Buckswood Football Academy(To be read in conjunction with the School Prospectus)
S.A.F.A.Southern Association Football Academy
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
Buckswood SchoolBuckswood School is near the seaside town of Hastings, an hour’s drive from London. Parents select Buckswood because they know it is something special to their children’s education. Its size allows the School to preserve a more home-like atmosphere, where the care and welfare of students is a priority.
The school is set on a beautiful, safe campus with a golf course, swimming pool, quad bike track, horse riding stables, indoor sports hall and sports fields. Boarding accommodation and classroom facilities are continually being improved and added to.
Small classes ensure pupils receive more individual attention, and there is an emphasis on traditional values and good manners. Students are educated in the British curriculum as part of an international community.
Director of Football:Jim ColstonJim Colston has a wealth of experience in youth football, having been involved at various levels of the game for just over 14 years. Jim quickly progressed from the local scene on to League Representative football, winning the only treble, the league has ever seen.
Jim’s coaching expertise was soon recognised and he was approached to coach with the England Schools FA (ESFA), an association that he still enjoys today.
In 1999 Jim joined the newly established Football Academy (the Southern Association Football Academy) whose primary aim is to develop youth footballers at all levels.
Whilst remaining with S.A.F.A, Jim became a coach to the Gillingham FC Youth Centre of Excellence for two seasons, before moving on to Charlton Athletic.
Proving that senior football remained as much a passion as youth football, Jim also held the post of Assistant 1st Team Coach with Eastbourne Borough FC (English Conference National) for three seasons, where he worked alongside the very successful management pair of Garry Wilson and Nick Greenwood who were both very influential in Jim’s coaching career.
Following a spell at Luton Town FC as coach and scout, Jim was head hunted back to Charlton FC by the youth academy, assistant manager, where he remains as a coach and scout for the Southern area of England.
Jim also covers the senior scene, attending Conference National/South and North matches writing player reports for Milton Keynes Dons (League 1).
Jim has worked with some of football’s top names, including Kevin Blackwell, John Carver and Pat Holland.
Jim currently remains Director of Coaching at S.A.F.A, where he writes the various curriculums that are delivered to over 400 boys and girls every week.
Facts and FiguresPlayer success rate at S.A.F.A is exceptional with a number of our young players progressing through our curriculum to many professional football clubs in England these include: Arsenal FC; Chelsea FC; Tottenham Hotspur FC; Portsmouth FC; Charlton Athletic FC; Gillingham FC; Luton Town FC; Brighton and Hove Albion FC
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
What’s included?
▶ One match day experience per season.
▶ Training session at a Premier League club.
▶ Opportunity to gain a S.A.F.A. Skills Challenge Certificate.
▶ Train for your FA Coaching badge.
▶ One European football tour per season.
▶ Guided tour of the national stadium at Wembley.
▶ Train for your referees qualification.
▶ Premier League / Football league scout assessment every term.
▶ Opportunity to play high level local football.
▶ FA Youth Cup match tickets – see the best Under 18s in the country.
▶ Speed, Agility and Quickness programme.
▶ Regular visits to Charlton Athletic FC matches.
▶ Fitness testing facilities.
▶ Use of school gym.
▶ Academy training kit and travel suits.
▶ The boot room – Choose your boots at the academy as the manufacturers visit us and offer advice.
▶ Use of players pool and sauna for post match recovery.
▶ Visit to Premier League Academy training session.
▶ Two Premier League football fixture tickets per season.
▶ Fulham FC tour.
▶ Weekend social activities.
▶ Accommodation and all meals.
▶ All academic lessons and support.
▶ Unlimited use of all school sports facilities.
▶ Six training sessions per week.
▶ Competitive matches.
▶ Performance profile analysis.
▶ Chelsea FC tour.
