LFF board approves pilot project for centralized football academy
The Latvian Football Federation's board has approved a pilot project for a new Centralized Football Academy that will bring together the country's most talented young players. The first intake will consist of players born in 2012.
The board of the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has approved a pilot project to establish a Centralized Football Academy aimed at gathering the most talented young footballers in one place and providing them with a regular, high-quality training process.
LFF sports director Andrejs Gluščuks explains that the academy will combine the highest standards of football education, training and infrastructure, so young talents can develop both as athletes and as individuals. According to him, the goal is not only to raise technically, tactically and physically strong players, but also educated, disciplined and mentally resilient people who could contribute to the growth of Latvian football in the future.
How the training process will work
Young players are expected to train at the academy from Monday to Friday, while returning to their home clubs on weekends to take part in matches and club training sessions. The project will be carried out in close cooperation with youth football clubs. In addition to daily training, players will take part in international tournaments and friendly matches, which will help them prepare for further stages of development and for Latvia's youth national teams.
Player selection will be carried out systematically through Latvia's regional centers and national training camps. The academy's head coach will be brought in through the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA). In its first season, the academy will admit players born in 2012, the U-14 age group.
Other board decisions
The LFF board has begun early work with the Latvian Football Virsliga association on extending their cooperation agreement, which currently runs through the end of 2027. LFF administration has been tasked with preparing a draft of the new agreement.
The board also approved a change on the LFF Futsal Committee, with Māris Petrovs being replaced by Maksims Seņs. The next LFF board meeting is scheduled for October 2.
