SO GOOD FOOTBALL ACADEMY

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ABOUT SO GOOD UNITED FOOTBALL ACADEMY

An Academy is not just a building. It is not just a group of people. It is not just a program. It is all of those

things and more, but more importantly it is a philosophy, a culture, a way of doing things... we call it THE

SO GOOD WAY …The Academy has always been focused around the local community in Matero

although all are welcome. Great players and teams throughout the country's history have been built on

local boys and local talent. So Good Academy goes by the motto is "Veni Vidi Vici" which means: "I

came, I saw, I conquered". The motto is at the heart of all aspects of the Football Academy and is

central to our Academy Program. So Good Football Academy operates an extensive and highly

successful Youth Academy. Players such as Timothy Sakala and Steven Phiri have graduated through the

youth system. The Academy is fully committed and recognizes the importance of developing youth.

Structure

We have five departments within the Academy

Technical (Coaching)

Identification and Recruitment (Scouting)

Sport Science (Psychology, Physiology and Performance Analysis)

Education and Welfare (Life skills)

Administration

Each department is fully staffed with highly qualified and experienced people.

Method

How do we develop excellence within our Academy? Our methods follow this simple structure:

Identifying: Our scouts attend matches throughout Lusaka.

Recruiting: We only sign players with real potential.

Coaching: We place players with qualified staff best equipped to meet the needs of each player.

Resourcing: We make the best use of our equipment.

Maximizing: We offer players the best development program allowing them to achieve their full

potential by focusing on their educational, social, psychological and technical development.

Retaining or releasing: Each season that players remain with us we keep them progressing. But

for those players who are released we will Endeavour to find them another Academy or club

should they so wish.

Once a youngster has been identified, recruited and registered, he enters our performance program,

which is at the heart of the overall Academy operation and at the forefront of elite young player

development. The program is committed to enabling each player to fulfil his potential. In order to

achieve this, the program operates in an environment that is conducive to individual and team progress.

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TECHNICAL

Ages 9-11 - Players master the basic skills and techniques of the game. At this stage, they fall in

love with the game and are already playing their first matches in the famous blue and white as

they develop in 1v1 to 8v8 situations.

Ages 12-16 - Whilst carrying on technical and skill work, the emphasis switches to problem

solving. At the end of this stage players will have an understanding of one or more positions in

the 11v11 game.

Ages 17-22 - Players' techniques, skills and game understanding are fine-tuned on a day-to-day

basis. Winning becomes very important and players must learn the ways of real football. It is

possible to be in the first team at this stage!

Girls Team - Players master the basic skills and techniques of the game, after which technical

and skill work switches the emphasis to problem solving. Skills and game understanding will be

fine-tuned on a day-to-day basis.

PHYSICAL

We live in the age of the super-fit athlete and footballers are no different. The youngsters learn the

importance of strength, speed, flexibility, agility and conditioning and have individual programs in order

to improve each specific physical area.

LIFESTYLE ISSUES

Experience has taught us that many talented youngsters fail to reach their potential due to a lack of

understanding of certain issues within their individual environment. Players are given guidance on areas

such as diet and nutrition, alcohol, smoking, pregnancy, time management, gambling, bullying, dealing

with the media and many others. Parents are invited to join in such sessions and are given specific

support on how to deal with having a talented player in their house.

MENTAL

Football at the highest level demands incredible mental strength. From the youngest ages we focus on

the key areas of goal-setting, motivation, self-confidence, concentration and communication. The

development and acquisition of psychological skills enable youngsters to improve their performance and

to fulfil their potential.

Ages 6-8 Years - The Age of Fun

No registration forms are signed.

Trial basis only

Fun football

Young players are prepared to join 'The So Good Way'

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Ages 9-11 Years - The Age of Preparation

Players sign for one year only

Players informed in April whether they will be retained or released

Techniques are worked upon

7v7 match program

Young players are now on 'The So Good Way'

12-16 Years - The Age of Development

Players sign for a minimum of two years

Players can be asked to sign further extensions to their registrations

Players in grade 11 will be informed by January of that year whether they have gained an

Academy Scholarship.

Period of technical, tactical, physical and mental development

11v11 match program

Young players are firmly on 'The So Good Way'

Ages 16-20 Years - The Age of Competition

Players sign an Academy Scholarship - usually for two years

Full-time football development with a minimum of 12 hours education per week

Academy League program for matches

Academy scholars will be informed by February of year two whether they have gained a

professional contract

Preparation for life as a full-time professional

The importance of being a winner

Professional Status

A select number of players will be offered a professional contract

Professional forms can be signed only on the player's 17th birthday or after

The final stages on 'The So Good Way' before hopefully joining the senior squads

Please remember: If any player is released it is not the end of the world. So Good Football Academy

will work hard to find a new Academy for him if he wishes.

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The Academy will achieve the above by:

1. Maintaining and improving the player support systems.

2. Maximizing the financial return on Academy developed players.

What is “The So Good Way”? THE SO GOOD WAY is an Elite Player Development Program, also referred

to as the four P's:

The People - the players, the staff and the parents. Everyone associated with So Good Football

Academy understands the role that they play within our program.

The Place – Matero East Ground is not a world class facility but it supports our desire to create

an outstanding learning environment.

The Program - All aspects of a player's development are catered for: Technical, Physical,

Physiological, Mental, Social and Intellectual.

The Pathway - All players registered with our Academy know what is expected of them in order

to reach their potential. At the So Good Football Academy we have a pathway from eight years

of age to the first team of the National youth teams.

The ultimate aim of the So Good Football Academy is to support the needs of the national team and

provide players for all premier division teams. The Academy will maintain a seasonal average of four

Academy developed players* nominated for every first team competitive match. **Develop a minimum

of one player per season who makes a debut in a competitive game of the Elite level of football.