David Beckham's Academy
NG Kids readers Daniel and Joe visited the David Beckham Academy to give us the lowdown on the famous footballer's UK school…
Going to the Bobby Charlton Soccer School when he was 11 years old is what made David Beckham want to become a professional footballer. And now, after making his footy dreams come true, he has his own school to inspire other young soccer fans!
Opened in 2005, the David Beckham Academy (DBA) is for boys and girls (8-15 years-old). With one, three and five-day courses, running throughout the year, there's plenty of opportunities to learn cool new footy skills and get top tips from the academy's world-class coaches. The DBA is the largest sporting facility of its kind in Europe and has two full-sized indoor pitches.
"The training sessions we did were great," says Manchester United fan Joe (above). "I learned how to keep the ball up in the air and how to step over it." "The skills circuits practice and mini tournaments were really fun," adds Daniel.
The footy school also has a cool Hall Of Fame, where the boys got to see some of David's prized possessions, including boots and shirts worn in famous matches and his trophy collection. Then there were fun lessons about tactics and team formations.
"The coaches gave us lots of good advice," explains Liverpool fan Daniel (above). "Their best tip was to enjoy playing because that helps you get better." With loads of sporty snacks and a tasty lunch, The academy also teaches kids how to eat like top sports stars. "I really liked the food we got. It was really nice and filled me up all afternoon," says Daniel, whose favourite players are Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.
So, how did the boys enjoy their day at the David Beckham Academy? "It was brilliant – I'd really like to go again!" says Daniel. "I had loads of fun and we even got to keep our kit!" "I made new friends there and would definitely go again," grins Joe. "I'd like the five-day course for my birthday!"
Want to be a footy star?
Check out these top tips from academy coach and England and Chelsea defender Casey Stoney!
- Give 100% in everything you do whether it be training or a game. Always train as you would play because it helps you keep good habits.
- Realise what your strengths are but also know what your weaknesses are and spend time on improving them.
- Try to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means eating a healthy balanced diet and drinking at least two litres of water every day. Your diet is very important to your performance on the pitch!
- Always warm up and cool down. This is very important to prepare your body and mind for the activity ahead and to help prevent injuries.
- There is no substitute for hard work. Work hard, play hard but most importantly above anything enjoy it!
If you'd like to have some footy fun, log on to www.thedavidbeckhamacademy.com to find out more about their brilliant autumn courses!