In our S4K Strikers (4.5 to 6 years) we experience a rapid development in the skills and maturity of the children as sports players and team members. They get to combine and hone their skills in exciting games and activities that help them to develop their touch, sense of space, movement and their positions on the pitch. They learn to defend, to attack, pass and move in small sided games.

Dribbling skills with the injection of the Dutch Coever method for emulating football superstars and the moves that have made them great are introduced. The drag backs, back heels and Cruyff turns are all actively encouraged as kids continue the fun games while participating in high skill development sessions. Children are actively encouraged to run with the ball, while also receiving coaching on close passing movements via our Tiki-Taka drills. The team sense of bonding and working together is emphasized at this stage as we emulate the philosophies of the Spanish, Dutch and Brazilian methods.

All of our games with S4K Strikers are framed in a way that develops confidence by beginning with zero pressure learning – where Strikers are encouraged to learn at their own pace before stress is gradually introduced across a period of four weeks.  The games are fun for the Strikers, but teach basic footballing principles such as control of the ball as well as the “Look, Pass & Move” mantra of the successful Liverpool teams of the 70s and 80s.  All of our games at this age are “non-tackling” and thus skill enhancing – allowing the development of vision and spatial awareness that other football clubs do not teach.