PBG Technical Development Curriculum

Youth Technical Development
Technical Curriculum 2019 - 2020

Overview

Palm Beach Gardens Predators follows a researched and proven approach to player development. The following information introduces our philosophy, player development rationale and the methods that are used to deliver our curriculum.

Mission Statement

To develop, promote and transition every Predators player to the level they desire and wish to achieve.

Player Development Vision

To identify promising young soccer players, introduce them to a professional soccer environment with the purpose to develop and promote the most talented players to the US Youth National Team system and to our Academy partners.

Player Development Rationale

Palm Beach Gardens Predators take on the building block approach to Player Development. Players follow an initial path heavily focused on technique and skill development, and as competency increases tactical elements are introduced. Within each building block an extensive curriculum is designed to focus on the necessary skill set. Proficiency within each block is important to ensure that the player has acquired the required skills to support their development at the next stage of the curriculum. Each building block is tied closely together. As a player progresses through the system they will continue to work on elements of preceding stages to ensure they are consistently and simultaneously challenged on both fundamental and advanced levels.

The best way to improve technique is through constant repetition and high volume of contact with the ball. Games provide very limited technical benefits since players don’t get many touches on the ball. When you have 18 players sharing one ball, each player only gets on average 20 - 40 ball touches per game. In fact, depending on position and amount of minutes played, some players only touch the ball 10-20 times per game (or less!). This is not our philosophy of developing players.

In a well structured practice that is geared towards technical development, players would typically touch the ball hundreds of times in one single practice. By keeping the player-to-ball ratio small (1:1 through 4:1) and using small-sided games, each player would easily accomplish 200-400 touches, and often even more, in a 75 minute practice session. Our goal at PBG Predators is to provide players an environment where they can get challenged, learn, and excel so they can achieve their potential.



Warm-Up (20%):

Warm up to be sub-divided into two separate activities: 1, Physical Preparation and 2, Ball

Mastery

  • Ensure both activities are fun, dynamic and engaging
  • First activity to incorporate elements of SAQ to enhance motor skill development (ABC’s)
  • Focus mainly on the physical elements of basic motor skills, agility, and perception and
  • awareness
  • Use of a soccer ball is optional in first activity (physical preparation)
  • Use of a soccer ball is mandatory in second activity (ball mastery)
  • Second activity to involve basic ball mastery skills and moves and/or juggling
  • Ensure every player has touched the ball a minimum of 500 times by end of warm up!

Technical Development (40%)

The Palm Beach Gardens Predators  – Youth Technical Curriculum’ is designed around 4 key topics of technical development.

Weeks 1 & 5

Running with the Ball – Into Space

  • Positive first touch out of the feet
  • Play with the laces of the foot closest to the ball
  • Use the least number of touches to cover the distance quickly
  • Run in a straight line

Running with the Ball – At Speed

  • Positive first touch out of the feet
  • Play with the laces of the foot closest to the ball
  • Use the least number of touches to cover the distance quickly
  • Run in a straight line

Weeks 2 & 6

Dribbling – The Roll

  • Take the ball inside the opponents tackling radius
  • Drag the ball across the body with sole of the foot
  • Take the ball past the defender with inside of the opposite foot

Dribbling – Roll Step

  • Drag the ball across the front of the body with sole of the foot
  • Step over the top of the ball with the opposite foot
  • Carry on in the same direction as the ball

Dribbling – Feint 

  • Lean to one side dropping your shoulder
  • Plant the same side foot to the side of the ball
  • Take the ball away with the outside of the opposite foot

Dribbling – Double Feint

  • Lean to one side dropping your shoulder
  • Lean to the opposite side taking the opposite foot past the back of the ball
  • Take the ball away with the outside of the foot that started the movement

Weeks 3 & 7

Turning – Inside Cut

  • Step to the side of the ball with the non-kicking foot
  • Pivot on that foot
  • Cut the ball back with the inside of the opposite foot

Turning – Outside Cut

  • Step to the side of the ball with the non-kicking foot
  • Pivot on that foot
  • Cut the ball back with the outside of the opposite foot

Turning – Stop Turn

  • Stop the ball with the sole of the foot
  • Step forward with the same foot, planting it in front of the ball
  • Take the ball away with the outside of the opposite foot

Turning – U Turn

  • Non kicking foot plants as the kicking foot reaches for the ball
  • Drag the ball back as you turn, shielding the ball from the defender
  • The next touch is made with the nearest surface of the nearest foot

Weeks 4 & 8

Shooting – Driven Shot

  • Angle of approach - off center
  • Head up to observe the position of the GK
  • Head down at the point of contact
  • Non-kicking foot places to side, slightly behind the ball
  • Ankle locked, toe down
  • Contact ball will vary depending on target area
  • Contact foot - laces (instep)
  • Body weight forward, chest and knee over the ball at contact
  • Follow through landing on striking foot

Shooting – Driven Shot Across GK

  • Angle of approach - off center
  • Head up to observe the position of the GK
  • Head down at the point of contact
  • Non-kicking foot places to side, hips turn to face the far post as the player strikes
  • Contact on the ball is with the laces
  • Follow through landing on the striking foot

Shooting – Low Inside Curl

  • Angle of approach - off center
  • Head up to observe position of GK
  • Head down at the point of contact
  • Non kicking foot is placed to the side of the ball
  • Contact is made with the side of the foot on the outside of the ball
  • Follow through comes back to the center of the body

Shooting – High Inside Curl

  • ​​​Angle of approach - off center
  • Head up to observe position of GK
  • Head down at the point of contact
  • Non kick of the foot is placed to the side of the ball
  • Contact is foot with the side of the foot on the outside of the ball
  • Lean back to help elevate the ball
  • Follow through comes back to the center of the body

Conditional Game (15%)

  • Small-sided activity: preferably 1v1, 2v2 or 3v3
  • Conditioned play to reinforce the application of technique
  • Directional activity featuring an element of transition with numerous attacking and defending
  • opportunities, i.e. face on, side by side, back to goal, retreating, etc
  • Ensure defender has a purpose/target to score during transition, i.e. goal, end line, gate, etc
  • Ensure rotation – expose players to countless opportunities as both attacker and defender

Small Sided Game (30%)

  • Small-sided group play
  • 4v4 maximum
  • Set up one of six small-sided 4v4 games: Two Goal Game, End Zone Dribbling Game, Four Gate
  • Dribbling Game, Four Goal Game (Wide), Four Goal Game (Long), Four Goal Game (Across)
  • Use as opportunity to reinforce/correct use of technique in the game
  • Encourage creativity – allow players to express themselves!
  • Provide an element of free play – let the game be the teacher via self-learning and guided discovery