Wayne Harrison on Soccer Awareness Elite Academy – The Game Changer
Wayne Harrison, Co-Founder Soccer Awareness Elite Academy, shares his thoughts on the Power of Positive Reinforcement. A former pro soccer player at Blackpool F.C. in the English Championship league as well as the Academy Director, Harrison was also the Youth Director Al Ain Football Club in the UAE. An author of more than 12 books on soccer coaching, he now coaches youth soccer, writes and presents at coaching symposiums worldwide. Harrison holds a UEFA ‘A’ License and the NSCAA Premier Diploma, as well as a bachelor’s degree in applied physiology and sports psychology. He is the Director of Coaching for Total Futbol Academy.
Change can be a positive and wondrous thing. Change can open new doors and create fabulous new opportunities – what is important in life is to seize those chances and make the best of them. With the spirit of an adventurer and the wisdom of experience, Wayne Harrison has launched Soccer Awareness Elite Academy, created to help develop players to reach their true potential. In this new column, Harrison explains the launch of this program in San Diego, California.
The Soccer Awareness Elite Academy (SAES) is new a soccer development program, helping develop soccer awareness and intelligence in the USA. It is a non-competitive program that works along side of today’s best youth soccer clubs, providing additional training.
This elite academy is focused on developing how a soccer elite player thinks – the MIND of the player – and is based on proven scientific principles of development.
The premise of the training is to teach players to LOOK and THINK in advance of the ball.
This training bridges the gap between the US and European players by providing the same quality and style of soccer training offered to top level Academy players in professional European clubs.
Our mission is to educate footballers that soccer is life and help them become successful individuals, both on and off the pitch.
Currently in USA, most club players train between 3-5 hours a week; as opposed to their European counterparts who practice up to 15 hours a week.
The emphasis on USA’s commercial pay-to-play youth soccer world, along with many parents and coaches’ win-at-all-cost mentality does not develop our best players to be their best. Soccer Awareness Elite Academy wants to change this model. Our curriculum is an exclusive, by invitation only, soccer development program aiming to develop intelligent athletes who are trained to be able to make great decisions on and off the field.
To develop individuals who are equipped to become leaders in any field they choose to pursue.
I strongly believe in education. The goal of a great college education and intelligence is at the forefront of our program. We understand that there are only a few small percentages of kids who can make it as professional soccer players. We would like to keep this dream alive, yet we want to emphasize on the importance of college education and life instead.
Through our contacts in the USSF, professional soccer teams globally and college coaches and scouts, we will prepare parents and kids for the next phase of their journey.
Soccer Awareness Elite Academy program through Soccer Awareness Camps will identify and invite players who have the appropriate mental and physical ability.
It is important to realize that Soccer Awareness Elite Academy is not a youth soccer club and therefore is not competing with local soccer clubs for talent. This is a training program and as we do not participate in league games and cups. The program is an adjunct program for players and teams who are looking to evolve and develop at the same rate and pace as their European counterparts; basically we are leveling the playing field.
Only a Boys Elite Academy? We are centering our focus and taking things one step at a time. The initial Soccer Awareness Elite Academy is for Boys but soon we look forward to meeting the needs of girls in the future.
Harrison would like to speak with parents and players who have questions and says, “Please feel free to call email me on my cell at 612-222-8738 or email @ soccerawareness@outlook.com.”
The Soccer Awareness Elite Academy (SAES) is new a soccer development program, helping develop soccer awareness and intelligence in the USA. It is a non-competitive program that works along side of today’s best youth soccer clubs, providing additional training.
This elite academy is focused on developing how a soccer elite player thinks – the MIND of the player – and is based on proven scientific principles of development.