The Football Academy and International Study Programme
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
The Academy Curriculum
SeptemberPre-season work
▶ Endurance based work
incorporating the football
▶ Speed work and SAQ
▶ Technique and first touch
OctoberIndividual Attacking Techniques
▶ Receiving
▶ Control Techniques
▶ Passing Techniques
▶ Creating Space
▶ 1 v 1s
Individual Defending Techniques
▶ 1 v 1s; 2 v 2s; 3 v 3s
▶ Pressurising and intercepting
▶ Tackling
▶ Forcing play
▶ Marking
▶ Cover
▶ Support
NovemberTeam Attacking Principles
▶ Attacking team shape
▶ Switching play
▶ Creating space in wide areas
▶ Midfield support play
▶ Forward movement
Team Defending Principles
▶ Defending in a back line
▶ Defending in midfield
▶ Defending from the front
DecemberAttacking Principles
of Team Play
▶ Overlap runs
▶ Wall passes
▶ Movement to attack crosses
▶ Movement of forwards to
receive in space
Defending Principles
of Play
▶ Dealing with 1 v 1s
▶ Defending a 2 v 1s
▶ Communication
▶ Defending in a 2 v 2s
▶ Defending in a 3 v 3s
▶ Compactness
JanuaryIndividual Attacking
Principles of Play
▶ 2 sessions speed agility
endurance based sessions
▶ Creating space as an
individual to turn / receive
▶ Individual turning skills to
create space
▶ Individual dribbling skills to
create space
FebruaryIndividual Defending
Principles of Play
▶ 2 sessions speed agility
endurance based sessions
▶ Defensive footwork
▶ Defensive heading
▶ Jockeying
▶ Direction and distance
▶ Coach team / player needs
MarchCoaching Player / Team
Weaknesses
▶ Small sided games
▶ First touch work
▶ Maintaining fitness
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
All Weather Academy Training Area
Indoor Swimming Pool for Fitness
Indoor Training Area
Futsal Pitch
Aerobic Fitness AreaFoot Volley and Tennis Courts
Junior Football and Rugby Pitch
Senior Football and Rugby Pitch
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
09:00 – RegistrationGet ready for the day ahead.
09:05-10:25 – Football Fitness SessionTesting our fitness, tough but essential if we are footballers. We all try and be the fittest player in the squad.
10:25-11:05 – AssemblyMeet up with the Academy boys and the rest of my school pals.
11:05-11:20 – Morning Break
11:20-12:00 – Academic LessonAfter a quick change and a shower I am off to an English lesson. All footballers need a top education so my academics are just as important as my football.
12:00-12:40 – Academic LessonOff to Mathematics, very important for me to work out how many goals I have scored for the Academy this season.
12:45-13:35 – Lunch TimeEssential for footballers, the food is fantastic here freshly prepared by a team of chefs and very nutritious.
13:35-14:15 – Academic LessonGeography with Mr Shaw, he is a keen footballer who can help improve my world knowledge. He knows where all of the top clubs are.
14:15-15:35 – School Sports LessonDifferent sports are on offer and taking part enhances my motor skills and balance, football is always available though which is great.
15:35-16:00 – Afternoon Break
16:00-17:00 – PrepKeeping up my grades is important to me so any homework is done now so tomorrow is free.
17:00-18:00 – Squad Football PracticeTraining with my school team squad. We have professional coaching from S.A.F.A. We have teams representing Under 13s, Under 14s, Under 15s, Under 16s and Under 19s.
18:30-19:15 – DinnerI need my food after a full-on day its chicken pasta and fresh fruit salad tonight. Another chance to see my school pals.
20:30-21:30 – Evening PrepKeeping on top of my academic studies is as essential as my football training.
22:30 – Lights OutI have worked hard today and Mr Colston the Academy Director tells me that quality rest is just as important as quality training. So it’s off to sleep for me.
A Typical Day at Buckswood
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
Every year Buckswood Academy participate in a Football
Development Programme and Match Day Experience with
Chelsea FC and Fulham FC.
This exciting initiative offers our enthusiastic young footballers
the opportunity to train with expert professional coaching staff
at one of the Premier League’s top clubs, with access to first
class facilities and tickets to watch a Premier League fixture
against one of the top teams in England.
This is a unique chance to experience life within a top
professional club and provide our players with hands on
knowledge of what it takes to be a professional footballer.
It will help develop them as players and as a team and provide
them with valuable lessons that they can take with them in
whatever their chosen career path should be.
The day starts with a full mornings training session at the
Fulham first team training ground in New Malden, and after
lunch the boys are given some small sided game coaching and
a number of football challenges to complete. The afternoon
session takes place in Fulham’s state of the art mega dome
which houses a fantastic 3g pitch and training area which the
boys thought was fantastic.
After the session the boys were given medals and certificates.
