Ages 16 to 18
Objective: Optimize the engine and learn to compete. Compete more than train (e.g., 3:2 ratio). Specialize in soccer. Improving the ability to share the ball with teammates and keep the ball from opponents in a variety of game conditions.
LUYSA Soccer will:
- Provide year-round, high intensity, individual event and position-specific training.
- Teach participants, who are proficient at performing soccer skills, to perform those skills under a variety of competitive conditions during training and games.
- Individually tailor to a greater level the sport psychology, sport medicine, nutrition and life skills programs.
- Look for and develop the only window of accelerated adaptation to strength in males.
- Continue talent profiling.
- Continue to redirect cut soccer players who choose to excel as athletes to sports where they are predisposed to train and perform well.
- Utilize an annual soccer program with one, two or three competitive seasons.
- 40% training to 60% competition (and competition-related training).
- Provide soccer-specific technical, tactical and ancillary capacities (i.e., nutrition, life skills, etc.) training 9 to 12 times per week.
- Begin to play participants in one position that best optimizes the participant’s abilities in relation to the team’s performance.
Outside of soccer the family should:
Be prepared to put aside all other sports at an elite level in order to focus attention and effort required to optimize soccer performance in the final stage of long-term athlete development.
