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FDC Academy

How we coach

Our syllabus

Across every level of the FDC Development Model, all sessions follow one syllabus. Each half-term has a theme and a set of key objectives, so players know what they are working on and why.

Now Defending Autumn 1, week 6 of 7

The school-year roadmap

Six half-terms, six themes. The highlighted card is what we are working on now.

  1. Autumn 1Now, week 6 of 7

    Defending

    • Distances / Timing
    • Angle of Approach
    • Body Shape
    • Aggression
    • Defending Techniques
    • 1v1 Domination
    • Unit Defending
  2. Autumn 2

    Defending

    • Distances / Timing
    • Angle of Approach
    • Body Shape
    • Aggression
    • Defending Techniques
    • 1v1 Domination
    • Unit Defending
  3. Spring 1

    Passing & Sharing

    • Ball Speed
    • Decision Making
    • Support Play
    • Overloads / Underloads
    • Creativity
    • Passing Variations (distances/weight/type)
    • Problem Solving
  4. Spring 2

    Finishing

    • Striking Technique
    • Striking Variety (Laces/Instep/Curl/Chip/Outside)
    • Finishing under Pressure (Front/Side/Back)
    • Creating for Yourself & Others
    • Underload & Overload Emphasis
    • Decision Making
  5. Summer 1

    1v1 Attacking

    • Ability to perform skills opposed and unopposed
    • Ability to use both feet
    • Disguise and deception to dominate
    • Identify, create and exploit space
    • Clever use of agility, balance & co-ordination to off balance
    • Bravery to try new things
  6. Summer 2

    Small Sided Games

    • Pressing & Counter-Pressing
    • Transitions (attack to defence, defence to attack)
    • Decision Making
    • Communication
    • Game Awareness
    • Adaptability
    • Teamwork

One syllabus, every level

Familiar at every step

  • Every session across the Development Model follows the FDC syllabus.
  • Session difficulty is relative to the pyramid and based on the ability of the group.
  • The same themes and core skills run through every level, so moving up feels natural.
“We have found that by showing a clear transparency with our syllabus across all levels, players make a smoother transition when progressing up the FDC Progress Pyramid.”
Jamie Bailey, Founder of FDC

Across every level

Core skills

At the Football Development Centre we want to create a real identity across our pyramid. With that in mind, we make sure all sessions deliver our core skills.

Every player at FDC learns to know and understand all of them. The skills underpin every session across the pyramid, so players can easily recognise each one and perform it competently. They are constantly checked and coached, opposed and unopposed, so players understand when, where and why to use them.

Beginner core skills

  • Stop / start
  • Drag back

Our core skills

  • Cruyff turn
  • Step over / double step over
  • Ronaldo chop
  • Zidane fake
  • Zidane shuffle
  • Step over turn
  • Messi L cut
  • Flip flap
  • Maradona 360
  • Outside hook
  • Inside hook
  • Scissors

Want to see them in action? Watch the core skills on our YouTube channel.

To create a safe and elite environment for players to flourish, learn and develop.

Ready to get started?

Register for your trial and we will help you find the right level and venue for your child.

Register for your trial

Enquiries: enquiries@fdcacademy.co.uk