Altona City Soccer Club will be running "Small Sided Football" (SSF) Program 2012.

What Is "Small Sided Football"?

The SSF program is a modified form of 11-a-side football designed to introduce boys and girls aged from 5 to 11 years, who have very different developmental characteristics and needs to adult players, to the game of football. It focuses on enjoyment and freedom of expression with "limited" emphasis on coaching per se, particularly in the formative years of a player's development, aged between 5 to 7. 

 SSF will run over a 16 weeks period at Altona City for ages 5 to 7 and 20* weeks for ages 8 to 11. Each week is comprised of one 60 minutes session for ages 5 to 7 and two sessions of 60 min for ages 8 to 11 which entails:                        

 *Not including pre-season

Warm-up with ball and dynamic stretching 

Skill development activities based in game situation exercises and match play.

Warm-down with ball

We do not apply robotic drills or laps around the fields.

All Coaches are FFA licensed

There is also the opportunity to participate in Gala Days with non-competitive games against other clubs in our area for ages 5 to 7 plus Victorian Leagues for ages 8 to 11 .

Gala Days and Victorian Leagues provide a break from the intra club format and give children a chance to test their skills against players from other clubs. Again, the emphasis is on skill development and fun, so no results are to be recorded or ladders kept for ages 5 to 7 and no finals for ages 8 to 11. 

SSF is ideal for all levels of ability as children are placed into groups determined by age and skill so that maximum skill development can take place.

Our SSF program is split into U/5 - U/7, U/8-U/9 and U/10-U/11.

SSF places a major emphasis on enjoyment. Let the children fall in love with the game and the passion will follow.

Football skills will improve due to lots of time with a ball and game situation sessions

SSF provides the chance for both children and parents to socialize with teammates and other parents

SSF allows for parent participation and involvement throughout the program.

SSF provides a pathway to play football throughout childhood and into adulthood.

Parent Help and Participation

Parent participation is an essential aspect of a successful SSF program and all parents,

are encouraged to volunteer their time to assist in running and setting up the skill based activities and Small Sided Football.

No experience or knowledge is necessary - just enthusiasm and a sense of fun. 

Skills Sessions for SSF.

·         The small sided football for the U5/7 includes drills sessions followed by games all carried out on Saturday mornings over a 16 week period.   

·         U8/9s will have a 1 hour training session 2 nights a week (night TBC) plus games on Saturday or Sundays.

·         The U 10/11s will be training 2 nights a week (nights TBC) with games in a league type environment organised by the FFV played Saturday or Sunday TBC.

Please arrive at least 15 minutes before the starting time.

So what Gear do you need?

SSF players will need some appropriate clothes for the conditions ranging from cold wet mornings through to warmer days.

Players require a full and tagged drink bottle,

Shin pads, the club also recommends that participants wear football boots, which provide better grip in the wet winter months.