Philosophy
Shield Academy is committed to developing players who:
- Are technically comfortable with both feet.
- Can dominate 1v1’s.
- Can play in a variety of positions.
- Can show imagination and risk when solving problems.
The 4 corners
We utilise the FA 4 corner model to ensure that:
- Players develop physical capabilities.
- Players develop positional understanding.
- Players develop abilities to outsmart the opposition.
- Players develop their technical abilities with both feet.
- Players develop attributes to support success and deal with failure.
- Players develop asocial characteristics to get the best out of ourselves and others.
How do we do it? – 3v3 and 4v4’s
- Technical Focus – Our greatest focus is technical development.
- Individual challenges – Our challenges are personalised.
- Team challenges – We set relevant challenges for team performance.
- Small Sided Games – Less players = more touches!
- Imaginative Coaching – If we want players to be imaginative, we have to give them the tools.
- Rotation –At the youngest age groups, each player plays EVERY position!
The Shield Philosophy
How do we develop our players? Below, you will find elements that underpin our philosophy.