Teach the understanding and importance of depth in the attack in shape to help with possession. Begin transitional concepts from defense to attack and vice-versa.
The U11/U12 Academy Pool - Players will begin to develop more positional play and understand team shape concepts to complement individual skill. Players will begin to develop concepts of various team formations and adhere to team shape to play in a manner that enables a natural progression to prepare for the full field version of the game. Special attention will be given to individual player development to promote the individual skills developed to incorporate composure, confidence and creativity. Juggling and first touch technique will be taught, developed and benchmarked. Players will be encouraged to work and be rewarded for development in juggling as this is easy skill to measure numerically.
U11 will continue to teach and develop possession of the ball with simple tools such as first touch out of pressure, open body shape and tight space moves. Demand to play pass and move philosophy to create open passing lanes, playing out of the back, width and depth in attack. Play with a 3-3-1, 2-3-2 formation to help the importance playing with 3 lines of depth rather than 2. Play with depth by playing strikers high and teach strikers to play side to side to show in passing lanes with back to goal. Enhance concepts learned in U10 such as wall pass, overlapping on flanks and enhance set curl movement patterns to incorporate 3rd man running and changing the point of attack. Teach simple set piece concepts in attack and defense, being tight, ball side-goal side. Begin to position players in 1-2 fixed positions but have the knowledge to play in all positions.
U12 will focus on defensive and shape aspects such as compactness in defense, winning 1st and 2nd balls and zonal defending as a team from attackers to defenders. Begin to define positions for players, encourage quick speed of play but to stay within the philosophy of playing to feet and moving off the ball. Teach techniques to cope with 11v11, and larger fields such as striking a ball over 20-30 yards, winning the ball in the air, receiving the ball in the air.