SQUAD INFORMATION

We have some simple rules that all players must stick to when representing the squad.

1. Take responsibility for your own career

We often call or write to YOU, the player, directly. If we do, make sure you reply yourself, rather than asking your parents or guardian to do it for you. If you do this in life, you will do this on the pitch. If we need to speak to your parents or guardian, we will contact them directly.

If you need to find out something from the coaches, call and ask them yourself. 

2. Follow the rules

As well as in training and at matches, we have rules on eating and bed times. Make sure you keep to them, as this will help you become a fitter and better player.

3. If we ask you to do something, do it

There is always a good reason for the way we do things and what we ask you to do. If you want to know why we ask you to do something, just ask us. We are always happy to explain everything.

4. Respect the referee and your opponents

• Never question match officials or say anything about them, even if they really annoy you. If you want to talk about the referee, wait until we are back in the changing room. We can say what we think in private, but we never do it in public.
• Shake hands with your opponents and the match officials after all matches.
• You will often meet people when you are representing FDS-AVFC.  Say hello, shake hands and be polite. People often judge you and us on how we look and what we do.
• Shake hands with your coach and our staff when you arrive and again when you leave. This applies to training sessions and matches. 

5. Only listen to your coaches

During matches and training sessions, you must only take instructions from your coach. Although we ask parents and spectators not to shout out during matches, this sometimes still happens. Make sure you only listen to the coach.

6. Look after your kit and surroundings

You need to be responsible for all your kit. This will get you into the good habits that all professionals display.

Make sure you:

• Clean your boots and pack your bag yourself. Do not arrive in muddy boots.
• Bring everything you need to training and matches.
• Bring sliders/flip-flops, towel and shower gel, as all players should shower after training and matches, if showers are available (shadow squads).
• Appropriate footwear for the playing surface.
• Do not leave any rubbish in the changing rooms or minibuses.
• When representing the shadow squad wear the club tracksuit. Sometimes, we will ask you to wear a shirt and tie.
• When representing the Development Centre please respect rules.

Above all, be proud of being part of a professional unit. It works!

• Arrive at least 45 minutes before kick-off time. This gives us time for important preparation.
• All players must arrive in Villa Hoodie and Black Bottoms.
• Players must not turn up in training kit in any circumstances unless informed otherwise.
• Share lifts if possible. Travel to matches can be demanding, so sharing is a good idea. If you need an introduction to other parents, ask a coach.
• Players will be debriefed after every match. This is an important part of their development, so please do not leave with your son straight after the final whistle. This usually takes 45 minutes to an hour. This can also apply to shadow squad training sessions. 
• Home fixtures

Players need to make their own way to home matches, which are usually held at Harborough Town Football Club, Northampton Road, Market Harborough LE16 9HF.

Away fixtures

We provide transport whenever possible. When transport is provided, all players should travel with the squad as this helps preparation and team spirit.

Venues

Shadow squads use the following venues:

Harborough Town – 3G Astro and grass pitches

Bodymoor Heath Training Ground 

To fulfil their potential, players need to take responsibility for their own development. This also develops them as people, not just as footballers.

Practice and improvement

Our programme is built on four pillars:

Touch

Fitness

Skill

Speed

Home site – TheFDS.org

Players need to know these and the different exercises we use to develop them.

Make sure they practice these at home as well as in sessions. It’s important they find time to do this, particularly as children play football less in their spare time these days.

See the Practice section for more details. 

Packing and carrying their own bag

Players need to know how to pack their own bags, making sure they have all the necessary kit, then carry it themselves.

See the Kit section on this page for more details.

Healthy eating

It’s vital the boys eat the right things, both in the packed lunches they bring to events and at home. This means no biscuits, chocolate or crisps.

See the Nutrition, Hydration & Sleep section on this page for more details.

Travelling in comfort

Players must change into match kit in the changing rooms. They should travel in tracksuits and a cotton t-shirt so that they have something clean, dry and comfortable in which to go home.

Players must not travel in their FDS-AVFC training shirt. The shirt they play in will be sweaty and unhygienic to travel home in after a shower.

The boys should also travel in cotton socks. Football socks make your feet sweat a lot, which can cause blisters.

