SAP

FQ ACADEMY

A key aspect of the new Football Federation Australia National Curriculum is the implementation of the FQ Academy Program to perfect and accelerate the skill development of identified players at the critical ages of 9-12. The FQ Academy Program forms the foundation of the FFA National Talent Pathway, and plays an important role in developing individual players to play at a higher level. The SAP Academy is designed to enhance the skill development of the most talented 9, 10, 11 and 112 year old players. This is achieved by forming a “best of the best” training group and giving them the opportunity to develop the key components within the FQ Academy Program by the best coaches and working under the best environment. By taking the four core skills identified by the FFA and overloading them through training, players can fine tune these cognitive techniques and develop them to autonomous stage of learning where execution becomes effortless and natural, in opposed situations.

The FFA’s Four Core Skills are:

1. Striking the ball – This includes all forms of striking the ball such as short / long passing; shooting & crossing
2. First touch – Controlling the ball with all allowed body parts.
3. 1 v 1 – All moves, feints and accelerations to get past and away from an opponent.
4. Running with the ball at speed (with a lot of space) or ‘dribbling’ (in tight areas), this includes techniques for protecting the ball and changing direction.

The focus on FQ Academy is on functional game skills with an immediate skills transfer into positioning and small sided games being an absolute requirement. It is based on World’s Best Practice and has been developed by Internationally acclaimed Technical Coaches and the FFA Technical Department.

Olympics FQ Academy program provides fundamental skills development for players aged 9 to 12 years and is the foundation for elevating young footballers into the club’s National Premier Leagues (NPL) junior teams.