What are the Performance Schools?
The seven performance schools across Scotland each run a programme in partnership with the Scottish FA for boys and girls within the S1 to S4 age groups. Every year, each school will select a number of the most talented under-12 players to join the programme. Over a four-year period, this will provide the most talented young footballers throughout the country with an extra 800 hours of coaching.
Each school has a full-time elite youth coach who has overall responsibility for the delivery of the programmes. Each coach in turn is supported by a range of national team and club coaches, sport scientists and other specialist experts. The schools are:
Hazlehead Academy – Aberdeen
St John’s RC High School – Dundee
Broughton High School – Edinburgh
Graeme High School – Falkirk
Holyrood Secondary School – Glasgow
Grange Academy – Kilmarnock
Braidhurst High School – Motherwell
Coaching takes place during regular school hours within an appropriate timetable that compliments their academic studies and their club football team. Although the primary focus is on developing elite young players it is important to understand that the programme is also about the young person and player.
The sessions delivered by the coach will assist with the development of Curriculum for Excellence outcomes, including developing pupils’ ability to communicate effectively, be responsible for their actions, contribute to their own and others’ learning experiences and become more confident people.
What does an average day look like?
On average pupils will be training between 75 to 90 minutes each day. Daily coaching will consist of four main components, which are delivered in an integrated way and focus on the development of:
Technical skills (passing, dribbling, moving with the ball)
Tactical skills (defending, attacking, decision making, game awareness)
Physical skills (co-ordination, balance, speed, agility)
Mental skills (mindset, perseverance, focus, discipline)
The results are monitored regularly (through skills tests, report cards and parents evenings) to provide support to the pupils’ development from both a playing and academic point of view.