Academy Curriculum

The OFC Academy curriculum for player development reflects the view that the game of soccer is played best when developed as a series of technical combinations between two, three, and sometimes four players, and that true team success turns on individual player performances – 1 ball and 1 player.  The curriculum has as its core the “Pyramid of Player Development,” which provides a unique and logical approach to the development of young players.

The ‘building blocks’ are as follows:

Ball Mastery:

Ball mastery is the basic building block for soccer development. Players go through a variety of 1 player/1 ball exercises to help develop their technical abilities and build confidence when in possession of the ball during a game.

Penetration of the Defense using Moves (1vs.1):

After the ball mastery element of player development has been accomplished, the next step in a player’s development is to utilize these learned techniques in a competitive situation. It is as this stage that we begin to introduce the tactical (decision-making) element of soccer. By introducing a defender into the environment, we are obliging the player to make decisions about which move to use to best create time/space away from the opponent.

Penetration and Support (2vs.2):

Building on the skills learned in the 1v1 level, the 2vs.2 level develops the decisionmaking process a little further. The player in possession of the ball now faces the decision of whether to take the ball him/herself (and thus recreate the 1vs.1 situation above), or pass the ball to a teammate. In creating this challenge, the 2vs.2 environment recreates many of the decisions that a player will face in a game, since players must process information about the position of his/her opponents and his/her teammates and always make the best decision possible.

Penetration, Support and Width in a ‘Player Up’ situation (3vs.2):

As players gain success and confidence in 1v1 and 2v2 situations, uneven numbers are added in small group activities to make sure players achieve a high degree of success if the correct decisions are made at the appropriate time. This level of the curriculum concentrates on players off the ball, how they assist in creating space for the player on the ball, and how to provide support to receive a pass if required.

Penetration, Support and Width (3vs.3):

The 3v3 curriculum level builds on the skills learned in 1v1, 2v2, and 3v2 by introducing a third defender so that players have to work harder to create space and find opportunities to break down the opposing team. Players are called upon to make decisions, communicate, and create and exploit time and space.
 

Principles of Play (4vs.4):

The 4vs.4 structure provides our players with the most efficient and effective means to develop their skills in a team vs. team environment. All the elements of 6vs.6, 8vs.8 and 11vs.11 play are found in this.
 

The principles are as follows:

  • Principles of Attacking vs. Principles of Defending
  • Penetration of defense vs. Pressure on attacker in possession
  • Support of player in possession vs. Cover for defender applying pressure
  • Using width to create time/space vs. Providing balance to reduce time/space

Even though reference hasn’t been made above to defending principles, in using the 1vs.1, 2vs.2 and 3vs.3 formats, we are obliging players who are on the team not in possession of the ball to constantly work on the basics of defending. As you can see, these defending principles are the exact opposite of the related attacking principles (the opposite of penetration with the ball is applying ‘pressure’ to prevent this penetration for example). These principles are at the core of all soccer play and any mistake made during a game will likely come down to how the players apply these principles.

Other Curriculum Goals:

In working with our young players, we also focus on developing the following elements:

  • A enjoyment of, and an appreciation for, the game of soccer 
  • Teamwork and effective communication 
  • Assertiveness 
  • Self-confidence

In summary, it is our aim to raise all the players who go through our Academy program to a level where they are competent and composed with the technical elements of the game, and understand the basic mechanics of how a soccer team operates.

Typical Academy Training Session

Warm up – 30 minutes

  •  Technical practices to develop individual technical skills.
  •  Speed and Agility exercises
  •  “Scoring” games with the ball

 Main Practice – 60 minutes

  • 2v2
  • 3v3
  • 4v4

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