We are “One World, One Family” is our club slogan and symbolises everything we are about. There is no-one individual more important than another. We all develop by helping each- other and this is the greatest lesson we can implement as individuals, as a club and as a community. Our players & teams’ development is all derived from players, coaches, parents, and friends in the community all pulling together in the same direction. Likewise, parents, coaches and community friends also grow alongside our players & teams “One World, One Family”.
Our Academy is based on Holistic ideology, we pride ourselves on the full service we provide, and we follow The FA 4 corners concepts.
Holistic Approach: Psychological and Physiological.
The FA 4 Corners Approach: Social/Technical/Tactical/Physical.
Ofsted Registered Settings
FA Charter Standard Club
Kick It Out – Charter Club
Advice on Nutrition/Healthy Life Style
LTFA Football Philosophy: Ball Retention (Possession) is the foundation of our football philosophy for both the individual player and the team. Both are important as players learn to keep the ball as individuals, the team can also keep possession of the ball. You need the ball to score and the other team cannot score without the ball.
“The Player” We focus on Technique, Decision Making and Personality. “The Team” We use ‘The 6P’s of Football’ for our Players and Teams:
Passing
Pressing
Patience
Possession
Penetration
Positioning
Most importantly we give the freedom to our children to express themselves, make their own decisions no matter how many mistakes, they may make and allow their individual personalities to shine. All in a fun, safe and friendly environment.
LTFA Coaching Philosophy: “The Player” Players must listen and respect their coaches at all times 2. Our coaches aim to promote an environment which allows players to:
enjoy the game of football
develop individual skill and technique
be part of a team
3. We coach our players to learn to try every position on the pitch as we want them to develop into great ‘all-round footballers. 4. Our coaches aim to enhance players football knowledge and understanding of the game so they can adapt to different situations on the pitch. 5. When playing in a certain position during training or on matchday players must accept the role and show 100% commitment, our coaches aim to rotate players regularly during the season.
“The Team” 1. Win, lose or draw, it doesn’t matter! We want our players to play football with fun, focus and freedom, without the pressure of needing to win. 2. Winning games is great, but losing will also help improve players because in life nobody wins all the time and players need to learn how to ‘win’ and ‘lose’ games:
in a respectful manner
o learn from their mistakes
to prepare for their next challenge
Blaming team mates, if they make a mistake is not accepted, it is a team game and everyone makes mistakes. 4. Teams will learn to:
encourage their team mates in a positive way
help each-other to improve by offering good advice
stick together “One World, One Family”
5. Our coaches will not tolerate players, who talk back in a disrespectful way, dive, cheat or pretend to be injured. However, our coaches will act as educators to explain to children, why this is wrong.
LTFA Philosophy Stages: The Main Three Phases:
Foundation Phase – Learning to Love the Game – Under 12’s
Youth Development Phase – Learning to Compete – 13+
Professional Development Phase – Learning to Win – 16+
LTFA FOUNDATION PHASE – LEARNING TO LOVE THE GAME We believe the foundation phase is a fundamental stage in the Player Performance Clock and this is where we can nurture players to prepare them for the bigger and more complex game as they get older. Therefore, we believe academy foundation players need follow the F.A 4 Corners Model: Technical, Physical, Psychological and Social attributes.
“The Player” We focus on technique, decision making and personality. “The Team” We use ‘The 6P’s of Football’ for our players and teams:
Passing
Pressing
Patience
Possession
Penetration
Positioning
At LTFA, we also believe in order to develop players who are confident and comfortable in possession, players should be exposed to all situations and areas of the pitch and not be position specific in the foundation phase. That said, some players will excel in a certain position or unit and should be nurtured to enhance their development. Also, players must be prepared for the bigger game, and this can take place mostly at U11 & U12. (Our Under 12’s are mainly supported through the Foundation Phase but through our Phase Transition Strategy we also plan for their development into the Youth Development Phase).
In the Foundation Phase, the coaching programme should provide the framework for coaches to source challenging sessions to enable players to develop and put their learning to the test in 5 v 5, 7 v 7, or 9 v 9 development games. Sessions should be motivating for all, enriching and productive. A high proportion of contact time of each session should be made up of Technique – Ball Mastery – Passing, Receiving & Possession, with the remaining time used for game understanding and decision making.
Game formats in the Foundation Phase are usually 5 v 5 and 7 v 7 at Under 9 and U10, and 9 v 9 at Under 11 and U12.
In the 5 v 5 game we would usually play 1-2-1 rotating. This gives players the basic shape and backbone of the team with a Goalkeeper, Centre Half, 2 x Central Midfielders and a Centre Forward. In the 7 v 7 game we are flexible with formations but we tend to play 2-3-1 adding another Centre Half and a Midfielder to build up to the 11 v 11 game with the Right and Left Midfielders acting as wing backs. In the 9 v 9 games we add 2 x Midfielders as Number 8’s or 10’s to make up a 2-3-2-1.
