FSHP Academy
Football S&C — all lessons

Module 1 – Assessment & Evaluation

Assessment protocols for footballers

Module 2 – Long-Term Periodisation

LTAD in footballPeriodisation plans for footballManaging training load and volume

Module 3 – Strength Training

Exercise selection and integration for football

Module 4 – Power & Explosive Training

Explosive power and plyometrics for football

Module 5 – Speed & Agility

Linear speed, lateral speed and agility drills

Module 6 – Overtraining & Recovery

Overtraining signs and fatigue monitoring in football

Module 7 – Practical Application

Football S&C case studies

LTAD in football

Long-term athletic development in football — maturation, relative age, youth strength and speed development, injury prevention and avoiding early specialisation.

Advanced Evidence: Established consensus 3 min read Reviewed 2026-10-31 Status: draft

Learning objectives

  • Apply LTAD to football academies
  • Account for maturation and relative age effects
  • Plan age-appropriate strength and speed training
  • Integrate injury prevention from youth

Before this lesson

Why this matters

Academies shape players for years. LTAD builds athletes and protects them.

Principles

  • Develop movement skills, strength and speed across ages [lloyd2012]
  • Consider maturation (e.g., estimated peak height velocity) [ford2011]
  • Supervised resistance training is safe and beneficial [lloyd2014]
  • Injury prevention warm-ups reduce injuries [soligard2008]

Stages

AgeFocus
U9–U12Movement skills, coordination, fun
U13–U15Strength foundations, speed technique, growth monitoring
U16–U18Progressive strength/power, conditioning, position-specific

Maturation

Monitor height regularly; adjust load during growth spurts; consider bio-banding.

Common mistakes and misconceptions

Case study

An academy introduces bio-banding and growth monitoring. Late-maturing players remain in the programme longer, and two later reach first-team level.

Further learning: video lessons

Video links are only marked “verified” after a human has watched them. Unverified entries open a YouTube search for that channel and topic rather than a guessed link.

Technical needs verification — opens a YouTube search

LTAD in football

football S&C practitioners and federations (search)

You will understand: ltad in football

Why: Practitioner content; verify the specific video.
Technical needs verification — opens a YouTube search

Strength and conditioning in practice

football S&C practitioners and federations (search)

You will understand: applied S&C sessions

Why: Practitioner content; verify the specific video.

Knowledge check

Knowledge check · 0/5

1. Early maturers may be…

Answer B. Maturation bias.

2. Youth resistance training is…

Answer B. Lloyd et al. (2014).

3. Injury prevention programmes in youth football…

Answer B. Soligard et al. (2008).

4. The Youth Physical Development model…

Answer B. Lloyd & Oliver (2012).

5. During peak height velocity, players may need…

Answer B. Growth sensitivity.

Short-answer & application questions

  1. Plan an academy S&C curriculum (U9–U18).
  2. Explain maturation to parents.
  3. Design a youth injury prevention warm-up.

Key takeaways

  • Development should match biological maturation, not just age.
  • Relative age and maturation affect selection — avoid early judgements.
  • Youth resistance and speed training are safe and effective when supervised.
  • FIFA 11+ (Kids) style injury prevention should start early.

Connected topics

football

Exercise selection and integration for football

prehab rehab

Injury prevention programmes

References

  1. Lloyd RS, Oliver JL (2012). The youth physical development model: a new approach to long-term athletic development. Strength and Conditioning Journal, 34(3):61–72. Narrative review check pending
  2. Lloyd RS, Faigenbaum AD, Stone MH, et al. (2014). Position statement on youth resistance training: the 2014 International Consensus. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 48(7):498–505. Position stand check pending
  3. Soligard T, Myklebust G, Steffen K, et al. (2008). Comprehensive warm-up programme to prevent injuries in young female footballers: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ, 337:a2469. RCT check pending
  4. Ford P, De Ste Croix M, Lloyd R, et al. (2011). The long-term athlete development model: physiological evidence and application. Journal of Sports Sciences, 29(4):389–402. Narrative review check pending

Educational content only — not medical advice. Consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis or treatment.