The IFA Method - Part One: The Foundation Phase

Our mission at IFA New England is to put player development above all else. Under the direction of our Technical Director Mark Spalding, IFA has developed an extensive training and development model for our players and teams.

In Part One of this series on the IFA training methodology, we are going to take a look at our Foundation Phase which covers players from U7-U9.

At these ages teams play 4v4 (U7 and U8) and 7v7 (U9). The field guidelines and team sizes follow the recommendations from US Soccer to maximize touches on the ball and ensure players are playing at an age-appropriate scale.

“We want to master the ball and the 1v1 using our three Rs- Running, Receiving and Releasing the ball,” said IFA Technical Director Mark Spalding. “Those technical fundamentals are key to all other aspects of our player development model. Such qualities allow our players to dominate not in 1v1s and overloading situations.  However we also challenge our players to control in underloads allowing us numerical options elsewhere,” added Spalding. 

Learning Objectives

IFA divides our learning objectives into four areas. 

1. Ability

2. Awareness

3. Athlete

4. Attitude

In the Foundation phase there exists a wide range of ages and stages of development but the overarching focus is on technical development. 

Foundation Phase - Ability: What they Learn

• Ball mastery- areas of foot, turns to change direction

• Receiving- to control ball then pass/dibble/shoot

• Releasing- to get ball to team mate, inside of foot

• Running- with the ball

Foundation Phase - Ability: What they Show

• Loves to be on the ball

• Runs with and without the ball

• Moves ball- to team mate/to score

Training Outlines

IFA divides training sessions into three types:

1. Player - Technical Focus

2. Team - Tactical Focus

3. Game - Technical and Tactical Focus

In the Foundation Phase, players train 2x per week. Three out of every four sessions focus on the Player with one session on the Game with the understanding that the game remains the best teacher and the best environment for children to apply learning.

Game Day

IFA has developed a game model which provides a clear progression for players through the age groups with each stage building upon the other. At the Foundation level we focus on two parts of the game:

1. Control the Ball - We have the ball

2. Control the Field - The opponent has our ball

Each of these two elements are subdivided into the following sections: Focus, Aim, Principles and Actions. 

Control the Ball

• Focus: To go forward and score yourself or with a teammate

• Aim: Go forward and score goals

• Principles: Play forward and attack at speed

• Actions:

• Make the field BIG: Players spread out.

• Dribble or pass forward.

• Dribble and use skill moves in 1v1s

• Shoot

• Move to find space for pass

• Support team mate by running forward or coming to help them.

Control the Field

• Focus: To stop the opponent going forward yourself or with a teammate

• Aim: Win the ball and stop goals

• Principles: Press forward and stay tight together

• Actions:

• Make the field SMALL: Players get close.

• Players run back to positions.

• Go to ball to create 1v1

• Steal the ball.

• 1v1s stay with your player.

• Help team mates by covering or supporting to make 2v1.

League Play

Teams begin league play at U8 in the New England Club Soccer League (NECSL). At U8 teams play in a bi-weekly jamboree format whilst at U9 they compete in weekly regionalized travel matches.