UD: OUR 2021 SUMMARY
TRAINING ROUND-UP
As we round up 2021, it is always great to reflect on the tremendous achievements and highlights seen across our UD training sessions this term.
Our final month of the UD Autumn term had the majority of our players working through chaos-style games to support their decision-making skills whilst in possession of the ball. Our coaches have worked to tailor these sessions to ensure each player has a set of unique tasks and challenges to work through. We have been fortunate to see improvements across all of our training groups and the players really seem to have benefited from this term's curriculum.
Our UDFC players have worked through the following training topics this year:
Passing and Receiving
Dribbling and Turning
1 v 1 (Attacking and Defending)
2 v 1 (Attacking and Defending)
Shooting and Finishing
Chaos-Style Games
Mini Matches/ Game play
After working through the topics above, we have given our players the best opportunity to improve technically and develop tactically in to well-rounded players.
Our UD Little Dragons players (ages 2-3) have focused on developing their football fundamentals this term with a core focus on ball manipulation. We have seen such vast improvements in the children's ability to use various parts of their foot to kick the ball and change direction. The repetition of certain dribbling games has allowed the players to put more focus on their technique than on the rules of those games. Next term's focus for us will be on developing the players' ability to pass the ball and their understanding of utilising teammates.
A special mention goes to our UD Girls groups who have grown in popularity this year and have seen such tremendous results in the Regents Park Youth League this season. Our UD Girl's midweek and weekend sessions have been fast paced, fun and competitive allowing the players to really flourish and improve.
On behalf of all our UD coaches, we have thoroughly enjoyed working with the players this term and seeing you all back on the side-lines has been so up-lifting. The sense of community at UD really separates us apart from other clubs and this gives our players the perfect environment to learn and develop as players and as young people.
LEAGUE 2021 SUMMARY
When looking back at our year, participating in the Regents Park Youth League and the Market Road League, so many fantastic memories spring to mind.
The goals, the tackles, the saves, the individual performances, the team performances, the wins and the losses, however, what sticks out in our memory is the resilience and commitment each and every one of you has shown. It has once again been a tough year with covid, canceled games and fixtures being rearranged but as committed United Dragons players, we have just got on with it and shown tremendous resilience to play through all of the uncertain times.
Resilience is such an underrated attribute in youth football, but resilience is the ability to deal with setbacks and challenges. The concept of resilience is central to coping with such demands and challenges and these life lessons in grassroots football that our own children are experiencing will stand them all in fantastic stead for the future.
On the field, we have been delighted to see the progress in each age group. Our technical attributes are forever improving, along with our tactical understanding of the game. We have competed well in the league, winning the majority of games across the board. In the Regents Park League, we have played an astonishing 376 games during the course of this calendar year. Special mentions must go to our U13s who were crowned league champions and our U10s who enjoyed an invincible season. Both teams are currently enjoying a fantastic season in the midweek market road league. The U10s are currently top of the league, keep it up guys!
Special thanks must go to all of our league managers, Ryan, Daryl, Chris, Denerson, Matt and Adrian and finally all the parents who bring their children to Regents Park every Saturday morning to cheer on the team.. BEST SUPPORTERS EVER!
FUTSAL 2021 SUMMARY
We are at the end of 2021 and we couldn't be more happy to look back at our Futsal programme and highlight all the incredible achievements of all our Futsal players.
It's been a great term for Futsal, all the UD players enjoying and learning more about this development sport and practising every single session to improve their abilities.
This Autumn Term, Futsal was focused on the Futsal principals for football, I'm happy to say that from what we notice from all the players, Autumn term has been a success. We have seen from age 5 to 13 years, some many improvements in the Futsal players, being inside the Futsal court or on the football pitch.
Our Futsal players are looking more comfortable and superior in tighter spaces when it comes to playing football, we also notice that players that practice Futsal are having quicker decision making and better control of the ball than most footballers.
Our UD Futsal players continue to be extremely motivated to grow the sport and understand the importance of developing their football skills in 2022.
A special thanks must go to all of our players and parents for a great year!
UD x JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (JagTag and Junior ROAR Cheer Academy)
Following our exciting partnership with NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, we have been thrilled to see the creation of our JagTag and Junior ROAR Dance Academy weekly sessions. On September 23rd, we kicked off our partnership with a JagTag launch event in Paddington Recreation Park, engaging over 80 children, many of whom were playing the sport for the first time.
Since our launch we have welcomed numerous new children to UD as well as many of our current players keen on trying a new sport. We have been fortunate to bring in professional American football coaches Kyle & Kojo and dance teachers Ellen & Taylor who have all enjoyed working with the children and developing their skills.
Our JagTag players have been working on the route running, catching techniques and defending this term whist our Junior ROAR classes have seen the group working on corner work and several choreographed dance routines. We have been delighted to offer these new programmes to our UD players and the wider community and look forward to seeing everyone back in 2022. For anyone interested in joining one of our JagTag or Junior ROAR Dance sessions, please don't hesitate in contacting Ryan (Ryan@Uniteddragonsfc.com).
MERRY CHRISTMAS UD!! HERE IS TO 2022.
