I am very excited about FC Barcelona’s soccer school, Barça Academy coming to Columbus, Ohio. It will be one of the first true “soccer development” programs in central Ohio that uses a world class methodology to develop great soccer players and people.
As a Director and Coach within the community, I feel this new program addresses many of the major issues with the traditional club soccer model that currently exist. Since this is new to everyone, and I am sure there are lots of questions about the new program, I wanted to share what I am most excited about in regards to the Barça Academy Columbus for our players.
Consistency & Purpose
One of my biggest concerns with youth soccer is the inconsistency of direction, curriculum, focus and experience from year to year. What a player is learning and their experience drastically can change, even within the same club, based on the coach. In the Barça Academy, they are extremely detailed and strict about their standards with their coaches in regards to what is being taught and the approach of how each training session and game is run. It is all led by a central methodology that is not strayed from with no exceptions. In terms of developing players, this has always been the biggest obstacle to helping players get better. In addition, expectations from year to year are consistent in terms of team placements, player evaluations, and opportunities. It is not random. Normally, tryouts are based on what the coach for a particular team wants in his players. Now players are evaluated against the Barça standards of play. This keeps the “goal posts” from moving on the kids each year and wondering what their next coach is going to be looking for in them. All players at all times know exactly what standards they are being measured by, both as a player and an individual.
Development of the Individual
Outside of the soccer component of the program, Barça Academy is dedicated to developing great people. Their core values and mission that guides what is taught to develop great people is maybe even more valuable than the soccer methodology. They put an emphasis on how players behave, treat each other, compete, and support one another. All life lessons that are bigger than the game. Everything about being successful on the field is related to what the players do off the field. It teaches players not just how to be successful now, but the values and discipline that is required to have success throughout their lives. Even the program's attention to detail shows the players first hand what it looks like to do something with great care and passion, and why that is the recipe for success in everything they do.
Evolution of Best Practices
The program is best known for its traditions and long history of success, but its success comes from the ability and willingness to constantly evaluate and evolve based on the needs of its players and the ever changing game. The program will not hold on to methods used in the past because they have worked before. Instead, the methodology is living and breathing, and ever changing, approach to developing players.
Unlike most organizations which adhere to “that’s how it has always been done”, they are not afraid to be different because it is what is best for the players. They are not afraid of changing and moving away from what is comfortable.
In short, the methodology is not stagnant. They are not doing things because it was “how they were coached” or “it worked for them as players.”
Think about it, based on your youth soccer experience, how has the training and approach to games changed over the years for your kids? You might have had some better coaches than others, but in terms of the experience, approach, and what is being taught, it probably has been pretty similar year, after year, after year.
Coach Education
Many coaches attend coaching conferences and seminars each year. If Barcelona is presenting, I would bet that it would be well attended. At the soccer convention each year, when an organization like FCB is speaking and presenting, the room is packed with coaches writing as fast as they can to take down as much information as possible. Wanting to learn as much as possible to be able to take the information back to their teams and help their players while becoming better coaches.
Coaches in this program are exposed to that opportunity weekly. In order to teach the methodology, and the fact that it constantly evolves, coaches are given constant mentorship and education programming by the FCB Technical Director who will work and live full time at the Barça Academy interacting daily with the coaches and players to deliver the program to the community.
As a coach, how awesome would it be to have that experience and be in that type of learning environment. How much do you think you would grow as a coach to have that constant interaction with a FCB Director of Coaching? Your knowledge of the game and ability to impact players would grow exponentially. This is why the experience is so different for the players who train under these coaches in this system, and why the coach experience is enhanced as a professional looking to grow in their craft.
As I always tell parents, you must do what is best for your child, and it is critically important that kids are enjoying their playing experience.
Everyone who coaches youth soccer should all have the same goal. We all should want to help players grow their passion and ability to play the game, and teach them the values needed to have success in anything they choose to plant their heart into throughout their lives.
.... Barça Academy shares those goals, but simply has its own unique, and not replicable, way to achieve it.
