The V>Elite program was introduced by FFV in 2007 as a preparation tool for players to develop alongside other programs such as the state squads, National Training Centre and the VIS.

The program currently runs from December through to the end of April, with training sessions held 3 times a week, focusing on players’ football brain and technique to achieve a better standard of football across Victoria. In future years it is hoped that the program will be extended. The program provides a paradigm shift for football in Victoria by providing opportunities to players to begin on the elite pathway and achieve their maximum potential. FFV Elite Consultant Ange Postecoglou studied a range of youth programs around the world, including France, Italy, Holland, Brazil and Spain in order to develop the evolving program.

How to Nominate/Trial
Trials for V>Elite take place in the second half of each year, please keep an eye on www.footballfedvic.com.au/development/velite for information in regards to dates of trials and information about the program itself.

Eligibility
In its inaugural year, the opportunity to trial for V>Elite was given to all of those born between 1993 and 1996, with a selection criteria developed from international research. This includes juggling, game awareness and speed.

Background

The V> Elite Program was established to provide Victoria’s potential young elite players with access to advanced coaching and technique training based on International Research.

Football Federation Victoria’s (FFV) Elite Constant, Ange Postecoglou studied a variety of youth development programs found around the world covering countries such as France, Italy, Holland, Brazil and Spain.

The V>Elite program aims to provide a paradigm shift for football in Victoria by providing players with the opportunity to begin on the elite pathway and achieve their maximum potential. The V>Elite program environment exposes players to an elite culture that intends to nurture and educate players with a career pathway leading to national selection.

An evolving program designed to challenge players throughout their development with national integration a key target.

Trial Process – Selection (Standards & Criteria)

Inline with the overarching elite philosophy espoused by the V>Elite Program, the selection criteria was founded by outcomes from international research and the overall pursuit of excellence.

Selection into the V>Elite program was an opportunity given to all players born 1996 – 1993.

Juggling (45%)

The initial vision for the V>Elite program was to adopt the world’s best practices in this area by setting the standard as 50 juggles left, 50 juggles right, 50 juggles head. The outcome of the trials resulted in 0.3% of players achieving this mark. The criterion was adjusted down to allow for the initial intake. Players were required to achieve 50 on at least one area (left, right, and head).

Speed (10%)

Speed is an innate characteristic with which minimum improvements can be made. As players develop physically, they will also experience developments in their speed ability. By using average speed results from fitness tests conducted at state and national team camps, minimum standards were determined.

Speed was tested over 20metres using world class timing gates.

Game Awareness (45%)

In late 2006, Football Federation Australia (FFA) initiated a comprehensive review of Football’s talent development and identification activities, with a view to proposing a soundly based, consistently coordinated national Talent Development and Identification System for Australian Football that will achieve a major improvement in the quality and performance of Australia’s top players and teams.

Virtually all coaches dealing with Australia representative teams as well as FIFA Technical Reports about Australian teams at major tournaments comment on the weaknesses in the technical skills of our players.

The purpose of talent identification is to match an individual’s qualities to the task demands of a given sport to ensure the highest probability of maximum performance outcome.

Given the research findings from FFA, the task demand of football has a high emphasis on technical ability.

During the V>Elite trials, Players were selected by a detection or matching of their individual qualities and the task demands of football.

This was achieved by placing players in small areas which encouraged lots of touches under pressure.

The ability to detect or identify such players is a combination of the selector’s innate judgment, qualifications and years of experience.

Results

After a month of trials held in metropolitan Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Gippsland, 76 players were successful in meeting the criteria and offer a scholarship position in the program.

These players will be exposed to the best practices, best coaches and best facilities over the next few months in a bid to further develop and nurture their talent for potential state and national representation.

Pathway

The V>Elite program acts as a preparation tool for players which runs along side other elite programs such as state squads, NTC and VIS programs.

Players selected to the V>Elite program will receive recognition of their ability and be placed in Phase 2 of their respective state squad trials.

V>Elite Program

The inaugural program will run from 5th December 2007 until 28th April 2008. During this time, players will be exposed to 56 training sessions of the highest quality and intensity designed to challenge and develop better footballers.

Future trials and standards

V>Elite trials for the 08/09 program will again incorporate the criteria and similar standards moving forwards.

FFV Elite Development department’s ambition is to extend the program duration and accordingly will hold nominations and trials during 2nd half of next year.

In a bid to lift the standard of footballers across the state, helpful hints and guidelines will be available soon to aid coaches and players to further develop potential and prepare for the next year’s trials.

Coaches, parents, players, football fans are all welcome and encouraged to come watch any of the V>Elite training sessions held at DISC (Monday & Wednesday Evening, Saturday Afternoon)