AFFA Football Development Department continues to implement initiatives aimed at developing the academy system in Azerbaijani football and supporting the continuous education of coaches. The latest training sessions were organized at Turan Tovuz FC Academy and Kapaz FC Academy.
The training sessions were attended by Sarkhan Huseynov, Head of AFFA Football Development Department; Turjay Ahmadov, a physical conditioning expert; Sakit Rzayev, Academy Supervisor; Said Abasov, Coordinator and Ziya Askarov, a specialist in the application of technology within academies.
A key part of the program was dedicated to a detailed presentation of AFFA 5-Star Academy Development Model. Coaches were briefed on the model's structure, core development areas, assessment criteria, and its role in the systematic development of academy operations. Discussions also covered how the model can be used not only to assess the current status of academies but also to define future development pathways.
Key topics in the player development sessions included the Game Model, the Player Pathway, and physical conditioning. Additionally, discussions covered the accurate definition of player profiles, the purposeful design of training sessions, the selection of training content appropriate for players' developmental stages, and the environment required to cultivate high-level players.
Attention has also been paid to the application of modern technologies in player development. Coaches were introduced to the capabilities of the Eyeball platform, presented by Ziya Askarov, for planning player development, systematizing data, and conducting monitoring and assessment.
AFFA Football Development Department views the development of academies not merely as a series of isolated training sessions, but as a long-term process in which coach education, a unified methodology, structured player development, and the continuous improvement of academy operations all complement one another.
