Mk Dons Academy is developed in order to invest in upcoming footballing talent and provide the network, coaching, health and lifestyle advice that each player needs to make a successful career in football. If you are looking for a career in football, under the age of 21 and live in the catchment area then you should set your goal on being scouted for Mk Dons Academy.
Check out the football academies information section for the latest academy articles.
About Mk Dons Academy
Mk Dons Academy offers an advanced football development and education program supported by expert and dedicated staff. Mk Dons Academy address is: MK Dons Training Ground, Woughton on the Green, Milton Keynes, Bucks, MK6 3EA. Mk Dons Academy uses advanced technology and coaching methods to develop their players. They are actively looking for upcoming talent to join their academy, and are very selective about who gets in as competition is tough.Mk Dons Academy Category Status
Mk Dons Academy is rated as a Category three Academy. Below are the distances academy players are allowed to travel per category:
Mk Dons Academy Fixtures
Mk Dons Academy has a whole programme of upcoming activities, fixtures and events. Check the times of each match or look up the match venue for any of the Mk Dons Academy age groups.Mk Dons Academy Trials
A large number of upcoming football players search for information on how to join Mk Dons Academy? There are many avenues to joining Mk Dons Academy; however the most common is being selected to trial at a young age, then working your way through the Academy system. For some players, they prefer a direct approach sending links to videos of themselves playing football. However, bear in mind that clubs receive thousands of videos each week and simply don’t have time to watch them all, so the most effective way of getting scouted for a trial at Mk Dons Academy is to attend an official soccer school. Scouts regularly select young players from soccer school sessions and invite them to trial at the development centres. Anyone can attend a soccer school, so it opens doors for all to get spotted. Latest MK Dons Academy Trials It is also particularly good planning to take your child to soccer schools as soon as they are old enough, as it enables them to develop their talents in line with the same level as their peers. Find out how to get scouted hereHow to get spotted by an Mk Dons Academy scout
Mk Dons Academy staff offer players with potential the chance of a 6 week trail with the Academy. Many players are lucky enough to find themselves in the right place when scouts are watching games, however Mk Dons Academy are also very aware that good talent can slip through the net, so do offer players the chance to directly contact the club with there playing profile. For information on how to present your playing career in the correct manner, check out our Football CV page. Understandably they are unable to respond to everybody due to the volume of applications, but this does serve as an effective way to alert scouts about talent looking to take their football to the next level and secure a trial for Mk Dons Academy. To get scouted for a trial at Mk Dons Academy simply collect the following information:- Players CV
- Covering Letter
- Players Vital Statistics: Players position, Age, Date of Birth, Height, Weight, contact email/phone/address, current club, previous clubs, detail of any trials already attended, any representative honours such as school, districts, county etc
- Players school they attend
- Fixture list of your current team, including location and kick off time to be passed to scout
- academyrecruitment@mkdons.com
Mk Dons Academy Players
To find out all about the current crop of talent, visit the Mk Dons Academy Players page.Mk Dons Academy Staff
For information on the dedicated people behind the development of the academy players, check out the Mk Dons Academy staff page.Mk Dons Academy Jobs
Mk Dons Academy are always searching for the best talent on and off the field, if you would like to work for a category one Academy, then keep an eye on the official Mk Dons Academy jobs page.Syllabus example at Mk Dons Academy
The training programme at Mk Dons Academy is broken into technical and tactical training, with a special module for Goalkeepers. The below is an example of what a player will learn at academy training:- The professional development phase at the Mk Dons Academy
- The youth development phase at the Mk Dons Academy
- The foundation phase at the Mk Dons Academy
- The youth / professional development phase at the Mk Dons Academy
- The foundation development goalkeeper phase at the Mk Dons Academy
Professional Development Phase at Mk Dons Academy
Outfield Players – Technical
- Passing – Playing forwards through tight passing channels
- Receiving the ball – Receiving the ball in the air to pass in the least number of touches
- Passing – Generic passing practises to move the ball on two touches
- Running / Dribbling with the ball – Developing the 1st touch to break through a variation of receiving surfaces
- Running / Dribbling with the ball – Variations in the dribble to advance in 1 v 1’s
- Shooting – Shifting the ball to get shots off under pressure
- Passing – Keeping the ball moving for a long period of time
- Manipulating the ball – Shifting the ball across the body with a variation of surfaces
- Turning – Turning away from pressure and protecting possession of the ball
Outfield Players – Tactical
- Possession (Playing out from the back) – Midfield rotation to receive high and low open up passing channels
- Possession (Retaining the ball to penetrate) – Working in front or behind opponents to retain the ball looking to play forwards
- Possession (Game management) – Playing with and against an overload (the extra man)
- Attacking (Counter attacking) – Breaking from the defending third
- Attacking (Centrally) – Playing between lines and breaking lines with and without the ball
- Attacking (Wide areas) – 1 v 1’s, 2 v 2’s to create goalkeeping opportunities
- Defending (Individual) – Approach to the ball dependent on the opposition and area of the pitch
- Defending (Groups & Units) – Defending later and deeper
- Defending (Making play predictable, Regains and Possession Decision) – Pressure as the team/group hunting the ball for quick regain
Goalkeepers
- Goalkeeper support – Variety of passes and support for players in possession
