Home › Sport performance › Youth academy
Youth academy development · Ages 9–16 · OrpingtonThe Physical Foundation Academy Sport Demands
Safe, age-appropriate strength and conditioning for academy footballers and young athletes aged 9 to 16, from a BSc Sports Science graduate who has coached to Olympic level.
- BSc (Hons) Sports Science
- FRCms mobility specialist
- Former S&C coach to an Olympic medallist
- Ages
- 9–16
- Framework
- LTAD
- Supervision
- Always
- Parents
- Welcome to watch
Why it works
Not "get stronger fast". Get developed properly.
If your child is in an academy or showing promise, it's tempting to push hard and early. That's the wrong approach.
Programmes follow Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) principles, the evidence-based framework used in professional academies: age-appropriate loading, movement competency before intensity, and foundations that protect against injury.
Massimo currently coaches academy footballers aged 9 to 12.
What every session focuses on
- Movement competency firstRunning mechanics, jumping and landing, safe change of direction
- Age-appropriate progressionMatched to your child's stage, not a scaled-down adult plan
- Injury preventionResilient joints and movement as training and match loads rise
- Sport-relevant athleticismSpeed, agility and coordination that transfer to the pitch
In pictures
What training looks like
A safe, supervised environment
Fully supervised. Always private.
Athletes train 1:1 or in small, fully supervised groups. They are never left unsupervised and never share equipment with unrelated adult gym users. Parents are welcome to watch any session.
Who's coaching your child
A BSc graduate. Not a weekend course.
Massimo holds a BSc (Hons) in Sports Science, spent five years as S&C coach to Olympic medallist Dina Asher-Smith, and currently coaches academy footballers aged 9 to 12.
Read Massimo's storyWhat happens
Your first weeks
Free consultation
Meet Massimo, talk through your child's sport and level.
Assessment
Movement, coordination and readiness.
Programme
LTAD-based, age-appropriate sessions.
Review
Progress shared with parents.
Get started
For parents: book a free consultation
No pressure and no obligation. Parent or guardian details, please.
Tell us what you want to achieve and Massimo will be in touch to arrange it.
Prefer to talk? Call or WhatsApp 07950 398025.
Keep exploring