Academy Curriculum

With the US Soccer Federation youth development guidelines in mind, the Strikers Academy is based on the development of the essential techniques of soccer. These include:

• Passing and Receiving: Transferring the ball on the ground or in the air from one player to another from a given distance.
• Turning: One or more touches on the ball with the purpose of changing direction efficiently.
• Shooting: Striking the ball toward the goal with the objective of scoring.
• Ball Control: Receiving or directing the ball efficiently in the air or on the ground.
• Running with the Ball: Control of a ball in movement with the feet and on the ground at high speed without modifying its trajectory.
• 1v1 Attacking: Offensive action with control of the ball to beat a specific defender.
• Dribbling: Close control of a ball in movement, with the feet and on the ground, continuously changing its trajectory.
• Shielding the Ball: Protecting possession of the ball from a defender.
• Receiving to Turn: A change of direction of the ball with the foot after receiving a pass from a teammate with the purpose of making a second action such as dribbling, passing or shooting.

It is also important that we include movement education within the Academy. We try to incorporate this into soccer exercises rather than just having players run laps. First, we build on a young player's movement experiences which they have already established. Second, the movements that we introduce are keys to injury prevention through development of agility, balance and coordination. Lastly, we introduce new movements that challenge the young players’ spatial awareness both on the ground and in the air.