- Goalkeeper support – Awareness of best option looking to penetrate with distribution
- Goalkeeper support – How the goalkeeper can affect the state of the game
- Goalkeeper defending – How to deal with 1 v 1 situations in game situations
- Goalkeeper defending – Early shots always being set in and around the box
- Goalkeeper defending – Positioning and decision making in dealing with the cross
- Goalkeeper communications – Organisation and support to the defender
- Goalkeeper communications – Communications to players away from the ball
- Goalkeeper communications – Developing the goalkeeper to compact
Foundation Phase at Mk Dons Academy
Outfield Players – Technical
- Protecting the Ball – Setting the scene for receiving on the safe side – guidelines for success
- Passing – Short, quick and high tempo passing in small groups
- Receiving the Ball- Developing the set as part of link play to move the ball forwards
- Turning – Developing turns under passive pressure to include disguise
- Shooting – Longer distance shooting relevant to the age of the group
- Running / Dribbling With the Ball – Long and thin practices to practice breaking into space from a dribble or receiving the ball
- Shooting – One touch finishing around the goal on angles with pressure approaching
- Passing – Passing within larger areas focusing on techniques to a longer pass (floor / aerially)
- Manipulating the Ball – Quick foot movements to manipulate a small skills ball
Outfield Players – Tactical
- Possession (Individual) – Developing players to receive the ball and maintain possession on their safe side
- Possession (Group Play) – Develop players to receive and play away from pressure in small groups
- Possession (Directional) – Possession / wave practises maintaining the speed of the ball from start to finish
- Attacking (Individual) – Changes of direction and speed to beat opponents
- Attacking (Groups) – Small group attacking practices (4v4, 5v5). Movement/combinations to create and exploit space
- Attacking (with/against overloads) – Small sided games working on creating and exploiting space on the transition
- Defending (Pressure the Ball) – Basic principles to approaching a player in possession
- Defending (Small Groups) – Possession based practices focusing the change of roles based on the movement of the ball
- Defending (Regaining to Play) – Regaining the ball and countering to a scoring conclusion
Goalkeepers
- Goalkeeper support – Passes and throws to start play
- Goalkeeper support – Choosing the best distribution option
- Goalkeeper support – Using the ball quickly after making a save
- Goalkeeper defending – Throw ball situations and close range shots
- Goalkeeper defending – Attacking the ball and parrying away to safe areas
- Goalkeeper defending – Making recovery saves within the game
- Goalkeeper communications – To defenders individually and as part of a unit
- Goalkeeper communications – Developing the ability to be clear and concise
- Goalkeeper communications – Start positions in relation to the ball
Goalkeeper Youth / Professional Phase at Mk Dons Academy
Goalkeepers – Technical
- Distribution – Out of the back to the best option and supporting the play
- Crossing – Dealing with deep crosses into the 18 yard box and transition to distribute
- Shot Stopping – Into line and down the line of the ball for angled strike
- Handling – Dealing with low balls around the set position inclusive of the 1v1 encounter
- Shot Stopping – Dealing with low, medium and high dives from a central and angled strike
- Crossing – Dealing with crosses centrally and to front post areas
- Shot Stopping – Dealing with close reaction shots, double and triple saves
- Distribution – Technique of starting counter attacks, choice of delivery
- Crosses – Dealing with crosses centrally and to the back post area
Goalkeepers – Tactical
- Goalkeeper support – Start play using a variety of passes and providing angles for support for players in possession
- Goalkeeper support – Awareness of best option looking to penetrate with distribution
- Goalkeeper support – Managing the game and understanding how the goalkeeper can affect the state of the game
- Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with 1v1 game situations
- Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with early shots always being set in and around the box
- Goalkeeper defending – Positioning in relation to the ball, decision making on dealing with the cross
- Goalkeeper communications – Organisation and support to the defender (clear and concise information)
- Goalkeeper communications – Communications to players away from the ball
- Goalkeeper communications – Developing the goalkeeper to compact play through the line taken by the defending players
Goalkeeper Foundation Phase at Mk Dons Academy
Goalkeepers – Technical
- Handling – Footwork set in position with a variation of serves
- Distribution – Playing out from the back from feet and hands, providing angels of support
- Handling – Variation of handling practices concluding with penetrative distribution
- Shot Stopping – Dealing with 1v1 encounter
- Shot Stopping – Low, medium and high diving sales from central
- Distribution – Technique of longer distribution for feet and hands (classic counter attacks)
- Shot Stopping – Speed of movement across the goal in the line down the line of the ball for an angled strike
- Handling – Technique of dealing with low balls in and around the body
- Crossing – Basic technique and positioning (in relation to the ball) covering balls into front middle far areas
Goalkeepers – Tactical
- Goalkeeper support – Using a variety of passes and throws to start play
- Goalkeeper support – Choosing the best distribution option
- Goalkeeper support – Using the ball quickly after making a save
- Goalkeeper defending – Dealing with through ball situations and learning how to deal with cross range shots
- Goalkeeper defending – Attacking the ball and parrying away to safe areas in game situations
- Goalkeeper defending – Making recovery saves within the game
- Goalkeeper communications – Communication to defenders individually and as a unit
- Goalkeeper communications – Developing the ability to be clear and concise
- Goalkeeper communications – Set positions in relation to the ball
Mk Dons Academy Contact Details
If you would like to speak to the academy directly, you can contact them via 01908 622882
