Player Development Stages

This part of the web site is intended to help coaches, teachers, parents and players maximise the benefits of practice sessions and support the development of players and coaches alike. Young players have different needs at different stages of their development. The one constant is the need to enjoy their football, whether training or playing games.

Keep in mind that at no stage are young players "mini-adults" and you need to understand their specific needs. Around the world players are being developed in different ways, but research shows that countries with a structured approach are more successful. below is a brief outline of the different stages of development of players as used by many successful associations and clubs internationally:

• 4-8 Years: This part is mainly about ball-feeding, players getting used to the ball and making a start with ball mastery. It contains lost of fun based games in which the players have to change direction and speed. On top of that they start to develop their accuracy.
• 8-12 Years: The focus here is on basic game maturity. Content evolves around technique (dribbling, ball control and shooting). Playing simplified games will start developing the player's insight.
• 12-16 Years: The aim here is to develop match maturity (11 versus 11). Training should focus on team requirements, with development of each requirement and position by a range of games from small sided to 11v11, the use of functional practices and phases of play.
• 16-18 Years: This is the time to develop competition maturity. Things will further progress by learning to perform in service of the team led by the coach's ideas.
• 18 Years: Players should come to optimal maturity. This is for specialisation and functioning to cope with the stress of the game.