Player development
Junior's Method
Junior's Method is a player-development philosophy created by Coach Junior, shaped through years of coaching, studying the game, developing players, and learning from both successes and mistakes along the way.
The method was created from one realization: youth football can easily become focused on developing the team before developing the individual player.
Junior's Method takes a different approach.
U7–U12
Foundation
U13–U15
Development
U16–U19
Performance
Phase 1 · U7–U12
Foundation
Develop the Individual Player
This phase is about the player — technical ability, movement, confidence, creativity, understanding time and space, and developing a love for the game. Players are encouraged to experience different positions and discover the game without being defined too early by a specific role.
Technical Skill
Dribbling with both feet, passing with both feet
Tactical Skill
Understanding of space, how to play without the ball
Good Body Mechanics
How well the player moves their body, change of direction, coordination, balance
Confident
Believes in themselves, willing to try, learn, and take on challenges
Phase 2 · U13–U15
Development
Develop the Individual Within the Team
The individual now begins to understand how their qualities connect to the team. Positional understanding, decision-making, responsibilities with and without the ball, and understanding time and space within the game become increasingly important.
Position Identity
Player has identified two or more positions
Tactical Understanding
Understands the roles and responsibilities of their positions with and without the ball
Position-Specific Skills
Has the technical skills required to perform their positions
Physical Profile
Develops the movement, strength, speed, and physical qualities needed for their positions
Phase 3 · U16–U19
Performance
Prepare the Player to Perform
Everything developed through the first two phases is now applied consistently in a competitive team environment. Roles become clearer, tactical demands increase, and performance and results begin to matter.
Consistency
Perform at a high level consistently
Results Matter
Individual and team performance now matters
Tactical Flexibility
Understand different systems and be comfortable playing your position in any system
Compete
Handle pressure, competition, and expectations
At the center of every phase
Time & Space
Recognizing it
Creating it
Using it
Controlling it
The goal isn't to develop a player for one coach, one system, one team, or one club.
Develop the individual.
Develop the individual within the team.
Then let the player perform.
That is Junior's Method.