Volendam – A Club Visit

Volendam is everything you would expect of a community club, a club where the community has etched its traditions and principles in to the identity of the club. The club has a museum and learning center, where a short movie production takes the individual through the history of success’s and difficulties of Volendam. The city has churned out multiple artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and football players

Currently 6 players in the first team are locals who grew up in Volendam and have come through the academy system.


Analysis of Opponent and Preparation for Game Day

For every game day there needs to be a game plan, where the basis is around ‘Prevention and Exploit’.

  • What is the identity of the opposition
  • The weaknesses
  • How will our own identity exploit opponent’s weaknesses?

Stopping their Strengths

Prevent the flow of the opponent, do not allow the opposition to get a hold of the game and dictate the tempo of the game. Identify the key players and the phases of play in which the opposition has found success. Each team will have a trigger to which they respond to stimulus on the field in both attack and defense, these need to be highlighted so opposition play can be prevented.

Pressure their Weaknesses

This is the coachers role in identifying the tactics which will exploit the oppositions system and style of play. A step back from the unit weakness is the individual player. Looking at the technical and tactical weakness of certain players, their strongest foot, ability to win the ball in the air, and the speed of thought of the player. Additionally, the mental and emotional strength in players can be exploited to gain an advantage.

System

Every system has a weakness, with certain areas on the field being given away. Systems however are a formation of players to be stood on the field, but the roles and responsibilities are what can change this system throughout the game to where the formation could look like one of many different systems.

        


Youth Academy

3 full time staff members cover the entire youth academy, working with volunteers who coach the players under the direction and supervision of the academy coaches. To enable this balance the teams practice 4 times a week, where 2 sessions are with the volunteer coach, while the additional 2 sessions are with the full-time academy staff coach. The set up of using part time coaches is from U12 to U17, with the older teams having full time coaches for every session.

Purpose/Aim

  • 50% of the senior squad members being from the region
  • Sell players to other academies and clubs for profit

The Volendam academy has system in place where all players must have equal playing time up to and including U16’s. This is not a game by game basis, but an overall season plan to ensure players are getting adequate playing time throughout the season. U17 and up, it’s up to players to fight for their position.

There are 4 different learning lines highlighted by the Volendam academy, and each player is exposed to experiencing all 4 to develop as an all-round individual.

  • Football – 35%
  • Training – 35%
  • Mentality – 20%
  • Lifestyle – 10%

The principles of Volendam include

  • Dominant in attack and defense
  • Posses to the attacking half, then create
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