The Football Association Soccer Star Challenges are designed to focus on 6 essential Football techniques. The results of the pupils’ tests will reflect their technical ability in these techniques and assesses strengths and weaknesses for future coaching needs. The six techniques are;
Running with the Ball
Turning with the Ball
Speed / Agility
Dribbling
Heading
Shooting
Who is the Soccer Star Challenge for? The Soccer Star Challenge is for use by qualified coaches with boys and girls of any ability from 6 to 16 years of age.
What facilities and equipment are required? Any suitable indoor or outdoor surface that is at least 40 x 30 yards long/wide. The tests can be organised easily, requiring footballs and markers /cones. What feedback is provided? Players receive certification to indicate their player's grading (UP TO 6 STARS CAN BE GAINED). Apple Football School Coaches will also give an indication of each players strengths and weaknesses during the course and testing in a letter attached to the certificates.
Validity Soccer Star tests have been validated by Professor Tim Holt of the Social Statistics Department of Southampton University, England following extensive research with over 10,000 children before the launch in 1988. They have been proven to display over 90% reliability and over 90% validity in being able to distinguish between young players in the following categories: A. Academy/Centre of Excellence players. B. Players not selected for Academies but representing their town or country on 'all star' teams. C. Players not selected for (A) or (B) but playing for their school or club team. D. Players not registered with a club or school team.
THE SOCCER STAR CHALLENGE REPRESENTS THE LARGEST WORLDWIDE OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF YOUNG PLAYERS TECHNICAL ABILITY.
Apple Football School and The Football Association accept that these challenges do not necessarily predict or reflect natural playing ability as there are other factors (e.g. physical and mental understanding) related to playing ability but the challenges clearly do reflect personal technical proficiency.
Targets for future improvement The Soccer Star Challenge allows children to create personal performance development targets. Pupils should not make comparisons with other children or players in coaching scenarios as they could be disappointed by others playing skills. Pupils should focus upon their own improvement which will increase motivation, enjoyment and maintain participation in Football. Apple Football School and the Soccer Star Challenge allows pupils to achieve success and improve their confidence by focusing upon their own individual performance. Feedback given during coaching and the Soccer Star Challenges is immediate and gives players intrinsic personal rewards. The Soccer Star Challenge has a value in focussing the players attention on personal goals as stated, based on improving techniques and skills to gain more enjoyment and increase ability in overall teamplay.
The Football Association Soccer Star Challenges are designed to focus on 6 essential Football techniques. The results of the pupils’ tests will reflect their technical ability in these techniques and assesses strengths and weaknesses for future coaching needs. The six techniques are;