SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM

CURRICULUM MANUAL
 CONTENTS

Our aim is for parents to feel part of their child’s

football journey. In this manual we explain to you why
and what we will be teaching the young boys and girls
throughout our Skills Training Program.

1. Building Blocks Of Learning

• Discovery Phase Player Characteristics
• Discovery Phase Coaching Philosophy
• Skill Acquisition Phase Player Characteristics
• Skill Acquisition Phase Coaching Philosophy
2. Sydney FC Skills Training Program Methodology
3. Four Core Skills Description
4. Example Model Sessions
THE BUIDLING BLOCKS OF FOOTBALL
 BUILDING BLOCKS
In football, there are four core stages of player development, driven by age. Our Skills Training
Program covers children in the Discovery and Skills Acquisition Phases of development.

PERFORMANCE PHASE
17yrs+

11v11

13-16yrs
GAME TRAINING PHASE

9-12yrs
SKILL ACQUISITION PHASE
Small
Sided
Games
5-8yrs
DISCOVERY PHASE
SKILLS TRAINING METHODOLOGY:
DISCOVERY & SKILL ACQUISITION PHASES
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN IN THE
DISCOVERY PHASE

CLUMSY: LACK FINE DEVELOPING

MOTOR SKILLS SHORT ATTENTION SPAN EASILY DISTRACTED COORDINATION

SHORT BURSTS OF UNABLE TO HANDLE TOO

SELF-CENTRED PLAY FOR FUN
ENERGY MUCH INFORMATION
SYDNEY FC DISCOVERY
PHASE COACHING
PHILOSOPHY
• There is little to no 'coaching' however we organise fun
football practices (Small Sided Games)

• Our sessions encourage to have players discover one's

possibilities through trial and error.

• Players 'learn FOOTBALL by playing football' so we

designed the sessions to maximise the playing time.

• We have tried to replicate the 'street/park football'

environment of the past.

• Each session we deliver has had a large emphasis on

building a love of the game.
 CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN IN THE SKILL
ACQUISITION PHASE

HIGHLY MOTIVATED COMPETITIVE SELF CENTRED ENTHUSIASTIC

WELL BALANCED & ADAPTIVE TO LEARNING

COORDINATED SENSITIVE TO FAILURE SENSITIVE TO CRITICISM MOTOR SKILLS
SYDNEY FC SKILL ACQUISITION
PHASE COACHING PHILOSOPHY

• Create a fun and positive learning environment.

• Design sessions with the starting point of players having fun whilst learning
the four core skills.

• Encourage players to express themselves.

• Let players make decisions for themselves.

• Observe and provide positive feedback to individual players.

• Allow for players to make mistakes and to praise their efforts.

• Support the players and give them confidence.

 DISCOVERY PHASE: SKILL-
GAME THEME- GAME
• Training Methodology in the Discovery Phase is based on
three areas, Ball Mastery, Game Theme and Games.

• Children are discovering football in this age bracket so it is

important for them to practice playing with the ball and to
explore playing a variety of fun games.

SAP: GAME-SKILL-GAME
METHODOLGY
• Sydney FC coaches have identified a coaching model
preference to develop players of all abilities in our program
using the Game-Skill-Game methodology in the SAP.

• Given the children are in the ‘Golden age of motor learning’

we need to expose them to develop perception, decision
making and execution in game realistic situations .

• Therefore we have created a training menu which brings to

the life this methodology and allows the four core skills to be
performed with the support and guidance of the coaches.
FOUR CORE SKILLS
Description of the four core skills we teach over the program for Skill Acquisition Phase players.

ACTIONS

• Running with the ball at speed (With space)

• Dribbling (Tight areas)
• Protecting the ball
• Changing direction with the ball

• Controlling the ball with any allowed part of the body

• All feints, moves and accelerations to get past the

defender

• Short passes
• Crossing
• Long passes
• Shooting
EXAMPLE DISCOVERY PHASE SESSION PLAN:
 SESSION
Learn the different ways to move the ball with their feet.
OBJECTIVE

15 MIN Ball Mastery – Different techniques to move the ball.

20 MIN Game Theme- Use the different techniques within a game

25 MIN Game – Street style football with no coaching.

BALL MASTERY INSTRUCTIONS

• 20 x 20 square area. Each player with

a ball dribbling around the area to
start.

