Soccer Academy Training

Soccer academies are all different. The ages of players vary depending on the academy. Professional teams have youth development academies where many of the most famous players today were trained. Academy training is centered around player development and not results of games. European youth academies are several years ahead of academies in the Americas.

  1. Academies

    • The most prominent academies in the world are based in Europe. The Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona all have world-class academies. All professional soccer teams in Europe have academies. Though there are many professional teams in North and South America, there are fewer youth academies because of a lack of funds.

    Schooling

    • Soccer academies are not only centered on soccer but also general education. In Europe most academies are boarding schools. They teach their students not only soccer but also educate them in math, English, histories and humanities. Many trainers recognize that being a professional soccer player, even if raised in a professional academy, is not a probable profession.

    Training

    • Academy training differs depending on the organization. Professional academies typically have different trainers for different aspects of the game. For instance there are multiple coaches for goalkeeper training, fitness training and weight training, with a head coach overseeing the whole of the academy.

      Academy training focuses on ball control, bringing the most natural traits out in a player. Players who learn the muscle memory needed to control the ball at a young age will have an advantage over opponents.

    Enrollment

    • Most players are submitted to academies at a young age. In Europe, players from 9 to 21 are allowed to join. Though many players submit themselves or are submitted by their parents, each academy has a scouting crew to find new and promising talent.

    Differences

    • Academies in Europe are often boarding schools, while in the United States academies are usually day programs that you can enroll in for a session that comprises a certain amount of time. Some academies practice once a week, while others will practice multiple times a week for several hours each day.