Step 1 

Create the correct environment for each player.

One of the main hidden barriers for players trying to get better at the game is what we refer to as ‘social distraction’. Players can be nervous and too preoccupied with the other players in the session and miss the point of getting better. 

If we truly understand what each player wants to get from a session, we can group them based on that and create an environment where there’s a constant balance between comfort and challenge. Therefor the player forgets who they are with and focuses solely on the craft of getting better. This then creates a roadmap to excellence within the game as players are graduated through the levels. 

Step 2 

Technical Excellence and Fearlessness of Failure.

The game of football is then divided into 28 ‘must-have’ moves, whether it’d be control, dribbling, passing, shooting etc. This is an attempt to simplify the game to it’s purest technical form. So much so that a six year old can learn them. We refer to this curriculum as the bible and all sessions, drills and mini-games are based off of this. This ensures the players build a foundation of these fundamentals. 

During this step we must also instill a growth oriented mindset for each player. The players must learn that failure during learning is their friend. If we don’t learn to fail, we will fail to learn. Players are encouraged to fall over if they must, to learn new moves. Traditional classroom antics of laughing at others in this situation is not permitted at Coach Buckley Academy. There is huge respect given to the craft of the game here. If players fail to show respect for this stage, they are unfortunately asked to leave the academy. 

Step 3

Resilience & Aggression.

Once we have a balanced environment and players have a solid technical foundation, we can begin to create real-life match situations which we introduce as intentionally chaotic and emotive. Players are incentivized to show good composure here, remaining positive, level-headed and even gaining extra points for helping teammates through. At this stage, they also hold each other accountable to higher levels of effort and standards. 

A large challenge players face in real football is coming up against extra physical and aggressive players. CBA players are taught the source of aggression on the field which will help them understand it, how to remain unphased in the presence of it and how to be aggressive in certain moments to help you and your team. Aggression is an important aspect of the game, so it should be treated as such, in a safe and controlled way.