Project 22
Project 22 is a Football NSW initiative aimed at laying down the foundations required to give elite youth footballers the highest chance possible to succeed at the elite level as adult footballers. Project 22 aims to develop the next generation of Socceroos and Matildas who will compete at the FIFA World Cup in 2022. Project 22 is centred on FNSW being able to exceed world best practice in providing an elite competition and training environment for our future National Team Players.
The coaches of the 17 squads state wide assembled at the Sydney Academy of Sport to prepare for the launch of this exciting program. I am lucky enough to be responsible for the design, implementation and on going development of Strength & Conditioning programs for these 17 squads of junior elite athletes. This is an exciting program and unprecedented initiative to be attempted in Australia.
The same principles we use with these elite athletes are available to you through our High Performance Sports Conditioning Programs that will be launched in 2010.
In the upcoming posts I will outline the principle implemented in this program.
One concept that many coaches fail to understand is that this Junior age 12-17 is a crucial time for power development as research has shown that this time you have is when you have the greatest opportunity to influence those transitional muscle fibre to take on the “white” power – muscle fibre types. If training loads and intensities are manipulated optimally your athletes will display physical qualities you never though possible. We have a 12 year old boy in the Boxing Academy who can perform a triple push up (push up- clap in front of body- behind body – clap in front of body before your hit the ground). This young man has developed great power to weight ratio and is unbelievable in the boxing ring. Give the triple push up a go and you will then appreciate the power needed to accomplish this. This is proof that this is a key age for athletic development.
Project 22 Coaches: Sydney Academy of Sport
