The best young talents in the U-11 and U-13 age groups are spending their week off school getting down to business in the first meeting of the development programme this season.
The programme was developed and introduced last year by FTF technical development officer Ludovic Graugnard with the goal of developing players with the potential for future selection in the Tahiti national side.
“The objective of the technical department is to identify 15-odd players by birth year, and to work with them together to instill rigour in trainings, and the set up the requirements for a medium and long term project,” Graugnard says.
For 35 players born in 2003/04 the season got underway on Monday 21 September with Graugnard joined by fellow development officer Vincent Simon.
Trainings were held twice a day over the course of the three days going in depth into the technical plan as well as game knowledge.
“At each training course we work on specific aspects of football, providing guidance on the principles of the game over three days,” Graugnard says.
“We get to know them better and can refine our observations on the players who are all hoping to wear the colours of the Tahiti U-17 in 2019.”
The first meeting of the U-11 was held on Friday 25 September with only players born in 2005 attending based on the observations made during the 2014/15 season.
The technical department, with the assistance of club coaches, will work on identifying the best players born in 2006 in order to bring them into the group.
Overall, the two groups will meet six to seven times during the season with the next trainings scheduled for the 2-4 November.
For more on Tahiti football go to www.ftf.pf
Youth keep busy during break
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