Cameron Howieson

Intensive Individual Football Development at Our Soccer Academy in Lincoln, South Island New Zealand

 Asia Pacific Football Academy is a football (soccer) school, operating in association with Chelsea Football Club, which focuses on the intensive individual development of young players from various countries. The Academy looks to maximise each player's potential and increase their exposure in the football world through its unique proactive pathway management program.

Players (boys or girls) attending the Academy can choose from a range of short-term training programs, including Intensive Football (train twice a day and experience the full-time Academy first-hand), Football plus English language learning or Football plus SAT/PSAT exams (see Camps/Programs), or choose the unique full-time residential football academy that combines daily training with a full High School or University program. APFA is not a club nor does it "own" or register players. Instead it is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to invest in talented youth players to reach their full potential and achieve their dreams. Scholarships and part-scholarships are available for selected players.

APFA's soccer camps, development programs and unique football school focuses on the individual player's development by working on their specific needs (see Player Devpt). The Academy's football training covers the core development  areas of technical skills, tactical or game awareness, physical conditioning and mental strength and confidence, as well as incorporating the player's academic and social development needs. Programs exist for both boys and girls.

A player can just focus on intensive football training or can combine this daily football training with short-term academic study programs such as English Language learning, SAT preparation, or even a full high school curriculum at Lincoln High School or University studies at Lincoln University.

Asia Pacific Football Academy is very focused on Player Pathways - our core Programs are Pathway Driven, with a strong emphasis on finding players the right pathway and managing their oportunities to progress beyond APFA. This unique approach is now showing through in individual results to date, such that APFA now has a visible track record in developing elite football players. Since we started full time operations in 2010, 5 players have graduated from APFA to join Professional Club Academies in Europe or the USA. Other graduates have gone on to US University scholarships or overseas elite development programs and in 2011, 5 APFA Scholars represented their country at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Mexico.

• Adopting best international academy practices in elite football player development, including video analysis of player technique and performance
• Having highly qualified soccer coaching staff (See Staff) full-time at the Academy
  
• Utilising third-party expertise in specialist support areas (strength & conditioning, nutrition etc)
• Providing excellent dedicated academy training facilities (see Facilities)
• Building on initial assessments to address the individual Player's specific needs as he progresses through the Academy
  
• Mixing the best with the best from different countries at daily football training held at the main Academy site
  
• Maximising the time a player trains 
• Balancing academy football training and school study, as well as all-round personal development
• Providing guidance and support for the  range of football/soccer pathways beyond APFA, both for professional football careers and also University scholarships