Away fixtures

We provide transport whenever possible. When transport is provided, all players should travel with the squad as this helps preparation and team spirit.

Venues

Shadow squads use the following venues:

Harborough Town – 3G Astro and grass pitches

Bodymoor Heath Training Ground 

The way we play is designed to help our players fulfil their potential. We take a long-term approach and look at the big picture. How our players perform is more important than their results.

Express yourself

We encourage our players to express themselves. We ask them to play from the back and through the thirds of the pitch, developing attacks and creating chances.

This makes our play deliberate and methodical. We create opportunities by playing good football, not through the opposition making mistakes.

Match ratings

After each fixture we give our players a rating from 1 to 10.

7 out of 10 means the player has performed to the standard expected of a professional club academy.

8 and above represents a very good or excellent performance at professional academy level.

6 or below means that the player has certain areas of the game to work on.

If the boys would like their match mark explained, they can speak to their coach themselves. This helps them take responsibility for improving their game.

Feedback

We give regular feedback to make sure you know how your son is progressing. This is often in person. We also record audio reports for players after selected tournaments to give them and you a thorough understanding of how they have played.

We want you to enjoy the FDS-AVFC experience as much as your son/relative. By sticking to the code of conduct, you can relax in the knowledge your son is doing something he loves every week in a caring and responsible environment. We follow a strict code of conduct and expect all players, parents & guardians who may spectate to follow this. 

Our Code of Conducts apply to Matches/Training/Trials.

1. Read the Players’ Code of Conduct

Also, encourage your son to follow it.

2. Don’t shout instructions

We love to see you at training and matches, but please watch quietly. We give our players clear instructions on what we want them to do and what positions and formation to play in. Shouting instructions at them can confuse them. What you want them to do may well be completely different to the role we’re asking them to play. Parents may at times feel they need tell their child what to do – NO, don’t do this, we as coaches need to know what a player can do and what they can’t do by making their own decisions. This is a major part of a players development. Please leave the coaching to the coaches. Please trust the coach.

3. Any inaaprioate language used, directed at a player, coach or official will not be tolerated. FDS members of staff have the rights to tell you to leave the area.

4. Respect the officials and opposition

During matches, do not shout, comment or give opinions to match officials at any time. Also, do not get into disputes with other people watching.

5. Stick to parents’ areas

Changing rooms and adjacent areas are for players and staff only. At matches, one side is for supporters and the other for players and staff. Please observe this.

Indoor sessions are for players and coaches only. All our coaches will stay at the venue until all players have been collected.

6. Keep the pressure off

When we play professional clubs, games are often in thirds not halves. Players may also be asked to play against others of similar height and weight, rather than age. These games are for development purposes. There are no leagues, cups or published results. The result is not as important as the performance. Please do not shout out instructions during any fixture or any training session.

7. Call if you need to speak to us

Please leave coaches free at training and matches to focus on the players. If you want to discuss a player’s progress, please call the office or contact us via your WhatsApp contact. 

Shadow Squad Training: Arrive in Plain black bottoms and Villa Hoodie. Strictly NO CLUB KITS. It is very important that players have all these items with them every week. Bringing the following items in a kit bag:

• Shin pads
• Astros – indoor
• Boots – outdoor (grass and 3/4G)
• Football socks (white)
• Refillable water bottle – Water
• GK’s – Gloves
• Match kit – at times we may have in house fixtures 
• Note pad
• Pen
• Flip flops or sliders
• Healthy snacks

Fixtures: Arrive in Plain black bottoms and Villa Hoodie. Strictly NO CLUB KITS. Bringing the following items in a kit bag:

• Shin pads
• Astros – indoor
• Boots – outdoor (grass and 3/4G)
• Football socks (white)
• Match kit
• Gk’s – Gloves
• Refillable water bottle – Water
• Note pad
• Pen
• Flip flops or sliders
• Healthy snacks

Tournaments: Arrive in Plain black bottoms and Villa Hoodie. Strictly NO CLUB KITS. Bringing the following items in a kit bag:

• Shin pads
• Astros – indoor
• Boots – outdoor (grass and 3/4G)
• Football socks (white)
• Match kit
• Refillable water bottle – Water
• Note pad
• Pen
• Flip flops or sliders
• Large Healthy Packed Lunch – NO CRISPS, NO CHOCOLATE, NO FIZZY DRINKS
• Healthy snacks to eat between games, such as quick energy release snacks like Jaffa cakes, cereal bars and wine gums. 

