South Melbourne FC launches ambitious Youth Development Program

Monday, 10 September 2012 1:00 PM

South Melbourne FC recently launched its ambitious Youth Development Program that will form part of the club’s application to receive an ‘Elite Club’ licence and commence the transition to fulfil the criteria stipulated in the FFA National Competitions Review.

The club will be employing a full time Technical Director from Brazil who will arrive in Melbourne in October to commence overseeing the Youth Development Program. To assist the Technical Director, a team of full time primary coaching staff will train and implement the football curriculum. All primary coaching staff will hold UEFA or FIFA equivalent to B or C coaching licences. Each youth team will also be assigned an Assistant Coach. Medical and education support will also feature as part of the Youth Development Program.

Benefits of participation in the intensive SMFC Youth Development Program include:

> SMFC youth players to be trained in the latest training methods currently employe in Europe and South America
>Minimum of four training sessions for U12-18 age groups per week for 48 weeks
>Minimum of three training sessions for U9-11 age groups per week for 48 weeks
>Full time Technical Director and full time highly qualified coaching staff
>Education support to assist players with the provision of tutors to fulfil their academic commitments prior to training.
>Opportunity to participate in Exchange Program to train at overseas academies
Provision of medical staff to oversee players and provide support, advice, medical attention and nutritional information

Trials for the new intensive SMFC Youth Development Program will commence in October 2012. The process of selection will involve a twelve-week trial period comprising of four training sessions per week.

As part of this development program, up to four South youth players will be afforded the opportunity to travel to and train at the Fragata FC Football Academy in Brazil for up to a period of two to four weeks at no cost to the player or their family.

Participants in the intensive SMFC Youth Development Program will be a part of the FFA youth development pathway and have the opportunity to participate in the Australian Premier League (APL). The APL is an important step to tie together and improve our code with the desired effect of developing youth and allowing clubs like ours to have the opportunity to again play at the highest national levels.

South Melbourne FC has a proud tradition of producing over 50 Socceroo players and was instrumental in the creation of the first truly national football competition in the late 1970s. Its success in Australian football was recognised when it received the prestigious award Oceania Confederation Club of the Century.

The Club has successfully implemented a youth development program, which will allow South Melbourne FC to be at the forefront of youth development as our program very much follows what is contemplated in the National Competition Review.

Trials for the Youth Development Program are scheduled to take place in early October.

To express your interest in reserving a place in the trial selection process, please contact Harry Gatsoulis on 0458 813 837 or Stav Sakalis on 0414 403 690.

For all media enquiries, please contact Tom Kalas on (03) 9645 9797 or media@smfc.com.au

SMFC Youth Development Program

Message from Andrew Mesourouni - SMFC Youth Development Director

Hi to all SMFC Players and Parents,

Firstly I would like to thank everybody for attending our Junior Gala day and information sessions.

I had the pleasure of meeting a lot of you last weekend and my aim is to get to meet you all personally in the near future.

We are entering a new phase of our junior development program. South Melbourne FC will be the first club in Australia to embark on a program that closely resembles the training routines in both Europe and South America. It is an exciting time with many challenges.

We have produced a pamphlet for parents to read regarding the new Youth program. These were handed out at the information sessions.

If you don't have one please ask your Team Manager to supply you with one.

The most frequent question asked was :

What happens if our child doesn't make the cut and where do we go?

I have always maintained the opinion that to become a great player and fulfil your dream of reaching the pinacle of football, three elements are vital before technique.

1. Passion
2. Dedication
3. Commitment.

Through a great program and frequent training , technique will improve but passion, dedication and commitment varies from person to person.

Therefore to be true to my word, for those players that show passion, dedication and commitment throughout the trial period in other words attend training 3 to 4 day a week, they will be guaranteed a selected position in our youth program in 2013.

Trials will commence on the 3rd of Octand end 21st Dec.

The facilities we will be using are :
a/ Lakeside Stadium MONDAY and WEDNESDAY from 6-9pm.
b/ Synthetic pitch at Albert Park ,FRIDAY 6-9pm, SATURDAY 12-4pm, SUNDAY all day.
c/ Synthetic pitch in Keilor on Mondays 5-9pm, Wednesday and Saturdays from 12-4pm.
d/ Three Futsal surfaces above pit straight every Saturday mornings from 10-12pm.
e/ Pitches 17, 18 and 10 will also be available.

Sessions by age groups will be announced shortly.

Passion, dedication and commitment are the three values that are hard to instil, the rest can be taught. The commitment required is from both parents and players.

We look forward to you joining us on this journey.