Norwegian Coach Developers visited the Feyenoord Academy

The first day was mainly devoted to getting to know the Feyenoord Academy. Staff members of the Feyenoord Academy shared information about the history of the academy, the current structure and especially the renewed football vision of Feyenoord. There was also room to discover Feyenoord’s stadium, De Kuip, before ending the day with Feyenoord’s U7, U8 and U9 training sessions. On the second day, the focus was more on coach development. The coaching staff of the U15’s and U16’s gave insight into their approach towards their players and especially into the process of their own development. The last morning of the stay at the Feyenoord Academy was mainly about interaction. Discussions were held about the differences in working methods in Norway and the Netherlands and how things could be improved in the future.

‘We came to Rotterdam because we know that Feyenoord has taken a new direction. In addition, Feyenoord is also taking steps in the landscape of coach development’, said Dag Opjordsmoen, Head of Coach Development at the Norwegian League Association. ‘We have a lot of take home messages and gained insight in the way we should implement this in other clubs in Norway. For example, in the Netherlands they already start with Academy teams at the age of 6, while in Norway we don't start until players are 12 or 13 years old. We are bringing home some thoughts about that, but also about how the Feyenoord Academy puts the player center stage and makes them responsible for their own development. Our last take home message concerns the way in which Feyenoord gives its coaches the opportunity to develop themselves and how this process works’, added Opjordsmoen.

The participating Coach Developers take the collected information with them to their clubs and might implement parts in their own academy in the future. ‘This visit was a bit of an eye-opener for me, mainly to see how a big club in the Netherlands works’, said Stig Johansen, Coach Developer at FK Bodø/Glimt. ‘Feyenoord has been kind enough to give us, coaches from Norway, an insight into the way their academy works and teach us more about their methodology and approach to coach development. I would love to come back here again in the future!’

'We are proud of the fact that the Norwegian League Association has chosen Feyenoord as the destination for their field trip,' said Gido Vader, Manager of International Relations at Feyenoord. ‘This was a phenomenal group to work with, full of knowledge, experience and above all genuine interest in our vision and willing to learn about our approach to player- and coach development.’