Program overview:
The Atlanta Fire Academy program is built on the core principles of player development. Our philosophy centers on a player-focused approach, emphasizing the development of technical skills, tactical understanding, physical growth, and an overall holistic development.
Age Groups:
Boys: U8 - U11
Girls: U8 - U11
Objective:
To create a competitive environment where players regularly compete against the best youth soccer talent. This high-level competition provides a pathway for player development, preparing them for success at the college, professional, and international levels.
Playing Style Emphasis:
At Atlanta Fire, we foster an environment that encourages constant learning and development. Coaches work closely with players to help them understand and execute our playing style, which is centered around possession-based play.
Key elements of our playing style include:
High-speed play with quick passing and receiving
Triangulation through positional rotation
Breaking opponent lines or maintaining possession
Pressuring to deny penetration and forcing play away from goal (winning the ball back)
Counter-pressing to regain possession quickly
Keeping the team compact both defensively and offensively
Ensuring coverage, balance, and closing passing lanes with optimal distance relationships
These principles form the foundation of the Atlanta Fire's playing style, guiding both individual and team development on the field.
Methodology:
Atlanta Fire’s style of play is rooted in the principles of possession-based soccer. This approach is developed through a player-centric model, where coaches focus on enhancing individual skills and behaviors while also emphasizing team principles and structure. Through this balanced development, players learn to seamlessly integrate their personal growth with team dynamics, fostering both individual and collective success.
Curriculum:
The Atlanta Fire development pathway is encapsulated in our curriculum, which serves as the blueprint for all functions within our program. This framework provides a structured approach for coaches, ensuring players receive the necessary tools for their development. Our curriculum is organized into 6-week cycles, each focusing on different components and specific topic-based activities. Coaches are provided with weekly sample sessions as a guide to help them prepare for training, ensuring consistency and alignment across all age groups.
Coaching Staff:
Atlanta Fire is dedicated to providing top-quality coaching to its players. The program is led by a team of highly qualified and experienced coaches, each with diverse coaching backgrounds. All of our coaches are licensed, ensuring a high standard of instruction and development for every player.
Training Frequency:
Our Academy teams train 2 or 3 days a week, and outdoor sessions last for 90 minutes.
Training days are by age:
2 days per week: U8 and U9 teams - 2 outdoor sessions
3 days per week: U10 and U11 teams - 2 outdoor sessions and 1 futsal (indoor) session
3 days per week: U12 Elite and Gold teams - 2 outdoor sessions and 1 Toca Soccer Program session
4 days per week: U12 Pre ECNL teams - 3 outdoor sessions and 1 Toca Soccer Program session
* Toca Soccer Program is a 12-week program during the Fall and Spring seasons
Games:
Our Academy teams will play approximately 10-12 games per fall and spring season. Most of the games are within 30-40 minutes of our club. In addition, teams will play in 4 tournaments per year.
Our U11 and U12 age group elite-level teams will play in SCCL. The SCCL is a league made up of major clubs from throughout the Southeast and is governed by US Club Soccer rules.
Evaluation & Team Placement:
Players will be evaluated through a combination of training sessions and tryouts. These assessments provide coaches with the necessary insights to make informed decisions before offering team placements.
Ongoing Evaluation Process:
Throughout the season, players will continue to be evaluated based on their training and game performance. Evaluations may be provided face-to-face or in written form, ensuring consistent feedback and development throughout the year.
Diversity and Community Engagement
At Atlanta Fire United, we take great pride in the diversity of our membership. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds feel welcomed, respected, and valued.
Our club believes that embracing diversity not only strengthens our community, but also enriches the experience of every player, coach, and family involved.