Experts in the Development of Game Functional Footwork

What is TST?

We see ourselves as experts in the development of game functional footwork. The foot dexterity and precision of touch developed by working on Fundamental Footwork Patterns, then translates to all touches and actions* that a player has in a game. (*First touch [ Control with intelligence], ball moving [running with the ball, changes direction, and 1v1 moments in all its forms] and the release [in all its forms]).

The overriding aim is to improve foot dexterity, so that when a player interacts with a ball there is a greater degree of precision of touch, so that ultimately :

The player and the ball become one.

Overtime, the work done at TST and by the player outside of training, will improve their ability to interact with the ball at speed, whilst keeping th with the head up (without a breakdown of touch) and done perfectly in stride.

Plus, we are only interested in game functional ball movement patterns that maximise the effeciency and effectiveness of use of the ball when playing in tight spaces. [Ball mastery exercises that have no place in the game become n exercise in poor coaching and show a lack of understanding of game functional technique. Such exercise will not be found at TST. There is too much to learn to waste time on diffcult things which have no purpose.]

If players put the work in and spend enough time with us, this will make a significant difference to them as a player.

The precision of touch we strive for, takes years to develop and maintain. Players who are looking only at the short term or have fixed mindset (I want to get better, but i want it now and i am not prepared to do any extra work to get it) will not get anything out TST. It is not for them.

We aim to provide a level repetition and feedback that is impossible to get at team training. Not because of the level of coaching at team training, but because a team coach will coach with a different emphasis and different aims and goals.

Also, team training is big group. This can make a huge difference in regards to the amount and type of feedback a player will get in regards to their developing technique. THis lack of attention, feedback and technical practice at training can have a massive impact on a players technical development. the 'just play and the technique will follow' approach, simply doesnt work for most players.

On the flip side, because we fundamentally work on touch, it means that we actually compliment a player's team training as we help players go to training with a 'better and better' tool kit. We don't teach a system of play. Team coaches remain in full control of how their players use their developing precision of touch.

TST may will not be for you if If you believe that all young players should be playing strictly 2 touch football (and no more) and that anything more than this is poor play. We dont view development in this way, and expereince makes us think it has no value. We encourage players to to find the optimal number of touches for the moment. To strictly limit touches as a philosophy of play takes a big chunk of the potential options available, away from a player. 1 touch and 2 touch football are a part of the game, but it is not the game.

So whether a player is central player (CB or 6) or an attacking player (wide, attacking mid, forward) we provide players with the footwork needed to play all these positions well.

Here are a couple oxamples of what can happen as result of a long term commitment to development.

Valli Cesnik (Born 1999) - Came to TST as big center half at 12 years old and was always over looked at state level because they thought he wasn't technical enough. He is now a technical and quick Winger.#10. He played NPL from the age of 17 and in 2019 signed professionally with a club in Europe (and joins a few other ex TST boys who are already there). These videos show what sort of footwork Valli has developed since getting involved in TST.

Anthony Trajkoski (Born 1998) - Came to TST at 11 as an average player. He was thought of as a poacher with OK technicque. He stuck with TST despite not improving significantly initially. At 15 though things started to come together. Anthony is now playing professionally in Europe, as a technical 8 and 10.

Australians Abroad

There was a report published last year (2018) listing all Australians playing overseas at pro clubs. There were about 200 players in total. 6 Out of the 200 had spent time at TST, 4 of them significantly (between 3 to 5 years). That is 3% of all australian players overseas in 2018 had something to do with TST during their developmental years, with 2% being a definite product of the TST development program.

3 of these players in Europe (born 1998), along with 3 other TST players (all born 1998 & 99) playing senior NPL (and hoping to get a deal in Europe this year), all did TST together for about 4 years (from 12-16 years old) and played in the same team as juniors (and were coached in a way that TST complemented perfectly).

You would think that these 6 players (from the same youth team), coached in the same way at their team training, and developed using the same footwork development model at TST would be similar players. However, of these, 2 are full backs, one a centre back, one a defensive mid, one an attacking mid and one a winger. The same footwork system, the same footwork development and yet all play in different positions. Non played state football as juniors and all started their development later than ideal, but are now playing at much higher levels than most of their piers at the same age who did play state.

Also, out of their team, which was admittedly very strong, it was the players who also did TST from the age of 12-17 who are now playing at the highest levels. The players who got the same team training but not the TST training have not gone on to the same levels.

In terms of what we do in our sessions

WE have 7 levels of development, staring with absolute beginners (5 year olds) to 17 year olds looking to make it in the game (what ever 'making it' means).
We have a footwork system based on effective and efficient use of the ball in game functional ways. We develop what we believe are Fundamental and Essential Footwork Patterns, to the point that touches are precise when combined with power, agility, speed and when the head is up. The development of footwork is a long term project which can take up to 2 to 3 years to make a significant difference to the way a player plays (as we effectively rewire the brain) and then continued practice compounds this development ( and is essential and necessary to get to higher and higher levels). So players looking for quick results and quick fixes won't find them at TST. Rewiring the brain takes time. There are no short cuts. And players who dont persist through their teenage growth spurt will most likely loose the precision of touch they developed prior to their growth spurt.
We play games, for all levels of player, that push the boundaries of touch and intelligent use of technique.
When players are young, we play SSGs (2v2s and 3v3s) to ensure young players test their developing technique and intelligence in a game and in a tight space where problems come think and fast.
As players get older we switch to high intensity intelligence based game designed to develop intuitive awareness and game intelligence, whilst never neglecting improvements in the precision of game function touches.
We also have a pathway to Europe, set up for players who at about 18 are at the necessary level and we want to help players who arent necessarily the best at 12 years old (not making state teams in the City/victory youth programs but who believe that with hard work (away from team training and over the a prolonged period) could play at high level one day.

Team training is never enough.

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