DALLAS TEXANS’ VISIT TO ATLETICO DE MADRID CLUB

https://vimeo.com/158522241


Our coaches’ trip to Madrid was a huge success! We got the chance to see up close why Atletico de Madrid is one of the top clubs in European football and the Champions’ League finalist. Every year, they are contenders to win La Liga.

Our week visit was full of observation of their training, meetings and seminars with directors of various departments as well as meeting the head of the International Expansion Department and attending league games. Below is the itinerary of our activities:

Day 1, February 29
A meeting between Paul Stewart (President of Dallas Texans) and Hassan Nazari(Executive Director of the Club) with the head of theAtletico de Madrid International Expansion Department Staff, Maria Teresa Chirivi. In this meeting, we discussed our partnership, expectations, player developmental strategy and the methodology of Atletico de Madrid Youth Academy.

Day 2, March 1
Morning: Arrival of the Dallas Texans’ coaches (Representatives from the Dallas Division, Florida and Canada). Meeting / Q&A Seminar with the Atletico de Madrid Youth Academy Director, Emilio Guiterrez.
Afternoon: Visit the Atletico de Madrid Residential campus and Q&A seminar with the residential coordinators, Juan Coronel and Javier Pecharroman.
Evening: Meeting with Atletico de Madrid President, Mr. Enrique Cerezo and attending Atletico de Madrid La Liga game vs.Real Socidad.

Day 3, March 2
Attending the First Team training, introduction and pictures with the First Team players and coaches including Diego Simeone. Observing the training sessions of the youth academy U-14, U-15, U-16. Meeting and Q&A seminar with the Methodology Supervisor, Sergio Piernas and the facility coordinator, Daniel Gonzalez-Sanz. Observing training sessions for U-17 and U-18.

Day 4, March 3
Morning: Attending the training session for the Reserve Team and U-19.
Evening: Meeting with the Psychology Department followed by Q&A seminar with the Head “Mental” coach Diego Gutierrez del Pozo. Attending training for U-15 and U-16.

Day 5, March 4
Morning: Attending training sessions for U-23, U-16 and U-18.
Evening: Meeting with Physical Fitness Department, seminar/Q&A with the lead physical trainer, Ivan Infantez. Attending training session for U-12, U-13, U-14, U-15 and U-17.

Day 6, March 5
Morning: Watching Academy team matches in the league including games at U-13 and U-17 between Atletico de Madrid and Real Madrid for first and second place.
Meeting with the Sport Director, Carlos Aguilera and the Technical Director, Miguel Angel Ruiz.
Evening: Attending a La Liga game.


This trip was the beginning of a great educational relationship for the Dallas Texans Club, players and coaches. The next step in this affiliation will be for our club to host several coaches from Atletico de Madrid.

When do you get the new kits and will all the Texans get to wear Athletico Madrid kits or just the Academy teams?

Is the relationship to Manchester United totally scrapped or will you still have the Man United camps at Ross Stewart?

PremierLeagueFan wrote:When do you get the new kits and will all the Texans get to wear Athletico Madrid kits or just the Academy teams?

Is the relationship to Manchester United totally scrapped or will you still have the Man United camps at Ross Stewart?

I would doubt Man U will be coming to Ross even though there are no hard feelings with neither DT nor MU. It was simply a "Nike" sponsorship change that ended that relationship. Athletico will be here in June to iron out any Kit details if any.

Well done on the video. Exciting stuff for the club.

soccerdadrandy wrote:

PremierLeagueFan wrote:When do you get the new kits and will all the Texans get to wear Athletico Madrid kits or just the Academy teams?

Is the relationship to Manchester United totally scrapped or will you still have the Man United camps at Ross Stewart?

I would doubt Man U will be coming to Ross even though there are no hard feelings with neither DT nor MU. It was simply a "Nike" sponsorship change that ended that relationship. Athletico will be here in June to iron out any Kit details if any.

I wonder if the "Nike" relationship with Athletico Madrid will extend to the coaching methods within the club, because the training methods from La Liga focus on individual ability and less on team performance in youth academy which will develop players at the expense of team wins.

I seriously doubt it. Coaches are their own islands in club soccer. There are no synergies or coaching methods and strategies that funnel through the youth academy to the developmental academy. We all know that HN is famous for buying teams or recruiting coaches with teams to secure top spots.

The Texans used to have Friday night skills for the youth academy players, which were designed to ensure kids had at least a basic understanding of fundamental skills. I was always a big proponent of expanding the skills sessions beyond the U10 age group. Unfortunately, the program never expanded and ultimately ceased to exist.

Until I see concrete evidence that this marketing relationship with Atletico Madrid improves the club's services or consistency within the Texans coaching staff, I remain skeptical.

"Skills" night/training ends with most clubs at U12. Which always boggles my mind, but the reason most of the kids playing at all levels have very limited skills.

Private skills training seems to be a staple of those who are serious about developing a well rounded player, but it can be a bit expensive... You can easily tell who does the skills and who does not, so I feel they are worth the extra effort... There was a local guy who started noexcusesoccer.com to supply skills 5X per week for those who don't have the time/$ for private training, but I believe it is now gone... Too bad; it was a very good idea... Not sure what happened, but the demand is there for convenient -low cost skills training...

hanallalone wrote:Private skills training seems to be a staple of those who are serious about developing a well rounded player, but it can be a bit expensive...  You can easily tell who does the skills and who does not, so I feel they are worth the extra effort...  There was a local guy who started noexcusesoccer.com to supply skills 5X per week for those who don't have the time/$ for private training, but I believe it is now gone...  Too bad; it was a very good idea...  Not sure what happened, but the demand is there for convenient -low cost skills training...  

the best, cheapest, easiest on family and players time and pocket book. WALLBALL!! try it some time. the extra, FREE, thousand touches a day will put your BB ahead of any privileged youngster with all of the best private skills training in the world. messi could fly into town twice a week and do less than wallball will do. JUST DO IT. I'm going to trademark that lol