The concept of the NFI Youth Football development is based on our vision of empowering kids through football. We want our youths to not only become good players who can make a living out of football but also that the become good future leaders. We want to use football as a tool of social development in order to help young people prepare for the challenges of the future. The personal development of the kids plays a central role in our philosophy.

Two phases:

Phase 1

In the first stage, through regular trainings, we transmit as much as possible, all important football training the children the need to know. Our training is based on established football concepts. We do not re-invent the wheels.

Phase 2

In the second stage, we train the children into becoming players of the senior squad or to be visible to other interested clubs. We also engage in external games and invite partners to engage the kids. This way the kids have a sustainable binding to the club.

How we get there:

We intend to achieve this vision through the following means:

• Regular planned training with the contents of these trainings professionally prepared and have as much competitive games with other teams as possible.
• Continuous training of the trainers and participation in exchange courses.
• We want the kids to be able to continue with regular activities in life even if they do not make it as professionals. We do this through training them on social skills and computer technology. We also help the kids in their school work or in the integration with partner schools. We assist the kids even out of the framework of football, like helping in their homework and giving psychological advice.
• We make it possible for the kids to take a step further in professional football by facilitating their transfer to the adult club and to national and international teams. At this stage, our national and international contacts and partnerships play a crucial role. We promote national and international exchange.
• We discover and promote exceptional talents as soon as we discover them. We then give them special and/or individual training and provide scholarship if possible.
• We seek a best mix of trainers. Not only those who have been players but who come with other qualities which are beneficial to the kids and we place a lot of emphasis on their continues training and skill exchange.
• We structure the training of the kids in stages to fit their age. The kids get trained based on what their ages can allow and following best practice.
• We do regular performance tests and evaluation and archive the results to monitor their performances.

The stages:

U12: (The Golden Age of Learning)

• Different trainings to play with the ball (U10 if applicable).
• Social competence training (U10 if applicable).
• Make sure they understand the game rules we establish together (U10 if applicable).
• Learn and develop team work and team spirit (U10 if applicable).
• Learn to communicate and understand conflict resolution (U10 if applicable).
• Promote self-confidence (U10 if applicable).
• Learn individual techniques like dribbling, ball reception and ball control, passing and shooting techniques (U10 if applicable).
• Introduction to heading the ball, starting with light balls (U10 if applicable).
• Coordination and running (U10 if applicable).
• Promotion of the use of both legs (U10 if applicable).
• Different training techniques with the ball.
• Improvement and further development of individual technique (passing game, feints, shooting, scoring, ball training, etc.).
• Introduction to group tactics (positioning on the field, moving).
• How to form defensive chains .
• Heading the ball.
• Coordination and running.
• Training to play 11 against 11.
• Promotion of use of both legs.

U15

• Improvement and further development of individual techniques.
• Further development of group tactics.
• Two-man (duel) combat training
• Playing with players in a game
• Promotion of the combination game
• Playing in defence chains (mandatory 4-man defence)
• Targeted implementation of group tactics in game mode
• Studying of player movements
• Coordination and running
• Stabilization and power play (fitness training)
• Promotion of use of both legs

U17

• Improvement and further development of individual technique
• Two-man (duel) combat training
• Introduction to team tactics
• Stabilization and strength training
• Fast switching
• Develop team tactics such as pressing, shifting, defensive behaviour
• Continue to learn player movements
• Coordination and running
• Promotion of the use of both legs
• Preparation of the players into the main team
• Develop learned skills
• Promote aggressiveness, speed and mental strength
• Assist the players in applying for clubs
• Create bond between the players and the senior team
• Perfecting team tactics
• Promotion of use of both legs

INDIVIDUAL AND SPECIAL TRAINING

Such training is provided only to players who have been identified by their trainers to be of exceptional quality (highly talented players). These players shall be promoted and trained irrespective of their age. For these, we plan the following:

How it works

• We create training groups of 8 - 10 children
• Further development of strengths through targeted training
• Working on individual weaknesses in order to get improvement
• Special technical training (dribbling, feinting, receiving and controlling the ball in high speed, duel training, heading, shooting techniques)

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