Innovations at the Song Lam Nghe An youth football academy.

Change the way you train.

In early October 2024, U13Lam River, Nghe AnEntering a new training cycle, before the official training session, Mr. Le Van Hung - Head Coach of U13 Song Lam Nghe An - discussed the training content with his assistants. He specifically instructed his colleagues to carefully observe the athletes' basic technical exercises, and to correct any inaccuracies promptly.

In addition to demonstrating movements to his students, the coach also provides "visually engaging" images to help players better understand tactical exercises. "Currently, we have applied information technology to training. These 'visually engaging' images, created and projected on computers, will help athletes understand better and perform more accurately," Mr. Hung said.

The head coach of the U13 Song Lam Nghe An team also shared: "During this training year, the center's leadership closely monitors the annual training plan, weekly lesson plans, and specific daily lesson plans of each head coach. The center requires coaches to make significant changes in their training methods to improve the quality of training. Therefore, in addition to existing knowledge, we must update our teaching plans with new theories of modern football."

Accordingly, entering this year's training season, 10coachThe coaches at the 10 classes of the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center will conduct player training according to the pre-registered plan and lesson plans. Each class, at different age levels, will employ appropriate training methods.

Simultaneously, coaches have also changed the way they impart knowledge to athletes. Instead of requiring students to passively receive lectures, coaches now work alongside and support players, enabling them to develop initiative and creativity in absorbing lessons.

"Currently, most of the coaches at the center are quite young, enthusiastic, qualified, have pedagogical skills, and are proficient in using software to support football coaching. Therefore, entering this coaching year, the center is innovating its coaching methods to keep up with the development trends of modern football," shared Mr. Tran Quang Dung - Director of the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center.

Creating a pool of quality athletes.

In previous years, the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center faced immense pressure regarding performance. This negatively impacted athlete training. Younger players lacked opportunities to fully develop their innate talents, often being forced to play according to a predetermined mold. This was one of the reasons why relatively few Song Lam Nghe An players achieved outstanding results in the V.League or on the national teams.

However, starting this year, Song Lam Nghe An has changed its strategy in youth training. Specifically, the center has focused on training high-quality human resources for the first team and national teams.

To achieve this, the center has changed its training methods. "For the younger age groups, we require coaches to create conditions for players to fully develop their innate talents. In addition, more time should be dedicated to training athletes in basic techniques and improving physical fitness, instead of focusing on tactics too early," shared Mr. Tran Quang Dung, Director of the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center.

Mr. Dung added: "For the classes that have progressed to playing in 11-a-side football, we will refine the athletes' technical and tactical skills. The center is gradually building a fast-paced, technical playing style suitable for the physique of Vietnamese people. Hopefully, with changes in training methods, it will help the players maximize their potential as they mature."

It can be said that in recent years, many clubs have focused heavily on youth training, so Song Lam Nghe An is facing many challenges. If the club does not soon innovate in its training methods, it will easily fall behind. Hopefully, with new approaches in this training season, Song Lam Nghe An will produce quality athletes in the future.