intelligent-footballers-academy-x3rmc

Player Development and Plane Navigation

zackham10@gmail.com (Zackery Kampf) — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 07:08:01 GMT

Navigating Through Your Development

In my first blog post, the welcome post, I touched on the One Degree Rule aka 1 in 60 Rule for navigation. This time around, I want to touch on this again.

I am constantly looking through highlight videos of players and teams having a passing sequence that seems so slick and perfectly executed, but I tend to see the bad habits in those videos. Yes, the highlight generally ends up in a goal, but the goal only happens because opposition are below par in taking advantage of the multiple mistakes made by the team with the ball. I saw a highlight, where every single player on the attacking team is rooted to the ground once the ball is played to them. They do well enough to check to the teammate but stop once the ball gets moving. Luckily for them, the other team's players just stood in place as well. I see the sequence starting by a player giving a pass to his teammate behind his run, which makes him track back. The next pass, the teammate checks to and his body positioning is less than optimal, but he is still allowed to turn against far inferior opposition, even without knowing his surroundings. He also stood in one spot while he watched the ball travel to him for 10-12 yards.

Let's be clear here, these plays work because most teams do not defend properly at a young age. But, when these players get to 15 or 16 years old, these habits are going to get exposed. Defenders will not stand still, and they will quickly put a player under pressure, and likely run right past the player to intercept the ball and go on a counter attack.

So, the one degree rule applies here, because RIGHT NOW, a younger player (under 13 years old) can look great against opposition, but when it really matters, 15+ years old, they are going to be exposed. Just like a plane will end up 60 miles away from its destination after a 1000 mile journey, if it is one degree off with navigation, so will a player be equally off course in development of speed of play and perception of the field around him or her within a few years. And to clarify, we are not saying the player will be bad, we are saying the player will be good and comparable 90% of players. But, if you are reading this, you have a son or daughter who wants to dominate the game, not just be another player that blends in.

Our goal at the IFA is to correct the one degree in each player's development. We want to right the course and make sure they stay on the exact path necessary to thrive for their entire playing career. At the younger ages, it will be noticeable, as they know what to do a half second before everyone else figures it out. Once they get into high school age, it will not just be noticeable, it will be glaringly obvious other players lack the ability to process information at such a high speed and act accordingly.

The training requires diligence on our part as IFA coaching staff, and from the players themselves. If you are ready to be held to a higher standard, come join us on the pitch, and make the difference for your club team on the weekends. We are here and ready to help you and your team succeed.

Coach Bio: Josh Hackett

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 06:18:12 GMT

On Staff: Coach Josh Hackett

About Me

My name is Joshua Hackett. I am currently a junior at Tempe Preparatory Academy and I play for AZ Arsenal 05 Teal 1. I first started playing soccer in primary school and have been infatuated with the sport ever since. My club career started off when I was about six years old, playing as a winger for Sereno SC. After Sereno turned into RSL, I moved on to AZ Thunder (Arizona Soccer Club) where I was for two years competing in the ASL. However, I realized that I thirsted for a higher competition and left for Brazas who were in the APL at the time. Two years later I had the opportunity to play at Arsenal where I am currently. Although I have played for a number of clubs, my passion for the sport and commitment to the game and my teams has remained consistent. I have been a captain of every team I have played for, I expect a high level of dedication and passion from my teammates, and I strive to keep things positive and fun.

Position

Originally starting out as a winger at Sereno, my coaches quickly realized that my true potential lay in the midfield and I have been there ever since. I have played the 6, 8, and 10 in the midfield and thoroughly enjoy all three positions. Playing in the midfield gives me the opportunity to have greater control over the game and have a presence in the offense as well as the defense. I have also had stints at the fullback and forward positions which both influenced and grew my knowledge of the game. I think that it is very important to understand positions other than your own to build a full view of the game.

Goals/Personal Philosophy

My personal philosophy is one of self-improvement. Whether it’s learning a new kind of shot or even correcting your running form, all that matters is getting better and having fun while doing it. That is why I think it is important to set goals for yourself in life. I think that you should have an end goal and then mini goals in between to reach for. Using myself as an example: My current end goal is to play at the collegiate level. However, to get there I have set mini goals for myself like running a sub 12 minute two mile and mastering my weak foot. I would like to bring this same sort of philosophy into my coaching and will be working with each player to set individual mini goals which they can build upon to reach their larger goal.

"Josh is an incredible talent of the game. I can see his abilities and understanding of the game grow day by day, due to his diligence in improving his personal game. When I was thinking of who I wanted on staff, I knew I needed to get him involved with this academy. He analyzes movements and dribbling mechanics well, and he has a great understanding of the importance of mental habits in obtaining success in the game. I have all the confidence that he will be a fantastic asset to younger footballers in our academy, as they seek to grasp concepts that will elevate their game tremendously. " -Coach Zack

My Personal Welcome to You

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 07:33:18 GMT

What an adventure we have ahead of ourselves.

