Neil McGuire, Head Coach of the University of California, Berkeley, Women's Soccer program serves 1st-8th grade athletes with the following services:
- Video Analysis of Individual Performance
- Video Analysis of Team Performance
- Individual Training
- Small Group Training
- Team Training
- Fitness Training
To contact us about these services click the link:
Apply for Academy Admission
Individual Training
Individual Training is important for players who are not practicing with their team every day. There's no silver bullet routine that all soccer players should follow, so you have to design one based on your goals, age and skill level. Setting long and short-term goals is a must. When designing a soccer-training regime, one should strive for a realistic and attainable program. How much soccer training is needed to reach your goal and become a top player? It depends on the efficiency of your training routine and your starting level
Most successful soccer players have spent many hours alone working on their skills.
Small Group Training
The most crucial component of a player’s development is personal attention and care. The individual attention, and mentoring given to a young player by a soccer professional is extremely valuable to the development and growth of a young player.
The College Soccer Academy is designed to do just that. We offer a small group program where we are able to use additional activities and players are able to apply the concepts learned in a game situation during small group training sessions
Team Training:
The College Soccer Academy will assist the client in the design of a team based skills/tactical program targeted to bring their team to the next level.
Team Training can be defined as:
Team Camps - For a planned length of time, that can focus directly on areas that need attention. This may include:
Video analysis (additional cost)
Off-Season Training Sessions - To keep players in shape between the spring and fall season, by working on selected areas
Season Long Coaching/Training for Clubs or School Systems - The College Soccer Academy will come in and assist in working to improve player’s ability. Work alongside coaches and help with positional and tactical features of soccer, by using their knowledge and experience of the game. The College Soccer Academy will design a program for the whole team, which will work on all areas and aspects of the game to progress to the next level
Guest Coaching (single or multiple sessions)
A typical 8 Week Team Training Session
This document is a coaching guide for The College Soccer Academy team for an eight-week team training-coaching block. The guide is split into three stages as follows:
Foundation; For a team with poor to average technical ability, this guide of sessions will look at primarily improving the player’s technical ability and introducing a better understanding of the game.
Intermediate; For a team with good technical ability and average tactical awareness, this guide of sessions will look at fine tuning players technical ability and improving there tactical awareness to the needs of the coaches style of play.
Advanced; For a team with good technical ability and tactical awareness, this block of sessions will look at improving the team’s tactical awareness and will introduce new systems and strategies to develop the team and broaden their knowledge of soccer.
Foundation:
Within the foundation level a 3-session cycle system is used. This method of development is used to improve the team’s technical ability. As an Example:
Wk 1 Passing, Turning and Control
Wk 2 Dribbling, Running with the ball and Defending.
Wk 3 Heading, Shooting and Goalkeeping
Wk 4 Passing, Turning and Control
Wk 5 Dribbling, Running with the ball and Defending.
Wk 6 Heading, Shooting and Goalkeeping
The process of this cycle is continued using different sessions each week on all the above aspects.
Intermediate:
Within the Intermediate level the sessions will be conducted in the format of; topic related warm up, functional technical and skill practice and game.
Wk 1 Developing control of the ball
Wk 2 Maintaining possession as a team
Wk 3 Attacking through wingers
Wk 4 Improving attacking play
Wk 5 High-pressure team play
Wk 6 Low-pressure team play
Wk 7 Defensive strategies (to the style of the coach)
Wk 8 Evaluation to focus on areas of improvement
Advanced:
The Advanced level sessions will be conducted to the format of; technical warm up, Functional practice, half pitch practice and game.
Wk 1 Build up play
Wk 2 Midfields controlling the tempo of the game
Wk 3 Midfielders attacking
Wk 4 pressuring as a team
Wk 5 attacking in and around the box
Wk 6 Direct play
Wk 7 Improving defensive system
Wk 8 Evaluate teams formation and style of play to focus on areas of improvement.
NOTE: The above is an example of an 8 Week block. It is important to note, sessions and blocks can be changed to suit the coach's individual needs, and focus for the team. This will take into account the group of players and also the coach's preferred style of play.