
Soccer
Youth performance center
Promote competitive sports
Youth development has traditionally been of very high importance in our club and is excellently networked with important partners, e.g., in the Football Cooperative Berlin and through club partnerships. We want to enable as many young footballers as possible to pursue a path to becoming a licensed player. Aware of the opportunities and pitfalls, we pay attention to the dual path of competitive sports and school. Many of our players attend the Flatow Oberschule from the seventh grade. As an elite school of sports and elite football school, it is perfectly tailored to the requirements of a competitive sports education and allows for optimal academic support alongside football development for our players.
In addition to comprehensive medical care, especially through cooperation with Charité, we also offer our players at the TZO the opportunity to complete homework and to take advantage of tutoring or support lessons.
You are always warmly invited to support our youth teams live!
Training concept
Completing school and becoming a professional footballer
One of the most important guiding principles of our training concept immediately points to the dual path of our youth department. Our derived athletic training goals are:
- Outstanding strengths in one-on-one situations
- Excellent technical skill level
- High tactical flexibility
- Very good decision-making ability combined with very high speed of action
- High physical and psychological stress tolerance
In order to have developed these skills for entry into men’s football at the highest level, we divide the training of our players into four phases. Our training concept is oriented towards long-term age-appropriate performance development. We know that victories and defeats accompany every footballer, that a competitive sports education creates foundations for many life paths, and that football can inspire for a lifetime.
In children’s football for the E and F junior teams, general sports and basic football skills are trained in a playful and age-appropriate manner. "Short legs – short distances" is the guiding principle for all forms of play. The goal is within reach for the children, as scoring and preventing goals remains the number one rule in football. The focus of training and gameplay is on one-on-one situations. In these age groups, we provide space for experimentation and re-experimentation.
In the transition to youth football, the D and C juniors train. In the so-called advanced training, a high level of specialization of technical skill is achieved. The transition to the large football field takes place. The principle of our training at this age level is: 'By "playing", a unity of technique – tactics – fitness is conveyed.' For further training, it now applies more strongly and permanently: 'Ball possession is the highest good!' Our core element, the one-on-one, is specifically taught. Learning and coaching in defense – deciding and asserting in offense.
Position specialization, enhanced training of physical abilities, in-depth tactical training – and much more – follows in the age group of the A and B juniors, the performance area. The competitive performance of each individual is increasingly coming into focus and contributes to the successful team result. Training measures are becoming more and more individually tailored and supported.
In close coordination with the first team, we enable our top talents to transition into the licensed area.
The season booklet of our youth team.
Various focal points from our NLZ are the focus over around 40 pages. The highlights of the season are just as much in the spotlight as the presentation of our teams and projects.
Here's how you can reach us.
Address
Youth Performance Centre of 1. FC Union Berlin e.V.
Training Centre Oberspree
Bruno-Bürgel-Weg 63
12439 Berlin
Contact Details
+49 (0) 30 - 65 66 88 82
jugend@fc-union-berlin.de
Opening Hours
Monday - Friday
9:00 - 15:00
Janek Kampa
Head of the Youth Academy
André Hofschneider
Head of Coaching
Julia Wigger
Head of the Women and Girls Department
Raik Fröhlich
Administrative Coordinator
Henry Rehnisch
Player & Coach Development


Update | Youngster Cup 2024

Highlights | Youngster Cup | Tag 2

Highlights | Youngster Cup | Tag 1

André Hofschneider im Interview

Update | Eröffnung Trainingszentrum Oberspree

Update | TZO-Neubau | Juni 2024

Dokumentation | Ein Turnier fürs Leben | UEFA Youth League

Update | TZO-Neubau | März 2024

Highlights | 1. FC Union Berlin U19 - Hertha BSC Berlin U19

Highlights | U19 Mercedes-Benz Junior-Cup 2024
