Player centred
- Develop the individual, not the team
- Test players' knowledge, ask questions
- Encourage creativity and allow mistakes
Greenisland Football Club · Academy
Our ID
One way of playing, coaching and developing players, U6 to U18.
Our identity defines who we are, how we play and what we stand for. Every session, practice and match, from grassroots to performance, reflects the same principles. We don't just train players. We build footballers who understand the game, take responsibility and represent the club's ID in every action.
Go straight to your age group's plan
4phases, Foundation to Senior
12game model themes
40weeks a season, in 5 blocks
ID
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Club and academy vision
Who we are
We inspire, develop and challenge players to grow as leaders on and off the field.
A close-knit, family club that puts players first: every individual is valued as a person before a footballer. We aim for every player to take part and reach their potential, ideally into our first team or an elite environment.
Our values
Player pathway
Four phases, one pathway
Each phase has its own focus, coaching and challenge, all lined up with the club game model and long-term player development. Pick a phase.
Club game model
Dominate the ball. Dominate the pitch.
Four moments, twelve themes, the same words in every age group. Tap a theme to see what it means. Pick an age group to see which themes its plan covers.
Highlight for
Dominate the ball
In possession we connect, create and convert. When we win it back, we break while they're unbalanced, or build and keep it.
Dominate the pitch
Out of possession we disrupt their build-up, direct them where we want and deny them chances. When we lose it, we react or reorganise.
Age group plans
Your season, week by week
Every age group follows a 40-week plan in five blocks of eight weeks. Pick your age group, then a week, for the theme, the coaching points and the sessions.
How we coach
Every session, the Greenisland way
A maximum of four parts to any session. Every session includes 1v1s on the week's theme.
Training principles
3 × 10 = 30
- Focus on 3 key details in any session
- Progress or change the practice after 10 minutes
- No practice longer than 30 minutes; interventions under 30 seconds
Teaching is challenging
- The right amount of challenge, built with progressions
- Differentiate between players with individual challenges
- 80% ball-rolling time
Realism
- Always some attack v defence in core practices
- Add goals as much as possible
Chaos
- Good sessions can be chaotic
- Use different activities, challenges and environments
- Learning can look ugly
Brilliant basics
The skills in every player's backpack. The first 15 minutes of a session is a chance to practise them, linked to the session that follows.
Receive
Receive in a variety of ways, with disguise, to keep the ball or play forward.
Retain
Keep the ball as an individual: twist and turn away from pressure, whatever the pressure.
Run
Carry the ball with control and confidence, dribbling or driving into space.
Release
Pass over different distances, or finish with a shot on goal.
Inherent in training and games
Constant in every session and match: the principles of play, plus awareness, decision making and working hard.
Attacking principles
Defending principles
Game day procedure
Development over results
Leading to the game
- Link training to the games
- Define staff roles for the game
- Check conditions and keep players safe (hot day: lots of water)
- Make sure players have the right equipment
Pre-game
- Lots of touches of the ball in the warm-up
- Tell players in advance who is playing
- Equal playing time
During the game
- Observe calmly; don't kick every ball
- Simple language and clear instructions
- Constructive feedback at the end of each period
- Mind your body language
Post-game
- Let players ask questions
- Use peer-to-peer feedback
- Encourage parents to be positive
- Sweating, smiling, and practised what they did in training