SKILL ACQUISITION PROGRAM

FootyBugs skill acquisition program, develops motoric and social skills, teaches turns, moves, feints & stops, dribbling, striking the ball, 1v1's, first touch and the fundamental techniques playing football.

FootyBugs skill acquisition program is great for boys and girls, age 5 to 12 year and is developed to enhance not only children’s football skills but also other relevant important skills, such as agility, balance, cognitive, coordination, and speed.

Our age-appropriate classes First Skills (U6), Discovery Player (U9) and Development Player (U12) can help your child to develop to be the best they can be. We also believe at this young age it is equally important to help the children in their social, emotional, physical, and behavioral development without putting unnecessarily pressure on them.

FootyBugs summer Skill Acquisition Program runs from Sept to Dec and Jan to Apr to provide children additional opportunities to train, learn and build the skills and love for the game of the next generation player and complements the clubs football training.

FootyBugs football classes aim to promotes individuality and encourages this by building confidence and self-assurance. We also ensure that children enhance their core skills by playing and learning together with their peers including learning essentials football skills, sportsmanship, honesty, respect, discipline and fair play.

FootyBugs children’s football classes are designed age appropriately offering a structured football training and development programme for children between the age 5 and 12 years teaching children the fundamental football skills in a fun, safe and innovative way.
FootyBugs coaching team consists of experienced footballers, coaches and individuals experienced in working with young children.
FootyBugs coaching team is working towards instilling in our children the enjoyment and fun aspects of football.
FootyBugs coaches are suitably background checked to ensure child protection standards are upheld.

Footybugs Children Grassroots Football School intends to provide an atmosphere where the player’s emotional well-being will be nurtured as they learn the importance of teamwork, determination, persistence, discipline and hard work.

FootyBugs football sessions emphasis on concepts like developing fundamental football skills, improving technique, balance, agility, and co-ordination skills.

FootyBugs children’s football classes are being taught in a positive, pressure-free environment which encourages children to learn and develop at their own pace.

All FootyBugs skill acquisition prgram classes:

Are for boys and girls, aged 5 to 12 years
Provides a great start into football
Teaches the technique and football fundamentals
Develops children football playing IQ
Have coach ratios in line with NZ Football guidelines and standards
Being run by qualified coaches
Have age-appropriate groups to challenge children relative to their ability
Prepare children for organised sport disciplines, drills and routines
Introduces children to the concept of team sport
Helps children to develop vital motoric and social skills
Being run in a fun and supportive, warm, caring manner
Uses safe and child friendly equipment

From the moment children joining one of our football classes we’ll work with them on developing their skills and offer a pathway for them to follow as they get older.

FootyBugs intends not to affect or encroach on children playing or training with their own football club teams. We see ourselves purely as a summer program teaching children the core skills and fundamental technical aspects of playing football in a fun and structured way. Our skill acquisition program is complementary to club training or children can join our Football School solely.

Training Times

Training for 2024, Term 4 program commences on Sat. 5 Oct '24 and concludes on Sat. 21 Dec '24;

Training for 2025, Term 1 program commences on Sat. 18 Jan '25 and concludes on Sat. 5 April '24. No classes being over Easter weekend.

8:00am - 9:15am : First Skills (U6) - (5-6 yrs old boys & girls)

9:45am - 11:15am : Discovery Player (U9) - (7-9 yrs old boys & girls)

11:35am - 1:15pm : Development Player (U12) - (10-12 yrs old boys & girls)

Please arrive 10 min before start times.

What to bring?

Students need to wear the FootyBugs Training Kit (MANDATORY)
Shorts and Socks
Sport shoes, Indoor Football shoes or Sneakers. NO FOOTBALL or TURF BOOTS*.
Shin pads (must be worn under the socks and not vice versa)
Drink bottle (named)

* Sports Ground is newly built multi-use artificial turf. Use of any type of Football boots with any type of studs may damage the turf.

Bell Park Artifical Multi-use Turf 20230803_131517.jpg

U6

(5-6 YEARS)

FootyBugs U6 football classes has strong focus on fun, engaging and skill-based learning activities.

Every child is difference, whilst we always desire to have a professional learning environment, to make each child’s start easier and to gain confidence in the class parental participation is welcome in the beginning of the training session.

Many of our skilled-based learning activities involves story themed exercises around general movements, football techniques and football coordination introducing them to the fundamentals of football such as dribbling, turning, passing, and shooting.

To further broaden the child’s development a variety of colours, shapes and numbers are going to be introduced in the training activities and small sided games.

Progressive Learning Outcomes:

Semi-structured and fun training sessions
Themed activities to foster general movement, football coordination and techniques
Free play with introducing simple rules within the activities and small-sided games
Parental participation where necessary

U9/U12

(7-12 YEARS)

FootyBugs U9 football classes focus on more advanced football skills while encouraging social independence.

The children will learn in a structured, fun and knowledgeable environment. Classes being taught by our qualified coaches, who have been playing themselves in competitive environment for many years who can pass on their experience and invaluable knowledge.

With help and guidance from our qualified coaches’ children will learn to advance their football skills and their overall knowledge of the game.

Through variation of different themed games and activities each week children will be taught different football techniques or football coordination including first touches, possession, receiving, passing, dribbling, control, awareness, transitioning,1v1 attacking and defending to allow children to gain experience in all areas of football.

Progressive Learning Outcomes:

Structured and fun training sessions
Semi-competitive games
Introduction of clear rules within the activities and small-sided games
Quick decision making and communication
No parental participation desired

FootyBugs Session Approach

Opposed to the traditional training approach where practices often focus on a team's outcome, we believe teaching football by focusing on the individual player's skill development with the aim to unlock its potential to be more successful and become the best football player he/she can be. We further believe, the team’s success depends on individual and small group playing skills.

Therefore, the delivery of a FootyBugs session may include drills and activities covering the following, but not limited to:

Warm-up (Dynamic stretching, Ball Mastery, Fun game)
Speed* & Agility (with or without ball)
Attacking & Defending incl. transitioning (1v1, 2v2, 3v3, tricks & feints, etc.)
Group Play or Rondos (passing & receiving, finishing, first touch, change of direction)
Small Sided Games (unlimited, restricted or with conditions)

*Speed not purely the physical ability to run fast over a set distance, also how quickly can a player make a decision in un/opposed situations.

FootyBugs sessions aims that players have as many ball touches and repetitions as possible to get a sense of "Ball Feeling" and "Ball Control". This includes a strong focus on "Ball Mastery" as well as developing the weaker foot to be able to master the ball with both feet.

FootyBugs sessions may include a briefing and debriefing and some "Home Learning" (optional), for example, working on weak foot passing, push drag backs or toe/bell taps, boxes, etc. which will help players progressing faster.