User:RoryMathers/sandbox

= We Make Footballers =

We Make Footballers (WMF) are currently operating 14 franchises and providing football coaching at over 20 venues in the UK, delivering weekly sessions to over 2000 children. The WMF coaching aims to differentiate itself through a unique training model that develops players with technique, who are comfortable in possession and who are prepared to take players on.

As well as weekly training sessions, WMF centers offer Holiday Camps, Talent ID events, 1-2-1 coaching and Birthday Parties to players of all abilities, from the ages of 4-12. WMF is also known for organising and hosting major footballing events, for all age groups, such as the PLAYR Academy trials, taking a Squad all the way to the final of the 2018 Gothia Cup and The London International Youth Cup.

WMF are known in the footballing community for developing their own unique training syllabus that focuses on improving a players technique and control whilst in possession of the football. Their methods have proven highly affective, seeing over 180 of their players signed for professional academies over the past 12 years.

= History =

The company was established in 2007, originally under the name Sports Linx, by Sean Conlon and Matthew Healy. Sean and Mathew worked as Academy coaches for Chelsea FC at the time, which lead to them developing a training syllabus much like that of an academy's, focusing on a players technique and control whilst in possession of the football. The sessions provided at Sports Linx were designed therefore to maximise a players ball rolling time, with activities that revolve around work on the ball and games that are limited to either 1v1, 2v2 and 3v3. This model has proven extremely successful for the company and has seen We Make Footballers get over 180 players signed for academies over the past 12 years.

In 2012, Sports Linx invested in a booking system called Parent Area, the software, which automated payments and kept weekly registers for the classes, allowed the company to start growing at a rapid pace and by 2014 Sports linx became one of the biggest coaching schools in London, with over 1000 subscribed players attending weekly sessions.

In January 2015, Ian Lancaster became a director in the company, his first act on the board was to change the companies name from Sports Linx to We Make Footballers. His second was to set the company up within a franchising model. WMF completed their audit and registration process with the British Franchise Association and they received accreditation in December 2015.

Since gaining accreditation as a franchise WMF has expanded rapidly and now has 14 franchises, spanning the country, with centers from Sussex to Cheshire.

= Playing Philosophy =

According to their website, We Make Footballers believe in a quick, clever and attractive style of football that progresses through the thirds of a pitch. Their playing style and philosophy is one that is based around keeping possession, through fluidity of movement and by moving the ball with a purpose.

WMF state their training is centered around developing players who are comfortable in possession and who are prepared to dribble at defenders and take them on, in order to do this, they create lots of 1v1 situations within their sessions and encourage their players to play both freely and positively.

This is a key component of WMF Training as being technically profound and comfortable in possession is exactly what scouts are looking for in players aged 4-12.

= Training Syllabus & Structure =

WMF sessions are held weekly, in a fun and friendly environment, with a focus on developing the core fundamentals and technique within each individual player.

Each week coaches will focus on a different theme such as skills, shooting or passing. However, every session will follow the same structure: 10/10/10/30 - 10 mins warm up - 10 mins technical session - 10 mins technical session - 30 mins of games (1v1, 2v2, 3v3). The short exercises allow players to develop their technical attributes without losing focus or becoming distracted.

WMF have also tailored their training to develop technical players, who are gifted on the ball. To ensure this happens it is crucial that players have a lot of time in possession of the football, therefore WMF warm-ups will always be 1 player to 1 ball, meaning that all of their players get a large amount of time on the ball. WMF also insist on keeping their matches to small-sided games, which further increase the amount of time their players get on the ball.

= WMF Franchises =

= Player Pathways =

WMF state that providing pathways for their players is key to their mission. These pathways are into grassroots football or professional clubs. For this reason, each WMF Centre will have a grassroots partnered club, to which they regularly feed players into. Regular Talent ID Events are held at each venue, in which players get the chance to play in front of scouts from professional clubs. These events, combined with the fact that many WMF coaches work for professional clubs, have seen over 180 WMF players sign for pro clubs.

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= References =