Introducing Football Fours Festival: Fun, Skill, and Game Awareness for Young Stars!

This Summer, EDGE Football Academy is thrilled to unveil a fresh, exciting way to engage our youngest players!

Welcome to the Football Fours Festival—our brand new program designed specifically for players aged 4 to 7. This initiative is all about making soccer fun, engaging, and educational for young children, aligning with the latest FA curriculum to ensure that our players develop essential skills while having the time of their lives.

In our weekly 1-hour sessions, the focus is simple: Play, Play, Play!

Each week, players will be introduced to a different technical focus, with an emphasis on creativity, freedom, and enjoyment—because at this age, football should be all about fun!

What is the Football Fours Festival?

The name says it all! The program centers around 4v4 matches, played without goalkeepers, allowing every player the chance to score goals and develop their skills in a relaxed and pressure-free environment. These small-sided games are not only about having fun but are also a fantastic tool for developing a young player’s technical ability and game awareness.

Why 4v4?

Small-sided games like 4v4 are proven to be highly effective in youth development. Here's why:

• More Touches on the Ball: Players touch the ball five times more often in 4-a-side football compared to traditional 11-a-side games, leading to greater familiarity and skill with the ball.

• Increased One-on-One Situations: Players find themselves in one-on-one situations three times more often in 4-a-side football, encouraging quick decision-making and better dribbling skills.

• Higher Goal Scoring Opportunities: Goals are scored every two minutes on average, providing frequent chances for players to experience the thrill of scoring.

• More Active Play: The ball is out of play only 8% of the time in 4-a-side football, compared to 34% in 11-a-side, ensuring players are constantly involved in the action.

These benefits are supported by research from FIFA, which highlights the importance of small-sided games in developing well-rounded, technically skilled players.

How Will Football Fours Benefit Your Child?

Our Football Fours Festival is designed to offer your child:

1. More Opportunities to Receive the Ball: With fewer players on the field, your child will get more touches, helping them to become more comfortable and confident with the ball.

2. More Opportunities to Score: Without goalkeepers and with more frequent scoring chances, your child will experience the joy of scoring goals, building their love for the game.

3. More Freedom to Make Decisions: In a smaller, less structured game, players have the freedom to make their own decisions and learn from them, fostering independence and game intelligence.

4. A Positive and Fun Environment: Our experienced coaches ensure that every session is encouraging, supportive, and above all, fun!

As the legendary Pelé once said, "Young players need to get a minimum of 2,000 touches of the ball a day if they want to become world-class!" At EDGE Football Academy, our Fun Fours program is designed to give your child exactly that—lots of time on the ball, quality coaching, and plenty of fun.

Ready to Join the Fun?Register for our Football Fours Festival today and give your child the opportunity to develop their skills, build their confidence, and fall in love with football!

Register Here