Develop the footballer. Never forget the child.
Football gives us an incredible opportunity to help children grow.
At ARETE, we want players to become technically capable, understand the game, make good decisions and enjoy competing. Our job is to give them the coaching, challenge, feedback and opportunities to work towards that. But the work belongs to the player, and so does the progress.
How they get there matters.
Our approach starts with the child in front of us, recognising that every player develops differently, learns differently and will follow their own journey through football.
Excellence · Character · Potential
Developing the player, understanding the child
Our starting point is simple: develop the footballer without forgetting the child.
We believe in good coaching, high standards and challenging players to improve. But development isn't something a coach can simply do to a player. Children need opportunities to think for themselves, make decisions, try things, solve problems and sometimes get them wrong. A mistake should be an opportunity to learn, not a reason to stop trying.
The same approach won't work for every child. Good coaching means knowing your players, understanding what they need and finding the right balance between challenge, support and giving them the space to take responsibility for their own learning.
And coaches have a responsibility to keep learning too. We ask players to reflect, adapt and improve, so we should expect the same from ourselves. That's why one of the most important questions we ask is:
“What does it feel like to be coached by me?”
Lessons that last beyond the final whistle
Football can teach children things that matter long after the game has finished.
Being part of a team means learning to work hard, support others, show respect and take responsibility. It gives children opportunities to build confidence, respond to setbacks and keep going when something is difficult.
And success won't look the same for every child.
Sometimes it's playing brilliantly or winning an important game. Sometimes it's attempting something they wouldn't have tried before, responding well to a mistake, helping a teammate or simply being better than they were yesterday.
Football gives children opportunities to become better players. What they discover about themselves along the way can matter just as much.
The ARETE training experience
An ARETE session should feel active, energetic and full of football.
Players should spend plenty of time with the ball, playing, competing, solving problems, making decisions and working with their teammates.
Coaches will teach and challenge, but we don't want to provide every answer. Players need opportunities to think for themselves, make decisions, try things and learn through playing the game.
The atmosphere should be positive without being easy. There should be laughter and enjoyment alongside effort, focus and high standards.
Players should have the freedom to express themselves, the challenge to work hard and the opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning while enjoying being part of their team and leaving wanting to come back.
The question isn't only, “Are they becoming a better footballer?”
It's also, “Who are they becoming along the way?”
That's the ARETE Way.