VFSA Program
The academy’s program is for players under 7-10-12-13-14-16 and 18 with players of similar commitment levels, technical, and/or physical abilities. Unrestricted tryouts are held among all levels to determine teams. All teams are coached by VFSA Professional Coaching staff alongside volunteers. Every effort is made to announce coaching assignments during tryouts. All professional coaches have experience playing and/or coaching soccer at a high level and an emphasis is placed on continuing education throughout the coaches’ tenure with our academy.
To help the coaching staff and parents decide which level of play is most appropriate for their child, listed below are the characteristics of typical players who would participate in an Academy Program. If your child displays a majority of the characteristics listed they are probably more suited to that level of play. However, it should be noted that during a player’s soccer development they may move back and forth between academy teams.
- Demonstrates sound technical skills (control, dribbling and shooting)
- Physically stronger than most players within their age group
- Athletically quicker than most players within their age group
- High level of coordination and good agility
- During games is aggressive in their attitude and approach to getting involved
- During games tends to dominate the play
- Demonstrates high level of focus and concentration during practices and games
- Started to narrow down the number of extra-curricular activities
- Soccer is a high priority
- Practices with a ball in their own time outside regular schedule of games & practices
- A player who will try-out for the another level U9/U10/U11 competitive age group in the following year
Training sessions:
- Training: During school time, Two practice sessions are per week (Saturday 2:00-4:00pm and Sunday 11:00am-2:00pm) during holiday time 6 practices are conducted per week from Monday to Saturday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
Players are divided into training groups with other players similar in age and they participate in training sessions conducted by VFSA coaching staff. Training sessions are conducted following a set training curriculum, mixing training groups, mixing teams during each playing practice, small roster sizes, most importantly a focus on the individual player, not on the team with involvement with other activities like counseling (HIV/AID’s), life skills and leadership trainings and voluntary work among others (visiting each players family home and help parents on home work like fetching watch, washing clothes, utensils, cleaning compounds etc ).
- Friendly Matches/Games: During school time we always have friendly matches of weekends and during holiday time we always have 3 friendly matches per weak (Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between 11:00am-1:00pm) versus other selected teams.
- Training Grounds: As of current, our practices take place at the Nabukalu play ground which is under renovation. Most games take place at the selected venues of the visited team.
- Focus: Learning individual soccer – footwork, dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting and decision-making skills; developing team camaraderie; and competing to maximize individual and team results.
Training Camps
These are normally organized in an appropriate time with a schedule
Camps Daily Activities:
The programme focuses on the technical, tactical, physical, mental and social elements of the game, developing players as individuals within 1v1 situations, as well as gaining an understanding of working as a team both in defensive and attacking situations. The course focuses on positional sense, communication, handling, footwork, distribution, crosses, organizational skills, kicking, agility and flexibility.
Youth Player Training Course: 16-18 year olds
An advanced, intensive course gives older players a valuable insight into the opportunities that arise by staying in the game. As well as experiencing how VFSA prepare their youth players for that next step, VFSA staff help the players create a vision of how they can progress within the game and the opportunities in football such as coaching, sports science and nutrition.
Senior Player Training Course: 12-16 year olds
An intensive course designed to take the players to the next level by improving their technique but also developing their understanding of team shape, defensive responsibilities and attacking principles using the National team philosophy.
Junior Player Training Course: 8-11 year olds
This focuses on teaching the fundamental techniques of the game and showing players how to master these skills. Tailor-made for junior players with a fun and friendly atmosphere, players live and breathe the game for a week. Players will learn how to practice like their successful national heroes.
Girls Training Course: 8-18 year olds
Girls from all over the world can enjoy taking their soccer development to a new level. The course focuses on the technical, tactical, physical, mental and social elements of the game and follows the fundamental elements of national team coaching philosophy. This course will help girls striving to reach their peak performance.
Goalkeeper Training Courses: 8 - 18 year olds
The goalkeeper courses focus on the technical, tactical, physical, mental and social elements of the game, developing players as individuals within 1v1 situations, as well as gaining an understanding of working as a team both in defensive and attacking situations. The sessions look at positional sense, communication, handling, footwork, distribution, crosses, organizational skills, kicking, agility and flexibility.
