EVERTON America CT’s new Technical Director John Curtis sets sale for the States today – determined to discover the next big Premiership star.
The former Manchester United and England defender will jet to Connecticut to begin his post in Fairfield County.
Curtis is determined to replicate Everton’s hugely successful Finch Farm UK base in the States – with the ultimate goal of developing a star of the future.
He said: “We know there is an enormous wealth of talent in America and it is our job to ensure they receive the best coaching possible.
“It is a really exciting challenge and we have great team of coaches who can’t wait to get started.
“We have a big job on our hands but we are determined to succeed. Our initial goal is to replicate what happens at Finch Farm in America.
“Our coaches will work to the same program, we will teach the American youngsters the ‘Everton way’ and I can’t wait to get started.”
Grassroots
Everton America CT supports more than 750 players from grassroots programs offering camps and street soccer to our junior and youth academy, developmental, premier and regional teams.
The Everton Way is a program developed over 24 players for the Everton first team. Ray Hall, the Everton FC Academy Director of more than 20 years will advise Everton America CT.
Hall has overseen the development of players such as Wayne Rooney and Jack Rodwell from the age of five into the Premier League stars they are today.
Curtis and his team, including coaches Simon Wilshaw, Callum McKenzie and Anthony O’Neill recently joined the Everton FC Coaching Fraternity at Finch Farm before leaving for the States.
They EFC coaching fraternity is designed to deliver continued professional development (CPD) for Everton’s academy coaches to maintain and develop excellent levels of coaching.
Jim Fleeting, Director of Football Development from the Scottish Football Association was invited to deliver several practical presentations on “Playing through Midfield” and “Attacking Play”.
Coaching
Classroom presentations on improving coaching techniques, communication and motivation were also held.
“It was fascinating experience, coaches all learning together, sharing ideas and techniques,” Curtis added.
“The end result is that all Everton coaches are then singing from the same hymn sheet, ensuring the consistent development of players as they move through the Everton system.
“The frat day started with an hour long classroom session delivered by Jim Fleeting, on the requirements of a top coach. He had taken much of the material from the NFL coach Tony Dungy’s several books.
“Jim then took us all outside onto the outdoor turf field at Finch Farm to deliver his first practical session, “Playing through Midfield”. The main content included how to progress sessions by adding layer after layer and becoming more realistic and game related at every step.
Insight
“Academy Director Alan Irvine and Head of Academy Coaching Neil Dewsnip joined us for lunch and gave us terrific insight into the structure of the academy, academy coaching and the professional game in general.
“Then it was back to the classroom with a session with Jim Fleeting on inspiration, competition and motivation. Much of his presentation was again based on the work of a US coach, this time Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his book “Win Forever”.
“He outlined the power of competition and keeping players, on what he called “the edge” to enhance and improve their development.
“In the final practical session Jim demonstrated a session on attacking from the midfield third. Starting with a small 2 v 2 possession drill working on through balls, he again slowly added extra layers progressing the session into a game which included all the components of the topic.”
Curtis and his team will begin work almost immediately in America with both a boys and girls tournament scheduled for February 19th and 21st.
For further details log onto: Everton America CT.
