How we got started

 

IFA was founded and financed by Chris Archer in September 2010 and remains as a private entity today.  

 

Before IFA, Chris was a head technical coach in the United States of America, responsible for the development of U.S national representatives, Tri State Elite and college players from surrounding districts.  During his contract, Chris was responsible for various youth teams, winning league titles and prestigious competitions both in New York State, playing at Giant Stadium and Long Island.

 

Upon returning to Guernsey, Chris headed up the Guernsey Football Association's, girl's football academy and later became a member of Bristol City, Football Club's, coaching team on island. As head coach for Guernsey U12's development squad, Chris successfully lead the only team from Guernsey to victory, beating BCFC's very own youth academy.

 

Having attended AFC Ajax's, Total Football', club consultancy programme at De Toekomst in 2011.  Chris soon made history when he brought AFC Ajax to the shores of Guernsey, not once, but twice on consecutive years.  To this day, Chris still holds strong ties with AFC Ajax, and continues to build connections between professional clubs, to enable new learning opportunities for himself and pave new opportunities for the children on Guernsey. 

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Since January 2021, Chris has become a mentor to university students on island, assisting with detailed coursework, devising performance programmes to help maintain physical and mental conditioning and club contact for potential internships with high profile brands around the world.

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ABOUT

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"The vision remains the same today, as it did from the outset. To offer professional learning opportunities to the future generation and to gain unique learning experiences, like never before"

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IFA take pride in delivering coaching that is fun, challenging and achievable by means of offering a continuous progression throughout the various age groups. 

 

The goal remains the same. To raise local standards, year on year, by implementing a blend of proven coaching methodology that is fun to train under, realistic and exciting to watch.

 

Player development modules are specifically designed to nurture self-confidence through creative and unstructured game play, breeding technically and emotionally astute players that perform to the highest standard both on and off the field of play.

 

Why IFA?

 

IFA's programmes offer an unbiased approach to child development.  A natural progression enables children to flourish through the key stages of youth development.  

The focus is to ensure that the children receive the correct balance between their technical, tactical, physical and educational components.  

 

By the time that a child moves on from IFA, there is a significant progression within the desired traits.  Players are technically advanced, tactically astute and emotionally balanced.

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Performance Triggers

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"Small margins win championships"

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Individuals learn how to optimise their true potential through cognitive game play. Fun, creative and provocative brain training that gets results. Through flow, players are receptive to simultaneous gestures and movements that assist with motor skill development and physical literacy.

 

By honing motor skills in real time, through repetition and sequences of play. Individuals enhance sensitivity, touch, perceptual skills and decision-making to a very high level. 

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"The eyes look but the brain sees"

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Think Big, by Playing Small

 

Small spaces deliver creative and innovative thinkers who are emotionally stronger and more capable.

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IFA is a specialist in developing and nurturing talented sportsman, forging creative and capable children that have and continue to represent Guernsey in multiple sports.

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A record number of young and talented football players have gone on to represent various professional football academies within the United Kingdom, having been taught through IFA's proven training philosophy.