Shadow squad players are required to have all of the above with them for all training sessions, fixtures & tournaments. 

Having the right kit makes a big difference to how the boys look at fixtures and in training. 

Our Shadow Squad programme is very demanding. It’s essential our players eat properly, stay hydrated and get enough sleep.

This is vital for:

• Maximising performance in training and matches
• Preventing illness and injury
• Learning and improvement
• Growth
• Fitness
• More energy means better performance for longer and better fitness. It can also help them concentrate for longer.

Proper eating, drinking and rest mean the boys will be less likely to feel run down, which is when injury and illness are more likely. It also helps with growth.

Nutrition

A balanced diet

Players should try to eat a balanced diet, with five portions of fresh fruit and vegetables a day. These contain the vitamins, minerals and fibre they need to stay healthy.

Carbohydrates

Carbs are the most important energy provider for a footballer, helping players to do more at a higher tempo. Carb-rich foods also contain lots of vitamins and minerals.

Carb-rich foods: pasta, rice, bread, fruit, vegetables, lentils, cereal, fruit, yoghurt

Protein

Vital for growth and muscle repair. Players need this, but they don’t need as much.

Protein-rich foods: meat, eggs, cheese, milk, fish, beans, tofu, nuts, yoghurt

Fat

Fat can also provide energy, but carbs are much more effective. Gramme for gramme, fat contains more energy than either carbohydrate or protein, so you need fewer grammes of fat to get the same energy.

Fat-rich foods: butter, chocolate, biscuits, cakes, nuts, eggs

How much energy from each is needed?

Footballers should get around two-thirds (60-70%) of their energy from carbohydrates, a quarter (25%) from fat and a tenth (10%) from protein.

Hydration

Fluids are equally important. Players should drink around two litres each day to stay hydrated and help them produce energy.

During training and matches, players sweat a lot. They should try to drink 1.5 times the amount of fluid they lose during a game or training.

People also lose fluid through urination and water vapour loss when breathing. The average person loses nearly half a litre of fluid through sweating and breathing while asleep.

Read our FAQs below for more advice on what to eat and drink.

Sleep

Many people don’t get enough sleep, which can really affect performance. Sleep is for the brain, not the body, but it’s just as important if our players are going to be the best they can.

Players need at least eight to nine good hours of sleep every night. Younger players need more, especially when they are growing.

Going to bed and getting up at regular times will help them sleep better.

Q. What should I eat before a game?

A. Before any game or event, you need to make sure you have enough energy. The best way to do this is by eating foods that contain lots of carbohydrates.

Start the day with a high-carbohydrate breakfast, for example toast, cereal and orange juice.

Two to three hours before the game or event, have a light, high-carbohydrate meal. This could be a jacket potato with tuna, pasta with a tomato-based sauce or beans on toast. Make sure your meal is low in fat. High-fat meals can mean your body takes longer to absorb the carbs, so you don’t get the energy as quickly.

If breakfast is the last meal you eat before a game, make sure you have this pre-match meal the night before.

Some athletes like to have a high-carb snack one to two hours before the game or event. This could be bananas or cereal bars. It’s a good idea to try this before a training session to see what works best for you.

Q. What should I drink?

Make sure you have plenty of fluids. You don’t want to become dehydrated, so drink about 300-400ml (1/2 a pint) of water before the game.

Make sure you take a drink for while you’re travelling to the game, and have a drink bottle to use regularly during the fixture.

Q. What should I eat or drink during the game/event?

A. Try to drink enough to make up for any weight you lose during the game. Generally, for every kilogramme you lose during the game, you need to drink 1.5 litres.

Sports drinks containing carbohydrates and sodium (salt) can help you rehydrate.

Q. What should I eat or drink after an event?

A. After the game, you need to replace your muscles’ stores of carbohydrates. Eat high-carbohydrate food like jelly babies, bananas, wine gums and sandwiches, or have a sports drink. These will be absorbed quickly. Eat plenty of bread, cereal and potatoes over the next 24 hours.