The principles

1. Accumulation of hours and number of touches

To build fundamental skills, the Framework gives guidelines on the number of hours players should be training and playing each week. Small sided games ensure players touch the ball as much as possible to build technical ability.

2. Early Engagement

Focus on getting players involved and enthused as early as possible, to develop intrinsic motivation and love of the game before specialising.

3. Recognising development age

Different players in the same age group will often be at different development stages. The Junior Framework encourages a flexible approach to help players reach their true potential.

4. Training emphasis periods

The Framework aims to promote the awareness of training emphasis periods, particularly for skill and physical development. It does this by providing clear recommendations for training to allow coaches to mximise the optimal windows of development.

5. Four corners approach

At all stages we take account of the 4 corners of a young player's development; Physical: Social/Emotional: Mental: Technical/Tactical.

6. Age-appropriate games

Gradual progression from 3 to 9 a-side games ensures players are able and ready to move to the adult version of the game. It is a staggered progression that will ultimately leave the junior player more competent when playing the full-sized game at 11 a-side.