• Coach calls out any 6 x specific ball

mastery skills:

• 1. Turn with inside of the foot. 2. Turn

with outside of foot 3. Sole Turn 4.
Hook Turn (Cruyff Turn) 5.
Inside/Outside cuts 6. Double cuts

• Correct technique using the laces

when running with the ball forward.
 SESSION
Learn the different ways to move the ball with their feet
OBJECTIVE

15 MIN Ball Mastery – Different techniques to move the ball.

20 MIN Game Theme- Use the different techniques within a game situation.

25 MIN Game – Street style football with limited rules.

GAME THEME INSTRUCTIONS

• Area: 20 x 20m, with 4 gates set up

around the field.
• Split teams into groups of 3. To
score a goal players must dribble
through the gate.
• A team cannot score in the same
gate twice in a row and are
encouraged to use the whole field.
▪ Gate sizes can vary. E.g. a smaller
gate will be more difficult to dribble
through and may be worth 2 points.
 SESSION
Learn the different ways to move the ball with their feet
OBJECTIVE

15 MIN Ball Mastery – Different techniques to move the ball.

20 MIN Game Theme- Use the different techniques within a game situation.

25 MIN Game – Street style football with limited rules.

GAME THEME INSTRUCTIONS

• Area: 20 x 15m x 2 pitches

• Players are divided into teams of
3v3.
• Free game with no rules!
EXAMPLE SKILL AQUASITION PHASE SESSION PLAN:
1V1
 SESSION
IMPROVE PLAYERS ABILITY TO GET THEMSELVES FREE WITH THE BALL
OBJECTIVE

15 MIN Game – Beat defender 1v1 to score a goal (1v1).

20 MIN Skill – 1v1 minigames

25 MIN Game – Small games with emphasis on 1v1’s

GAME INSTRUCTIONS
• Organisation – 15m x 20m (x3) with a goal or gate on
each end line.
• Start with “tips” format where attackers need to touch the
goal or run over end line to score for a point and
defenders “tip” attacker to earn a point.
• Progress to using the ball with defender serving to
attacker who then tries to score in opposite goal.
Defender tries to win the ball back and score in opposite
goal.
 SESSION
IMPROVE PLAYERS ABILITY TO GET THEMSELVES FREE WITH THE BALL
OBJECTIVE

15 MIN Game – Beat defender 1v1 to score a goal (1v1).

20 MIN Skill – 1v1 minigames

25 MIN Game – Small games with emphasis on 1v1’s

SKILL INSTRUCTIONS
• Organisation – set up multiple fields for 1v1 minigames
(roughly 20m x 12m)
• Defender dribbles out and passes to attacker, who is
trying to beat the defender and score in the goal.
• Defenders get a point by winning the ball and running
over the opposite end line. Swap sides after each turn.
Play 4 minute rounds, with promotion and relegation after
each round.
• Key point – execute skill move when close to def
 SESSION
IMPROVE PLAYERS ABILITY TO GET THEMSELVES FREE WITH THE BALL
OBJECTIVE

15 MIN Game – Beat defender 1v1 to score a goal (1v1).

20 MIN Skill – 1v1 minigames

25 MIN Game – Small games with emphasis on 1v1’s

END GAME INSTRUCTIONS

• Set up 2 fields for 3v3 or 4v4 games (30x20m area)

• Regular football rules, but teams can get extra points by
beating a defender in a 1v1 situation.
• 1 point for a normal goal
• Extra point if an attacker beats a defender 1v1 in the lead
up to the goal
• Emphasise coaching points on the run about executing
skill moves (e.g. step overs and scissors) quickly, to get
free and beat defenders.
 [email protected] SydneyFootballClub

+61 2 8314 5100 @SydneyFC

www.sydneyfc.com @sydneyfootballclub

Byron Kennedy Hall, Suite C2, Building 15, 122 Lang Road, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park NSW 2021