Questions about Barça Academy? Contact me at tearp@superkickcolumbus.com or 614.843.1583
As a Director and Coach within the community, I feel this new program addresses many of the major issues with the traditional club soccer model that currently exist. Since this is new to everyone, and I am sure there are lots of questions about the new program, I wanted to share what I am most excited about in regards to the Barça Academy Columbus for our players.
Consistency & Purpose
One of my biggest concerns with youth soccer is the inconsistency of direction, curriculum, focus and experience from year to year. What a player is learning and their experience drastically can change, even within the same club, based on the coach. In the Barça Academy, they are extremely detailed and strict about their standards with their coaches in regards to what is being taught and the approach of how each training session and game is run. It is all led by a central methodology that is not strayed from with no exceptions. In terms of developing players, this has always been the biggest obstacle to helping players get better. In addition, expectations from year to year are consistent in terms of team placements, player evaluations, and opportunities. It is not random. Normally, tryouts are based on what the coach for a particular team wants in his players. Now players are evaluated against the Barça standards of play. This keeps the “goal posts” from moving on the kids each year and wondering what their next coach is going to be looking for in them. All players at all times know exactly what standards they are being measured by, both as a player and an individual.
Development of the Individual
Outside of the soccer component of the program, Barça Academy is dedicated to developing great people. Their core values and mission that guides what is taught to develop great people is maybe even more valuable than the soccer methodology. They put an emphasis on how players behave, treat each other, compete, and support one another. All life lessons that are bigger than the game. Everything about being successful on the field is related to what the players do off the field. It teaches players not just how to be successful now, but the values and discipline that is required to have success throughout their lives. Even the program's attention to detail shows the players first hand what it looks like to do something with great care and passion, and why that is the recipe for success in everything they do.
Evolution of Best Practices
The program is best known for its traditions and long history of success, but its success comes from the ability and willingness to constantly evaluate and evolve based on the needs of its players and the ever changing game. The program will not hold on to methods used in the past because they have worked before. Instead, the methodology is living and breathing, and ever changing, approach to developing players.
Unlike most organizations which adhere to “that’s how it has always been done”, they are not afraid to be different because it is what is best for the players. They are not afraid of changing and moving away from what is comfortable.
In short, the methodology is not stagnant. They are not doing things because it was “how they were coached” or “it worked for them as players.”
Think about it, based on your youth soccer experience, how has the training and approach to games changed over the years for your kids? You might have had some better coaches than others, but in terms of the experience, approach, and what is being taught, it probably has been pretty similar year, after year, after year.
Coach Education
Many coaches attend coaching conferences and seminars each year. If Barcelona is presenting, I would bet that it would be well attended. At the soccer convention each year, when an organization like FCB is speaking and presenting, the room is packed with coaches writing as fast as they can to take down as much information as possible. Wanting to learn as much as possible to be able to take the information back to their teams and help their players while becoming better coaches.
Coaches in this program are exposed to that opportunity weekly. In order to teach the methodology, and the fact that it constantly evolves, coaches are given constant mentorship and education programming by the FCB Technical Director who will work and live full time at the Barça Academy interacting daily with the coaches and players to deliver the program to the community.
As a coach, how awesome would it be to have that experience and be in that type of learning environment. How much do you think you would grow as a coach to have that constant interaction with a FCB Director of Coaching? Your knowledge of the game and ability to impact players would grow exponentially. This is why the experience is so different for the players who train under these coaches in this system, and why the coach experience is enhanced as a professional looking to grow in their craft.
As I always tell parents, you must do what is best for your child, and it is critically important that kids are enjoying their playing experience.
Everyone who coaches youth soccer should all have the same goal. We all should want to help players grow their passion and ability to play the game, and teach them the values needed to have success in anything they choose to plant their heart into throughout their lives.
.... Barça Academy shares those goals, but simply has its own unique, and not replicable, way to achieve it.
Questions about Barça Academy? Contact me at tearp@superkickcolumbus.com or 614.843.1583