First off, thank you so much for getting this far to see what this training academy is all about. I am ever so grateful for your time. I want to just lay it all out on my history with soccer, why I started IFA, what we are doing here at the IFA, and other information you might find interesting and/or useful.

MY HISTORY WITH SOCCER

I grew up here in the valley and played for one club here. I was fortunate enough to play with amazing players, and even more fortunate enough to play against amazing players. I played every position on the field, yes, even goalkeeper. And that has allowed me to be a better resource for the players I coach, as I have perspective of the game in every position.

After having a very successful youth club career (five state championships and my team being ranked top 10 in the country from u11-u18, all prior to the countless alphabet platforms), I went to college and played D2 soccer at Brigham Young University - Hawaii and Metropolitan State University in Denver (Was Metropolitan State College when I attended).

After my college career, I was invited to the Colorado Rapids trials in Denver in January 2013. I will not pretend that I was going to be picked up. I played well, but there were some really talented players that stood out. But it was okay for me not to be chosen, because I realized during those trials that I wanted to be coaching, not playing. I wanted to develop players who would then be in the same situation I was in years later. From that point on, my focus changed, and later that year I finished my USSF C license course.

Fast forward a couple of years, after I lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil for two years, and I am in Richmond, Virginia. I started coaching at Richmond Strikers and that was such a fantastic learning experience for me. I had fantastic directors who entrusted me with important teams and mentored me and guided me when I needed it. Then, in 2018, an opportunity to move back to Arizona arrived, and I quickly took it and was fortunate enough to find my way back to the only club I played for growing up. Since returning to Arizona, I continue to educate myself in my coaching. I have taken courses from TOVO, led by Todd Beane who is the son-in-law of the late Johan Cruyff, a true legend of the beautiful game. I have taken multiple courses from Barcelona Universitas, I have taken courses from a former director and coach of La Masia (the academy of FC Barcelona), and I have been in the UEFA pathway for coaching through the Welsh Football Association, currently with my UEFA B license. I do not believe licensing is the answer to everything, I know plenty of coaches who are phenomenal and have the basic grassroots course. But those coaches always have the desire to learn more and that is what matters. In my mind, leaders are readers. Leaders read books, they read studies, they read post-game analysis, they read updates on how academies are run around the world. Leaders update themselves and stay current with the game. I am learning to be a leader, I am continually reminding myself that I constantly must evolve, because the game is fluid, it is always evolving. It is not easy, it can be uncomfortable sometimes to reflect and realize I need to change certain things, but I am on a journey with today's players, they evolve, therefore I must evolve as well.

Now that you have a bit of background on my playing and coaching history, lets get to the why.

WHY DID I CREATE THIS ACADEMY?

I created this academy because I see passionate players striving to reach their full potential and they need all the help they can get. I see players learning bad mechanics and bad habits at a young age and know such things will stop them from reaching their potential. And coaches do not have the time to correct such things. So, this academy is here to correct the microscopic details that have massive influence on player development.

Take a moment to search "One Degree Rule" on the internet. Come on back after you see the brief explanation.

That one degree in aviation makes a big difference in arriving at a destination. And in player development in soccer, the slightest bad habit, that ONE DEGREE off of doing things the right way, can mean the player is too far off course in his or her development in a few years.

SO, WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE AT THE IFA?

Here, at the IFA, we are ensuring every player has the tools to succeed at the highest level now and in the future. We are not focused on winning, we do not have teams, and we never will. So, our training cannot be influenced by desire to set aside development to get a win on the weekend. Every player will be able to come here and know they are learning things that will help them be more intelligent footballers. These things are not always easy, but they are massively beneficial, once they are learned.

WHO DO WE WANT HERE?

Of course, we want everyone to take advantage of what we have to share. And we commit to doing it in a transparent, honest way. When your son or daughter trains with the IFA, you can expect our staff to be focused on one thing, helping your son or daughter increase their footballing intelligence. You may have noticed, I never mentioned the name of the club I played for and now coach for, and I will not do that, neither will any of the other IFA coaches. We are committed to player development for all players of all clubs, and we are committed to respecting each club and their investment into their players. We only seek to be a resource of development for all of you.

If you got this far, well done! I thank you again for your interest in our academy. We are excited for your player's journey and we hope to help along the way.

Now, whether you become part of the IFA family or not, WELCOME to our journey.

The IFA - Where STUDENTS of the game become LEADERS of the game.

Zack Kampf

Founder and Director of the IFA