The Coaches Dugout

The Singapore Youth League (SYL) has been the talk of the town in recent weeks. It kicked off on 24 Feb 2024 with some touting it as a "game changer". The SYL is a national football project that will feature players from the Under-8 to Under-17 categories.
This initiative under the Unleash the Roar umbrella, is a massive project that has received praise as well as its fair share of criticism so far. I sat down with FAS' Head of Planning, Technical Division, Baihaki Khaizan, to dissect the project and posed some pertinent questions.
The biggest takeaway for me personally from the conversation - the willingness to accept criticism/feedback and to make changes if necessary to make the SYL a success moving forward.
A “game changer” it is not, but certainly a welcome addition to the Singapore football ecosystem.
Catch the Episode here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/VItbg06ANgM?si=2edxY_qrunUiji6K
Spotify: https://spotify.link/xxR7cPB4RHb
Website: https://thesilverfoxhustlepodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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Firdaus Maasar is the Football Physiologist of the LCS. The Malaysian who had stints at the Aspire Academy in Qatar and a couple of English Premier League teams, tells us exactly what a physiologist does at a professional football club.
Firdaus gives us a fascinating insight into the role and how he is utilising sports science & data to assist the Head Coach make important decisions. He also reveals the importance of sports science application as opposed to theory based knowledge.
Firdaus answers various questions on fitness testing for professional players, the lactate threshold test, testing academy/youth players, nutrition etc.
He makes a case for sharing of sports science knowledge to all clubs here as the only way to go forward is to push on together to make the sport better. All these and more!
Dont miss this eye-opening episode with Firdaus.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/TNjmA1PkboQhttps://youtu.be/TNjmA1PkboQ
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4niy5Tn3UTiWfWRzgQC5j1?si=2UtRSYlSSPSSyVAl4-leLA
Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com

The Coaches Dugout Podcast resumes with the Lion City Sailors FC Special.
We are highlighting key technical personnel at the club and how their roles can contribute to the success of the club. We kickoff with the Sporting Director of the Club, Badri Ghent.
Badri shares wonderful insights of the exact role of a sporting director and the importance of his relationship with the Head Coach. He also revealed the detailed player recruitment process at LCS and how data plays a huge role in it.
We also spoke abt the new Mattar Road facility and the brilliant Youth Development Program that they hope will lead to self sustainability. All these and more.

For your Coaches Education fix:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/V4MPbZU4bsM
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NVFv5SNK5HUTEi2ewL6JQ?si=SI12PQKVTAyW77uuorgDaw
Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com

We speak to Francisco and Pedro live in Singapore for the Finale of the Individual Football Training Special. They are here for the IFT Summer Program and they speak about their experience here.
Kiko and Pedro also touched on the details and finer points about what they bring to the table - pedagogy, intensity, values etc. The IFT program here has been a success and they are a 100% certain that they can help footballers individually here in Singapore. Connect with them through IFT Asia to find out more.
Watch it on YouTube to view footages and interviews with participants and parents. Enjoy!

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Fvq2rEVT1C8
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1qLPPndhaP3gO3P1A1cspT?si=shC6N394QBuCQbEbU0gTRw
Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In Episode 4 of the Individual Football Training (IFT) Special, we talk to professional player Afonso Figueiredo about how he got started with IFT and how it has helped him to be a better player.
Afonso, who has played for Braga, Boavista, Rio Ave and Rennes, is joined by founding member of IFT, Pedro Reuss. Enjoy.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/Yx3Y6NilpCI
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/56SlgTcQeufF9mQrrYvgf0?si=G4FOKzB4T3u6sar5OBwEBw
Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com

In Episode 3 of the Individual Football Training (IFT) Special, we talk about the much awaited football camp that is coming to Singapore in June. I am joined by Managing Director of IFT Asia, Navin, and the founding members of IFT, Francisco Matos and Pedro Reuss.

We talk about what to expect and the Singapore Camp dynamics - the coaches, ratio of coaches to players, the program etc. Navin also shares a light on how to sign up for the camps. Kiko and Pedro explains how this camp is not a holiday camp but rather a Training Camp which also highlights human values and how it will stand out from the other holiday camps. Enjoy.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/XqWQ_Q8Y4TY
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5urAEJKnBSsTvPDSJo0TB0?si=PYeeUZc2T-qUTNSw1zFWZg
Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com

Episode 2 of the IFT Special, we speak about one of the most important aspects of any football academy - Coaching.
Francisco Matos and Pedro Reuss, founding members and coaches at IFT, tell us what IFT coaches bring to the table and how individual training will complement clubs' team training. Pedro, a former professional goalkeeper, speaks about his experience as a goalkeeping coach and what is currently a weakness in goalkeepers.
The gentlemen also discuss the qualities needed to be an IFT cioach and explain how consistency and quality of coaching at IFT is always maintained no matter where the IFT brand goes to.
Join us for more insights into Individual Football Training! Catch it here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/1h5xj2OvWlo

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4N5UQj7v2mQWex4mNIFTx4?si=vwxHm79ISYWZrajxlmLDzQ

Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com

This is Episode 1 of a Special 5 part series with Individual Football Training (IFT).
The Coaches Dugout team speaks to one of the founding members of IFT, Francisco Matos (Kiko). Kiko shares how IFT came about and what triggered this need for tailored individual coaching to supplement team training sessions.
Kiko also shares a little bit of IFT's methodology and the importance of the balance between technique and tactics in today's football.
Out now! Catch it here:

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ra5UEYAH3hA

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mYg7xYxMXwirDZ3eVJN0Z?si=Dk9W0VF5Q-ywpovq56pYaQ

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/sg/podcast/coaches-dugout-individual-football-training-special-1/id1580868429?i=1000557923762

Website: https://thecoachesdugoutpodcast.buzzsprout.com