During a busy summer in between running local soccer camps, I took a short break to get fresh inspiration, a different perspective and learn new soccer training methods. Spain and Germany were already familiar, so I decided on another Eurpoean powerhouse nation, the Netherlands. It’s a small country, but has a long and great soccer tradition. There are many highly-regarded academies, among them the top-ten, world-ranked, Ajax-run youth academy called De Toekomst (The Future). Over the years, they have produced great Dutch internationals like Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Wesley Sneijder and many more.
Through my European network, I got in contact with Eddie Van Schaick, who is coordinator and a consultant at Ajax Academy. He also travels the world sharing and promoting the Ajax youth philosophy. We met informally at the training centre and had a long conversation about kids’ soccer development. I met a few other coaches, and was walked through the whole complex including the fields, dressing rooms, and other training / physio facilities.
I spent 5.days in Amsterdam, enjoying every minute and meeting new professionals who have been in soccer development for decades. Here at Volf Soccer Academy, our team is always on the lookout for new techniques and methodologies from around the world, and picking the best of those latest innovations. We borrow and adapt them locally, and combine them, keeping things fresh and globally competitive here in Vancouver. It’s a never ending process, and I will be back to Amsterdam, and other places too, in order to keep bringing out the best soccer skills and abilities in your kids.
