The Football Academy
A partnership between Dover Athletic FC and The Abbey School
Mission Statement
 ‘To provide elite football coaching of a professional
standard to young players with ambition of
progressing in the game with Dover Athletic, or other
senior clubs, along with a structured academic /
vocational educational programme that meets their
learning needs’
What is a Football Academy?
 A programme of study accompanied with professional
football development and coaching
 Aimed at Year 12/ 13/ 14
 Structured games programme in Football Conference
Youth League
 Football coaching to a high standard
 A choice of academic and vocational subjects
Main Aims of the Academy
 To improve young players’ technical ability
 To improve young players’ tactical awareness
 To improve young players’ physical fitness specific to
the sport
 To improve young players’ mental approach to their
performance
 To promote an environment where football becomes
the catalyst for successful academic learning
 To promote self discipline and good sportsmanship
and standards
Main Objectives
 Devise a technical / tactical syllabus and deliver it
 Develop individual personal fitness / training plans for each player
 Develop individual psychological profiles and develop techniques to
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improve mental approach to performance
Provide 1 to 1 player reviews regularly with coach using specific log
books designed by the Academy
Provide competitive opportunities – school / club link
Provide a tailored education provision that meets the academic needs
of the individual
Provide the educational support and guidance required to achieve on
academic courses
Provide FA & 1st 4 sport coaching football qualifications at levels 1 and 2
What can the players / students do?
 A variety of different courses that fit with their football training
program
 12 / 15 lessons per week study time
 Football coaching
 Minimum 6 hours coaching and development, plus 1 game
(Wednesday afternoons), representing Dover Athletic in the Football
Conference Youth league. Coaching Provided by UEFA ‘A’ Licence
coaches, including Andy Hessenthaler, the Manager of the Club
 FA Level 2 coaching football (year 2) 90 GLH
 Recognised as an international qualification
 The Abbey School to become an accredited centre for the delivery of
FA qualifications
Application Procedures
 Open to any elite footballers from Year 11 or 12 in Kent
in year 1.
 Stringent entry requirements on ability and character
 Students to apply using the Abbey School 6th form
application forms
 Entry will be accepted upon successful trial,
subsequent interview and references.
Trial Dates
 Important Date!!!! The initial Academy Trials will be
held at The Abbey school on the 05th May (Tuesday),
and 06th May (Wednesday) starting at 5.30pm.
 If successful, final trials will be held the following
Tuesday 12th May.
 To book your place on the trial, application forms need
to be completed and returned to the Head Teacher,
Mrs Catrin Woodend.
 Contact will be made by phone or letter confirming
your place on the trial.
 Alternative trial dates will be arranged if the need
arises
After the trials
 Players will be contacted by letter to either:
 Invite them to attend a formal interview at the school, each
player will be given a time slot.
 Or thank them for their attendance to the trials. It will be
impossible to give every interested player a place as you can
appreciate
 After the interview, students will be written to again
offering them a place in the Academy, or placing them on a
waiting list.
Academic choices
Sixth Form Proposed Blocking 2009-2010
Year
Option A
Option B
Option C
Option D
Option E
Year 12
Level 3 Courses
Film Studies
Biology
ICT
Psychology
Business (D)
Performing Arts
(D)
Sports Science (S)
Maths
English
Art
Business (S)
Performing Arts
(S)
Sports Science (D)
Enrichment
Young Enterprise
HE Compact
CSLA
Dance Leadership
Cooking for
survival
Personal Finance
Year 12
Level 2 Courses
Child Dev
Public Services
ICT
Business
Health & Social
Care
Catering*
Horticulture*
Catering*
Horticulture*
Sports Science
ALAN
Football
Academy
Training sessions for small groups
* Double option
Level 3 students – 5 GCSE’s grade C or above.
Any three subjects from DIFFERENT option blocks. Subjects with (D) indicate double award
Level 2 students – less than 5 grade Cs
Any two options from DIFFERENT OTION BLOCKS.
Please note, the OPTION E block has been kept for the Academy, no subjects are available from this block
Football academy.
Matches &
Training
Weekly programme
 The Academy training sessions have been ‘blocked out’
to ensure that the School could offer the best choice of
courses available.
 At least two sessions per week will be together as a
group, and one split, enabling smaller functional
group work, and conditioning
 All students will be available on Wednesdays to be
available for the Games program
 Andy Hessenthaler and Darren Hare to manage the
delivery of coaching sessions
Games Programme
 Competitive fixture program of around 20-24 games
per season, with a 16 player squad
 Selection will be based on a rota system
 Students will have the opportunity for a game on a
Sunday for Dover Athletic, if they do not play for the
Academy on a Wednesday
 Students may also sign for their current / existing club
to play on Sundays if they so wish.
 Games will be played at Dover Athletic FC Perry’s
Stadium
Kit
 A Training kit pack will consist of the following;
 Shorts / socks x2
 Training shirt x2
 Sweatshirt x1
 Rain Jacket x1
 ¾ length bottoms x2
 Match Polo shirt and tracksuit x1
 All kit will be individually numbered according to your Academy squad
number, and be branded with DAFC and School logo
 Kit Packs will cost £150.00 through the school, payment plans available
 Boots. There will be discounted boot purchases through a top boot
retailer. More details to follow
Academy Discipline expectations
 Excellent punctuality to all training sessions and
Lessons
 Appropriate school dress for non Football related
academic lessons
 Excellent attitude and application both on and off the
field
 Both the school and the Club will demand that you
maintain high standards when representing the
Academy in fixtures in terms of your discipline. Any
fines accrued for bookings / dismissals etc will be the
responsibility of the player. In addition, failure to meet
academic targets, and poor discipline issues could
result in you forfeiting a training session or match
Progression routes
 Higher Education (HE), University, Colleges
 Playing Contracts, either with Dover Athletic FC or
other clubs in the county
 Employment in the leisure industry
 Employment in the growing football coaching industry
either here or abroad
 Access to HE in the United States via their collegiate
soccer scholarship program, trials will be available for
Academy players after two years
What can you expect from the
Academy?
 From the school……….
 Excellent pastoral care and advice
 Fantastic achievement in the 6th Form
 Thriving BTEC National Certificate in sport program, with 100%
achievement last year, with five students progressing to sports science
degrees
 Excellent Careers and Guidance program
 From the club……………
 Excellent Football education, games program
 Kent’s emerging Football club just winning promotion to the
Conference league, providing a fantastic level of football to aspire to
 A very professional football club infrastructure with a fabulous fan base
 A pro-active Management team who want to promote from within