Football at La Manga Club
Committed to being the best soccer training centre and tournament venue for professional clubs in Europe, La Manga Club Centre for Professional Football, in south-eastern Spain, offers a first-class, year-round practice facility in an ideal climate.
Everything a football team needs is provided: from the top quality of the eight football pitches and accommodation of the highest standards to full catering services, a host of other activities such as golf, tennis, a fully equipped Fitness Centre... and the dedicated services of our highly experienced staff.
The excellent standard of the Football Centre, first-rate organisation and service have made it the preferred choice of a number of the world's most important teams, both for pre-season training camps and in the run-up to important matches and competitions.
Facilities for the Club |
La Manga Club has long held a reputation as one of the world's finest sports and leisure resorts. This international acclaim has extended to its Centre for Professional Football, which offers outstanding training facilities and organisation.
Professional Football Centre
Opened in February 1998, La Manga Club Football Centre comprises eight international-standard grass pitches, including an exhibition pitch with floodlighting and a grandstand accommodating 650 spectators. The Centre also has press and parking facilities.
The most up-to-date pitch preparation techniques, automatic irrigation systems and dedicated maintenance programmes have produced pitches of a standard virtually unmatched, even amongst the world's top stadiums. It is not surprising that some of the world's most famous clubs and national squads choose La Manga Club for training before important matches and competitions.
Fact File
La Manga Club Football Centre is conveniently located within the resort, a couple of minutes' drive from team accommodations, and offers eight natural grass pitches of international-standard size including a match pitch with a 650-seat grandstand.
» Pitch: 68 m x 105 m
» Sideline extension: 4 m
» Baseline extension: 5 m
One extra pitch is suitable for five-a-side football.
Equipment available:
» Moveable goals
» Hockey goals
» Football nets
» Football / tennis nets
» Massage benches |
Football for Children |
If your child is a born footballer or wants to follow the steps of their idols, they shouldn't miss the La Manga Club Football Academy this summer. Our Football Academy gives young players the chance to practise on the same ground as their idols, such as Beckham, Owen or Zidane.
The five-day Football Academy is run by Nick Watson, a top FA and UEFA qualified coach, and is open to boys and girls of all ability levels. The Academy is held at the famed La Manga Club Professional Football Centre, where top British and international players have trained before. Coaching sessions are fun and will help youngsters improve their footballing skills and confidence on the field. Kids will love it!
Coaching Philosophy
All sessions are designed to maximise learning in a safe and positive environment. Due to the young age of those attending the Academy (5 to 12 years), a premium is placed on making the sessions fun and enjoyable, hence line drills are seldom used. All drills and games are underpinned with the key skills of the game, and there is plenty of contact with the ball for each child. The philosophy of coaching is to keep sessions simple, safe and fun whilst progressively introducing basic instructional points.
Sessions are designed in relation to age, ability and weather conditions (e.g. adapting sessions during the hottest times of the day / year). For example, games and drills for the five- to six-year-olds are predominately fun-based with unconscious learning, whilst the coaching for the older groups (7 to 9 years and 10 to 12 years) will involve more directed learning. Great emphasis is also placed on positive reinforcement and encouragement during coaching sessions, thus enabling children to grow in confidence.
Each day will have a key topic that will be developed in a progressive manner from learning the basic technique into a functional drill and then practising in game conditions in small teams.
Football Academy Programme
The length and content of each session is adapted to each age group. A typical week's coaching programme for each age group is detailed below.
Five- to Six-Year-Olds
(One-hour session)
Sessions will always start with fun games to break the ice and allow the children to get to know one another and the coach. Each day will start with games and drills working on touch and dribbling skills, stressing the use of both feet and all surfaces of the boot (inside, outside and sole). The importance of keeping the ball out of feet and head up is reinforced and incorporated into all games / drills. The general methods outlined above are implemented for all age groups.
For this age group, the five key topics (one per day in a one-hour session) are:
» Foot skills, touch work and ability to use both feet (reinforced and encouraged in all drills)
» Passing and control
» Running with the ball and dribbling
» Basic turns (i.e. drag back, inside and outside hook)
» Shooting and attacking (i.e. shoot into corners, attack the space...)
The final part of each session will be practice games, with a maximum of five per side to ensure all children play.
Seven- to Nine-Year-Olds
(Daily 90-minute session)
For this age group, the five key skills detailed above will also be worked on. In addition, principles of the game (defence and attack) and positional play will be introduced at a very basic level. For example, appreciation of the roles of individuals in the team (defence, attack and midfield) and 1 v 1 defending techniques (key factors outlined e.g. close player down, side-on, make play predictable, eye on ball, etc).
The level of skills coached will develop with the age and ability of the children. For example, provided the ability level of the group is suitable, some or all of the following will be introduced:
» Short-, medium- and long-range passing
» Ball control practice will include aerial control (i.e. thigh, instep and chest)
» More advanced turning techniques (e.g. Cruyff and stop turns)
» More advanced dribbling techniques (e.g. step over, body fake etc)
Small-sided games are progressed, for example, introducing a touch restriction
10- to 12-Year-Olds
(Daily 90-minute session)
Many of the principles and advancements outlined for the seven- to nine-year-olds are used in this group. However, positional play is coached at a slightly higher level, and small-sided games are developed into seven or eight a side, depending on numbers. Other key principles are developed if ability levels allow. For example, 2 v 2 defending - introducing the need for cover and balance by the covering defender and more advanced shooting techniques such as volleying.
Health and Safety
Your child's health and safety whilst taking part in La Manga Football Academy is of utmost importance to us. The following measures help ensure safety and fun for all who participate:
» A register is taken for every session to ensure numbers present
» First-aid kit on the playing fields at all times
» Telephone at the stadium with a direct link to the resort doctor and emergency services
» All attendees are screened for injuries and ailments (asthma, etc) prior to participation
» La Manga Club provides water (regular rehydration) and shade during coaching to combat heat-related conditions
» Sessions are run at the cooler times of day to combat heat-related conditions, with youngest groups (five to six years) during the coolest period
» In line with FA guidelines and recent research in sports science (dangers of repeatedly heading the ball), no heading drills are used for any age group
» A maximum of 16 children are signed up for any one session to ensure safety and quality coaching for all
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