From Junior Soccer player to International Star

Located in Burwood, Melbourne, Eastern Lions Soccer Club has continued to be a significant player in senior and junior soccer clubs located in Melbourne for over 40 years.

Historically Eastern Lions Soccer Club had previously relied  on recruiting players from UK and Europe to give the team core players for the senior club. Clearly now the goal posts have shifted and having more junior players, the club has now shifting its attention on the development of its junior players to fill the core roles within the 1st and reserve teams. For example, at least than 9 players from the previous years Under sixteen side are now training with the senior team in preparation for the upcoming 2010 season. The number of players advancing from the juniors is no accident.

Beginning at the very earliest ages, the new development policies provides a pathway for junior players from five and six years old right up to senior leve. The coaching method being used is in line with the national curriculum that have been introduced by the FFA (Football Federation of Australia), and has a major emphasis on technical and skills based training in the early years of young player development, advancing to more sophisticated understanding as the players develop.

The newly introduced coaching policies that  Eastern Lions has introduced is able to be used for all ages, and the age and skill based curriculum's utilised to make sure that players are receiving the appropriate level of coaching based on their ability. There is lttle doubt that improving players technical skill level will make them into better players, but technical ability is only one component of our development program to get more young players into adult soccer and hopefully play for Australia one day.

Eastern Lions is one of the first soccer clubs in melbourne to adopt such a technical based coaching system.,