After a brief stop to grab a snack we made our way to our
hotel for the night. The hotel is used by many premiership clubs
before matches in the capital and has an amazing amount of
things to do. We decide to have a gym session before dinner
and we all meet in the dining room for a real footballer’s meal
of chicken and pasta which replaces all of the energy lost from
the tough training session.
The following morning after breakfast we are transferred to
the first team training ground of Chelsea FC and are treated
to a whole morning of first touch and technique training by
excellent coaches. After lunch at the complex we begin our
afternoon training session which to the boys delight is all about
improving your finishing. At the end of the session we are
transferred to Craven Cottage as guests of Fulham Football
club and are given tickets to the Fulham v Chelsea premiership
clash which is being shown live on sky sports.
While we are watching the match we are informed that we are
to be invited to take part in a penalty shoot out competition
in front of the cameras and 40,000 people, what an honour.
At the end of the game just when we thought the day was over
we were introduced to several of the Chelsea players many of
them came over and signed autographs for the boys.
What a great experience for the Buckswood Academy boys.
Stamford Bridge the home of Chelsea FC
Craven Cottage the home of Fulham FC
Football Development Programme and Match Day Experiencewith Chelsea FC and Fulham FC
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
Buckswood Football Academy, live on Sky Sports at half-time for a penalty shoot-out competition during the match between Fulham FC and Chelsea FC
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
The Academy boys set off for the English national stadium at
Wembley for a guided tour of the whole ground. We arrived to
see the amazing Wembley arch which was visible from at least
3 miles away. All of the boys stared at the unbelievable sight of
Wembley’s newest feature.
On arrival we were greeted by our tour guide who took us up
to the top of the stadium to see it from the roof. What a fantastic
sight this new stadium is. We were then shown the post match
victory lounge where the winning team celebrates their victory.
We pose for pictures here and then move on to see the press
room.
All of the lads pose in the England managers chair and give a
press conference to the rest of the group. After a short DVD
presentation of Wembley over the years we move on to see
the changing area and the Academy boys rush to sit in Frank
Lampard and Steven Gerrard’s seats and pose for pictures. What
an inspiring place.
The guys are shown to a warm up room which is completely
soundproofed and also to the shower area before making our
way out of the tunnel on to the hallowed Wembley turf. What
a buzz, the guys are mesmerised by the experience as they set
foot on the pitch.
We are shown the dug outs and take the long wembley walk
up the steps to see the FA Cup waiting for us at the top WOW
!! the Academy boys cant believe they can hold the cup aloft at
Wembley.
After several pictures we are shown to the Bobby Moore statue
and after posing for pictures there we are led to the Wembley
shop.
After spending money on Wembley merchandise we board the
Buckswood coach for home. A fantastic day was had by everyone.
Our Annual Trip to the National Stadium at Wembley
National Stadium at Wembley
The Academy Boys got to lift the FA Cup at Wembley
BUCKSWOOD FOOTBALL AC ADEMY
Every year the Academy go on an international development
tour to a different country.
This year we chose Georgia and were hosted by our sister school
Buckswood International School Tbilisi.
The philosophy of the academy is that the boys visit different
cities around the world and experience both a new culture of life
and a new style of football. This also raises the player’s confidence
and profile whilst also learning about the country visited.
The academy boys began each day with a training session which
included an early morning run or swim and then we would eat a
good breakfast before going on a short excursion in preparation
for one of our matches.
We played two matches, both of which we won and participated
in a 5 v 5 tournament in Tbilisi.
The academy boys were split into two teams for the tournament
and we finished as champions and runners up in the competition,
with one of our teams not conceding a single goal.
We were also lucky enough to play against the Georgian National
Youth Under 16 side at a fantastic venue in the city, and were
unfortunate not to win, the game finished 1-1.
The hospitality of the Georgian people was fantastic and all of
the boys who attended the tour not only enjoyed the football
element but learnt a lot about Georgian culture a.
International Trip – Georgia
Below: Buckswood School in Tbilisi’s Astro Turf Pitch Right: Tbilisi’s Parliament Building
The School Teams
Buckswood SchoolGuestling, Nr Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4LT
Tel: +44 (0)1424 813813Fax: +44 (0)1424 812100
Email: [email protected]
Under 16s – League Champions
Under 19s – League Runners-Up and Cup Finalists
Under 16s – Georgia Tour Champions
Under 14s – League Champions
Under 14s – Regional Cup Winners
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