Stage 2 – Foundation Stage U9-U12

•Academy 7v7 & 9v9

•Learning the game, teamwork & ball mastery

•Introduction to team play, spacing, possession passing patterns, playing out of the back

Academy u9-u12

The 4 Pillars

Tactical

Tactical – Introduce basic team shape and spatial awareness. Reinforce staying between the ball and the goal. Emphasize delaying the opponent rather than diving into tackles. Teach players not to crowd the ball and maintain their position within the team structure.

Social

Technical

Technical – Prioritize frequent ball contact through fun and competitive 1v1 activities. Encourage creativity and confidence with both feet, and the use of short, accurate passes. Focus on receiving with proper body orientation and using technique over power. Begin introducing finishing with both feet and controlled shooting techniques.

Physical

Social – Foster teamwork, communication, and respect among players. Promote resilience, responsibility, and learning through guided peer interaction. Encourage participation, effort, and a positive attitude regardless of outcome.

Physical – Develop general movement skills through short sprints, relay races, and agility circuits. Incorporate exercises that build coordination, acceleration/deceleration, and directional changes. Teach safe body mechanics such as falling and getting up quickly and using the body to protect the ball.